"No. It didn't. Because I saw that there was more to you. And I wanted to get to know that part of you. I've started to, but it's not enough. I want to spend more time with you."
"It's not going to happen," he says, shaking his head. "I have a rule. No girlfriends."
"I'm not trying to be your girlfriend. I'm trying to be your friend. I'm not even sure I'd want a boyfriend right now. I'm not sure I can trust a guy enough to be in a relationship after what my dad did. And Chad."
"So then what was going on Friday?"
I tilt my head. "Friday? What happened Friday?"
"At the game. I saw you in the stands with some guys."
"Oh, that was just because I didn't have anyone to go with. This girl, Janelle, suggested I go with this guy, Tate."
"Yeah, I know him. But what about JT? I heard you went to the party with him."
I smile. "How do you know all this? And why do you care?"
"I don't," he says, sounding flustered. "It's just that you're new and you don't know these people. I don't want you ending up with another asshole like Chad."
"So you're looking out for me. That's all it's about?"
"Well, yeah."
I don't believe him. I think he was jealous. He may not want me as a girlfriend but I know he likes me, at least a little, and he's definitely attracted to me. If he didn't have his stupid rule, he'd probably ask me out.
"Thanks, but I think I'll be fine. Eve's already warned me about the guys to stay away from."
"Did she include me in that list?"
"She told me about your reputation with girls, and your nickname, but she didn't tell me not to date you. She didn't need to because you don't date."
"Speaking of Eve, do you know if her brother's dating anyone?"
"I'm not sure. I know he got a girl's number last week. I don't know if they went out. Why are you asking?"
"Someone at school asked me. I told her I didn't know."
"Who is it? I could tell Evan and see if he's interested. He's in AP Physics with me. I sit right next to him."
"You're taking AP Physics?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"That's a hard class," he says, sounding impressed.
"It's easy compared to my old school. The classes there were a lot tougher, and they assigned way more homework."
"You miss it?"
"I miss having challenging classes. I actually liked that they were hard. I learned more. As for the people, I'm not sure if I miss them. I'm starting to think they weren't really friends, but more just people to do stuff with. They're not the kind of people you can talk to, about serious stuff. Like when my parents divorced, they wouldn't dare bring it up. They'd buy me dinner or coffee or a gift, but they wouldn't sit down and let me talk about how I was feeling. In that world, you smile and pretend everything's perfect. If something bad happens, you pretend it didn't."
"Are you saying you like it here better?"
"Kind of. I wish I lived in a safer neighborhood, and it'd be nice to have a car to drive around, but other than that, I'm getting used to it."
We both look over at the door as it swings open.
"Mom." I quickly stand up. "I thought you were working late."
