She grinned. “Yay! Because we go back so far, right? We can’t throw all that away over a guy! Anyway, I wanted to tell you both, my mom is letting me have another backyard movie party before the weather gets too cold. We just got a high-definition outdoor projector. It’s not as good as the projector in Dad’s media room—remember last year when Omar spilled Doritos all over the white carpet?” She slipped her floral backpack over her shoulders. “I swear, my mom only agreed to the outdoor projector so I wouldn’t have parties in the house anymore. We can watch the next Silverborn movie. You absolutely have to bring your new guy, Samaya!”
I blinked. Pretending to be cool with her was one thing; taking Daniel to a party where Hana would be hanging off Devin was completely another.
“Think about it! Talk soon!” She headed down the hallway before I could tell her there was no way I’d go to her backyard party.
I turned to Cass. “Why is everyone trying to torture me today?”
Cass snorted. “Actually, everyone seems to want a piece of you. I think your plan is working too well. Maybe we should go to Hana’s. Don’t you need to go on a date with the guy?”
I shook my head. “I can’t bring Daniel to Hana’s. I’d rather stay home and practice pi. Or eat pie. It would be a hell of a lot more fun than Hana’s party.”
I had to take the bus home alone since Cass had plans, but when I was halfway to the stop, someone called my name. I turned and it was Devin. I wished there were a way to block people IRL and not just online.
“Hana told me you two talked,” he said.
Every time I talked to him, it gave me a sour feeling in my stomach and a big lump in my throat.
“Devin, what do you want? We’re supposed to be taking a break,” I said.
He stared at me for several long seconds before speaking. “I just want to make sure you’re okay. You should come to Hana’s party. No hard feelings. It won’t bother me if you bring that guy. I won’t talk to you at all if you don’t want me to.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t need your permission to do anything, do I?”
Without saying more, I turned and kept walking to the bus. Thankfully, he didn’t follow me. I was tired of his mind games. Of his, of Jayden’s, and of Hana’s, too. Maybe I should change schools so I never saw any of these people again. I wiped a tear quickly before anyone saw it, because no doubt, with my luck, someone would take a picture of me and post it on Instagram.
My phone vibrated with a text. It was Daniel.
Daniel:OMG I need you.
I blinked at the screen.
Me:Excuse me?
Daniel:I’m freaking out here...my calc teacher sprung a test on us tomorrow. She said it’s a redo of the one last week. I know you’re supposed to tutor me Thursday after baking, but can we do it tonight instead?
Daniel:I’ll owe you. You want more dates? PDAs? I’ll let you take a picture with your hand on my butt. I’ll have flowers delivered to you at your school.
Daniel:You into serenades? I can sing Harry Styles. I’ll do ANYTHING...
I laughed. Daniel texted really fast. And he sounded exactly like ... Daniel. I wrote back.
Me:Sure. How about FaceTime?
Daniel:I LOVE YOU.
Another text came through before I could respond.
Daniel:Please don’t think I’m breaking your “no feelings for each other” parameter.
Daniel:I LOVE YOU in like a platonic and grateful, not creepy incel way. I like you a great deal. That’s what I should have said, instead of bringing the L word into this. Let’s start over.
Daniel:Now I’m worried that the reason you’re not writing back to all this is because you think I’m nuttier than a snickers bar. I’ve ruined this, haven’t I?
I laughed out loud, quickly typing.
Me:You’re hilarious. You don’t owe me anything for it. FaceTime at 8?
Daniel:
