Slug glances at Jake before saying, “It’s my seat now. You can go sit over there.” He nods athisusual spot across from Jake.
“Wait…” I draw my eyebrows together and turn to Jake. “Do you not want me to sit by you anymore?”
He’s been quiet this week, but we’ve been okay. At least Ithought so.
“No. I want you to sit over there,” he says, nodding across the table.
I press my lips together. I hate this. But Jake gets whatever he wants right now, and if that means space from me, then it is what it is. Still, my heart feels like it’s being stabbed with a thumbtack.
I’m on my way around the table when I hear Cooper behind me. “What’s going on?”
I look over my shoulder, where Cooper’s standing across from Jake with his lunch. He glances at me, then back to Jake.
“Come on, dude, don’t do that to her,” Cooper says.
Jake rolls his eyes and sighs. “I’m not doing anything to her, Cooper. Sit down.” He motions at the seat across from Slug.
“Uh, no, I’m sitting down there. I just—”
“Wanted to make sure I wasn’t upsetting your girlfriend. Got it,” Jake says. Cooper’s cheeks turn pink. “But it looks like your seat is taken anyway. So sit.”
Wouldn’t you know it, one of Chloe’s friends is sitting in Cooper’s typical seat.
It’s almost like it’s all planned.
Cooper and I look at each other, uncomfortable. Then we sit.
“Perfect,” Jake says. “Now, this is what’s going to happen every day until Ellis leaves.”
“What?” I ask.
“I’m tired of you guys walking on eggshells around me,” Jake says. “I appreciate you trying not to throw it in my face, but I can’t take the awkward lunches anymore. Just sit there. Talk. Eat. Be normal. Please.” He grins. “Believe me, I’m not anywhere near how pathetic Cooper was after you left when you were kids.”
I give him a weak smile because it’s all I can muster, and Cooper nods. Acting like everything is normal is hard, even if he’sasking for it.
But again, it’s what he wants, so we try.
After lunch, Cooper follows me to my locker. He glances around as I put in my lock combination, then gives me a quick peck on the lips.
“Hey, we agreed no PDA,” I say.
“I couldn’t help it, and it’s a terrible rule,” he says, his dimple sinking into his cheek. “You’re leaving in a couple of weeks. We should be kissing as much as possible before then.”
“Hmm. You have a point.”
He leans in and kisses me again. “A good one.”
“Okay, but I’m going to be late for class, so go away,” I tell him, grinning. “I’ll bring your cookie costume over after school.”
“You finished it?”
“Well, no, not yet. But almost, and I’m dying to show you what I have so far,” I tell him. “It’sfantastic, and you are going to look fantastic in it.”
He laughs. “I’m scared.”
“Oh, you should be.”
He smiles as he walks backward away from me. “See you in econ, Mitchell.”
