"Please," Jeremy scoffed. "You've been staring at her like she's the only person in this hallway for the past three minutes. It's actually kind of pathetic."
I felt my face heat up.Had I really been that transparent?
Part of me didn't want to admit it. She didn't seem tomind my presence in the slightest, but there I was, more immersed than ever in her eyes.
"Also," he continued, "what's with you following me around all week? It's getting weird, Kyle."
So he had noticed.
I ran a hand through my hair. "I wasn't?—"
"What do you really want with me?" he interrupted. "And don't tell me it's to be my friend, because I don't believe you."
This was it, the opening I'd been waiting for. But now that it was here, I hesitated. Jeremy and I had never been close in our original timeline. He'd been Leo's and Lily's friend more than mine, and after everything that happened, we'd lost touch completely. I had no idea how to relate to him or make him trust me.
And the truth, of course, wouldn't work: Hey, I'm from the future and I know you're secretly in love with Leo, who's about to be framed for murder, so could you maybe not go to Oliver's house when you're invited to a party to avoid a fight?
Yeah, that would go over well.
"Look," I said finally, "you're right. I have been trying to talk to you. It's just..." I trailed off, searching for a reason that would make sense. "My friends are great and all, but sometimes they're a bit..."
"Immature? Hyper-masculine? Emotionally stunted?" Jeremy finished for me.
I laughed. "Yeah, exactly. I can't exactly talk to them about certain things, you know?"
Jeremy's eyes narrowed, but I could sense he was interested. "What kind of things?"
"Just... stuff. Personal stuff." I shrugged, trying to seem casual but knowing I was failing miserably.
Jeremy's expression suddenly transformed, his eyes widening comically. "OH. MY. GOSH," he said, emphasizing each syllable. "Lily and you had a fight and you want my help? RIIIIGHT?"he paused to make a little dance, and then composed himself. "Don't worry, I will keep your secret. Tell me everything."
I opened my mouth to correct him, to say that wasn't it at all, but then paused. This was actually perfect, the excuse I needed to spend time with him, to gain his trust. And then to finally steer the conversation toward his own feelings.
"Yeah," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "That's... that's part of it."
Jeremy clapped his hands together with delight. "I KNEW IT! You were always together, and suddenly, she acts like she doesn't even know you. Also, you've been watching her like a lovesick puppy all week, so it must have been your fault that something happened."
Had I?I thought I'd been more subtle than that. But the confirmation seemed to please Jeremy, who was suddenly all smiles and enthusiasm.
"This is so exciting! A classic second-chance romance is brewing right under everyone's noses. The popular jock did something to the mysterious girl and needs forgiveness, it's like a movie!"
I couldn't help but smile at his characterization. If only he knew just how complicated the real story was. "It's not that simple," I said. "I don't think she wants to get back with me."
"Oh, honey," Jeremy let out a soft sigh and patted my arm. "No offense, but you men are so clueless when it comes to these things. You're always so... mechanical. You lack the romantic intuition."
I raised an eyebrow. "Mechanical?"
"You treat it like a problem to be solved, a formula to crack. You see that she's angry and you assume that's the end for you, but you don't even try to change what made her doubt you in the first place. But that’s not how real connectionworks."
I blinked, taken aback by his sudden seriousness. But I tried to go along with it, remaining as neutral and interested in his advice as possible. "And how am I supposed to show her that I want to change?"
Jeremy glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Most of us are too scared to be honest. We put on masks, play roles, pretend to be what we think people want instead of showing them who we really are. And then we wonder why our connections feel shallow."
"You sound like you know something about that," I said carefully, thinking more about his life than mine. Does he really feel that way about Leo? Like someone who has to put on a mask to be in his life? Or is it something deeper than that?
He suddenly became serious, as if he was thinking exactly the same thing I was. "We all have our masks, don't we? Some of us just wear them better than others."
"Jeremy—"
