Page 44 of The Year I was Almost Prom Queen

He points his thumb in the direction Jaron went.

“You haven’t gone out with Jaron or nerd boy yet, have you?”

“You keep calling Austin a nerd, like that’s a bad thing,” I say, putting my hands on my hips and turning to face him. “Being super smart is good. It’s one of the things I like most about him.”

His hand slips from my shoulder with the shift of my body. “Why don’t you have a nickname for Jaron?”

“Because Jaron is bigger than me.”

I giggle. “Okay, so you’re intimidated by Jaron, but not Austin?”

“Yeah,” he says, “Exactly. I feel I’ve got a one-up on nerd boy. But with Jaron, I’ll just have to work a little harder.”

I shake my head. “Actually, Austin took me out for hot chocolate. He picked me upandhe paid. I think he may be a smidge ahead of you,” I say, holding my index finger and thumb barely apart.

Ethan’s eyes widen for just a moment. Then he snaps his fingers. “That must be it. Did anyone see you together?”

I think of the group of girls I recognized at the coffee shop, but I just smile and shrug. “Maybe.”

“And,” I add, “I’m meeting Jaron at the game tomorrow.”

Ethan nods. “Okay,” he says, “Challenge accepted.” The bell rings and he waves as he heads quickly to class.

“What does that mean?” I call after him.

“Stay tuned,” he yells back.

I shake my head as I move to my next classroom. I’m not sure what he has in mind, but since it’s Ethan, I’m a little nervous.

Chapter Twelve

“I can’t believe we’re at a baseball game,” Stephanie says, moaning dramatically. She glances around as if we’re at a manure farm. She steps carefully past a group of giggling freshmen, her nose crinkling. “You know what? My FOMO is cured. I think we can go now.”

I grab Stephanie’s hand so she can’t escape. “You promised,” I say.

“Stop throwing that in my face,” she says, sticking her tongue out.

After finding some empty seats, Stephanie and I look around for Jaron. I don’t see him anywhere yet. But we didn’t exactly set up a meeting place or a time.

“Why are we here again?” Stephanie asks.

“Because Jaron asked me to come,” I say. “He got suspended from the team because of me, remember? The least I can do is be here for him.”

Stephanie groans. “Crap, I have to be nice to him, don’t I?”

I laugh. “He’s not like the other jock pops, Steph. Haven’t you realized that yet? Jaron is a really nice guy.”

“Except when he’s punching people in the face,” she says. “Or holding that over your head to get you to pick him. Those are two times when I wouldn’t exactly label him as nice.”

I nod. “I know, Steph. That’s why I haven’t decided yet. There are things I like and don’t like about each of them. That and…well…” I shift uncomfortably on the metal bleachers.

I don’t know how to finish what I was going to say. I try and change the subject instead, hoping Stephanie won’t notice. “Where could he be?” I ask, glancing down the rows of parents and students.

“Emma Lindsey Carpenter!” Stephanie uses my full name like an accusation.

“What?” I ask, glancing back to her.

“You like all the attention you’re getting from these guys, don’t you?”

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