The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

into Max, who instinctively wrapped an arm around my waist, catching me.
    This, I realized, was the most beautiful opportunity to catch his scent, and I kind of collapsed into him, taking a deep breath. I felt a little dizzy with the thrill of being so near him. Until that thrill was knocked out of existence as we were jolted from behind. Harder than hard.
    â€œWatch it, loser,” a deep voice said.
    Max’s grip on my waist tightened, and we almost went down. For a split second, I kind of wished we had, so I could know what it might feel like to get all tangled up on the floor with him.
    But instead, we caught our balance as the hulking figure of Chip Knowles barreled past us. With each step, his thick shoulders swayed, and his Abercrombie jeans hugged his tight butt. As I stared beyond the 72 on the back of his football jersey, the reason he’d barged into us became clear.
    Twenty feet down the hall, Chip’s girlfriend, the Jessie Richards, stood with a guy. Her shimmery blonde hair was styled in this perfect, made-to-look-messy bun. Wisps fell around her face, highlighting her high cheekbones and sharp nose. The cheerleading uniform she wore bared her muscular arms, sculpted shoulders, and toned legs. I wondered if she went to a tanning bed every day of the week.
    I wasn’t up on all the latest gossip at Centerville High School, but everyone who had spent a few weeks in the building knew that the scene about to unfold would be gossip worthy. Even if the guy standing with Jessie was totally not her type. And trust me, this kid—with his tall, awkward body stooping forward, and the over-applied product in his perfectly combed hair—was lucky to be within speaking distance of the most popular senior in the building.
    â€œWho’s this?” Chip asked, using a deep, don’t-mess-with-me voice. He ran his fingers through his short golden-blond hair, tufting the front up in one swift movement.
    Jessie looked at Chip and raised her eyebrows. Her thin lips curled up slightly. The kid standing next to her said something I couldn’t hear and held a spiral notebook up in the air. I was impressed that he didn’t cower into the locker behind him but instead straightened himself, proving to be nearly Chip’s height. Chip yanked the notebook out of his hand and flipped through a few pages.
    â€œYou got yourself a math geek?” Chip asked Jessie. “How sweet.”
    Jessie took the notebook from her boyfriend’s hand and gave it back to the kid standing next to her. She smiled and tossed her head to the side. The kid said something and then turned and hurried away.
    Max started walking. I did, too, because his arm was still wrapped around my waist.
    â€œHey!” Max said.
    â€œDon’t.” I looked up at the curls that shadowed Max’s face.
    â€œBut he can’t just—”
    â€œIt’s not worth it,” I warned him. Max’s brown thermal shirt was soft against my forearm as he pulled away from me. I hated myself for wanting to melt into him. I seriously could not deal with these feelings. Not now.
    He looked at me, then turned to watch the most popular couple in school walk away. The crowd parted slightly as Chip slung an arm over Jessie’s shoulders and she tucked herself against his body. Her obscenely short cheerleading skirt swayed from one side of her firm little butt to the other, flouncing up enough to expose her matching bloomers with every few steps.

    â€œHey, Darcy ,” Max said a few minutes later as we dropped our things on our desks in photography class, “wanna see some pictures I took yesterday?”
    Darcy propped herself against her desk, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t like being used, Max.”
    Max’s lips parted in a mischievous smile. “Tess knows she’s welcome to join us.”
    Darcy sighed. Waved a hand in the air. “Go pull them up. I’ll be right