“That hurt.” I whirl around and catch Tammy’s attention. “I wasjoking.”
“Your joke wasn’t funny,” Tammy lobs back, turning away in a huff.
The girls around her scowl at me, whispers already circulating around the table. My face reddens, and I’m suddenly hot. Did someone crack the heat in here or what?
“Fine.” I focus on Sara. “That didn’t go as planned, but you get the drift.”
“Patrick, I don’t want to have my first kiss to just ‘get my first kiss over with,’” she explains, her attention jumping from me to Joe. “What’s wrong with falling in love with someone first?”
Love? Since when has Sara wanted to fall inlove? Seems like a gargantuan waste of time. Love means worrying about another person, making sure they’re happy and planning dates and always thinking about them. Plus, love is complicated. You have someone else’s feelings to consider about, well,everything. When would you have time to do anything else?
“You watch too many rom-coms,” I say, scooping up some rice. “They set unrealistic expectations.”
Sara blushes. “So someone falling in love with me is unrealistic?”
“No, I didn’t say that.” Geez, I need to explain myself better. I set my fork down. “I’m saying most guys don’t think about kissing like that.”
“Whatever.” She casts her eyes down at her tray and takes another bite. After she swallows, she goes on. “Just because you don’t believe in love doesn’t mean I’m not going to have my perfect first kiss.” Her eyes drift over to Joe again. “I bet Joe is a perfect gentleman. Just look at him. He looks like he cares, you know?”
From across the cafeteria, Joe passes someone a napkin, laughing at a joke we can’t hear. He’s sitting at Rose’s table, along with Mari and a few guys on the track team. Looks like he’s made himself right at home.
“You’re saying Joe will fall in love with you, then kiss you? Just like that?” I snap my fingers. “Even though you haven’t sharedoneconversation with the guy.”
“It’s not easy when he’s that hot, you know.” She tucks her hair behind her ear. “But I’m sure with time he’ll get to know me and realize how funny, cute, smart, sensitive, beautiful, and gorgeously charming I can be.”
There’s no denying Sara’s all of those things, but she’s never put herself out there enough to show anyone but me and Vicky.
“Ha, yeah, right.” I snort. “We both know you’re too chicken.”
She scoffs. “What? No, I’m not.”
“Need I remind you of yesterday?” I point out. “You can barely utter a single word when you’re around Joe. There’s no way you’ll engage in a real conversation where he actually gets to know you.”
I’m laying it on thick, but Sara needs a challenge. If I’m an instigator, so what? Maybe she’ll finally do something about it.
“I can so,” she counters, folding her arms over her chest in defense.
“Nope.” I pop myp, which further infuriates her. Her round amber eyes narrow. “You’re too chicken. It’s who you are, you know? Accept it. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Patrick,” she snaps. “I amnot.”
“Are sooooo,” I singsong, fully getting under her skin now.
“Shush, you evil dorkasaurus rex.”
“Youshush, bucko.”
“Bucko?That’s the best you got?”
Heads swivel in our direction. Whoops. We’re kind of loud. People are starting to stare. Sara, however, doesn’t seem to notice.
“Nah, we both know you’re a scaredy cat,” I press. “Give it up now, Sara Lin.”
“Okay, you know what, butthead?” She thrusts a finger at me. “Let’s make a bet.”
“Bring it on.” I rub my hands together like I’m a corrupt villain in a fantasy novel. “How much am I making today?”
“No more money,” she huffs. “This time, the loser has to do the other’s homework for a week.”
