Oliver rounds the corner, disappearing from sight. And here I am looking foolish, calling out to nobody. Huh, I guess he knew all along. There’s nothing I can do about that now.
Oh boy, I can’t wait to see the look on Sara’s face when she finds out about this.
Except she won’t. Because we’re not talking.
And if I told her that Subwayboy knowsshe’sthe girl who came up and asked to kiss him, she’d get really upset. She’d been trying so hard to hide her identity and then, when she finally worked up the courage to tell him, she couldn’t. Even though we’re not speaking, I don’t want her to feel miserable. Besides, she’s been distracted by the wrong things lately. This is another unnecessary distraction, kind of like our fight.
Have I even crossed her mind in the last few days? Surely I have. She must miss me, right? Not that I want her to miss me.
Except, don’t I want that? Hasn’t it been torture seeing her eat lunch with Joe?
Oh man. What’s wrong with me? This is so stupid.
I spin my locker combination and right as I’m throwing open the door, I’m bombarded with an avalanche of—valentines? Gasping in shock, I leap back. Out topples confetti hearts and flower petals and sweet-smelling envelopes sealed with heart-shaped stickers.
What the heck? Is this a joke?
I collect the mess into a pile on the floor, reaching for heart-shaped note the size of a textbook. There’s no name written on the front, but thereisone thing—
Your anonymous lover.
TWENTY-EIGHT
Patrick
So, two things are clear. One: I have a secret admirer. And two: I have no idea who they are, hence the “secret” aspect.
But I’m going to find out.
After lunch I get to class early to do some sleuthing. I’m at my desk, rapping my fingertips on the flat surface, trying my best to surreptitiously glance around the room.
Who the heck would leave me love letters?
My eyes flit to Mari, but no. Unlikely. She’s Rose’s best friend, and if Rose doesn’t approve of me, Mari certainly won’t.
What about Jessica? Hmm, doubtful. Yesterday she told me I was ugly.
Tammy?Nah, she totally hates me. I mean, she’s been nice to me at lunch, but that’s only after I apologized for trying to kiss her. Mostly, I think she feels bad for me because Sara and I aren’t talking.
Is it Hannah? Right now she’s giggling at something Marcus said, leaning in closer. The likely observation is that she’s intohim, not me.
And that’s when Sara Lin walks into class, head hung low and shoulders slouched. Her mouth does that little wavering thing, which only happens when she’s really upset.
Could Sara be my secret admirer? Is this her way of trying to apologize? But if so, why does she look so down in the dumps?
Instead of heading to her desk, she approaches Joe. He greets her with a friendly wave—why is that guy always in a good mood?—before registering something’s wrong. And now Sara’s revealing something to him, talking with her hands. I can’t make out what she’s saying. All of a sudden, she covers her face and begins to cry.
Oh snap. Is she crying because she put all those love letters in my locker and I haven’t even acknowledged her grand gesture?
Joe lays a comforting hand on her shoulder. Sara’s tears only come faster.
What onearth? Sure, we’re in a little fight over some stupid bet, butwhatdid I miss? Maybe I’ve misinterpreted things. Sara’s not my admirer. Clearly, she has a crush on Joe, and what if she told him about her crush? Now he’s turning her down in the middle of class. Right in front of everyone!
Ugh, if he hurt her, I’m going to make sure he pays.
I march over to them just in time to hear Joe say, “It’s okay, we’ll figure something out. Why don’t you come over tonight and I can—”
That’s it. I slam my palm on his desk. The motion startles them. Sara’s head snaps in my direction, confusion playing behind her eyes.
