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“You’ll get it back after school.” He waved the phone in the air and headed for his desk where he shoved my phone in the drawer.
Ella turned to me and scrunched her pretty little nose, and I couldn’t be mad. “Sorry.”
Chapter 9
BARRY
I’dnevergottendetentionbefore, so I had zero clue what was in store for me when I got there. But what I hadn’t expected when I entered Ms. Hall’s classroom, where today’s detention would be held, was Ella’s bright and beautiful smile, waiting for me as I took my seat.
I settled into the chair beside hers, my heart beating a steady staccato in my chest as I leaned over my desk. “What are you doing here?”
“Eh”—she shrugged—“I felt bad about getting you in trouble, so I chewed a huge wad of gum in PE, and when Mr. Gorby told me to spit it out, I blew a bubble the size of my face, cracked it, and told him no.”
“You—” I started, then stopped, completely blown away. “Well . . . thanks.”
“Sure thing.” She winked, and my already racing heart nearly quit beating altogether.
“So what do we do for a whole hour?” I asked, glancing around us. “Just sit here?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered, leaning closer when Ms. Hall walked in the room and took a seat behind her desk. “I’m a first-timer, too.”
Ms. Hall cleared her throat and glanced around the room, her gaze hesitating on us behind a thick pair of cat eye glasses before she stared at Jacob Robine, a kid I imagined spent a lot of time here.
“I see we have a couple newcomers,” she said, “so remember the rules. No food, candy, or drinks. No electronic devices, except for Chromebooks, which must only be used for homework. You cannot just sit. You must do schoolwork or read. No going to your locker or leaving the room. No sleeping or talking or heads down on the desk. Any questions? No?” she asked without waiting for a response. “Good. Get busy.” With a dismissive wave of the hand, she picked up a pen and focused on the giant stack of papers in front of her.
Ella glanced at me and grinned, then bowed her head and grabbed a notebook from her book bag as I did the same, trying to concentrate on the reading material from history class instead of the girl beside me. But every time I read a paragraph, I found myself having to reread it, clueless as to what it actually said.
A triangle of paper flew onto my desk from Ella’s direction. I peeked over at her, but her eyes were still locked on her books. Subtly, so as not to draw attention, I took the paper in my fingers and unfolded it to reveal her loopy scrawl.
Can we be friends? Circle yes or no.
I stifled a laugh and paused as I thought out my response. But instead of circling “yes,” I wrote a question of my own.
I don’t know. Can we? It might depend. What zodiac sign are you?
Then I flattened the paper before folding it into a star, thanks to years of boredom and practicing origami. With a flick of the wrist, I launched the star onto her desk, glancing up at the teacher to ensure she wasn’t looking. I caught Ella’s grin out of the corner of my eye. Clearly, she was impressed with my folding skills.
The sound of crinkling paper met my ears, followed by a low hum from the back of her throat before she scribbled something and the same triangle of paper made its way back to me.
You’re into astrology? I never would’ve guessed. But anyway, I’m Cancer. You?
Cancer. So she was a hopeless romantic. I should’ve guessed based on her comments about wanting a boy who would prove his affection for her.
I smiled to myself as I put pen to paper and began to write.
If you’re a Cancer, then you’re devoted and emotional. You place a high value on your family and friends and will go to great lengths to defend them, no matter the price. You also happen to pair quite well with Pisces. Which happens to be my sign. Looks like we can be friends, after all.
I started to add,Maybe more,then thought better of it and erased it. Best to keep it lighthearted, I told myself, even though it felt like a copout, a cowardly excuse not to be bold as Thorne had suggested. Telling her we’d make a good love match would certainly be bold. But we were chatting and having fun and I hated to ruin the mood if the suggestion was poorly received, so I brushed away the pink eraser grinds and folded the paper into a swan, then passed it back.
I waited patiently as she read and responded, and when she handed it back to me this time, our fingers brushed as I took the note and our eyes met. A spark of something electric zipped through my arm and stole my focus. Time froze. Tension built as I held her gaze, stealing my breath until she tore her eyes from mine, along with her hand. She shook it out, and I grinned as I turned my attention back to the note in my hands, relieved she felt the same spark I did.
I unfolded it and read.
Whew! I’m glad to hear we’re compatible. For a moment I worried Robine might have to be my new detention buddy, and well, passing notes with him just seems unhygienic.
I glanced up at Robine, who currently had his finger one knuckle deep into his nose, and I chuckled, which earned a harsh glare from Ms. Hall.
Clearing my throat, I sobered, and glanced back down at the note and continued reading.
