I almost laughed, because believe it or not, Brady and Cam had actually done that. And look at where it got them. A whole year later, and both couples were still together. But I knew supporting Becca’s suggestion would somehow get me in trouble with her and Jayden. No matter how much I liked her idea, I wasn’t dumb enough to fall into that trap. “Don’t be silly. I’m excited to go with you,” I said to Becca, trying to appear eager. It was mostly true. I knew I’d have fun with her, but it wasn’t the same.
“Awww. I’m excited to go with you, too.” Becca grinned and wrapped her arm through mine. Then, when Jayden wasn’t looking, she winked at me. “I think we’ll have a lot of fun. Definitely more fun than Jayden and Logan will.”
I wasn’t sure if it was Becca’s intent to make Jayden jealous, but I had to bite back a smile when Jayden got snippy. “Perfect. Then I guess it’s settled. We’ll all keep our own dates.”
Becca made me sit up front on the ride home and blabbed my ear off about how pretty her dress was and how romantic it was that we were doing a picnic dinner. I didn’t mention that the picnic part was only because I was too broke for a nice restaurant and my friends were good sports. But she thought it was sweet and creative, so I went ahead and let her believe it. She was way more excited for Saturday than I’d realized, and I was a little surprised she was going on and on about it in front of Jayden. Especially since Jayden sat in the back, making angry eyes at us the entire time.
Right when I thought Jayden was about to snap, we pulled up at my house. She jumped out of the car, went straight to the porch, and threw herself down on the step. “I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with that,” I said to Becca as I opened the door.
“You can thank me later.” She laughed, then drove off. Whatever that meant.
“Are you going to be grumpy all afternoon?” I walked over and held out a hand to pull Jayden up.
“I’m not grumpy,” she protested as she grudgingly took it.
“If that’s you being not grumpy, I’d hate to be around when you are,” I said as I glanced up the street and saw the bus rounding the corner. “Looks like we left a little too late today. Come on.” I held on tightly and pulled her toward the street. It’s not like she couldn’t walk by herself; I just wanted an excuse to hold her hand. Luckily, she let me.
As we walked toward the bus stop, Jayden’s grip slowly became more relaxed. Once that happened, the tension melted away and was replaced with a zip of crazy electricity, zinging through my body. I was practically dragging her behind me, so it didn’t really count, but I was still holding her hand and I felt like a dork for being so excited about it.
We only made it halfway before the kids piled off the bus, so we stopped where we were and waited. Once we stopped moving, Jayden let go of me. I guess we weren’t at the just feel like holding your hand stage yet—but we would be soon. The kids saw Jayden and came barreling up the street to throw themselves at her.
“Oh, Jayden! We missed you so much. You’ve been gone forever,” Joy said, ever the drama queen. Jackson silently but eagerly nodded his head in agreement.
“It was one day, Joy.” I laughed at her.
Jayden jumped to her defense. “Hey. A day is a really long time for a six-year-old.”
“Yeah, Mikey,” Joy agreed.
“Yeah, Mike,” Jackson echoed dutifully.
Jayden grinned, pleased that the three of them had decided to gang up on me. Fine. If that’s how she wanted to get her revenge, then so be it. She grabbed my siblings, one by each hand, and started up the road without waiting for me. The twins rattled on about their days, and she was completely engaged. Whether it was for my benefit or theirs, it didn’t matter. The fact that Joy and Jackson were completely taken with her only made me like her that much more.
When we got to the house, I shoved my brother and sister through the door. “You two go in and get started on your homework. We’ll be there in a minute,” I said. Then I sat on the step and patted the spot next to me. She reluctantly sat down, putting some distance between us. Forget that. I scooted over until our arms were touching. “I’m sorry about what happened in the car. I don’t know what was going on with Becca. She was acting weird.”
Jayden sighed. “No, she was acting excited. And she should be. It sounds like you guys have a nice evening planned.”
“What is your group doing?”
“Heck if I know.” She laughed. “I bet Logan doesn’t know, either. He, Lucas, and Hunter are all pantsers.”
“Pantsers?” I asked, chuckling. I’d never heard the strange term.
“Yeah, as in fly by the seat of your pants.” Logan seemed like the kind of dill weed that wouldn’t plan his own homecoming date. “That’s why I want to go talk to them. I’m sure Levi has an awesome date planned. There’s no way he wouldn’t do something amazing for Summer. The rest of us should get a decent date by default.” She smirked.
“How come I haven’t met Summer yet?” I asked.
Jayden looked at me and rolled her eyes. “Because she’s lovestruck and sappy, and it’s too much for me. She and Levi are so sickly sweet, it makes the rest of us single people look like losers.” Jayden kicked at the sidewalk when she said that, then added, “I don’t need any help looking like a loser. I do fine on my own.”
This had to be about more than the car ride. “Okay, Miss Pity Party for One. What’s really going on?” I bumped her shoulder with mine.
“Nothing,” she grumbled.
“Yeah, I’m calling BS. I’ve got no desire to go inside and supervise homework, so I can wait for an answer all day, if I have to.” I leaned back and closed my eyes, as if I were settling in. It didn’t take very long before Jayden spilled.
“Do you think I’m a geek?” she asked.
“Ha!” I laughed once. “That’s random. Where did that come from?”
“Just answer the question,” she said dryly.
“Of course you’re a geek. But you’re the cutest geek I know, and that’s saying something.” I reached up and tapped the end of her nose, so she’d understand that I was teasing.
“I bet you don’t know any other geeks, so it’s actually not saying much at all.”
“Jayden, I was joking.” I sighed, then turned her head to make her look at me. “But even if I wasn’t joking, on the scale of geekiness—five being pocket protector and taped glasses, and one being king of the geeks—you’d totally be a one. And since I’m a five on the popularity scale—one being king of the cools and five being I’m only tolerated because my best friend is a one—that basically puts me on the same level as you. So honestly, what I think is completely irrelevant.”
“You’ve thought about how geeky I am enough to have a rating system in place?”
“You know I haven’t. It never even crossed my mind until right now when you asked me. Seriously, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She sighed and looked back down at her feet.
“Nuh-uh,” I said, as I gently grabbed her chin again and held it this time so she couldn’t look away. “Jay-dawg. Fo’ realz.” She rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the tiny smile that slipped out.
“I’ve been bothered by something my lab partner said after she saw us hugging in the hall. She basically told me to be careful, because cute popular guys like you only paid attention to geeks like us when they wanted to get in our pants.”
I snorted. “Is this the girl who told you not to be late for class? Because I saw her, and she was definitely a five on the geek scale. Maybe a six. You’re so far out of her league it’s almost tragic. To a level five geek, I probably look like a level one popular. Which means that she’s got her info wrong, and she doesn’t know what the heck she’s talking about.” I put on a cocky grin. “I’m also pretty sure she’s insanely jealous, because come on…” I motioned to myself, as if every girl wanting me was a given.
It was clear that Jayden wasn’t hearing a single thing I’d said, since she didn’t smack me or even give
me a dirty look. I knew how to get her listening. She wouldn’t like it, but I was going to say it anyway. “Unless you’re secretly upset because you were hoping I’d try to get in your pants?”
Bingo! She opened her mouth in fake outrage and raised her hand to slap me on the arm—because she loved doing that—but I knew it was coming and grabbed her by the wrist. Then she raised her other hand, but I grabbed that, too. In one swift move, I turned her away from me, pulled her onto my lap, and held her tightly against my chest. She was pinned.
“Dang, I’m good. I should have joined the wrestling team, too. Now, are you done trying to hit me?” I asked playfully.
“Depends. I thought you said you weren’t crude about sex?”
“You left me no choice. I had to say something to get your attention, since all the sweet and complimentary stuff wasn’t working.”
“Humph.” She grunted.
I dipped her back slightly, so I could look at her, without letting go. “Listen to me, very carefully. You. Are. Not. A. Geek. But even if you were, I wouldn’t care.”
“Do you honestly mean that? Or are you only saying it so I won’t hit you again?”
“Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye.”
“That can be arranged,” she said with a smirk, and all my will power vanished. This was the perfect moment for our first kiss. It’d be spontaneous, and sincere, and…
BAM! The television screamed from the living room.
…and completely ruined it. “Damn it!” I swore, releasing Jayden from my hypnotic love hold. “I’m going to kill those two.” I leapt to my feet and threw the door open, but my victims were nowhere to be found. “Joy! Jackson! Get your butts out here right now!” I bellowed, then walked in and shut off the TV.
Jayden was laughing hysterically. “Ten bucks says you have to go find them.”
“Ten bucks says I’m going to lose it before I do.”
“Didn’t they learn their lesson on Tuesday?” she asked.
“No, because they did it yesterday and got away with it. They thought they were so smart since they had the remote all figured out. I was busy making dinner, and I didn’t catch them—for like twenty minutes. They hadn’t done any of their reading, and I told them that next time they turned on the TV before it was finished, they’d be grounded.
“Then, this morning I set a trap. Our remote doesn’t control the sound bar, so I bumped it all the way up and left it on. When they inevitably tried to be sneaky, they wouldn’t know how to turn the volume down and they’d be busted.” I smiled at my ingenuity.
“Well, aren’t you the clever one?” Jayden teased.
“Yes, but it hardly counts. I should be able to get the jump on a couple of six-year-olds. I hope it scared them, at least,” I said with a little satisfaction.
“That doesn’t sound like the sweet older brother I know,” Jayden taunted.
“Trust me, only trying to scare them was the sweet older brother move. You’d understand if you lived with them.”
Jayden laughed. “I should go, then, so you can find them and deliver a swift punishment.”
“You don’t want to stay?” I frowned in disappointment. She hadn’t been here for very long. How was I supposed to recreate the mood if she left? I’d make Joy and Jackson pay for this one. I couldn’t punish them for ruining my kiss. But I could torture them. Daily back scratches for a week—good ones—while I picked all the TV shows. They’d hate that.
“I do, but I can’t. I need to practice for my recital. And shower, and get ready, and…”
“…iron your clothes.” I finished her sentence and pouted a little. “Fine, leave me alone with the spawn of Satan. I see how it is. Bail when the work gets hard.”
“Wouldn’t you?” She grinned as she backed across my yard and onto the sidewalk.
“No, because I’m a loyal friend. You don’t deserve me.”
“Hang in there, my loyal friend whom I don’t deserve.” She waved and left.
Jayden had mentioned her recital more than once, but hadn’t officially invited me. I only got the details because I’d asked for them. Maybe she hadn’t been serious, but I was. I was a very loyal friend. I was even more loyal as a boyfriend. I was an amazing boyfriend. Okay, I would be an amazing boyfriend. And Jayden was basically my girlfriend. She just didn’t know it yet. There was no way I was missing that recital.
JAYDEN
I stood on the stage at the performing arts center and stared into the sea of blackness. The stage lights were bright, and the house lights were dim. It was impossible to make out anything more than rough figures. It was best that way, though. Even after ten years of playing, I still got nervous to perform. Especially tonight, because I was about to do something risky.
I knew where my parents were sitting since I’d walked in with them. I glanced in their general direction and smiled, then raised my violin to my chin and hoped like heck I wasn’t making a punishable mistake. I had two pieces to perform tonight. The first was the customary classical composition, but the second was an extremely complicated fiddle solo from a bluegrass song that I liked.
I’d always wanted to fiddle. It wasn’t a lifelong dream or anything, but it was rowdy and fun and difficult. I’d gotten bored with Mozart and Beethoven and Chopin. I wanted to be stretched. Do something different and unique. My teacher thought it was a wonderful idea, and she helped me pick a challenging piece. I’d practiced relentlessly over the last few months—when nobody was home. Good old Dad would not approve. To him, the violin was classy and dignified. Even though it was the exact same instrument, the fiddle was not.
I started the classical number and closed my eyes as I moved with the music. I had the music in front of me in case I needed it, but I wouldn’t. It was a melancholy song with long bow strokes and oscillating dynamics. It was beautiful, and when I finished, the audience clapped politely. That’s what you did at a violin recital.
My music teacher announced the title and composer of my second selection from the side of the stage. I looked over at her, and she gave me a huge grin, sticking her thumb up to wish me good luck. I faced my audience—or maybe my executioners—brought my violin up, and pulled the bow dramatically across two strings at once. Here goes nothing, I thought. Then I unleashed the magic of my fiddle on the crowd.
I didn’t close my eyes this time, because everything moved so fast that I needed to pay attention. I didn’t sway with the music; it forced me to bob up and down or move in erratic patterns. My long ponytail swung side to side across my back. Eventually I forgot about how disappointed my father would be and let the music take me to a happy place.
When I’d finished, I was almost out of breath. I’d totally nailed it, and my sense of pride and satisfaction shot to an all-time high. I looked out at the darkened theater and smiled wide as the audience roared to life, clapping wildly and whistling. I took a small bow and hurried off the stage, lightheaded from all the adrenaline coursing through me.
“Jayden, that was fabulous!” my teacher said, wrapping me in a tight hug. I was the last performer of the evening, so she added, “I couldn’t think of a better way to end the recital.”
“Thank you. I had so much fun tonight. Probably the most fun I’ve ever had at a performance.”
“It showed. And that was the rowdiest applause I’ve ever had at a performance. I bet at least half of my students pick a fiddle piece for the next recital.” She winked at me, then started ushering everyone back on the stage for a final curtain call. After her closing remarks and one last bow, we were dismissed. I took my time putting my instrument away. Once I emerged, I was sure to get a lecture.
I headed toward the seating to meet my parents. My mom squeezed me tightly. “Jayden, that was absolutely wonderful. Why didn’t you tell me you were fiddling?”
“Because she knew I wouldn’t approve.” My father scowled.
I protested. “Dad, I don’t understand what’s so horrible about that kind of music. It’s
fun, and some of it is a lot more difficult than the classical stuff.”
“I never said it wasn’t difficult. Yours was obviously the best performance of the night. But fiddling is sloppy; it promotes bad technique. You constantly dropped your bow arm, and your wrist was too flat against the neck. Don’t even get me started on how bad your posture was.” This was the part where I tuned out. He couldn’t just give me a compliment. No, there always had to be a critique, and I was getting tired of it.
I’d given the best performance of my life, and he still needed to pick apart the little things. So what if my arm dropped too low? I was into the music, it was moving me. Lindsey Stirling danced while she played, for heaven’s sake. Her bow arm was all over the place and everyone still loved her, because she sounded awesome. No one gave a rat’s rear end about her posture. My father would probably correct her, though.
I was about to say something that’d likely get me grounded, when a voice from behind stopped me. “Excuse me, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I wanted to give my compliments to the artist.”
What was Mike doing here? And how much of that exchange had he overheard? Now I was angry at my father, and embarrassed on top of it. I turned to say hello, but when I saw Mike, all the thoughts rushed from my brain. My jaw dropped, and I stared wordlessly.
“What?” he asked, trying to appear innocent.
He knew what; he just wanted to hear me say it. “Nothing,” I squeaked, but it wasn’t nothing. He’d gotten a haircut, and he looked hot. No more shaggy, frosted tips. He’d also dressed up a little—a fitted polo and slacks. He was even wearing leather dress shoes and a matching belt. But the real kicker was that he was holding a dozen long-stemmed red roses. They made the bouquet of carnations my mother had given me look like weeds. “What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly.
He smiled, and I finally understood how blind I’d been. I was disappointed in myself because it took seeing him all polished up to recognize how handsome he was. He hadn’t met my incredibly high standards, so I hadn’t bothered to pay attention. Now, I’d never be able to see him any other way. He could come to school wearing a giant banana costume, and I’d still think he was hot.
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