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“Holden hates asking for help.”
I don’t respond to the true statement. I figure the less I say about this subject, the better. Holden saying anything to Sydney is unlikely, but I’m not going to wade any deeper into this lie.
“Do you think he’s failing? Maybe he’s really struggling and he’s too stubborn to say anything.”
“I’m sure he’s doing fine.”
Sydney sighs. “I know he’s worried about college. He’s got a lot riding on this season, on getting a scholarship.”
I grit my teeth together and grip the straps of my backpack. Analyzing Holden—sympathizing with Holden—is the absolute last thing I feel like doing right now.
I’m trying to hold on to my anger toward him. It’s easier than exploring the emotions hovering underneath.
He represents my own weakness.
I want him—even though I shouldn’t. Despite the many reasons he’s given me not to. And now he knows that truth.
“He’s doing fine,” I assure her. “He figured out the homework pretty quickly.”
I didn’t tell Sydney about helping Holden with his history paper, and apparently he didn’t mention it to her either. All the secrets I’ve ever kept from my best friend have involved her brother.
“Hey, Cassia.”
I automatically slow at the sound of my name. Glance at Harrison, who’s leaning against the cinderblock wall, filling his thermos.
“Hey,” I reply. Clear my throat and remember how he carried our last conversation. “Heading to practice?”
He smiles before answering, “Yeah.” Pleased I asked, I guess.
Harrison’s smile is warm and genuine. And I hate—absolutely despise—that all I can picture is the annoyance on Holden’s face when he saw Harrison sitting opposite me.
“This is Sydney,” I say, once again at a loss for anything else to say to him.
Harrison dips his chin in greeting as he screws the top on his water bottle. “Hey, Sydney.”
“Hi, Harrison.”
He smirks a little at how she addresses him without an introduction, but he doesn’t call her out on it. It makes me like him more.
“I’d better run. Coach is in his sadistic playoffs phase, so practice will be brutal. See you guys.”
“See you,” I say.
One final smile, and he’s gone.
“He likes you,” Sydney tells me as soon as he’s out of sight.
“He was being nice,” I reply as we walk outside.
Sydney gives me a look that’s remarkably similar to the one her brother did when I said the same thing. “Cassia.”
“What? He’s a nice guy. And you think he’s hot.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Girl code, Syd.”
Sydney laughs. “I’ve never even talked to him until just now. He’s fair game. If you like him, go for it.”
