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He stares at his sneakers for a long time before saying, “Tonight is different.”
I wonder if it has to do with Vanessa. I noticed her flirting with a guy. But I don’t bring it up because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to talk to me about her.
“What about you?” he asks. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at any of my parties before.”
“Nope. I’ve been to other high school parties. They’re not really my scene.”
He gives me a pained smile. “Kind of hard to party when you’re lonely, huh? Especially when all your friends are paired up.”
I purse my lips. “My friends don’t make me feel like a burden or anything. They always include me in whatever they do. Just because they have partners, it doesn’t mean they’re pushing me to the curb.”
He stares at me. “What?”
I adjust my glasses. “Aren’t you crapping on my friends?”
“No. Why would I? I’m talking about my friends.”
“Oh…” I laugh sheepishly as I adjust my glasses again. “Sorry. I don’t have the best social skills.”
He laughs softly. “You’re the most socially normal person I’ve talked to in a long time.”
“Ha. Doubt it.”
“I’m serious. Everyone who talks to me has stars in their eyes. I have no idea if people want to be around me because they genuinely like me, or if they just want to be popular.” He scoffs. “I don’t even know if my friends are my real friends.”
“Owen has made it his mission to look out for you,” I tell him. “I think he’s a keeper.”
He shuts his eyes for a second. “I know he asked you to do my homework for me.”
“Yep.”
“I’m glad you refused.”
“I’m not a pushover. I told him to get out of my face.”
“Good. That guy…he means well, but…” He shakes his head.
We’re quiet again.
He slowly turns his head to me. “That comment you said earlier. About your friends pushing you to the curb because they’re in relationships and you’re not. Is there some truth to it?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“Because you were the one who brought it up.”
I huff as I cross my arms over my chest. “Don’t start rumors.”
“I’m not.”
We’re quiet again.
“I guess I’m worried it’ll be like this forever,” I admit.
“Like what?”
I puff out my cheeks. “My friends are all paired up. I’m the only single one left. It’s ridiculous that I feel a little jealous because I never wanted a boyfriend. I’ve always been happy with the way things were. But now that they’re all happy with their soulmates, I can’t help but wonder if this is what my life will be like. My friends will move on and build lives for themselves while I’ll be all alone.” I shake my head. “Oh my gosh. I sound so pathetic.”
“No. I get it. I feel like that, too.”
