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Senior year is speeding by, the end of high school drawing closer and closer. The only thing that’s been different lately has been Caleb. And now I have Gramps’s warning echoing right along with my own caution.
I thought this thing between us would fizzle out on its own. But it hasn’t. Now it feels like the longer it lasts, the harder it will be to end.
With a sigh, I head back toward the farmhouse.
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
LENNON
I’ve spent years judging the girls who fall over themselves to talk to Caleb Winters. And yet here I am, anxiously scanning the halls for a head of dark hair.
I glance to the right again, but there’s still no sign of him. Annoyed with myself, I focus on my locker, transferring the books for my first three periods into my backpack. When I turn around, I spot Caleb standing at his locker, talking to Colt.
Shouldering my backpack, I shut my locker and head his way.
“Hey, guys.”
They break off mid-conversation.
“I’ll see you later, man,” Colt says. After a nod to me, he continues down the hall.
I take a step closer, fiddling with the strap of my backpack nervously. I’m already second-guessing this. Despite the many things that have changed between me and Caleb, our interactions at school really haven’t. From the outside looking in, you wouldn’t think he ate dinner at my house last night.
“What’s up?” Caleb asks, grabbing a textbook and then shutting his locker door.
“I was, uh…” I take a deep breath. “Did you read the article?”
“What article?” Caleb asks, completely straight-faced.
“So, you hated it?”
“Lennon!” Ryan approaches, smiling widely.
“What is it, Ryan?” I ask impatiently. My irritation only grows when I realize what he’s holding.
Ryan glances between me and the copy of the school paper. “Have you seen this, Winters?”
“Yeah.”
Ryan’s attention turns back to me. “If you’re taking over the sports section, I know some other athletes who’d be interested in a feature.”
The bell rings, saving me from answering.
“See you guys later,” I say, then rush off.
Cassie is literally bouncing in her seat when I enter the classroom, a copy of the school paper sitting on the desk in front of her. Surprisingly, I realize most of my classmates already have copies as well. That’s definitely a first.
I’d be able to enjoy the interest more, if I had any idea how Caleb feels about it. Considering he was the one who pressured me into writing the article, his lack of reaction feels especially unfair.
“Nice article, Lennon,” Harper Kelly comments as I pass her.
“Uh, thanks,” I respond.
I sink down in my usual seat next to Cassie just as the announcements start. Cassie doesn’t pay Principal Owens’s voice any attention.
“Oh. My. God,” she tells me, leaning across the aisle so she’s closer to me. “I can’t believe you wrote this, Lennon!” She shakes the paper in my face.
“In a good way or a bad way?” I whisper.
