Me: Okay ... I love you.
The pause for her to respond feels longer than usual.
Mom: Love you forever, my Blue.
I jump at the tap on my shoulder and whirl around.
“Easy,” a guy I vaguely recognize says, chuckling, “I didn’t mean to scare you. Sorry.” He holds up a photograph. It’s a picture of a group of trees at the park. I took it on my way to school this morning. “This slipped out of your backpack.”
“Oh, thanks.” I smile, relaxing as I take the photo. “I didn’t even notice.”
“I know. You were stuck in your phone.” His lips quirk. “I’m impressed, actually. Knowing my luck, I would’ve smacked into a wall or something.”
I laugh, turning around and reaching for my locker. “Just one of my talents, I guess.”
As soon as I pull the door open, I spot a red note hanging under the photos I taped inside.
Save a cow.
Eat a vegan.
Under the scribbled words is a cut-out picture of a nude centerfold girl, from her neck down, spreading her legs.
A sudden sting pierces my gut, and I suck in a breath. This isn’t the first time I’ve been teased here, but it’s never gotten to me before. I wait a few seconds for the sting to fade, but it doesn’t. It sticks to me like an adhesive. Reminding myself this is just a piece of paper, I crinkle it in my grip, exhale, and search for the book I came for.
It’s quiet for a minute, and I figure the guy must have left, but then he says, “So you were texting your ... boyfriend?”
My brows knit, and I look at him.
“Yeah, that was lame,” he says, shaking his head. “That was my not-so-smooth attempt at asking if you have a boyfriend.”
“Oh.” I laugh, spotting my book and slipping it into my bag. “No, no boyfriend.”
My chest tightens as I say the words. Strange that they don’t feel honest. I know Joshua isn’t my boyfriend or anything close, but we kind of have plans tonight, and that counts for something, right? Whatever we are, I want more from him. Butterflies take over my stomach when the thought washes through me.
I want more.
I bite my lip and finish with my locker, tucking the new photo inside. I’ll tape it to the door later. I wonder where Joshua is right now. I haven’t seen him since last night, and I already miss the looks he gives me, the warmth that blooms in the center of my stomach when he’s close. I think I just misshim.
When I turn around, the guy is still standing there.
He looks down and scratches his chin. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”
I tilt my head, taking in his lean build and sandy brown hair. He’s cute, like how popular high school boys are in the movies, but I’m having trouble getting a vibe from him. He seems nice enough so far.
“Um, I think so. Maybe? Do we have a class together?”
“Ouch.” A corner of his lips curves up. “I guess that’s a no. We’ve never officially met.” He extends a hand. “Tommy Jacobs.”
I take his hand. “Blue Everest.”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “I know. We do have a couple classes together, actually, and I was also at Kimmie’s pool party the other week.”
“Oh, yeah ...Move, bitches, right?” I grin, and red creeps up his neck. “That was a pretty intense dive.”
“Shit,” he says through an embarrassed chuckle. “You heard that, huh?”
I laugh again, muttering, “Yup,” but my eyes are already drifting through the crowds, longing for a different, more intimate face.
