“My point exactly.” He flashes me that grin that makes me feel like my organs are melting.
“As long as he’s okay with sitting alone,” I start to say, but Leo suddenly sits up sharply in his seat.
“Dudes,” he hisses to us and the guys. “Do you see what I’m seeing?” He’s staring at something behind him.
“A bus full of students dressed in green, black, and white?” Kylen asks.
Leo ignores his comment. “No, seriously. Look who’s sitting all alone.”
Kylen leans out of the seat while I get on my knees and peek over the back of my seat.
“Do you mean Lilah?” Beck says.
“Keep your voice down, man!”
“Why is she sitting all alone?” Jasper asks. “Where’s her jerk of a boyfriend?”
A girl who sits across from Jasper and Beck says, “Didn’t you hear? They broke up.”
Leo’s eyes get so big I swear they’ll roll right off his face. “Lilah and her boyfriend broke up?”
She flares her nostrils. “Didn’t you hear what I said? Yes, they broke up. The poor guy. He’s so heartbroken over it.”
“I’m sure he is,” Kylen mutters with a roll of his eyes. “He treated her like crap,” he whispers to me.
“I don’t care about him,” Leo says. “I only care about Lilah. She looks pretty sad, doesn’t she?”
“Maybe she needs someone to make her feel better,” Jasper suggests.
Leo gapes at him. Then he points to himself with an unsure look.
“Yes, you,” Jasper says.
“You think I should talk to her?” Leo says, still with wide eyes.
“No, you should just pine after her from afar,” Beck says.
“You’ve got this, man,” Kylen tells him. “Don’t ask her out or declare your love for her or anything. Just be her friend.”
Leo nods as he stares at her. “Be her friend. Right, I can do that.” He looks back at us with panic. “Never mind. I can’t do that.”
“Of course you can,” I say gently with a reassuring smile. “You’re a great guy and a great friend. I’m sure she’ll love getting to know you. No one else on this bus seems to give a darn that she’s all alone. I’m sure she’ll appreciate you checking in on her. And if not? You won’t lose anything.”
“Just your dignity,” Beck teases.
I give him a look. “Don’t discourage him.”
He holds up his hands. “Rave is right.”
“Not you, too,” I groan.
He grins. “It’s growing on me.”
“Like a freakin’ wart.”
He chuckles. “Girl’s got jokes.”
“You mind?” Leo waves his hands before us. “Lilah?”
