A year and a half ago, I would have given anything to stand before her. To ask so many questions. But that was a long time ago and I’ve moved on. Bringing up the past would be silly.
“I mean, I should,” I say. “It’d be rude not to.”
“Yup. Totally rude.”
I don’t walk over to her, though. I stay planted in my spot and watch her. She’s talking to three other girls. Must be the friends she told me about. The girls who are always there for her and help her get through whatever problems she has. Kind of like my friends and me.
I always thought Raven was the prettiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes upon. No other girl has come close to making me feel the way I did when we hung out at camp. I thought I was just on a “Raven high” the weeks after I got back home. I figured I’d get over her. And while I have, I still don’t think anyone could or would ever compare to her. I guess what they say about your first love is true—you never forget them.
“Gotta get to it before the…” Beck doesn’t have a chance to finish his sentence because the bell rings. “That.”
I’m relieved in a way. As much as I would like to talk to her, I’m hesitant. So many emotions are brought to the surface when I think about Raven. Mostly good, since spending time at camp with her was like paradise to me. But all the crap that happened after was not cool.
Beck’s looking at his schedule like he’s seen a ghost. “Why the heck did they dump me in two economics classes back-to-back?”
Chuckling, I sling my arm over his shoulder. “Sucks to be you, man. I’ll see you at lunch.”
He frowns. “Don’t be surprised to find me passed out or dead at my desk from information overload.”
“Such a drama king.”
He slouches to his economics class while I make my way to psychology. Raven isn’t around anymore. She must have already left to her class.
I can’t help but wonder what it’d be like to talk to her again. Does she still have that sweet, kind smile that used to make my heartbeat accelerate? Is she still a great listener? Does she still have that magic way of making a person feel better about themselves just by talking to her?
After I enter my classroom and take out my things, I focus on the lesson and not on Raven. Once that’s done, I go to my next class, and then it’s time for lunch. I chuckle, wondering if Beck survived his double economics class.
I spot him and our other two friends, Leo and Jasper, standing at Jasper’s locker. Beck’s got his face pressed to the metal, muttering something under his breath.
“I see you made it out alive, bro,” I say with another chuckle.
Beck’s muffled voice says, “The teacher’s giving us a quiz tomorrow, man. You’ve got to help me.”
“Say pretty please and I’ll consider it,” I joke. He knows I’ll for sure help him. I’d never abandon my friends.
Jasper and Leo laugh as well. It’s so much fun to tease Beck.
Beck lifts his face off the locker. “Careful. You don’t want your girlfriend to see what a jerk you’ve become.”
“Dude, she’s not my girlfriend.”
“Who are you talking about?” Jasper asks, sweeping his dark brown hair out of his eyes.
“The girl who broke Ky’s heart at camp.”
Leo and Jasper nod in understanding. They and Beck were there for me when I was trying to get over what happened between Raven and me.
“Wait, she’s here?” Leo asks. “She goes to this school?”
Beck laughs. “Looks like Romeo gets a second chance.”
I scowl at him. “Dude, what the heck?”
Jasper glances around like he’s looking for her. “Is she hot?”
“Super hot,” Beck says.
I whack him in the chest.
