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Go out on a date.
Experience my first kiss.
Lose my V-card.
I bit the end of my pen, thinking about the goals I wanted to accomplish. Staring out my dorm window, Axel’s arresting face popped into my head as I thought about experiencing these things with him. Then I inwardly chided myself for thinking about it. What was I? A teen writing out foolish fantasies in a notebook? I was bored and writing down a checklist was second nature.
The jolt of a door unlocking caused me to startle, and I dropped my pen. “New semester, new start, and it’s like all my good energy is finally manifesting itself into the universe.” Lizzie threw her hands up in the air, dancing around like she was part of some awkward pagan dance or a cult revival as she passed behind me to her side of the room.
“You got the part.”
“I got it!” she squealed. We’d been back on campus for a few days, and today was the first day of the spring semester. Lizzie had found out she’d won the role of Ophelia inHamlet. Her performance inThe Breakfast Clublast semester had been a big success, and now she was seeing the fruits of her labor.
“Yay!” I jumped over and threw my arms around her. I was so happy for her. “Just remember the little people on your way to the top.”
“I’ll always remember.” She slapped my arm and gave me a goofy grin. “I’m still the same ole boring Lizzie.”
“Girl, please. You’re a star and soon to be a supernova.”
“Okay. Maybe just a little star.” She grinned cheekily before shaking her head. Plopping down on the edge of her bed, she asked, “How were your classes today?”
“Good, I guess.” I was taking a full load. “Nothing out of the norm or as amazing as getting the lead in a popular play.”
Rap, rap, rapechoed off the door, and I glanced at Lizzie. “Were you expecting company?”
“No. You?”
“No.”
Three more impatient raps blared out. “Okay!” I called out and went to the door, yanking it open. My breath caught in my throat when I gawked in shock as Axel leaned into the open space between us with one of his muscular arms over my head on the doorjamb. His broad chest was level with my eyes, and when I allowed my gaze to travel up, my body tensed with the way he was staring down at me.
“What—” I swallowed, catching myself and trying to level my voice. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in the neighborhood,” he said evenly.
“Why?”
He peered over my shoulder. “Are you going to invite me in?”
“Why?” I knew I sounded repetitive.
He scoffed and rubbed his hand over his forehead. “You always have to make things difficult, don’t you?” Something behind me caught his attention, and his eyes lit up as he became the persona that most of Hillside was familiar with. “Is she always this skeptical about friends?” I knew he was talking to Lizzie, and something like jealousy strummed through my veins, although the analytical side of me knew I was being ridiculous.
“No. Just cautious,” my friend answered behind me.
“I see that. On any other day, I’d think that’s a great trait.” He glanced down at me. “Are you gonna let me in?”
“Why are you here?”
He rubbed his lips together. “Damn, Hardcore, you really do make me work for it.”
I didn’t understand what he meant, but I stood my ground and waited for an explanation, which he didn’t provide.
“You gonna be polite and let me in?”
Frustrated with his evasiveness, I stepped back and allowed him access to come in. “Please, come in,” I mumbled. “What do you want, Axel?”
“You have my jacket, remember?”
