“Are you excited for lacrosse tomorrow afternoon?” he asked.
“Lacrosse?” I hadn’t heard a word about lacrosse.
“Gym class,” he clarified. “We have seventh period gym together. Remember?”
No. I hadn’t remembered. Obviously I did now, though. “Shit, I forgot about gym class.”
“Ah,” he teased. “Good thing I reminded you.”
“Yeah, good thing! I don’t think Mr. Peterman would be very happy about me taking another study hall because of poor preparation.”
Holden clicked his tongue. “Nope. He’s a really cool guy and all, but he’s no bullshit when it comes to participating.”
“So, I’ll be expected to actually play tomorrow? I don’t even know the rules.”
I could feel his smile reverberating through the line. “Don’t worry. I’m great at sports. I’ll have Peterman put you on my team and I’ll help you.”
Of course he would. Ever the dark knight, arrogant and chivalrous and maddening, though I had to admit I was beginning to find it almost…charming. It was completely Holden. I smiled despite myself.
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Okay? That’s it?” He teased me in a ridiculous falsetto, “No ‘No thank you, Holden. I have absolutely no desire for you to be the sweetest boy I’ve ever met in my entire life. Piss off before I tell you how I really feel!’” His laughter almost kept him from finishing. “None of that this time?”
My own laughter was uncontainable, though I tried. “Shut up!” But we couldn’t stop laughing at me. “All right, all right. I’m sorry about yesterday.” Damn, had that really only been one day ago? It felt like a solid week at least, so much was happening so fast. But this was Thursday night. Tomorrow was Friday, the last day of the week, and Wednesday had been my first day of school.
He expressed my sentiment. “Was that just yesterday? Shit…” He drug the last word out and it pulled another giggle from my throat. This really was embarrassing. I needed to tone it down a notch or he’d think I’d fallen at his feet.
“So what do you do while your parents are out?” I asked, subtly steering the subject in a different direction.
He was chewing on something and I heard him swallow. “Nothing exciting. Sometimes I play videogames, sometimes I watch a movie or listen to music. Tonight”—he took another bite—“I ordered pizza and I literally played Uno with myself.” I laughed and he chuckled. “Yeah. It’s true. I’m amazing.” He swallowed another bite; it must’ve been the pizza. “So what do you do when you have the house to yourself?”
I snorted. “Aunt Marge is a homebody. I never have the house to myself.” Though she was frequently outside tending her garden, I hardly thought that counted.
“Well, what if you did? What would you do?”
“Hmm…I’d probably jack the music up as loud as it would go…and paint.”
“Okay, so you like to paint?”
A blush warmed my face. “Yes. I like to read and write, too, but painting was a thing I inherited from my mother, so it’s special to me.”
I swore I could hear his head nod as he thought that over. “What do you paint pictures of?”
My sigh had nothing to do with boredom. “Well, I dabble in landscapes because that’s what Mom always painted. She preferred watercolors, though. I guess I’m a little more…bold? I generally prefer abstract and oil.”
“I’d like to see them sometime,” he said softly.
“Maybe I’ll paint you your own.” Where the hell did that come from? I cleared my throat. “I mean, yes. Maybe you’ll see them sometime. I’m not shy about my artwork.”
I could feel his brows furrowing. “I thought art was the window to the soul.”
I licked my lips. Heat curled up my neck and then flushed my cheeks. He wanted to see my paintings, believing that they’d give him a glimpse at a piece of my soul. He wanted to know me, too. Cade had mystique. Holden seemed to have everything else.
“Holden, how the hell…” I exhaled a deep breath. “How do you do that?”
His voice warmed a notch. “Do what?”
Confuse me? Captivate me? Curiosity was swelling, and I could feel his name on my tongue. Holden. I rolled it around in my mouth. Holden Michaels. I decided I liked the taste.
“So, how many classes do we have together, anyway?” I asked, changing the subject once again. “It seems like I’ve done a shitty job of keeping track so far.”
He grinned, I could tell. “Let’s see… Homeroom. Advanced Chemistry. Lunch…” I immediately thought of our confrontation in the cafeteria; hopefully he wasn’t reliving it, too. “Gym. And English. So, five. Well, three periods, anyway. Lunch and homeroom don’t really count as classes.”
I was surprised. I hadn’t realized he was with me for half of my school day. “Yep, I’ve done a shitty job.”
He laughed. “Am I really that unnoticeable to you? Don’t answer that.”
“No!” I protested immediately as I readjusted my position on my bed. “You’re not—I definitely—ugh. It’s just been a really difficult start to the school year for me. There’s been a lot going on, and I’ve had a lot on my mind. That’s all.”
“Uh huh. I see how it is. I guess I’m going to have to try harder to get your attention.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “You’ve already gone above and beyond to get my attention.”
“But it must not have been enough. Maybe tomorrow I’ll surprise you with something really crazy…”
He was totally messing with me. Right? “Holden…” I warned, but the stupid smirk just wouldn’t leave my face.
He chuckled. “Hang on, I think my parents just got home.”
“Oh, shit.” If the tingling sensation was anything to go by, then the color had just drained from my cheeks. “Should I let you go?”
“In a minute,” he said to me. Then to his parents he yelled, “Of course it’s a girl! Chase and I certainly don’t have intimate conversations ’til midnight!” Someone laughed in the background; I thought it was his dad. “Yeah, I know, I’ll get to bed soon.” Then back to me, he said, “Valerie, I have to go, but…” He hesitated, and I could almost see him licking his lips in the silence. “There’s a party Saturday night, back in the woods, a few blocks from my house… Will you go with me?”
Surprise tanked me like a brick. Oh my gosh! I mutely lipped the words, but I swore I could hear them fluttering in my chest. I took a deep breath and held it, contemplating every possible repercussion this reply might produce with a swift, rippling impact. Nothing would go unaffected. The axis of my entire world might shift.
But, that was sort of the point, wasn’t it? I wanted my life to turn in a totally different direction, to change in some unspeakable way. I couldn’t be the girl I’d always sought to be or I’d end up all alone one day, wondering where my life had gone.
On the other hand, was I being crazy again? It had just been the day before that Holden and I had had our confrontation in the cafeteria. Just earlier that very day that we had decided to become low-grade friends, and now I was trusting him to take me deep into the dark woods behind his house for a party? Maybe I was jumping the gun…a little.
But the party was Saturday night. Sienna would be in town by then. I was sure she’d be raring for a party, and if I had backup, it would be much more reasonable. Right? Right.
Cade faded into focus for a moment before I swiped a hand at his face, breaking him apart like disturbed water. It hurt to think that he was hiding our friendship from everybody, like he was ashamed of me or something. I knew I shouldn’t waste my time waiting on a boy like that when I had a boy like this currently waiting on me. Besides, one date with Holden didn’t mean I was giving up on Cade entirely.
“Valerie…” He called me back softly, dragging my thoughts back to the ground. “Please. Go with me?”
I exhaled slowly and a smile touched my lips. I think he somehow heard it down the line.
“Okay,” I con
ceded breathily. “Under one condition.”
“Name it,” he replied quickly.
“I get to bring a friend.”
He paused. “Which friend?”
I shrugged, and I wondered if he could ‘see’ it. “You’ll see! Deal?”
His smile was huge, I could just tell. “Deal. So, I’ll see you tomorrow then?”
“I guess so,” I agreed with the bat of an eye.
“Good. Because I can’t wait to surprise you with my crazy antics!”
Then he hung up.
Damn it, Holden! The curiosity swimming through my veins was full of electricity. Secretly I couldn’t wait for his surprise, and I hoped Cade was there to see it, too.
Chapter Ten
Friday was apparently game day.
Cheerleaders bounced around in skirts so short their legs looked a mile long. Football players strolled assuredly through the halls in colored jerseys and dark denim jeans. White numbers and letters, highlighted by orange, contrasted against the solid block of red. Even the band kids wore red collared tees with the school name and mascot, the Center Allegheny Bears, embroidered in orange and white over their hearts.
Teachers, too, with their polos. Students wore jerseys with their favorite player’s number, CAHS football tees, or any random CAHS shirt they had lying around. Some even sported their own homemade designs.
It was a little overwhelming. I didn’t remember there being so much football hype when I’d been there before, but then again, my classmates and I had been mere freshmen at that point. Now, we were the big bad seniors. We yielded the seasoned players. We were the crew and the team—or, I guess, they. I wasn’t sure where I fit in, exactly.
I made my way to my locker feeling more than a little naked, but trying to play it cool. At the far end of the hall, right where my locker was supposed to be, a jock stood with his hands behind his back. I couldn’t see his face, but I could make out his number clearly: three.
The closer I got, the more Number Three morphed into a solid person. A smile spread easily across his lips. His brown hair was gelled to perfection, spiking up in a wave at the front. His hands moved from behind him and he held up a ladies jersey, a feminine replica of his own. It was white, though, with red and orange accents. Away colors, not home.
“Wear my number?” he asked me almost coyly.
The tiny smile on my face grew wider. “Oh, Holden.” I slid past him and began working my lock. He leaned on the locker to my right—Loren’s locker. The smile fell right off my face. “Tell me Loren’s head cheerleader?”
He grinned infectiously. “She’s not a cheerleader at all. Why? Are you jealous?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Of that bitch? No. But she’s a damn tank for how reedy she is, and I’d rather not get my ass kicked by her again if I can help it.”
His features hardened. “Run that by me again.”
“Loren,” I sighed. “She kicked my ass yesterday over you. Don’t!” I yelled as I grabbed his wrist and yanked him back. “Don’t you dare go looking for her. You’ll only make it worse for me.”
“Fine. But, Valerie…” He shook his head as he tried to work it out. “I think you’re confused.”
“I was confused yesterday, but it’s crystal clear now. She said, and I quote, ‘Stay away from him.’”
He looked skeptical. “Him? Not my name, specifically?”
Ugh. The lock wouldn’t open. I spun it and spun it and kept missing the numbers. “No, not specifically, but it was you. I asked if it was about what happened in Advanced Chem and she said, ‘I saw the way you looked at him’ like a total bitch. She had to have been pissed about you flirting with me. Kissing my hand, maybe?”
I shoved him lightly in the chest, but he held my hand there. “I’m sorry, Valerie, but I really don’t think this is about me. Are you okay though?”
“Yeah, I’m fine now. I just wouldn’t prefer a repeat, you know?”
“I do know. In fact, I’d like to escort you to your classes today to make sure she doesn’t get cute with you again, if that’s okay?”
Cade would shit a brick.
I pursed my lips in thought. “Fine.” I slipped my hand from his grasp, whipped my head quickly toward my locker, and began decoding the lock again. That time it worked, and I was immediately surrounded by the sweet scent of roses. A dozen, to be precise. They were red, orange, and white—school colors. I peeked around the tall metal door at Holden. “Did you…?” His responding grin said it all.
He held up the jersey again. “Come on, Val. Wear my number?” Then he pouted. It was an exaggeration and I knew it, but he’d gone to such lengths! I snatched it out of his hand and slipped the silky fabric over my head.
“Happy?”
“Very,” he replied smoothly.
“If she kicks my ass again, I’m kicking yours.”
He looked me up and down. “I do not doubt that.” Then his brown eyes landed softly on mine. “It’ll be fine. I’m walking with you, remember?”
“How could I forget?” I muttered as I grabbed my morning books.
We strolled into homeroom together, but once inside, we went our separate ways to our seats. I was glad he wasn’t milking it any further. Walking me directly to my seat would have felt way too childish, and a little more possessive than protective.
I glanced at him quietly. He winked at me from the far left side of the room, and I darted my eyes back to my desk. My cheeks blossomed peony pink.
When I built up enough courage to peek at Cade, who sat directly to my right, I immediately wished I hadn’t. He looked thoroughly livid as he stared straight ahead, boring a hole into the painted cinderblock wall. His anger made me squint and recoil, it was so bright and white-hot. Carefully, he avoided all eye contact with me, still playing his one-sided game.
I took a deep breath and faced the front myself. We could all play this little game, couldn’t we?
Loren turned in her seat, her face breaking my distraction. Well, all could play but Loren, I guessed.
She was smiling smugly. Her lake blue eyes practically sparkled. “Holden Michaels, number three, huh?” she asked as she gave me a crude onceover. “Banging the quarterback…”
The what? Ugh… Of course.
Then her eyes turned to evil slits. “I thought you knew better than that.”
“I am not ‘banging’ him, Loren. Not every girl is quite like you.”
She scoffed. “Obviously.” Leaning a bit closer, she whispered, “Obviously, you didn’t take the hint after our little chat yesterday. I think we should discuss things further, maybe after school today?”
“I’m busy,” I bluffed.
She laughed. “What, with all your friends? I can see they’re simply swarming the gates.”
One of the cheerleaders, Charlene Lowery, spoke up. “She’s going to Holden’s game tonight, Loren. She doesn’t have time for your jealous bullshit.”
I thought a muscle in Cade’s arm twitched, but other than that, he ignored our bitchy argument completely. Getting a genuine reaction out of him was apparently next to impossible.
“I am,” I agreed with a daring smirk.
“Maybe behind the bleachers, then?” Loren’s glare could have sliced the dust motes in the air.
I scoffed. “Oh please, Loren. I’m not going to the game to see you.”
I wasn’t supposed to be going to the game at all, but plans change…and if it kept me from another immediate fight with Loren and put a thorn in Cade’s side at the same time, then I’d definitely show some face in the stands. It might even make Holden happy, and for some reason, that thought made me happy.
The bell rang. Cade rose casually and strolled through the door without a second glance, but there was a tension riding his shoulders that was strong enough for me to notice. I smirked.
When I looked up, my eyes found Holden. He was waiting patiently for me to leave my seat.
“Are you okay?” He seemed genuinely concerned. “I saw Loren
getting in your face.”
I stood and stretched my back, then my neck. “Yeah, she was, but she didn’t throw a punch yet, so that’s promising. She did try to schedule one, though.”
“When?” he asked as he guided us out of the room.
“Today after school. But Charlene got involved and told Loren I was going to your game after school today, and that I clearly didn’t have time.”
“You’re going to my game?” he asked excitedly. “By the way, where are we headed?”
“Calculus with Mr. Branson,” I said as I pointed down the hall toward the stairs. “And, I guess I am going. Not like I can change my story now, huh?”
He readjusted the books at his side and glanced over my way. “I’m glad you’ll be there. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For accepting my gifts.”
Incredulity spread across my face like an oil. “Seriously? I mean, you’re welcome! But you don’t have to thank me for that. I’m the one who should be thanking you. The roses are beautiful.”
“You’re welcome.” He grinned at the floor.
“Don’t go getting all shy on me now,” I teased. We bounded up the steps in a line of other students. “On another note, why didn’t you tell me about your game last night on the phone?”
He shrugged. “If I had to choose between you going to the game and you going to the party, I’d choose the party. I won’t get to see you much at the game, but I’m totally pumped that you’re gonna be there.” He smiled wide. “At the party, I can spend all my time with you, and that sounds like time very well spent.”
I stopped and leaned against the wall in front of Mr. Branson’s room. Holden braced himself around me. Our noses nearly touched.
“I like this sweet Holden a lot more than the asshole Holden I met on Wednesday.”
He licked his lips before smirking. “I like the Valerie who’s not afraid to give me a chance much more than the Valerie who shut me down on Wednesday.”
The Essential Elements: Boxed Set Page 9