“Right,” I say, focusing my gaze on the field. I don’t want to continue to be obvious, but I’m dying to know if Alex stayed.
We’re winning twenty-one to seven when halftime rolls around. I cross the field with the rest of the Wavettes to cheer on the homecoming court. Breck escorts Genevieve Jackson, who’s also in our grade. It’s tradition for the court to arrive in formal attire, and they both look captivating in their elegant gown and suit. We stand patiently on the sidelines as the senior court enters, then wait to hear the final tally of votes. There’s a wild round of applause from the juniors when Breck is announced Homecoming King, and an even louder round of praise when senior Natasha Collins wins Homecoming Queen.
Raegan turns to me. “How long do you think he’ll demand us to call him King Breck?”
I laugh. “I’ll bet a solid month.”
When the third quarter starts, I jump up. Third quarter is the only time we’re allowed to leave the field for a bathroom and concession break.
“You guys want anything?” I ask Raegan and Whitney.
They decline, and I rush over to the massive concession line. I’m not hungry, but I’m using this as an excuse to run into Alex—if he’s even here.
My stomach churns with nervous energy. Ihopehe’s still here.
I’m at the end of the concessions line when I feel a presence behind me. I turn around, expecting to find Alex, but it’s not him. It’s Lin.
Her bright-red lips pull into a smile. “Good job out there.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, still glancing in the stands for Alex. “Are you doing anything after the game?”
“Jay’s trying to get everyone to go to this party.” She rolls her eyes. “But I’m just going to head home. Curfew and all that.”
“Right,” I say, just as my eyes catch a glimpse of Alex in the stands. He’s sitting with a few of his theater friends. Heat flushes through my entire body.He stayed.
Lin gives me a weird look. “What?”
“What?”I repeat, tearing my eyes away.
She just shakes her head. “Text me tomorrow?”
“I will,” I promise.
We end up winning twenty-eight to fourteen, which means the Wavettes take the field to do twenty-eight celebratory high kicks. Whitney disappears with Jay shortly after, so Raegan and I walk back to the junior/senior lot together.
“Want to go over our chemistry homework on Sunday?” Raegan asks, unlocking her car.
“Sure,” I tell her. “Text me?”
“Will do.” She gives me a quick hug. “See ya!”
I find my car, my heart a little heavy that I didn’t spot Alex in the chaos after the game. I’m texting my dad to let him know I’m on my way home when I hear a loud tap on my window, like a pebble hitting the windshield. Then another. And another.
I glance around until I see Alex’s truck a few feet away. His window is rolled down, and he’s tossing Starbursts in my direction.
Grinning, I roll down my window. “You’re wasting perfectly good candy!”
He pops one in his mouth, then throws his head back in mock ecstasy. God, he’s such a dork. I notice his curls are blowing loose and wild in the wind—and then I realize why.
“I still have your beanie!”
He smiles. “Keep it!”
I watch him pull away, and it’s not until I’m in my driveway that I realize my smile stayed with me the entire drive home.
TWENTY SIX
EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE STILLshaky between my dad and me, he agrees to let me spend the night at Lin’s on Saturday. We debated going to the homecoming dance, but in the end decided to skip it in favor of a long overdue sleepover. We did, however, help Raegan set up the decorations in the gym while blasting Beyoncé, which was more fun than I expected. She even ordered pizza and wasn’ttoocontrolling about how the streamers were hung.
