When the last student receives a detention slip, Mr. Zagan offers no words of welcome or good morning to the class—he simply stands and begins his lecture as though he’s been grievously interrupted mid-sentence. His voice is dry and free of inflection, as though he’s bored. It’s soon clear Mr. Zagan could make puppies on Christmas morning seem dreadful. The hour drags by, and the monotony of his voice lulls me to sleep. A foot kicks mine—Josh.
“You’re snoring,” he whispers.
“Was not,” I whisper back.
“Okay.” He shrugs. “Don’t say I didn’t tell you.”
I pry my heavy eyes open and focus on the lecture, but moments later I’m again jolted awake, this time by the bell to change classes.
“Not sleeping, huh?” Josh laughs.
I’m caught and I know it, but after a mostly sleepless night, I’m not at all in the mood. I shoot Josh a death glare, but he laughs louder. Irritated now, I gather my things and stalk into the hall, where I’m nearly knocked to the ground by the solid body of none other than Zach. My breath whooshes out of me.
“Whoa!” Zach’s arm steadies me. “In a hurry for your next class?”
“Nah,” I growl and flip my thumb toward Josh as he reaches my side. “He’s being a smartass and I needed to escape.”
“She fell asleep in Zagan’s class.” Josh defends himself. “Dude, she snores!”
“Good to know.” Zach wiggles his eyebrows, earning himself a snort of laughter from Josh.
“So what are you doing here, anyway?” I ask Zach.
He shrugs. “Came to walk you to your next class.”
“Why?”
“Do I need a reason?”
I lift an eyebrow. “Yeah.”
“Okay. Because I want to.”
“How’d you know I was here?”
“You’re not very good at this, Abby. I saw your schedule yesterday. Remember?”
Heat creeps into my cheeks. “I forgot.”
“I didn’t.” He smiles.
Obviously. My heart thumps in my chest. I stare into Zach’s nearly black eyes and search desperately for a witty response.
“Hey, you two! I’m still here!” Josh waves a hand between Zach and me. “I hate to interrupt your mating ritual, but a little less rudeness would be appreciated.”
“We’re not—what?” My face floods with more scorching heat. “Oh shut up, Walt!”
“Good comeback,” Zach snorts.
Josh throws his hands palms-up in front of him. “Hey, I just call it like I see it!”
I steal a glance at Zach. His lips twitch. I wince and mentally begin planning my revenge on Josh.
“C’mon, Abby.” Zach laughs. “Let’s get you out of here before your face goes up in flames. See ya, Josh.”
“Later.” Josh’s voice is singsong, grating on my last nerve.
I’m mortified—so embarrassed I can barely look at Zach. What’s his game? I wonder. I know I’m not ugly, but I’m not beautiful and I’ve only been here two days. I eye him suspiciously as he walks beside me, navigating us through the crush of students. We’re almost to my next class when he bumps my shoulder with his own.
“Hey—don’t be embarrassed. Josh was kidding.”
“I know.” I can’t meet his eyes. “I’m just—why are you walking me to class?”
“Because I want to. I want to get to know you better.”
“What about Trish?”
Zach’s eyebrows draw together. “What about her?”
“She won’t be happy to see us together. She’s in my next class.”
“Okay…and that’s a problem…how?”
“Aren’t you two a thing?” I challenge.
He laughs. “No—we’re not a thing. We dated last year, but it’s been over forever.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yes, she knows. Don’t worry about her.”
“Easy for you to say,” I mumble.
Zach stops outside Mr. Hedrick’s classroom and pulls me off to one side, allowing others to pass through. “What are you doing tonight?”
My brain freezes. I can’t just say, “Oh, not much. Just grabbing a free meal with the fam and half the indigent population of Rochester at the Salvation Army. I hear they’re having tuna noodle surprise—I can’t wait! Then we’ll just head over to the Walmart parking lot and have a camp-out in the back of Mom’s van. No s’mores this time, though. You know—same ol’, same ol’. What about you?”
“Family stuff,” I say instead.
“Wanna go see a movie?”
Oh crap! My mind spins with lies, so I stall. “Why?”
Zach’s dimple deepens in his cheek. “Asked and already answered at least once. So what do you say?”
“I—can’t. We’re still trying to get settled after the move, so my mom expects me home to help out. Maybe another time?”
What the hell, Abs? Another time? If I’m serious about staying away from Zach, there can’t be another time.
“Sounds good,” he says. “Find me at lunch?”
“I—Josh is expecting me, I think.”
“Okay. Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow.” The agreement slips out before I can stop it this time. But really, how many times can a girl be expected to say no when her heart is screaming yes!?
Zach’s face lights up. “Tomorrow, then.”
“Yeah,” I say more firmly, mentally smothering the voice of reason inside my head. “Tomorrow.”
Still standing outside of the classroom, we grin stupidly at each other.
I clear my throat. “I—I should probably get to class.”
Zach’s face flames and he nods. “Oh, yeah. Me too. Tomorrow, then?”
I nod. “Tomorrow.”
He winks, then turns away and walks toward his next class. Watching him, my heart races. I lean back against the wall and bite my lip, but I can’t suppress my smile as I replay in my head every moment of the last forty-five seconds.
“Best find a seat, Ms. Lunde.” Mr. Hedrick startles me and I flinch. “The bell should be ringing soon and I’d hate to give you a tardy on your second day.”
“Yes, sir.”
I enter the room and scan my surroundings. Trish has arrived ahead of me and is sitting in the seat I took yesterday. Our eyes meet and she smirks. I’m too happy to care so I select a seat near the back, behind a girl with thick brown hair. Her green eyes are hidden behind outdated glasses. With a little makeup and the right haircut, she’d be gorgeous, but her natural, earthy style suits her.
She leans back in her seat and whispers, “Don’t let her bother you. Karma’s coming for her.”
“Thanks. If you find out when that’s expected to happen, let me know and I’ll add it to my calendar.”
The girl laughs. “I’m Amy.”
“Abby,” I reply.
The bell rings and Mr. Hedrick closes the classroom door. Like last period, my eyes are heavy and sleep calls. I close them, promising myself I won’t fall asleep. I’ll just rest my eyes while I listen. But I do fall asleep, and the bell to change classes startles me awake once again. I’ve missed the entire lecture. Now I may never know how the miscreant Guy Fawkes met his demise.
Mr. Hedrick stops me as I leave the room. “You’ll need more sleep if you want to make it through this class, Ms. Lunde. I cover a lot of material you won’t find in the textbook.”
My heart plummets. I bite my lip to stave off the angry tears burning the backs of my eyelids. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
I’m almost out the door when Trish’s overly-chipper voice reaches me. “You can’t hoot with the owls at night, Abby, if you want to soar with the eagles in the morning.”
My vision blurred by tears, I rush out of the room and run smack into a rock-hard body for the second time today.
“Whoa! Ariel!” Josh catches my fall. “Who peed in your Froot Loops?”
I glare at him. “Very funny. I’ve just had a rough day.”
&nbs
p; “Oh no!” The edges of his lips tip down. “Are you gonna cry?”
I swipe at the lone tear that defies me by escaping and shove past him. “No.”
“Yeah, whatever.” He races to my side and throws an arm around my shoulders. In his best carnival-barker’s voice he continues, “Come with me, Chickadee! I’m a man with a plan! I’ll bring your smile back in style. I’ll turn your frown upside down.”
It’s impossible to stay upset around Josh. He makes me laugh when I really want to cry or rage at the world, and I love him just a little bit for doing so. I smile my thanks and match his pace as we walk to our chemistry class. By the time we arrive, I know I’ve found my first true friend at this school.
“ARE YOU SITTING with us at lunch, or have you got a hot date with Zach?” Josh asks after chemistry.
“No hot date. But he did ask me to have lunch with him. I said you were expecting me. I hope that’s okay?”
“Sure, but why would you sit with us when you can sit with Zach? He has a thing for you, ya know.”
“I know, but I’m not sure I trust him.”
Josh quirks an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“For one, I just got here yesterday. Why would he want to hang out with me? He knows nothing at all about me. And, if I can ignore for a minute that he seems really nice and is completely hot, we really have nothing in common.”
“Do you like him?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I mean, I guess—what I know of him, at least. I just don’t get what he sees in me.”
“Well, that’s obvious! You’re new and you’re cute. Rochester’s a small town, and most of us have known each other since preschool. Those things alone are enough to make almost any guy here want to ask you out. And it’s not only Zach who’s into you; it’s just he got there first.”
I stop walking and turn to him. “What does that mean?”
“Just what it sounds like. Zach’s already shown an interest in you, so other guys will stay away. He’s staked his claim.”
“Like…what?” I frown and put my fists on my hips. “Like there’s a Post-It Note stuck to my forehead reading, ‘Property of Zach’?”
He shrugs. “Not exactly, but something like that.”
“I’m not property.”
“Of course not. It’s—a bro code thing. You wouldn’t date a guy your best girlfriend liked, would you?”
“Well, no.”
“Exactly—bro code or, in your case, girl code. Zach’s a good guy. Give him a chance.” Josh resumes walking, leaving me behind.
“Okay, fine,” I say, catching up. “What about you, then? How do they know you haven’t staked a claim?”
Josh stops walking again and studies me. “Tell me you don’t have a thing for me, Ariel.”
I snort out a laugh. “Of course not. I mean—not that you’re not—I mean—I already think of you as a friend.”
He throws a hand up. “Say no more. We’re good.”
I let out a relieved breath as we resume walking. “You still haven’t answered my question, though. Why doesn’t this bro code apply to you?”
Josh laughs. “Seriously, Ariel? You need to swim to the surface and be part of our world. How could you miss knowing I prefer guys?”
I stop walking and my jaw drops. “What? You’re gay?”
He touches his forefinger to my chin, pushing it closed. “You’re catching flies, Ariel.”
“But how? I mean—you don’t look gay,” I blurt out.
Josh lifts an eyebrow. “What is gay supposed to look like?”
“I—I don’t know. I’ve never really known anyone who’s gay.”
Josh stares at me, his expression guarded. “Well, now you do.”
“Wow. But…you’re sure? I mean—”
Josh’s blue eyes lose their sparkle. He shrugs, but the expression is less “I don’t care,” and more “I misjudged you.” He turns away and continues toward the cafeteria, throwing over his shoulder in a flat voice, “Trust me, I’d know. But, whatever. Are you coming or what, Abby?”
His use of my real name is a punch to the gut. I hurry next to him and place my hand on his bicep, halting his progress. “Wait! I’m sorry! Please don’t be mad! I didn’t mean it like it sounded. I just meant—oh!” I press my palms to my hot cheeks. “I’m making this worse! I just meant—I was surprised. I’m so sorry—I’m such an idiot! I like you, Josh! Dammit—I wish I did have fins so I couldn’t put my feet in my mouth. Forgive me? Please?”
I wait in agonized silence as he studies me, but a tiny sparkle of humor flashes in his eyes just seconds before a smirk lifts the corners of his lips. “So—does this mean I don’t have to find another redhead to play Ariel?”
I gasp. “Don’t you dare! The part is mine and I’ll drown the girl who thinks she can take my place!”
“Ooh! Savage! I like it!” Josh takes my hand and weaves our fingers together. With a quick squeeze, he says, “If I was straight, we’d make a kick-ass couple.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT ZACH. SINCE AGREEING TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HIM TOMORROW, THEN THE discussion with Josh about being “claimed,” he’s all I can think about. I know I should stay away, but is it wrong to want a little bit of happiness for as long as I can get it?
“Listen up, people!” Mr. Thompson shouts over the shuffle of movement and conversation at the end of class. “Remember to stay current on your reading so we’re on the same page when I open discussion tomorrow.”
I stand to leave, but Zach stops me. “Can I drive you home?”
I offer an apologetic smile. “No, but thanks. My sister is waiting for me to pick her up, then I’m stopping by the The Daily for a job application. After that I’m studying at the library.” I blow out a breath—it takes everything in me to say no, when I want more than anything to say yes.
“I’ll take you. It’ll give us a chance to hang out for a while. What’ll your sister do while you’re filling out the job application?”
I shrug. “She’ll go with me, I guess.”
“C’mon.” He smiles, showing off the dimple in his cheek. “I’ll drive and stay with your sister while you apply for the job.”
I should say no, but my lips won’t form the word. Taking my silence for a yes, he takes my backpack and throws it over his shoulder.
“Zach…wait.” With no other choice, I follow him toward the exit.
“C’mon, Abby. I know you want to say yes. Are you afraid of me?”
He’s teasing, but my fight instinct kicks in, taking it as a challenge. “Hell no, I’m not afraid of you! I’m not afraid of anyone!”
Zach lifts an eyebrow. “You sure?”
I stare at him a moment then blow out a resigned breath. “Fine. But you’ll be bored.”
“Is that a dare?” He arches an eyebrow again.
“No.” I laugh. “It’s a fact.”
“We’ll see.”
We reach the parking lot, where the window-painted SUV is in the same spot as before. This time I’m prepared and ignore it. As we approach a black Audi with tinted windows, Zach pulls a key fob from his pocket and presses it twice. The Audi’s headlights flash at the same time its horn chirps. I stop in my tracks, gaping stupidly.
“Are you kidding me?” I ask.
“What?” His eyes cloud in confusion.
“An Audi, Zach? Is this your car or your parents’?”
He narrows his eyes, choosing his words carefully. “It’s mine. Why?”
Once again reality crashes in on me. I’d figured Zach was rich, but the level of privilege is beyond anything I’d imagined. Even when I had my own car, it was ancient. We never could’ve afforded an Audi—not for Mom or Nick, and definitely not for me.
“You realize most kids don’t have Audis, right? I mean, my car is manufactured by Fred Flintstone. It’s my feet!”
He shrugs. “Yeah, well—it was a gift for my eighteenth birthday. My parents work hard and don’t have a lot of time to spe
nd with me, so sometimes they compensate with big purchases.”
“What do they do?”
“What?”
“Your parents. What do they do?” I ask again, slower this time.
“They’re both at the Clinic. My mom’s an ENT surgeon, and my dad’s a pediatrician.”
“So your family’s rich,” I say, my voice flat.
“No, we’re not rich, just comfortable. Is this a problem?”
“Well, yeah, Zach. It kinda is.” I cross my arms over my chest. “We don’t have anything in common, and I can’t keep up with your kind of money.”
His mouth opens and closes as he searches for a comeback. “Nothing in common? How about the fact I like you and want to get to know you better? I know you feel the same.”
“It’s been two days, Zach, not two months. You know nothing about me.” I yank my backpack from his shoulder and turn to walk away, but he grabs ahold of the strap and stops my progress.
“Wait!” His eyes are pleading. “Tell me you’re kidding. It’s a car, Abby. Is this, like, reverse snobbery or something?”
“No, it’s not snobbery of any kind, Zach. I like you, but I don’t see this going anywhere. Why would you want to hang out with me, anyway? Isn’t Trish more your style?”
“No.” His lips form an angry line. “You don’t get to do that—you don’t get to bring Trish into this because something else has you spooked. Get this, Abby: I like you. I want to spend time with you and get to know you better. How does what I drive have anything to do with whether we can be friends—or more?”
I release a tired sigh. “Because it would never work. I can’t afford the things you have, and you’ll eventually be embarrassed by what I don’t have.”
“Stop!” Zach runs a hand through his hair. “You’re making assumptions about me when you know almost nothing, and that’s not fair. If you don’t like me, say so. But if you do—even a little—then I deserve a chance. We’ll take it one step at a time and see where it goes. Don’t be a snob.”
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