by Debra Doxer
Putting an extra sway in my hips and flipping my hair back over my shoulder, I kept a moderate pace as I traveled the brick walkway to the main door. I pretended not to notice the eyes turning in my direction and staying on me, following my progression until I disappeared inside.
The interior of the school was generic with painted concrete walls and the metallic sound of locker doors banging in the background. Groups of students loitered in their individual groups. My heels clicked loudly on the green-and-white tile floor in the main lobby as I headed for the school office.
At five foot eight, I was taller than a lot of the girls and more than a few of the boys. With a passively pleasant expression on my face, I sauntered inside and caught the eye of a haggard-looking woman sitting behind the counter.
“Yes? May I help you?”
“My name is Candace Seaborne. I’m starting here today.”
Barely glancing at me, the woman began tapping on her computer. Somewhere nearby, a printer hummed. My father only called forty-eight hours ago to register me, but I wasn’t expecting any problems. When he said he would handle something, it was always handled perfectly with no detail left to chance. My only request was that I be exempted from gym class. I couldn’t stand gym, and if anyone could get me out of it, it was my father.
I was absently watching the woman who was helping me slowly lift herself out of her chair, obviously bothered by her knees or back, when a tall figure blocked my view. Looking up, I saw a blue-and-green flannel button-down shirt. Above it was a nicely chiseled face enhanced by baby-blue eyes and framed with overgrown dark blond hair.
He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “Please tell me you’re not a freshman.”
I returned his flirty grin with a coy one of my own. “I’m not a freshman.”
“Excellent news since I’m not a cradle robber.” He folded his arms and looked down at me. He had to be around six four or more.
“But you are presumptuous,” I said, taking the printed papers the woman was pushing in my direction. Her gaze traveled between the two of us, and she subtly shook her head with an indulgent smile.
His name popped into my mind as I was glancing at my schedule. I recalled an incident on the playground when he fell from the monkey bars and bit his own lip, causing a gush of blood to stream down his chin. I was good with names and faces, and I remembered his.
“Not presumptuous,” he replied. “Confident.”
With a knowing grin, I tilted my head at him. “How have you been, Ethan?”
His eyes widened slightly before narrowing in confusion. Then the easy smile returned. “Sorry, sweetheart, if we’ve met before I don’t recall it.”
Biting my lip, I acted disappointed. “That really hurts my feelings.”
His smile fell as he searched for something to say.
“I meant nothing to you, did I?”
Without waiting for him to respond, I turned and walked out, trying not to giggle too loudly. My guess was Ethan was a football player or a major player in whatever sport was popular here, and just as big a player among the ladies. He’d certainly grown up nicely.
Glenn Valley High School was fairly large, even though there wasn’t much to the town itself. But eventually I found my locker, used the combination on the printout I was given, and then closed it again since I had nothing to put inside yet. Following the numbers painted on the doors, I located my first period English class and walked in. The room was already half full, and when the bell rang, the remaining students poured inside.
Taking a desk in the back, I sat down and lowered my bag to the floor. As everyone was settling in, I ran a hand through my hair and looked around the room. A few students gazed curiously at me, probably wondering who I was. I averted my gaze nonchalantly, pulling a notebook from my bag.
The teacher, a surprisingly attractive man with a professorial look who would be more at home on a college campus flirting with coeds than here in this dingy old high school, looked down at his desk and then peered around the room. When his gaze landed on me and he smiled, I stiffened with anticipation.
“We have a new student today.” He cleared his throat and glanced at the paper again. “Candace Seaborne.”
All heads swiveled in my direction, and some low whispering began.
“Welcome, Candace,” he said before asking the students to open their books as he walked to a closet in the back. He took a book out, placed it on my desk, and returned to the front. It was a worn copy of The Great Gatsby. I perked up a little at the sight of it. I’d already read it and seen the movie.
Sitting back and crossing my legs, I let my gaze wander over the classroom again, trying to identify people by the back of their heads. The girls at the front, who seemed to recognize my name when the teacher said it, were socially inconsequential. I could tell by their slightly hunched posture and dark, nondescript clothes, whose sole purpose was to camouflage them from ridicule.
I was both listening to the teacher and sizing up the class when my casual scanning abruptly halted on a pair of astonishing hazel eyes looking back at me. It was their unusual color that I noticed first, calling to mind toffee ice cream with emerald sprinkles. They were sharp with intelligence and interest, and as I kept looking unabashedly, the mouth that went with those eyes hitched up into a half smile.
I slowly re-crossed my legs in the other direction.
His gaze followed downward before shifting up again. Then his eyes released mine as he faced forward, displaying the left side of his handsome profile with its strong, square jaw. Thick, glossy black hair curled around his ears and pushed back from his forehead.
This boy was not familiar to me. I would remember those eyes and that full mouth. Whoever he was, he was a standout, a major somebody here, and the fact that I’d already caught his attention was a very good thing.
When the bell rang, we all stood. I thought the guy with hazel eyes might wait to talk to me, but he didn’t. He walked out without a backward glance, which was a little surprising but perfectly okay for now. Patience. There was plenty of time. Maybe he had a girlfriend he was loyal to or he liked playing hard to get. Either way, I’d get his story, and maybe him too if I wanted him.
I was in the hallway, making my way to history class, when a tall girl with an hourglass figure stopped me. “Candy? Is that you?”
My smile bloomed and widened. “Parker?” Perfect.
“I can’t believe it.” She stood there taking me in as I did the same with her. She was prettier than I remembered, but her hair color was too brash. She was blond as a kid, but her roots indicated her hair had darkened over time while her chest and hips expanded. Parker wasn’t heavy, though. She was perfectly proportioned by Playboy standards.
“How have you been?” Her expression was one of exaggerated sympathy. She obviously remembered my mother died, but her sympathy was six years too late.
Restraining an eye roll, I bit my lower lip. “It was hard for a while, but I’m doing okay. I’m back living with my father.”
“Oh, that’s great,” she said, and I didn’t miss the hitch in her voice, the slight nervousness at some perceived competition.
“Thanks, Parker.” I let my game face fall and smiled openly, touching her arm, feigning gratitude for her warm welcome.
Her guard lowered a fraction as her eyes formed a question. “When do you have lunch?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m still sorting out my schedule.”
“Well, we’re in the cafeteria during second lunch. We sit at the round table right in the middle. Join us if you’re there.” She looked me over again, and I could see her mentally calculating whether she’d made the right call. Was I worthy of her group or was her invitation a mistake?
“Sure,” I answered casually. I had first lunch, but after history class I intended to remedy that. Based on how she looked, the use of the word we when talking about her group of friends, and the central table they obviously occupied, if she wasn’t the queen bee she sti
ll ranked high in the social stratosphere.
It was interesting how early social status formed. If my mother hadn’t gotten sick and my aunt hadn’t taken me away, I would have been right there with Parker, if not above her. Instead I’d struggled at my cousins’ school, without any friends, treated like an enemy from the moment I arrived.
My cousins, Kristen and Evelyn, resented my presence from the start. They had no sympathy for my situation, only animosity for me, especially Kristen. My grades were better, my looks were superior, and she wanted to punish me for it, but I made her sorry in the end.
***
Theo: Remember that guy who gave up? Neither does anyone else.
We weren’t supposed to be using our phones in school, so I read Theo’s text quickly before pocketing my phone again. After slipping into the bathroom, I messaged him back.
Me: What’s that supposed to mean? Who’s giving up?
Theo: My folks got me an inspirational quote calendar. There’s one for every day of the week. Are you inspired?
Me: Oh, geez. Do you plan on sending me a quote every day?
Theo: Just sharing the love.
The bell rang for second lunch.
Me: Gotta run. Are you in school today?
Theo: No.
Me: . . .
Theo: I’m fine, C. Get to class.
Me: OK. Call you later.
I hated that I couldn’t see Theo and gauge how he was feeling, because I knew he wouldn’t tell me the truth if he could help it. Pushing my way out of the bathroom, I decided to invite him down to visit next month. I didn’t think my father would mind, and the truth was, I missed him a lot more than I thought I would.
Ignoring the tiny knot of worry in my stomach and with my new schedule in hand, the adjusted one that included second lunch, I headed toward the cafeteria.
This was make-it-or-break-it time. For a new student, lunchtime in the high school cafeteria was like Lord of the Flies and Origin of the Species encapsulated into twenty-five minutes of hidden hostility and subtle savagery that had been known to make lesser students cry for their mommies. Since my mommy was long gone, I squared my shoulders, swung my hips, put on my game face, and headed for the round table set exactly in the middle of the large, noisy, brightly lit space. It was the only round table among a sea of square and rectangular ones, its singular shape like a beacon, projecting the fact that the people sitting around it were special, or at least they thought so.
There were eight seats at the table, and two were vacant. As I approached, I saw Parker sitting there along with Ethan from this morning, two other girls I recognized and could name if I concentrated hard enough, Malcolm (my former next-door neighbor before his family moved to a nicer neighborhood), and the boy with the hazel eyes from English class. How lucky for me he was part of Parker’s little group.
I approached the table with a deliberate look of indecision. Whether I sat there was up to me, not them. That’s what I wanted them to take from my expression.
“Hey, Parker,” I said nonchalantly, then I glanced at my watch. In my peripheral vision, I noticed their heads turning in my direction. “I’m not sure if I can stay. My schedule is kind of messed up, and I need to get it sorted out.”
“Candy, I heard you were back.”
I tried not to smile. Malcolm, my former neighbor who I was fairly sure had a crush on me back then, was the first one to speak. I flicked my gaze to him, feigning surprise. “Malcolm, hey.”
He grinned widely. Other than his thick neck and about two hundred pounds of muscle, he hadn’t changed much. He still had the same boyish face topped off by a buzz cut.
“You were messing with me this morning.” Ethan laughed lightly. “I knew you looked familiar. Sweet Candy’s back.”
I rolled my eyes. If I had a dollar for every time a guy said my name in a creepy tone with a leering gaze, I’d never have to work a day in my life.
At the sound of my name, the pretty redhead sitting beside Parker frowned. Crap. Now I remembered her. Once I’d collected earthworms after a rainstorm and put them in her shoes when she took them off to change for gym class. She couldn’t still be holding a grudge about that.
“Hi, Ashley.” I smiled at earthworm girl. “Love your top. Did you get that at Barney’s?”
Sitting up straighter, she preened for a moment. “No, actually. But, ah, thanks.”
Parker gave me a suspicious look. The girl sitting beside her leaned forward, looking for my attention.
“Hi, Lea.”
She grinned back at me, looking pleased that I’d remembered her.
“And that’s Jonah,” Parker stated, pointing at the guy with hazel eyes. “Don’t bother trying to remember him. He’s new, just moved here last year. He’s our wide receiver on the football team.”
Ashley giggled and elbowed Parker. “You didn’t even know what a wide receiver was until last year.”
“I had no reason to know before then.” She smirked in Jonah’s direction.
Of course he played football; he fit the jock profile perfectly. My ex was a hockey star at my old school.
I looked over at Jonah and when he turned in my direction, I was a little startled. From an angle, which was how I’d seen him in class, his appearance was one of male perfection. Now, as he faced me directly, I noticed a thin, jagged pink scar about two inches long that lined the tender skin along the outside of his right eye, causing it to droop a little lower than the left eye. If he weren’t so attractive, this imperfection might not be as startling, but as he looked at me with a combination of arrogance and appreciation, my body reacted. The scar didn’t take away from him at all. In fact, it added a dangerous element to his appeal.
Jonah seemed amused by me as he withstood my blatant perusal with a smirk.
“Are you sure you don’t have time for lunch?” Parker asked.
“Yeah, have a seat,” Malcolm said. “I could run up there and get you something.”
“Well . . .” I tore my gaze from Jonah’s and pretended to waver. “Maybe just a Diet Coke.”
“You got it.” Malcolm lifted his sizable girth faster than I expected and headed toward the vending machines lined up against the far wall.
“Is he on the football team too?” I asked as I pulled out a chair and sat down beside Jonah.
“They all play,” Parker replied. “But it’s such a waste of time. It’s not like college scouts are ever coming to Glenn Valley. If I were them, I’d put my energy into other things.”
Then she gave Jonah a suggestive look, but his expression remained impassive. There was no answering quip from him or flirting at all. Interesting. She wanted him, and he at least pretended not to care.
“Here you go.” Malcolm placed the soda in front of me, then went so far as to open it.
“Thanks.” I smiled and took a sip. Licking my lips, I turned to find Jonah staring at my mouth. When his gaze dragged up to meet mine, he shook his head as though he were laughing at himself for looking at me.
I tried not to frown. Was there something funny about me?
When I glanced back at Parker, she cocked an eyebrow, not a defensive one but more conspiratorial, seeming to tell me not to take it personally because Jonah was a tough nut to crack.
“So, what have you been up to, Candy?” Ethan asked. “Staying on the straight and narrow?”
“Straight and narrow? That’s not really my style.” I waited for his sly grin at my response and then tried not to roll my eyes when it predictably appeared.
“Why did you move away?” Ashley asked.
The table grew quiet. Malcolm nudged Ashley and then shook his head at her.
Swallowing, I looked at Malcolm. “It’s okay. It’s been a long time.” I focused on Ashley. “My mother died. I went to live with my aunt.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot.” But her expression didn’t appear sorrowful, and I got the feeling she hadn’t forgotten at all.
“Why didn’t you stay with your dad?”
Ethan asked.
Annoyed at the turn in conversation, I swallowed my desire to snap at Ethan. “It’s a long story, too boring to get into.”
“I doubt anything about you is boring,” Jonah said.
My attention shifted to him. It was the first time I’d heard his voice. It was low and gravelly, setting off an instant reaction in me, making my skin feel tingly and too tight. Crap. It was one thing to pretend to like Jonah for my own amusement or in case he could be useful to me later. It was another thing altogether to develop a real crush on him. That could not happen.
“Anyway, I’d better go take care of my schedule,” I said, standing up and holding my soda. In this first encounter, it was important to leave the table before them, and not the other way around. Waving my fingers in their direction, I strolled away.
The rest of the day went smoothly. I didn’t see anyone from the round lunch table again, which wasn’t surprising. I was in all honors classes, and I didn’t expect any of the others to be, except for Jonah. He was in my English class earlier and now was in my last class of the day, calculus.
I was already seated when he appeared in the doorway, and it felt like every cell in my body woke up. This was bad; even worse, it was stupid. Falling for the same type of guy who already broke my heart was masochistic. At least I was catching it early. I’d only met him today. I could quash this easily enough.
No longer in the mood to flirt, in more of a mind to avoid Jonah and the trouble he represented, I looked at my desk and scribbled in my notebook.
In my peripheral vision, I tracked him walking down the aisle I was sitting in and lowering himself into the desk beside mine. Sighing, with no other choice but to acknowledge him, I looked up, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was facing forward, sitting beside me but ignoring me. Was I supposed to believe he didn’t remember me? Lunch wasn’t that long ago.