classrooms. Knots formed in my stomach at the idea of walking back inside.
“It’s going to be fine,” I muttered. “There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“What are you mumbling?” Henry asked.
He stood next to me, adjusting his backpack straps while looking around for other students we knew. He nudged me and I shuffled along next to him. We’d officially stepped back on campus, which meant senior year had begun. I only wanted to get through the day without throwing up from sheer nerves.
I didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard from a handful of friends over the summer, mostly offers for afternoon movies or lunches at our local deli. Even my close friend Amber and I had lost touch once she got busy with her activities and internship. The way I figured, after last spring, no one thought I’d take up party invitations, so I didn’t get one. I didn’t blame them—I doubted I’d be much fun anyways.
“Hello? Nova? I thought you were off the happy pills?” Henry asked, waving his hand in front of my face.
I snapped out of my daze to look around. Our classmates rushed around, loudly catching up about vacations and summer jobs. Teachers chatted from their doorways, waved to passing students. I winced at a particularly loud locker slam and saw Henry still waiting on my answer.
“Sorry. Yeah, I’m off the happy pills. I’m telling myself to gut through it. Today, I mean.”
“Why the pep talk?”
“You know how much everyone gossips.”
“It’s been what, six months? No way they’re still talking about you,” he said, giving a pretty brunette girl a broad smile. She blushed and his grin stayed on as we continued down the hallway.
“What was that about?” I asked incredulously.
He gave an exaggerated shrug, his tone mocking. “We’re seniors now. I know the ins and outs of this place and its people. I’m a big fish in a small pond.”
My nose wrinkled. “Henry, that’s really unbecoming. You better enjoy the next year of school because after that, you get to start over. See, I’m biding my time. College is when I’ll really hit the scene of excitement and personality.”
“Shut up, you’ve got plenty of personality.” Henry dodged a gaggle of freshmen eyeing him from their lockers. “Let’s get to first period.”
“Hey, yeah, at least we have three classes together this semester. That’s pretty great.” I made sure to sound enthusiastic, because I really was glad I’d automatically have a partner if need be. Henry was happy because he knew I’d help him with his homework.
“You heard that Andy Vicker dumped Mandy last week, right?” Henry asked me as we slid into our desk chairs for homeroom. I grabbed a notebook and pencil out of my messenger bag on the floor.
“I don’t think I knew they were dating.” I began doodling mask ideas on paper, considering different shapes and fits. Nothing tight over the nose, I need to breathe .
“Back at the start of the summer.”
I snorted. “Mandy and Andy. Adorable.”
“Rumor is she hooked up with a lifeguard at the country club,” Henry said, as though confiding a secret. I felt his eyes on me and looked up. He shrugged, but it felt like he was fishing for something. The extended pause confirmed it.
I raised both eyebrows at him. “And? What’s on your mind?”
“I’m just telling you what I know,” he said. “You had a thing for him. He had a thing for you. Now he’s single. You’re single. You’re bad at math, but I know you can figure it out.”
“Yeah, sure,” I said with a tight smile.
It was true Andy Vicker once made butterflies leap in my stomach. How could he not? We’d been so close to dating, too; the day of Starling’s murder, Amber told me Andy was going to ask me to prom. But then my life imploded. Despite Henry’s obvious hints to get things started back up with Andy, getting a boyfriend wasn’t high on my list of concerns right now. I want to beat guys
“It’s going to be fine,” I muttered. “There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“What are you mumbling?” Henry asked.
He stood next to me, adjusting his backpack straps while looking around for other students we knew. He nudged me and I shuffled along next to him. We’d officially stepped back on campus, which meant senior year had begun. I only wanted to get through the day without throwing up from sheer nerves.
I didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard from a handful of friends over the summer, mostly offers for afternoon movies or lunches at our local deli. Even my close friend Amber and I had lost touch once she got busy with her activities and internship. The way I figured, after last spring, no one thought I’d take up party invitations, so I didn’t get one. I didn’t blame them—I doubted I’d be much fun anyways.
“Hello? Nova? I thought you were off the happy pills?” Henry asked, waving his hand in front of my face.
I snapped out of my daze to look around. Our classmates rushed around, loudly catching up about vacations and summer jobs. Teachers chatted from their doorways, waved to passing students. I winced at a particularly loud locker slam and saw Henry still waiting on my answer.
“Sorry. Yeah, I’m off the happy pills. I’m telling myself to gut through it. Today, I mean.”
“Why the pep talk?”
“You know how much everyone gossips.”
“It’s been what, six months? No way they’re still talking about you,” he said, giving a pretty brunette girl a broad smile. She blushed and his grin stayed on as we continued down the hallway.
“What was that about?” I asked incredulously.
He gave an exaggerated shrug, his tone mocking. “We’re seniors now. I know the ins and outs of this place and its people. I’m a big fish in a small pond.”
My nose wrinkled. “Henry, that’s really unbecoming. You better enjoy the next year of school because after that, you get to start over. See, I’m biding my time. College is when I’ll really hit the scene of excitement and personality.”
“Shut up, you’ve got plenty of personality.” Henry dodged a gaggle of freshmen eyeing him from their lockers. “Let’s get to first period.”
“Hey, yeah, at least we have three classes together this semester. That’s pretty great.” I made sure to sound enthusiastic, because I really was glad I’d automatically have a partner if need be. Henry was happy because he knew I’d help him with his homework.
“You heard that Andy Vicker dumped Mandy last week, right?” Henry asked me as we slid into our desk chairs for homeroom. I grabbed a notebook and pencil out of my messenger bag on the floor.
“I don’t think I knew they were dating.” I began doodling mask ideas on paper, considering different shapes and fits. Nothing tight over the nose, I need to breathe .
“Back at the start of the summer.”
I snorted. “Mandy and Andy. Adorable.”
“Rumor is she hooked up with a lifeguard at the country club,” Henry said, as though confiding a secret. I felt his eyes on me and looked up. He shrugged, but it felt like he was fishing for something. The extended pause confirmed it.
I raised both eyebrows at him. “And? What’s on your mind?”
“I’m just telling you what I know,” he said. “You had a thing for him. He had a thing for you. Now he’s single. You’re single. You’re bad at math, but I know you can figure it out.”
“Yeah, sure,” I said with a tight smile.
It was true Andy Vicker once made butterflies leap in my stomach. How could he not? We’d been so close to dating, too; the day of Starling’s murder, Amber told me Andy was going to ask me to prom. But then my life imploded. Despite Henry’s obvious hints to get things started back up with Andy, getting a boyfriend wasn’t high on my list of concerns right now. I want to beat guys
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