“That’s not helping.” He stops what he’s doing to shoot me an amused, playful glare. If he’s looking at me, he’s not working on the locker. I shoo him back, and he laughs at me.
I resume lookout, smiling at a group of sophomores walking to class. I swear they look back at me with suspicion in their eyes.
Every second that passes has me closer to telling Rowan to forget about it. My gift is dumb anyway. It isn’t like Vaughn doesn’t have plenty of his own protein bars. And we aren’t together anymore, so it’s probably awkward. He’sgoing to head off to the showcase this weekend thinking I’m a stage-five clinger who can’t take a hint. He told me he didn’t want to be in a relationship, and here I am breaking into his locker like some sort of stalker. I have never felt more pathetic.
“Okay. Got it.” Rowan’s words take a beat to register.
I know I asked him to pick the lock, but I don’t think I really expected him to do it.
“Oh my god. Really?” I swivel around to verify his claim.
Rowan stands next to Vaughn’s open locker with a proud smile spread across his face.
“Thank you.” I launch myself at him, giddy with excitement. “I am both impressed and slightly frightened that you actually did it.”
He chuckles and gives me a one-armed hug back. “You aren’t going to glitter bomb his locker, are you?”
“No,” I say dryly. I’ve never actually glitter bombed anyone, though I’ve threatened it enough that I should probably learn how to in case I need to make good on it someday.
“I feel like I deserve to know why I just broke into my buddy’s locker,” he says.
“Just make sure he isn’t coming,” I say to Rowan while I pull the protein bar from my pocket, hiding it behind my hands so he can’t see.
He sighs but turns and watches the halls for me.
Quickly, I set my gift on the top shelf where he’ll have no choice but to see it. Adrenaline pumps through me as I hurry so I don’t get caught, but before I can shut the locker door something else draws my attention.
My stare lingers on it for a few seconds before I realizewhat I’m seeing. Taped on the inside of the metal door is the sign I made for his locker before the semifinal game. His name and number are written in glitter on a blue soccer ball.
Confused, I stare harder at it. I thought he threw it away. That day when Claire and I tore all the signs down, his was missing. It doesn’t make any sense to me why he would have moved his. And why would he put it on the inside of his locker?
Unless…maybe he likes team spirit and pep more than he claims. It’s hard to imagine Vaughn being that sentimental.
I shut the locker and move to stand beside Rowan.
“All done?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
He glances back at Vaughn’s locker like he needs to make sure it’s still there and in one piece.
We start down the empty hallway toward our next class.
My mind is still spinning.
“So…” Rowan says. “Committed any crimes lately?”
I smile despite my inner turmoil. Rowan has a way of always making people feel better.
“I’m not the one who picked the lock.”
“Just the mastermind behind the crime then.”
I give him a half-hearted smile. “Why would a guy keep something he doesn’t like?”
He gives me a side glance. “I’m going to need more information.”
I think for a second on how to explain without giving it away. I’m not sure why I don’t want to tell Rowan. Especially when there’s a good chance he already saw it. If he did and hasn’t said anything, then it’s probably nothingand I’m making too big a deal out of it.
