Mandy and Audrey had managed to find alternative forms of transportation for today, but I could’ve used their help lugging my giant poster across campus. A slight breeze battled me for control over the heavy cardboard. I held it as tight as I could in my arms and prayed that I didn’t run anyone over.
I should’ve known my luck would run out. It was that kind of week. But as I collided with something on the sidewalk, I heard an ear-splitting shriek.
“Trina Frye, you watch where you’re going!”
Dread burst inside my gut. Of all people, I had to run into Savannah Keys. It really wasn’t my week.
“Sorry, Savannah.” I set the poster down on the sidewalk and did a quick visual sweep of the girl standing in front of me. She wore a beautiful creamy knitted dress with knee-high boots and large dangling gold earrings. On her face was a look of disgust, but otherwise, she seemed to be okay. “I couldn’t see over this thing.”
“Obviously.” Her perfect nose wrinkled. “You could’ve ruined my new boots. Be careful next time. My dad brought these back from his trip to Italy. They cost a small fortune. They’re practically irreplaceable—”
I didn’t hear the last few words of her lecture. A buzzing filled my ears as I looked over her shoulder. Polly and Mason stood together on the steps to the school. He had his hand on her elbow and was smiling — yes, smiling — at her. I didn’t think I’d ever see such a thing. They were everything I’d always imagined them to be.
The perfect couple.
The sight made me feel like I could crumble to pieces right there on the sidewalk and blow away. My heart had stopped and there was no telling when it would come back to life.
“You know, she broke up with Ethan Richards, right?”
I stared at Savannah as if she’d just admitted to being the mastermind behind Banksy’s incredible street art. “What? She did?”
“Yep, at my party on Saturday.” Savannah moved next to me and joined in staring at the couple. Now, it was Polly smiling up at Mason. My heart was literally cracking in half. “It wasn’t much of a surprise. They were always fighting.”
So, this was it. Polly had broken up with Ethan and all the obstacles were clear. Mason could finally win her back. I should’ve been absolutely thrilled for him. The old Trina would’ve put on a beaming smile and gone over to congratulate him. Instead, I felt like kicking my poster over and stomping on it. It was a strange and foreign feeling.
This was everything we’d worked toward. The plan. Ugh, how I hated those words now.
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Savannah asked suddenly.
I blinked and looked over at her. Shock coursed through my body. “W-what?”
It felt so strange to even entertain the question, let alone be asked by Savannah, of all people. Was this all a strange dream? I pinched my arm, hoping I’d wake up soon.
“You’re in love with Mason.” Savannah cocked her hip and placed a hand on it. Superiority was written all over her face. “You know, it didn’t take me long to figure it out. You should see yourself staring at him. It’s kind of like how the cheerleader at the top of my pyramid stares at Hershey bars when we’re in competition mode.”
“I...” My mouth had suddenly gone dry. Okay, so not a dream. “I don’t...”
“Well, let me give you the same advice I gave my girl,” she said, pursing her lips. “Boys and candy are a lot alike; they’re both extra weight. Forget him and move on. I mean, you could use a manicure and your ends are split, but you’re one of the prettiest girls in this school. You’ll find someone.”
Disbelieving laughter spilled from my mouth. I wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or an insult. Audrey and Mandy would’ve chosen to see the bad in Savannah’s words, but I could tell that she was genuinely trying to help. It was nice. I’d always believed Savannah had a soul, beneath the flossy clothes and eyelash extensions. Now, I was sure.
But what I couldn’t be sure about was all this talk about love. Me? In love? Savannah might have been trying to pass out good advice, but she had no idea what she was talking about.
“Thanks, Savannah,” I said as I went to pick up my poster board. “I’ll try to remember that.”
She snapped her fingers and gone was the sympathetic expression. “In the meantime, I need to see some more progress on the statue. The student board wants to reveal it as soon as possible. Don’t let us down.”
I sighed. “I know. I’m working on it.”
“Good.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder and smirked. “Go find yourself some new candy. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to try them all. A little nibble here and there helps you forget the candy you can’t have.”
I shook my head in disbelief as she strutted away. There was a likely chance that my friends wouldn’t believe me when I told them what Savannah had said. If the far-off sight of Mason and Polly talking hadn’t been so absolutely devastating, I would’ve broken into a belly laugh.
But watching them walk into the school together was sobering. They weren’t touching, but it was obvious they were comfortable around each other. I guess that was what happened after three years of summer camp and a shared bond over something so intense as cancer.
I pressed my fingers to my lips and remembered the tingling feeling from Mason’s kiss only days ago. If I concentrated hard enough, I could still feel his mouth against mine and the wildfire sensation in my stomach. It might have been all I had left of him, but it would have to do.
With a deep inhale, I grabbed my poster board and continued the trek into school. No matter what had happened last week, there were still classes and projects and volunteer work to be done. If I had to, I’d bury myself in them until I forgot all about boys and candy and heartache.
And the sugar withdrawals I had from one in particular.
Chapter Twenty
The smell of burning cotton was the first sign I’d messed up.
Black smoke was the second.
I shut off the welding torch and frantically patted down the scorched edges of my sleeve. As soon as I did, the piece I’d been so intent on welding, and that had almost lit me on fire, fell to the ground in a loud clatter.
A groan escaped my lips. I’d spent exactly one hour trying to make some progress on the statue and I was getting nowhere. And as I sat on the dirty floor of the shop class and stared up at my half-formed statue, despair ripped through my chest. Everything had been going so well. And now, my idea for the perfect class gift was literally falling apart — just like everything else in my life.
“That’s what I get for avoiding him,” I muttered, wiping the back of my dirty hand across my sweaty forehead. “That’s what you get, Trina Frye. Only what you deserve.”
Great, now I was talking to myself in third person. I really was taking a dive off the deep end. But after seeing Polly and Mason together this morning, I’d been feeling off all day. When it had come time for Research Methods class, I just couldn’t face seeing Mason. Savannah’s words were still echoing around in my mind.
Candy. Extra Weight. Love.
Ugh, nothing was making sense anymore.
What was love, anyway? Was it the way my parents shifted around their busy schedules to have lunch together at the hospital cafeteria every week? Or the way Audrey and Collin looked at each other when they thought no one else was watching?
Or was it a deep and consuming feeling that destroyed everything in its path?
I had no answers. Just a nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach that wouldn’t go away, no matter how many ginger candies I scarfed down.
“Time to face the music,” I said with more courage than I felt.
After putting away my failed project, I shouldered my backpack and trudged through the halls on the way to the library. Every nerve in my body seemed to be tugged by a string, urging me to turn around and run the other way. But that wasn’t me. That wasn’t who my parents had raised me to be. I had to march into that library and congratulate Mason o
n reuniting with Polly. I’d smile my best smile. Let him know how happy I was for him. That was it.
And then we’d all move on.
But as I attempted to open the door to the library, it flew open on its own and nearly threw me off balance. I stumbled and landed both of my forearms on a hard chest. Two large hands clasped my wrists, helping me to steady myself. I blinked up in surprise and my stomach nearly dropped out of my abdomen when I realized the person I’d nearly flattened was Mason!
“I’m...I’m so sorry.”
I tried to shake off the nerves that had flared at the sight of him. Sure, he was the very person I’d come here to talk to, but I hadn’t been prepared for this sudden meeting. I needed more time.
Mason’s frown deepened. “Yeah, you’ve been saying that a lot lately.”
I winced. Not a great start. What was I coming here to say? That I was happy for him and Polly? Oh, yeah. Too bad my vocal chords had suddenly snapped.
He looked good. Really good. It seemed that he’d abandoned his new look for a comfortable pair of jeans and a vintage yellow Abercrombie tee. It suited him far more than the fancy outfits we’d found at the mall.
Now that I was no longer in any danger of flattening him like a steamroller, he slowly released my arms. The friction of his skin against mine sent thrills rolling over my skin. It caused a cascade of emotions that I’d suppressed after our kiss, to come bubbling back up to the surface. My breath left my body as he dropped his hands to his sides and shifted his gaze to the doorframe, as if to look at anything except my face.
“Don’t forget, presentations are on Friday,” he said, flexing his jaw. “Mr. Arnold assigned you to the first slot.”
I nodded. “Yeah...that’s cool.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “And I’m going to finish up the rest of the semester of Research Methods in Coach Ben’s science lab. He said I could have a desk in the back of his class.”
The floor dropped out from below me. Not only had I lost Mason as a friend, but now he was leaving the only class we had together? I’d never get a chance to make things right between us.
As my shocked silence followed his announcement, his dark gaze flicked to mine. The hard expression he’d been wearing immediately softened.
“It’ll be better this way, Trina.”
I didn’t argue with him, even though every part of me ached to speak up. After what I’d just pulled this weekend at the party, I couldn’t blame Mason if that’s what he really wanted. The rumor mills still hadn’t died down about his illness. Someone had even tried to start a GoFundMe to pay for his medical expenses. Things were getting slightly out of hand.
And speaking of his illness, I had yet to hear an update on his latest scan. The wait was killing me. Shifting my feet, I glanced down at the floor and furrowed my forehead. If Mason was determined to never see me again after this week, then this was one of my last chances to ask.
“Any news on the CT scan?”
He snorted softly and leaned closer. “Why? Do you have the sudden need to spread another one of my secrets around school?”
The horrified shock that crossed over me as I looked up into his face must’ve been evident. He shook his head and made a pained expression. “I’m sorry, that was crossing a line. You didn’t mean to tell everyone about my cancer. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” I said, tears stinging at the corners of my eyes. “You have every right to hate me.”
He leaned against the door and looked up at the ceiling tiles. “I don’t hate you, Trina.”
My heart thrilled at his words. It wasn’t much, but it meant everything in the world to me.
“At least tell me you’re going to be okay,” I said softly.
He shrugged. “No news, yet. But I’m not going to dwell on it until I know something.”
I wished I could do the same, but that test had been on my mind every minute of every day since Saturday. It hurt to think that if bad news came his way, I wouldn’t be there to comfort him. I could only hope that Polly would fill that role. No doubt, she would be the best person for the job. Yet another reason why they were so good for each other.
“I saw you with Polly this morning,” I said, managing to give him a small smile. “You two together again?”
He pursed his lips and stared vacantly at the hallway over my shoulder. “We’re...talking.”
Pretty much guy code for getting together. That wasn’t anything new to me, but the thickness in my throat grew worse.
“Oh, good. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” He grunted and then side-stepped me out the door. He got two steps down the hall before he froze and turned halfway to look at me over his shoulder. “By the way, I left something for you on the table. It’s the end of Project Happiness.”
Project Happiness. How could two little words cause me so much misery? And yet, Mason seemed to be doing fine, even after our big blowup. He was talking to Polly. He wasn’t worrying about hearing from his doctor. He was so much stronger than me.
I tried my best to smile at him, but it probably looked more like a sneer than anything. “Thanks. Good luck on Friday.”
He nodded. “Good luck to you, too.”
I pushed through the door to the library, not wanting to watch him walk away again. It was too much for my fragile heart to take. Instead, I forced myself to march toward the table where Mason and I had shared so much time together. Mr. Arnold snored a little as I moved past, but otherwise, he didn’t stir. And sure enough, as I neared the table, I found a small stack of papers with Mason’s scrawled handwriting across them.
Sinking into my chair, I ran my fingers across the dried ink. It was a copy of the survey I’d made Mason take at the beginning of Project Happiness. A way to gauge his current contentment and relationship statuses. I flipped through the pages, silently noting his answers. It wasn’t until I got to the last page that a vice clamped around my stomach.
The final question in Project Happiness was the mother-load of all questions. It measured the subject’s perceived happiness. Mason’s original answer had been a five out of ten. And now, he’d marked a ten out of ten. In small letters below, he’d written something. I squinted at the writing, the sound of rushing blood filling my ears.
If I’ve learned one thing through all of this, happiness is what you make it. I took a chance and went after what I wanted. I have no regrets. Don’t worry about me, Trina. You got your results. Go find yours. - MF
I clasped the papers to my chest and squeezed my eyes shut, feeling his words sink into my soul.
Chapter Twenty-One
It was no wonder my mom had vowed to never wear high heels again. They were a death sentence for all of womankind. As I cat-walked in my presentation outfit for my friends, the heel on my slingback caught on the edge of my bedroom rug and nearly sent me tumbling to the floor. Mandy caught me, her face red with laughter.
“You’re going to break something if you insist on wearing those shoes tomorrow,” she said, stifling another giggle.
“But they’re my lucky heels,” I whined. “I can’t do my presentation without them.”
“They’re also a size too small and should’ve been donated three years ago,” Audrey added, from where she sat crossed-legged on my bed. She strummed her black guitar, moving her fingers deftly down the frets. “Didn’t you wear those to our middle school winter formal?”
“Maybe...”
I stared at my reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of my closet door. Mom had loaned me one of her pinstriped power suits after school today. The jacket fit me perfectly, with just the tiniest bit of shoulder padding that made me look like I was ready to address a courtroom. The pencil skirt hit me right below the knees.
With the latest addition of my lucky heels, I was ready to smash this presentation. It was the very last task in a process that had been so grueling, I could barely think about it without wanting t
o crawl under my covers and hide for the rest of senior year.
Mandy appeared in the mirror next to me. Her eyes swept over my appearance and she grinned. “You know, when you’re not tripping over yourself, you look smoking hot. You should wear power suits more often.”
“Totally!” Audrey chimed in.
Blood rushed to my cheeks, making them turn a soft pink. I wasn’t trying to look hot. Not even close. After all, this was a presentation in front of a handful of my teachers. And Mason. That wasn’t my goal at all.
“Are you sure I shouldn’t wear something else?” I asked, turning to face them both. I chewed on my bottom lip, unease blossoming in my stomach.
“No!” Mandy grasped each of my shoulders in her hands. “You’re absolutely ready to nail this. Tomorrow, you’re going to walk into that room and blow that panel away with your amazing brain cells. And I’m going to be one proud best friend.”
My chest rose in a deep, calming breath. If only I had one ounce of Mandy’s fierceness. She faced every obstacle with confidence, as if she didn’t believe in failure. Nothing held her back. I needed to start thinking like that.
“You’re right, I’m going to ace this,” I said, turning toward them. “I’m going to ace this class and everything is going to get better from here on out. I swear it. I’m going to get what I want this year.”
“Does that include a certain basketball player?” Audrey strummed loudly on her guitar and wagged her eyebrows. “Because once your presentation is over, he’s fair game again.”
“But that’s not how it works—”
“The vision board is law, isn’t that right?” Mandy smirked and pointed toward my desk.
My throat tightened just thinking about Mason. I glanced up at my vision board hanging above my desk, where I’d tacked his name in big, bubble letters. My goal for him in the beginning was just to make him happy. Now, everything was so...confusing.
“The vision board is defective,” I said, crossing the room to pull it off the wall. The whole thing tore with a loud ripping noise that I felt deep in my soul. Balling the paper up, I stuffed it in my waste basket and glared at the remains. “That’s the end of the vision board.”
Dare You to Date the Point Guard (Rock Valley High Book 2) Page 14