I stared at her through my too-long bangs, chin in hand, and wondered why she was talking to me about Spirit Club, which I’d completely blown off after she’d dissed me about knowing Grayson.
“Hey, I know I was a complete bitch the other day, but we really need the numbers for this project. And, well, I was just surprised you and Grayson knew each other. Can you blame me?”
Again with the subtle dis. I remained a blank. She sat down, mouth curled in a conspiratorial grin.
“I was wrong, okay? I apologize. You two were so completely into each other at Andy’s party. It was like no one else was there. He left a little while after you did, which is really saying a lot for him. Did you two hook up after the party?”
Suddenly I didn’t care if she was Medusa come to life . . . she’d seen me with Gray. A witness. I caved just a little. Could she possibly be sincere? Jazz’s warning to watch out for her remained in the back of my mind.
“Um, no.”
“But you are together, right?”
How could I answer that?
Sister Katherine clapped her hands to bring the class to order.
“So, lunch? Meet me in Fiore’s office, okay? C’mon, we work with the Saint Gabe’s Key Club for the Christmas project. Boys,” Ava said, before standing up and heading to her desk.
Boys. Didn’t entice me. Especially since the boy I craved didn’t go to St. Gabe’s anymore. But out of sheer curiosity, at lunchtime I texted Maddie my change of plans, grabbed my brown bag and went to Fiore’s office, expecting to find the Spirit Club assembled. Only Ava was present. Shoes kicked off, legs curled under her, Ava ate her salad seated in one of Mrs. Fiore’s funky orange chairs.
“Hi, Wren, have a seat,” Mrs. Fiore said. I placed my books on the floor, sat down, and rustled open my paper bag to pull out my turkey sandwich.
“So what are we doing for the Christmas project?” I asked.
“We’re going to host Saint Lucy’s annual Christmas party. It’s a retirement home in Jersey City. It’s so cute, all those adorable old people.”
“Let’s call them senior citizens,” Mrs. Fiore said, gazing over her glasses at Ava. “As co-coordinators, you’ll be acting as the liaisons with the home. I know I’m Spirit Club adviser, but I’d like to give you both as much responsibility as possible.”
“Co-coordinators?” I asked Ava. Judging from her bright-eyed glow, this was supposed to be good news.
“Don’t let the title scare you,” Mrs. Fiore continued. “This event pretty much runs itself. Your job is to make sure we have enough volunteers and step in where you’re needed so that the party runs smoothly. Everyone is required to meet here at school, and we’ll head over together in the bus. We’ll be back here by one o’clock, so it’s not an all-day thing.”
Ava pulled out a blue folder and handed me a list of names of Sacred Heart girls who had signed up for the event. I felt like reminding her that I wasn’t one of them. That this event I was co-coordinator for was about the last way I wanted to spend a random Saturday morning. Instead I smiled and nodded, emptying the last of my juice box with a rattle.
“Let me know if you need help with anything. I’ll also contact the local paper, so wear something pretty. You never know, if it’s a slow news week, they might show up,” Mrs. Fiore said, bringing her Precious Moments mug to her lips. I peeked at her ten-minutes-behind, time-warp clock and calculated how much was left of lunch period. Only five minutes. Ava gathered her things. I followed her lead.
“So have either of you given any thought to your top three college choices? February is right around the corner.”
Ava rattled off not just three but five colleges, giving reasons why each made her list. I busied myself collecting my things, making sure my books were stacked in ascending size order, doing something, anything, so I wouldn’t have to speak.
“And you, Wren? Had the chance to do any research?”
I threw out my trash and clapped my hands together.
“Well, I like Rutgers,” I answered, picking up my neat stack of books from the chair, “but other than that I hadn’t given much thought to anything. Well, except maybe to Harvard. Good school and all, but you know, I hear Boston winters pretty much suck, and I hate the Patriots, so not sure if it’s going to make my list.”
Mrs. Fiore’s face contorted in mild confusion but then her chin drew up, eyebrows raised.
“I’ll make these phone calls, pronto. This project sounds like such fun,” I said, before turning on my heels. “See ya!”
My stomach knotted, but I felt an odd rise of triumph. I’d never dissed a teacher like that. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten away unscathed, when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Omigod, I can’t believe you just said that,” Ava said.
“Was she pissed?” I asked.
“No, I don’t think she got that you were talking about her little speech. She was too caught up with the fact that you said the word suck to her.”
“So you know what I was talking about then,” I said as we walked down the empty hall to our respective classes. The bell hadn’t sounded yet.
“Yep. Fiore’s given that ‘You’re not going to Harvard speech’ for a few years now. It’s her way of ‘gettin’ real,’ as she says,” Ava answered, her green eyes rolling upward. “She’s cool though. I’ve gotten to know her through Spirit Club. Not a bad friend to have around here, you know?”
It figures Ava would consider Mrs. Fiore a friend.
“I just don’t like being told what I can’t do,” I said.
“And that’s why you’re just the kind of person we need for Spirit Club. I hope you don’t mind that I picked you as co-coordinator. I think it’ll be fun hanging out again.”
I kept waiting for the subtle put-down. She was being too nice to me.
“Besides,” she said, leaning into me, “if you’re dating Gray, we’ll probably hang out more often too. Luke is Grayson’s best friend.”
“Luke, right,” I answered, deciding to do a little digging of my own. “So you two are together?”
Her face scrunched in thought. “We haven’t labeled it or anything, but we gravitate toward each other if we’re in the same place, know what I mean? He’s so freakin’ hot, it’s like I can’t resist him. That mouth. Mmmm,” she said, her voice becoming gravelly. “He really knows what to do with it.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing my mind to stop creating mental pictures of Luke’s mouth and what he could do with it. T to the M to the fucking I, Ava.
“How about you and Grayson?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“C’mon. He’s pretty hot.”
My mind blanked. What was I supposed to say? He sure as hell gave off the vibe of someone who knew what to do with his mouth, his hands . . . everything. But touching his eyebrow, running my fingers through his hair, a kiss that I was beginning to think I imagined? That didn’t qualify as anything that could be described as . . . well . . . mmmmmmm. At least not to anyone but me.
“We have fun,” I answered, which encompassed the whole of our relationship at the moment. The bell rang. The patron saint of getting out of embarrassing conversations interceded and I didn’t need to elaborate as we were caught up in the rush of everyone getting to their next period. Ava waved and trotted off to class, leaving me unsettled. As if the last thirty minutes had been all a show. But for who, I wasn’t sure.
Before class I reached into my bag and checked my messages.
One reply from Maddie that made me chuckle.
WTF? Ava doesn’t even EAT.
But still nothing from Grayson.