class. I thought about going to Mr. Jackson after class and asking if I could switch partners, keeping her far away from me, but then I felt pansyish. I’d made my position clear; hopeful y, that was enough.
I didn’t see Gia again until we met at our lockers for lunch. Abby was right behind us. We walked to the cafeteria together as the girls chattered. I kept brushing her hand with mine. It was al I was thinking about. I didn’t want to push her, but I wanted to hold her hand. She looked up at me quizzical y as our hands brushed again. I was about to take a chance and reach for her hand when I felt a slap sting my back. I winced.
“Dude, are you gonna pay attention at practice today? No more fumbles,” chastised Chiz, our ever-motivating team captain.
“I didn’t drop the bal ,” I insisted, trying to wiggle out of his hand now on my shoulder holding me in what looked like a friendly hold, but was anything but.
“Whatever, man.” But he kept his hand there. We got into line, got our food, and paid for it. Then we went toward the same table as yesterday, off to the side. Chiz looked torn, like he wanted to sit with us, but that it might hurt his rep. He final y chose the table at the center of the room. Alex and Mason were already sitting at our table. Kiarah joined us too, sitting by Alex across from Gia and me.
“Wicked ring.” Kiarah pointed to Gia’s ring.
“Thanks; it was my mother’s.” She shared a glance with Alex and moved her hand down to her lap. Kiarah continued the conversation she had been having with Alex.
“That is why I feel so strongly about it. I just can’t eat something with a face. It’d be like eating you. I couldn’t do that to you.” She batted her eyes at him, and he melted. Girls didn’t realize the power they had over us.
Gia passed me a note under the table. On the fold it said, “After speech.” She didn’t want me to read it in front of her. As hard as it would be, I would do as she asked. I nodded and put it into my back pocket. Maybe I couldn’t hold her hand, but I could put my arm around her chair. She was leaning forward, suddenly engrossed in the conversation. Abby was stating that though she wasn’t a vegetarian, she could definitely see the benefits and was listing them. I leaned back and put my arm around her chair. Mason looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
“I had a friend in Fishers, Alex. Remember Gracie? Al she ate was meat. She refused to eat vegetables of any kind for a year,” Gia giggled.
“Yeah, and as I recal , she gained ten pounds that year before she final y went off her meat-a-tarian diet,” Alex chuckled.
“Yeah, wasn’t her best idea.” We al laughed.
“Heads up!” Mason said, as he did the opposite and looked down at his food.
“Dude, Brandon just said his parents are going away for the weekend. We’re gonna party at his house after the game. Let everyone know!” Chiz stood over our table and paused at the last statement as he surveyed Abby and Kiarah.
“I’l go ahead and respectful y decline,” Abby stated, holding Chiz’s uncomfortable eye contact.
“Yeah, I have an art showing.” Kiarah turned to Alex. “I was hoping you could make it even if it’s after the game.” He was putty in her hands and nodded his agreement.
“We’l see,” Mason added.
“Our first date,” I chimed in, as I pointed to Gia and myself, which earned me a glare from him.
“No wonder you guys are sitting over here.” Chiz turned and stomped off, much like Jil ian sometimes did. I smiled to myself.
“Respectful y decline, huh? What’s so important that you don’t want to party it up with The Chiz?” Mason was leaned into Abby across the table. I would say her level of hotness had dramatical y gone up over the summer. Getting rid of the glasses and getting her braces off had definitely improved her looks. Then there were the streaks in her hair, and she’d final y come into her own gypsy style.
“I’m washing my
I didn’t see Gia again until we met at our lockers for lunch. Abby was right behind us. We walked to the cafeteria together as the girls chattered. I kept brushing her hand with mine. It was al I was thinking about. I didn’t want to push her, but I wanted to hold her hand. She looked up at me quizzical y as our hands brushed again. I was about to take a chance and reach for her hand when I felt a slap sting my back. I winced.
“Dude, are you gonna pay attention at practice today? No more fumbles,” chastised Chiz, our ever-motivating team captain.
“I didn’t drop the bal ,” I insisted, trying to wiggle out of his hand now on my shoulder holding me in what looked like a friendly hold, but was anything but.
“Whatever, man.” But he kept his hand there. We got into line, got our food, and paid for it. Then we went toward the same table as yesterday, off to the side. Chiz looked torn, like he wanted to sit with us, but that it might hurt his rep. He final y chose the table at the center of the room. Alex and Mason were already sitting at our table. Kiarah joined us too, sitting by Alex across from Gia and me.
“Wicked ring.” Kiarah pointed to Gia’s ring.
“Thanks; it was my mother’s.” She shared a glance with Alex and moved her hand down to her lap. Kiarah continued the conversation she had been having with Alex.
“That is why I feel so strongly about it. I just can’t eat something with a face. It’d be like eating you. I couldn’t do that to you.” She batted her eyes at him, and he melted. Girls didn’t realize the power they had over us.
Gia passed me a note under the table. On the fold it said, “After speech.” She didn’t want me to read it in front of her. As hard as it would be, I would do as she asked. I nodded and put it into my back pocket. Maybe I couldn’t hold her hand, but I could put my arm around her chair. She was leaning forward, suddenly engrossed in the conversation. Abby was stating that though she wasn’t a vegetarian, she could definitely see the benefits and was listing them. I leaned back and put my arm around her chair. Mason looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
“I had a friend in Fishers, Alex. Remember Gracie? Al she ate was meat. She refused to eat vegetables of any kind for a year,” Gia giggled.
“Yeah, and as I recal , she gained ten pounds that year before she final y went off her meat-a-tarian diet,” Alex chuckled.
“Yeah, wasn’t her best idea.” We al laughed.
“Heads up!” Mason said, as he did the opposite and looked down at his food.
“Dude, Brandon just said his parents are going away for the weekend. We’re gonna party at his house after the game. Let everyone know!” Chiz stood over our table and paused at the last statement as he surveyed Abby and Kiarah.
“I’l go ahead and respectful y decline,” Abby stated, holding Chiz’s uncomfortable eye contact.
“Yeah, I have an art showing.” Kiarah turned to Alex. “I was hoping you could make it even if it’s after the game.” He was putty in her hands and nodded his agreement.
“We’l see,” Mason added.
“Our first date,” I chimed in, as I pointed to Gia and myself, which earned me a glare from him.
“No wonder you guys are sitting over here.” Chiz turned and stomped off, much like Jil ian sometimes did. I smiled to myself.
“Respectful y decline, huh? What’s so important that you don’t want to party it up with The Chiz?” Mason was leaned into Abby across the table. I would say her level of hotness had dramatical y gone up over the summer. Getting rid of the glasses and getting her braces off had definitely improved her looks. Then there were the streaks in her hair, and she’d final y come into her own gypsy style.
“I’m washing my
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