Yet, there they all were, climbing into the stands to the very top level as I meandered through the grass, scoping out the crowd in search of Luke, in vain. I gave up and took a seat on the third row way down at the end. Why had I wasted a perfectly good ten minutes out here in the mid-October weather when I could have enjoyed solitude and quiet back in the school building? Oh, right, because Luke said he’d see me at the rally. I guess that whole stopping at my table thing had been cute, but nothing more than that. He hadn’t meant, “I’ll find you and sit with you during the rally.” It had been more a “You’re going, too—cool” kind of comment.
When would I figure out the signals this guy was sending me? I was not good at boy-girl interrelations. But it was Day 2 of my Challenge, and I sincerely prayed God did indeed have a plan for the mess I’d made yesterday. I wanted to be a good friend to Luke and so here I sat, waiting to see what would happen.
The metal bench creaked and lurched forward a millimeter as someone took the seat next to mine. “Hey.” It was Luke’s voice spearing through the roar and riotousness going on all around us. His hand clutched the bench and his fingers grazed mine.
A tingly sensation coursed up my arm, and I had an inclination to shiver, which sure wasn’t because of the sunny, seventy-two degree weather. I had to remind myself it was just my friend, Luke, with whom I was NOT going to homecoming.
I hoped my face hadn’t turned all pink and blotchy. The sight of him set my heart going about a thousand beats a minute. “I was looking for you,” I yelled over the bellowing multitude.
“Yeah, I saw you. We’re sitting over there in the middle.” He motioned to the non-football player jocks who had collected together for the pep rally. The idea of sitting there with all of them—with Luke—made me a little queasy.
“You know, I think I’m just going to sit right here.” I patted the bench and accidentally touched his fingers, and not just a brush. A full-on touch. And just as quickly as it had happened, I folded my hands together in my lap. No doubt, my face had now morphed into the magenta realm of the color spectrum. I focused on the cheerleaders on the field. “I’m not really one for pep rallies.”
Luke moved closer so I could hear him. “They are pretty loud. I think they’re even worse in the gym during basketball season.” His deep voice rumbled in my ear.
I needed to think clearly and make some kind of coherent response. “Yeah, because everyone starts stomping on the benches and floors.”
“Exactly! Really gets the heart pumping.” He meant that as a good thing.
I, on the other hand, could think of a million other things I’d rather be doing. This Luke-thing would never work. Not that it was really even an option. I’d come today to be nice since he asked, but no way could I go to homecoming with Luke. The expectations alone made my breath stick in my throat.
It wasn’t only my parents, either. I could just see the popular girls the Monday after homecoming, tapping their feet and shaking their heads while watching me walk down the hallway. ”There goes that Andrea Jamison, who thinks she’s good enough to be with Luke Ryan.” I shuddered this time, but I don’t think Luke noticed. He was busy clapping and howling with the rest of the crowd as the team members were introduced.
I leaned in near Luke, and he smelled really great—like something fresh and clean. He looked incredibly good in a suit and tie and I almost couldn’t speak. “I…I think I’m going to go back inside before the crowd converges.”
“Sure, OK.”
I’d assumed that to be the end of our conversation, but he turned his gaze to mine and smiled. “I’ll go with you.” Then he stood with me and took my hand to help me down the unsteady bleacher.
I thought I might just die then and there. Who was this guy? He was a seventeen-year-old gentleman. Did they even come like that these days? He was supposed to wear baggy shorts and have scraggly hair while he grunted rather than spoke to a girl, but instead this one had politely helped this girl down out of the football stands and planned to escort her back to her locker. Well, knock me over with a leaf blower.
Then I happened to glance up at my friends. The rest of A-Company were watching us. Angie gave me the thumbs up and all three smiled broadly.
What I wouldn’t have given to have had heat vision power at that moment. Then I could have easily turned them into smoldering embers with the look I bestowed upon them. However, I didn’t have time to think about them for long—not when Luke started talking to me.
“So, you don’t really do pep rallies, huh?” He smiled, but I sensed his curiosity as to why I’d told him I’d go today.
“I, uh…” Tense laughter erupted. I looked at him as he laughed, too. I didn’t have a clue what to tell him. My mouth opened, and I just started speaking without evaluating the consequences first. “You asked, and I went.” Oh, gosh! I’d told him the truth. I kept my eyes forward and cleared my throat.
What was he thinking?
Seriously, Amy needed to invent some non-invasive device that could read other people’s minds. Although, that might be just a tad bit too much of invasion of privacy. I sure wouldn’t want Luke to read my mind right now. If he could even interpret it. I have a hard time doing that myself.
“Well, I’m glad I asked, then.”
Why was he being so nice to me when I was such a freak? At some point, he would discover that I’m the type of girl boys dump right before all-important school functions. I’m just a superhero loving, church-going, piano playing, weirdo, and liar. And when he did figure all that out, he wouldn’t even remember my name.
I needed to change the subject. And it was getting way too hot. I twisted my sweater over my head, and then smoothed down the T-shirt I was wearing underneath. That was much better with the brisk breeze cooling my overheated cheeks. I needn’t have worried about our topic of conversation. Luke found a way to change it all by himself. Well, not really himself. I helped quite a lot.
We came to the door leading into the cafeteria. He pulled it open and smiled at me. His gaze took in my shirt.
Totally self-conscious, I wondered what was so funny about my wardrobe. I mean, I know I need a lot of help in that department, but really…then it hit me what was so darn fascinating. Hurrying through the doorway, I didn’t wait for Luke. Oh, how embarrassing! I was caught in a mess of my own making. And yet, I almost laughed. But not now. Now I had to get away from Luke Ryan and never talk to him ever again. Why had I decided to leave the rally early, anyway? At least if there were people around, he’d have less of a chance to embarrass me horribly.
“Andrea, wait up.”
I stopped in the hallway and started forcing my arms back into my sweater sleeves.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Luke jogged up to me and caught my arms, pulling my sweater back off.
“Now why would you want to cover up that shirt?” His mouth curved into a lopsided smile. “It’s a good shirt. Word has it that you’re actually a big fan of the guy in tights.”
“Listening to gossip now, are you?”
“Nope. I had a big clue.”
I pointed to my shirt with the big S inside the shield on the front. “This one, I assume.”
He shook his head. “I sort of saw the sticker in your locker yesterday. He’s my favorite, too.”
“He is?” I asked with what I am sure was a goofy smile on my face. Before I could say more, the entire hallway erupted into a cacophony of properly spirited people talking and yelling at each other. I hopped backwards away from Luke. The pep rally had evidently ended, and everyone zipped hither and yon toward their respective fifth period classes.
With a smile on his face, Luke handed me my sweater. “Geometry.”
We started into step together until we made it to my locker.
“I’ll see you inside.” And just like that, he took off to retrieve his own books, and I was left standing in the wake of all his wonderfulness.
~*~
Luke Ryan had literally taken my breath away. Di
zziness slashed around in my head just from thinking about it. I knew I shouldn’t even be entertaining ideas like these about Luke. I didn’t know where he went to church or when he became a Christian. You know, the important questions.
Why was it so important that we shared similar sentiments about a fictional superhero? I don’t know, but it was important. It made me feel more normal to know that a great guy such as Luke shared ideas like mine. The other questions were important too, and I would get to them at some point.
I tried to listen to Mr. Carter go on about the triangle inequality postulate. The sum of the lengths of two sides of any triangle is greater than the length of the third side. I wrote the postulate down. When I attempted to observe the drawing on the board, I got lost in the many highlights shining in Luke’s hair as I observed him near the front of the class.
I really needed to pay attention. There was a test Monday. Right. The test. My eyesight blurred again, and then Luke turned and looked at me over his shoulder and smiled. And like a dummy, I smiled back. Oh, why did I do it? Why had I done any of this? Why was I falling for Luke Ryan?
What?
No way! I was not falling for Luke. He’d just set me off balance, and once I got out of his sight and into English class I would be back to normal and nothing he said or did would ever affect me ever again. The way I kept staring at the back of his head, hoping he’d grant me another smile led me to believe that I was completely and utterly full of it. No, say it’s not so! I cannot fall for Luke! He will break my heart, and then I will never be able to look at another triangle again.
Maybe he sort of offered to take me to homecoming to be friendly, but no way could he ever care for me as more than a friend. I must guard my heart. I was suddenly reminded of that song my mom played sometimes that talks about guarding your heart more than anything because that’s where your thoughts and feelings start.
Shielding my eyes, I kept focused on the illustration in the book until the bell rang. Quickly as possible, I grabbed up my books and hopped out of my seat, hoping to exit the classroom before Luke. That didn’t happen.
He was waiting for me just outside the doorway.
Note to self: Must learn to exit classrooms swifter when attempting to avoid certain people. I walked through the doorway and kept going as Luke joined me.
“Man that was brutal.”
“Yeah, brutal,” I agreed. Although, somehow, I didn’t believe we were speaking about the same thing.
“Did you get all that? Because I know I’m going to need some serious study time before the test Monday. What do you think?”
I peered up at him. Luke really was very tall (like six one or two) which was good because I was taller than the average girl at five nine. “What do I think about what?” I replied, my voice coming out all sing-songy. In fact, I sounded like an idiot—an idiot, as in someone with an IQ of less than twenty-five.
“Maybe we could study for the test…together?” His dark eyes searched mine so earnestly.
How could I tell him no? Seriously, I don’t think I could’ve refused him. We’d studied before without the world falling apart. “Sure.”
“Great. I know you’re busy getting ready for the recital and all that, but maybe I could drive you home after school?”
My heart raced into overdrive at his suggestion. “Why would you want to do that?” The question just popped out of my mouth. But really—why?
He laughed. “Why not? It’s better than the bus, right?”
My parents would suffer severe major coronaries if they observed me turning up at home in the company of a strange boy whom they’d never had the pleasure of meeting. I had to find a way out of this.
Undoing my combination after we arrived at my locker gave me something to do other than staring blankly into Luke’s eyes. I knew what I should say. I should tell him “no,” but he would get the wrong idea if I kept refusing him. I really did like having him as a friend.
Even if he might move back to California or I might switch schools, I’d hate to lose that—especially now that we shared a similar interest. Despite that, I couldn’t let him drive me home.
Everyone would see us and then they’d get the wrong idea. Yes, word would be all over school by tomorrow. Did Luke not realize this? I was only looking out for his reputation. I scrunched my eyes shut for a quick second, and my stomach clenched. If it were just me, it wouldn’t matter. But this was Luke.
All the popular girls were keeping their eyes on him.
I turned to him and braced my shoulders back, but I couldn’t get my mouth to open. The refusal lingered in the back of my throat. Then my head bobbed, moving up and down while I stared into his eyes. I didn’t utter a sound, and it was like I couldn’t control my bodily movements.
Luke had looked a little concerned at my long bit of silence, but when I nodded in agreement his face broke out into one of his smiles that made me feel like butterflies swarmed around inside my chest—butterflies which had grown to prehistoric size.
“Cool.” He leaned into the lockers.
Oh, boy. I’d done it now. By accepting his offer, it was like I’d admitted something. Could Luke really like me? Like me—like me? It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t! Not only because it was impossible, but also because there were too many factors to prevent it from happening.
“Hey, Luke.”
Luke and I tore our gazes away from each other.
There stood Stephanie, still dressed in her cheerleading outfit. Here was one of those previously mentioned factors. Again, she only had eyes for Luke, as if I didn’t exist. She touched his arm. “Just making sure you’re planning to help with the decorating Friday afternoon.”
“Definitely.” He slid his gaze back to me. “Are you going to be able to come, Andrea?”
“I’ll have to check.” I focused on Steph. “I’m sure with these big, strong guys around you won’t even miss me.”
“I guess.” She gave a smug shrug before waving her fingers in Luke’s face. “See ya later.”
I slammed my locker and held my English books tight. I felt a bit of rage building beneath my t-shirt with the big S, and that is really weird because I hardly ever get mad…well, except when my friends embarrass me horribly.
“I guess I’ll see you after school,” Luke said.
“Yeah, after school.”
I watched as Luke walked down the hallway toward his locker.
Amy came up beside me. No doubt, she’d observed the whole scene as it played out. “Yep, he’s definitely wooing you,” she whispered near my ear.
“Amy!”
As if to prove her point, Luke glanced back at me and smiled.
“And I have to say, they sure know how to do it in California, like the way he led you down the bleachers.” Amy covered her heart with her hand and had a starry-eyed look about her. “So sweet. Must be the Hollywood influence.”
“Amy, he’s from one of those beach cities, not Hollywood. Get over it, please.”
As I stared down the hallway at Luke’s retreating form, the question I had for myself was—could I?
7
With school ended for the day, I collected my bouquet of daisies from my locker and inhaled the aroma. Amy was right; they smelled fresh. Not a glorious eruption of sweetness like a rose. Instead, they made me think of a big, open field with a huge, cloudless blue sky overhead. Boy was I waxing philosophical, but I couldn’t help it. A boy had given me flowers! And the boy who had given them to me…well, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“Who are the flowers from…Andrea? It is Andrea, right?”
Stephanie Ruiz appeared before my eyes. Just terrific. A confrontation was so not what I needed. She had a hand on one hip, and her expression wasn’t what I would call friendly. No, it looked more like she smelled the garbage the day after my mom made chicken for dinner.
She’d asked me two questions without even taking a breath. I wasn’t sure which one to answer. I decided to ignore the first and
answer the second. It wasn’t even her business who had sent the flowers.
“Yes, it’s Andrea.” I moved my bouquet to my right hand and slung it down near my side.
“I see you’ve been spending a lot of time with Luke Ryan these days.” Her nostrils flared as she made the statement.
I almost laughed out loud, but that might have been social suicide. Not that I had any real social status in this school, other than being friends with Alisha Andrews, who is the most popular girl in our class—though Steph would probably argue that point.
The action of her nose made me wonder if I had her worried. Me! As if I could ever compete with Miss Handstand. I straightened my chin and looked right in her eyes. For the first time, I felt totally undaunted. My Bible reading this week had stated over and over to trust in the Lord and have faith and courage in Him and not ourselves. If he could help Daniel with voracious lions, He could help me with the skinny mean girl, too.
“Luke and I are friends. We’ve been studying for Geometry together.” I tried to keep my tone friendly, but still—what had come over me? I’d never spoken to the student body secretary and cheer squad co-captain like that before. Wait—I’d only spoken a couple sentences to her in my entire life, and she’d never instigated a conversation.
“Has he asked you to homecoming?” She pursed her lips together, which was not becoming. It made her look all shriveled up with her thin face and nose.
I didn’t want to be mean to her. Two wrongs don’t make a right and all that. But was it right for me to lie down like her doormat and let her treat me like a second-class citizen?
My mouth twisted into a lopsided contortion. Then I crossed my arms while still holding my flowers. “Why do you want to know?”
“No reason.” Keeping a hand on her hip, she took a step closer to me. “It’s nothing personal; just business. Do yourself a favor and avoid homecoming. You’ll save yourself some grief, trust me.”
Andrea and the 5-Day Challenge Page 6