Matchplay by Dakota Madison

Us? There is no us. What about the girls you were with?
    Aaron: That’s not who I am .
    Me: Really? That’s not what I saw. You are what you do .
    Aaron: What about the guy you were with?
    Me: We were just talking. He didn’t even touch me. Those TWO girls were hanging all over you .
    Aaron: Did he walk you home?
    Me: That’s none of our business .
    Aaron: Did he kiss you???
    Me: Again, none of your business. But for the record, I just don’t let anyone kiss me .
    Aaron: Good…See you in class?
    Me: You better be working on our project .
    Aaron: Of course, Sunshine .
    When Olivia stumbled into our room a few hours later, I was still looking at the texts from Aaron. I’m not sure why. Maybe I was trying to read between the lines. I was definitely confused. I had so many more questions than answers and it was starting to eat at me. Part of me hoped Aaron was sincere and maybe really liked me while another part of me ridiculed that as an absurd and naïve notion.
    “Good. You’re still up,” Olivia said as she plopped down on my bed next to me. She leaned in very close, as if she was going to tell me something very intimate. “So? How did it go with Josh?”
    I breathed a sigh of relief that she hadn’t mentioned Aaron. Maybe Josh was the only one who had witnessed the—well— whatever it was that went on between us.
    “Josh seems like a very sweet guy .”
    She moaned and fell onto my pillow. “Sweet guy sounds like a death knell. Girls don’t want to get down and dirty with sweet guys. They want sweet guys to be their friends.”
    She had a point. As much as I hated to admit it, I was lusting after Aaron. I didn’t have those same feelings for Josh. I didn’t mention those details, though. Instead, I said, “Josh asked me to go out with him on a date and I said I would.”
    Olivia lifted herself from the pillow and gave a quick fist pump. “There you go, Girl!”
    “Can I ask you a question?” I was curious about her brother but I wanted to tread lightly because I knew they were close.
    “Shoot .”
    “I don’t want this to sound weird but why did Lucas intr oduce me to his friend if he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
    Olivia laughed. “Because you’re a little hottie and he thinks you’re way out of his league. Josh is like the king of the nerds. He’s the most popular guy in The Geek Patrol because he’s had a few girlfriends. Most of the other guys haven’t had that much experience.”
    Josh was an attractive guy but I didn’t think he was that much more attractive than Lucas. Josh definitely did have more conf idence in himself than Lucas, though.
    “For the record, I don’t think I’m out of anyone’s league. Whatever that even means.”
    Olivia stared at me. “Come on . Give me a break. You know you’ve got it going on. Even creepy Aaron, who could have any girl on campus, has it bad for you.”
    I could feel my face heating up with embarrassment. “I’m more like your brother than you probably think. I don’t have a lot of experience in the dating department.”
    “Then Josh is the perfect person for you. He’ll be a perfect gentleman and take things slow.”
    I nodded. Maybe she was right. Maybe I did need someone like Josh. Maybe Aaron was just too much for me to handle. Or maybe I truly believed he was out of my league.

 
    Five
    The Sweet Spot
     
    A fter class on Thursday, Aaron was waiting outside the building for me. He was wearing a sly grin on his face.
    “What’s up?” I said as I approached him.
    “Let’s get to the library. I’m stoked about picking an artist for our final project.”
    I furrowed a brow only half believing his claim. “You’re act ually getting excited about the project?”
    “Come on,” he said and headed toward the library. I shrugged and followed.
    “So what about Andy Warhol,” Aaron said as he held up a small reproduction of a Warhol self-portrait. “He’s definitely got the wow factor. It’s cool that he was a visual artist but