seen me with him bombarded me with questions about him. They must have assumed that I was as straightforward as Elyse because we were best friends. How much did they think I could find out about someone in five-minute increments? Besides, usually I didn’t get brave until I knew the person a little. That didn’t apply in this case, but they didn’t know that. Why was everyone enthralled with him? I was beginning to feel like a pariah in my own school.
The day raced by. The econ test was easier than I anticipated. I practically sprinted to my locker after seventh hour. I didn’t want to be late for the student council meeting Adrienne was running. I’d met Adrienne, our senior class president, during our freshman orientation, and I didn’t want to get on her bad side. She wasn’t a bully—which is good since I can’t stand them—but she could really hold a grudge.
I spotted Elyse, and she waved me over to a seat next to her.
Adrienne stood in front of the twenty or so of us. “Thanks for coming, everyone. Let’s get right to it so it’s a short meeting. Today’s agenda is to decide on the Homecoming Week Spirit Day themes. Fridays are traditionally School Spirit Day, so we’ll keep that the same. I listed all of your ideas from last week on one piece of paper and made copies. Circle the four you like the best.”
We passed around the ballots, cast our votes, and turned them in to be tallied.
While waiting for the results, Elyse turned to me and in a hushed tone asked, “So what are your thoughts on Landon?”
I pursed my lips.
There’s more to him than we think?
“He voiced his opinions in Mr. Lewton’s class even though it was his first day. I wouldn’t have done that.” I couldn’t help smiling with the next thought. “He handled the firing squad great too.”
“I saw a bunch of girls staring at him during class and, well,
trying
to follow him around between classes,” she said. “They looked too nervous to actually ask him anything, though.”
“I meant you.”
“Me?” She seemed genuinely taken aback.
“Yeah, you were relentless this morning. The questions…the insinuations…”
“Being shy and quiet doesn’t get you too far in life. It’s better to be nosy. No guts, no glory.” I nodded. It wasn’t that I agreed with her strategy, but I knew how she felt on this topic. She had the courage to ask the questions that others were too timid to ask. She always got what she was after, but she didn’t always recognize how she portrayed herself. “I didn’t have much time to finesse it this morning. Next time I ask him questions, I’ll have more time and be able to do so with more poise.”
“Oh, you’re already anticipating another round?”
“Yep. He agreed to let me interview him for the next issue of our online paper. Let me know if there’s anything specific you want to know about him, even if it’s off the record.” She wagged her eyebrows tauntingly.
Great. He was going all-out to get on her good side. “I’ll find out with the rest of the world.” I had to laugh to myself. He’d only had a snapshot of what she would be like in interview mode. She probably didn’t give him much of a choice on the matter, either.
“Honestly, Brynn, you had to notice how seriously cute he is. Aren’t you curious about him?”
“Yeah.” I was curious about his intentions for coming here, antagonizing me, and getting in good with my best friend.
“Glad to hear you say so. Maybe something will develop between you two,” she said.
I didn’t bother to correct her. I wanted to keep this between Landon and me. I had been too stunned this morning to process much of anything. Reflecting on the times I’d seen him over the summer, he stood out more than any of the others with Trevor. There was something about him that drew me in, and I was both appalled and intrigued because of it.
Adrienne cleared her throat. “The results are in. Monday will be Pajama Day, Tuesday will be
The day raced by. The econ test was easier than I anticipated. I practically sprinted to my locker after seventh hour. I didn’t want to be late for the student council meeting Adrienne was running. I’d met Adrienne, our senior class president, during our freshman orientation, and I didn’t want to get on her bad side. She wasn’t a bully—which is good since I can’t stand them—but she could really hold a grudge.
I spotted Elyse, and she waved me over to a seat next to her.
Adrienne stood in front of the twenty or so of us. “Thanks for coming, everyone. Let’s get right to it so it’s a short meeting. Today’s agenda is to decide on the Homecoming Week Spirit Day themes. Fridays are traditionally School Spirit Day, so we’ll keep that the same. I listed all of your ideas from last week on one piece of paper and made copies. Circle the four you like the best.”
We passed around the ballots, cast our votes, and turned them in to be tallied.
While waiting for the results, Elyse turned to me and in a hushed tone asked, “So what are your thoughts on Landon?”
I pursed my lips.
There’s more to him than we think?
“He voiced his opinions in Mr. Lewton’s class even though it was his first day. I wouldn’t have done that.” I couldn’t help smiling with the next thought. “He handled the firing squad great too.”
“I saw a bunch of girls staring at him during class and, well,
trying
to follow him around between classes,” she said. “They looked too nervous to actually ask him anything, though.”
“I meant you.”
“Me?” She seemed genuinely taken aback.
“Yeah, you were relentless this morning. The questions…the insinuations…”
“Being shy and quiet doesn’t get you too far in life. It’s better to be nosy. No guts, no glory.” I nodded. It wasn’t that I agreed with her strategy, but I knew how she felt on this topic. She had the courage to ask the questions that others were too timid to ask. She always got what she was after, but she didn’t always recognize how she portrayed herself. “I didn’t have much time to finesse it this morning. Next time I ask him questions, I’ll have more time and be able to do so with more poise.”
“Oh, you’re already anticipating another round?”
“Yep. He agreed to let me interview him for the next issue of our online paper. Let me know if there’s anything specific you want to know about him, even if it’s off the record.” She wagged her eyebrows tauntingly.
Great. He was going all-out to get on her good side. “I’ll find out with the rest of the world.” I had to laugh to myself. He’d only had a snapshot of what she would be like in interview mode. She probably didn’t give him much of a choice on the matter, either.
“Honestly, Brynn, you had to notice how seriously cute he is. Aren’t you curious about him?”
“Yeah.” I was curious about his intentions for coming here, antagonizing me, and getting in good with my best friend.
“Glad to hear you say so. Maybe something will develop between you two,” she said.
I didn’t bother to correct her. I wanted to keep this between Landon and me. I had been too stunned this morning to process much of anything. Reflecting on the times I’d seen him over the summer, he stood out more than any of the others with Trevor. There was something about him that drew me in, and I was both appalled and intrigued because of it.
Adrienne cleared her throat. “The results are in. Monday will be Pajama Day, Tuesday will be
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