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“Amen to that,” Brooke chimes in with. “I’ve got a quiz next period.”
I make a sound of sympathy as I check my phone again. Still nothing from Wes. The disappointment is silly. We’re not friends on social media. He doesn’t go to Glenmont, so he didn’t hear the announcement. I mentioned the date to him once. Months ago. And we’re already supposed to meet later tonight, so it’s not like I won’t see him. But stupidly, selfishly, I want him to remember.
When lunch ends, Matt lingers. We have English together next, but I usually walk with Brooke and Sarah, and he typically leaves with the football guys.
“You coming, Maeve?” he asks.
I watch Brooke and Sarah exchange alook. “Yeah, sure,” I say casually.
I need to figure out a way to make my feelings clear to Matt, and I’m not sure how to do it. It’s not like I can blurt out I’m dating Weston Cole. Despite my father and brother’s indifference, no guy from Glenmont has ever shown a serious interest in me, and the fact that it’s Matt makes it all that much worse. He’s one of Liam’s closest friends, and my parents practically consider him a second son. I don’t want things to turn awkward between us, and I don’t know how to keep them from becoming so.
Matt chats easily as we walk down the hallway about how awful the essay we got assigned last class is, but I’m barely listening. I’m weighing whether I should say anything to him. Before I can decide, Erin Waters approaches us.
“Maeve! I’ve been looking for you all day. Big news! The school committee approved all the prom plans.”
“That’s great, Erin,” I respond. “Thanks for all the work you did on that. I know I haven’t been pulling my weight on student council lately.”
My vice president makes apfftttsound. “Please, I know how hectic things are for you. I was happy to do it, and you came up with some great ideas. Just wanted to let you know. Happy birthday, by the way!”
“Thanks,” I call out as she bounces down the hallway.
“I always forget you’re our class president,” Matt remarks as we continue along.
“I try to as well.” Freshman year, I ran for the position, mostly because no one else wanted to, and one of my teachers suggested I should. I’ve always been a people pleaser. Not so shockingly, no one ran sophomore year either, and here I still am senior year. It’s a fun group of people, but a thankless job.
Matt asks me some questions about what our meetings are like, and that carries our conversation until we reach English class. I’m torn, half grateful the topic of Sam’s comment didn’t come up, half mad at myself for chickening out and not setting him straight.
Practice feels like it lasts longer than usual, but the clock in the gym reads six exactly when we all finish the last set of sprints.
“Nice work, ladies!” Coach Bloom calls. “That’s the hustle I want to see on Friday. And in the finals, since I have full confidence we’ll be playing in that game, as well. Rest up. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
Everyone begins to filter toward the locker rooms, including me, but I stop when Coach Bloom shouts my name.
I turn around and head back over to her. “Yes, Coach?”
“Just wanted to check in with you, Stevens. I know how much you’ve got going on. Everything okay?”
“Yes, I’m good.”
“Okay. You still up for running morning practices the week of the championship?”
“Yes, I am,” I confirm.
“All right, we can discuss details that week. We should also have another conversation about colleges now that you’ve started applying. I expect there will be a lot of scouts at the championship game, and if you keep playing the way you have been, you’ll have no shortage of options.”
I nod. “Okay. Thanks, Coach.”
“Of course, Stevens. Happy birthday.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
I head into the locker room and gather my things to take a shower, which I don’t normally do. I only live ten minutes from the high school, and it’s usually easier just to shower at home.
Becca raises her eyebrows at me as I walk back into the main locker room with dripping hair. Everyone else has already left.
“Big birthday plans, Stevens?” she asks.
“Nope,” I lie, keeping my tone light. “Just going out to dinner with the family. Wasn’t sure if I’d have time to shower when I got home.”
