Wishing for Someday Soon by Tiffany King

class?” he asked as the noise level in the classroom rose.
    “No sir.”
    “I see. Hmmmm—well, I’m going to send home this assessment so we can get a better idea of exactly where you are,” he said, rummaging through his desk drawers. “Here we go. This one should give us a rough idea.”
      “I’ll do it as soon as I get home,” I said, relieved he wasn’t ready to set me back yet.
    “Well, relax and take a little breather, then you can work on it.”
    “Okay,” I said, clutching my books to my chest as I fled from the room before he could change his mind about me.
    “Hey, what took so long?” Max asked, startling me.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked a little defensively as I tried to slide the assessment in between the pages of my text without him noticing.
    “I told Mr. Graves maybe I should check on you, in case you got lost,” he said, shooting me a mischievous smile.
    “Seriously, and he fell for that line?” I asked, unable to resist laughing. “I’m pretty sure you told me earlier that the school’s layout was a piece of cake.”
    “He doesn’t know that,” he said, trying to appear innocent.
    “Well, I know I’m new, but even I realize our class is only two doors down,” I said, still laughing.
    “So, what did Hanson want?” He asked, changing the subject.
    “He wants me to fill out an assessment,” I said sighing, not knowing how much he had heard outside the door. All the honesty at this new school was making me slightly nervous. I had gone three and a half months at my last school without anyone getting a flicker of what my life was like. Now, in less than twenty-four hours, the cutest guy I had ever talked to, knew a whole lot more about me than I liked.
    “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosey. Anyway, it’s no big deal. Anyone starting school midway through the year might need some help,” Max said, misreading my sigh.
    “What makes you think I need help?” I asked cautiously, trying to see exactly what he had overheard.
    He looked sincere, returning my gaze earnestly. “Well, if you need any help I could come over and tutor you if you want.”
    “Um, maybe,” I said, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that hell would freeze over before I ever invited him over.
    “I see you found her,” Mr. Graves said as we entered the room, making it clear Max’s ploy hadn’t gone unnoticed.
    Max laughed and winked at me, making my body tingle. It was one thing to resist his dimpled smile, but the wink was my weakness and he was just downright dangerous.
    Flustered by his attention, I accidently bumped into a girl’s desk that sat directly in front of Rebecca. “Oops, sorry,” I mumbled, picking up her pencil I had knocked to the floor.
    I glanced at Rebecca as I sat down and was startled to see that her friendly smile from earlier was absent and had been replaced with a pinched smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
    With a sinking heart, I instantly understood that I had committed some kind of faux pas. Following her gaze, I saw she was watching Max’s back wishfully. Unease slowly crept through me as I realized I had been flirting with the guy that my new friend was crushing on. What the heck was I thinking anyway? My plan for this move was to make friends and fit in for the short time I’d figured we’d be here. It was insanity to even consider the idea of starting up a relationship that didn’t have a chance of going anywhere.
    The last hour of class dragged as I sat next to a now silent Rebecca. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Mr. Graves dismissed us since the school didn’t seem to use a bell system. I slung my purse over my shoulder and gathered my school books together as Rebecca did the same.
    “Thanks for all your help today,” I said, testing the water.
    “No problem, I had fun today,” she said, shooting me a regular smile this time.
    I let out a pent-up breath, relieved she didn’t seem to be holding a grudge. “I did