Everyone stared as we made our way back to our table in class. My eyes darted to Tim. He looked at me with an expression of concern. I smiled and mouthed that I was okay. He didn’t smile back. He wasn’t a member of the Jaden fan club any more than Brody or Jenna was.
I sat with Jaden and the same bunch of football players and their cheerleader girlfriends at lunch. I tried to start conversations with them, but as usual, it was a no go. I felt more and more like an outsider in Jaden’s world, and he did nothing to change the fact. Either he didn’t notice, or he didn’t care. I leaned to the latter. Jaden was all about himself. He wouldn’t sympathize with my discomfort.
“You’re drinking a diet shake today?” the same cheerleader who had a fit about my salad dressing asked.
“Yes,” I said, holding up the can.
“That’s much better than all that icky dressing you had on your salad,” she said, scrunching up her nose, making her face look like one of those wrinkly dogs.
“I figured this might save me some time on the treadmill,” I mumbled.
Not that I’d ever be on a treadmill.
“Good thinking.” She nodded, her blonde curls bouncing around her perfect face. Turning to the girl next to her, they started an in depth conversation about the newest cheer they were learning. I sighed.
“Jaden, I’m going to go say hi to Jenna,” I said, laying my hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
“Yeah, whatever.” He waved me away with a flick of his hand. “Oh, Willow?”
“What?” I looked at him over my shoulder.
“Tonight’s an away game. I expect you to be home if you aren’t at the game.”
I sighed. “I know the rules, Jaden.” He narrowed his eyes before turning his back to me.
I plopped down in a chair at the table where Jenna and Tim were sitting and dropped my head down on the tabletop, covering it with my arms.
“That good, huh?” Jenna asked.
“Just peachy,” I said, my words muffled.
“Drop his ass,” Jenna whispered.
“You know it’s not that easy, Jenna. I’ve tried. More than once.”
“Hey.” I jumped when I heard his voice. He hadn’t been at the table when I sat down. Brody eased into a chair next to me, and I groaned. If Jaden saw him, there’d be hell to pay.
“Hey, Ace,” I said, not looking up.
“How ya doin’?”
“That seems to be the question of the day. I’m fine. Just great. Everything’s great. Just great.”
“That’s a lot of greats. Who are you trying to convince—me or yourself?” Brody asked quietly.
I turned my head, moved one arm so I could look at him, and blew a strand of hair out of my eyes. “Who knows?”
He gave me a small smile and ran a finger down the back of my hand, sending goose bumps up my arm and straight to my heart, which starting racing. Damn it to Hades and back. I hated my reaction to Brody. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything for anyone. Jaden was easy. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t pay attention. As long as I kept him happy, he’d keep his mouth shut. Win/win. Brody… well, he was a different story altogether.
“What are you doing tonight? Are you going to the football game?” Jenna asked, twirling her cup on the table.
“Nope. It’s an away game,” I said.
“Oh, so you’ll be locked away at home, huh, Rapunzel?” Tim bit out.
I shrugged. “That’s the assumption.”
“Meaning?” Brody asked.
“Anything can happen. Maybe something will come up, and I’ll decide to go out.”
Jenna dropped her drink on the table, and ice flew across the top. “You’re kidding, right? If he catches you out…” She didn’t finish her thought.
“What?” Brody asked, looking at Jenna. When she didn’t answer, he looked between Jenna and Tim. “He’ll what?”
“He won’t be happy,” Jenna said quietly.
Tim snorted. “Yeah. That’s putting it mildly. Willow, if you leave the house tonight, make sure you’re in disguise and you aren’t anywhere someone from school will see you. Like, you know, another country.”
It was seven o’clock, and I sat on my bed watching a rerun of a stupid sitcom on television while I texted Jenna. My phone chimed that a text had come through. I clicked to read it, expecting it to be from Jenna. My heart started palpitating when the name across the top was Brody’s.
Brody: Hey.
Me: Hey, Ace. What’s up?
Brody: Whatcha doin’?
Me: Texting Jenna. Hold on.
I sent Jenna a quick text, telling her that Brody was texting me and I’d talk to her later. Her last text was a threat that I’d better cough up all the details of what was said between Brody and me. At my promise that I would, she told me to have fun and added a little winky face next to it. I rolled my eyes but giggled, quickly switching back to my conversation with Brody.
Me: Okay. I’m back.
Brody: What’d you do?
Me: Told Jenna I had to go.
Brody: Why?
Me: Um… so I could talk to you.
Brody: Ah.
Huh. Maybe that was too much information. I shouldn’t have said anything. Crap.
Brody: I’m glad. Now I have you all to myself.
Or maybe not. I just got major chill bumps everywhere.
Me: So, what are you doing?
Brody: Thinkin’ about you.
Oh, wow. My chill bumps just got chill bumps and now I have flutters in my chest.
Brody: Were you serious about getting out of the house?
Me: Maybe. Why?
Brody: I have an idea. No disguise needed.
Me: Ok. I’m game.
Brody: You don’t even know what it is.
Me: I trust you.
Brody: Pick you up in 10.
Me: Don’t come to the door.
Brody: ?
Me: My parents are official members of the Jaden fan club.
Brody: Ah. They wouldn’t like you going out with me.
Me: Right.
Brody: I’ll park in front of your neighbor’s.
Me: I’ll be waiting.
I jumped off the bed and grabbed a pair of yoga pants and a long shirt, trying to pull them on at the same time I pulled off my pajamas. Putting on a loose belt, I let it sit on an angle over my hips, just tight enough to make my shirt look like something other than a paper sack hanging from my shoulders. I looked in the mirror and groaned. My hair was flat on one side and a frizzy mess on the other. Quickly pulling it into a knot at the base of my neck, I tried to fix what little makeup I still had on. As I grabbed my purse and phone, I saw headlights shine through my window. I shot off a text to Jenna.
Me: Cover for me. We’re at the mall. Going out for a while.
Jenna: Brody?
Me: Yeah.
Jenna. K. Be Careful.
Me. Love ya.
Jenna: Love ya back.
I hurried to my mom’s bedroom and knocked before sticking my head inside. “Mom?”