“Maybe,” Danika says, popping a grape into her mouth.“But it doesn’t really matter now.It’s taken on a life of its own.So, expect your every move to be scrutinized for at least the rest of the week.You’ll be too boring to watch beyond that.”
“Hey!”I don’t know why I’m offended.Boring is good.I think.“What did I do to her?Is she blaming me because it’s not Brooklyn?”
“You rejected her in front of guys at a party,” Danika offers with a shrug.“Technically, I did.But she’s too afraid of me to start anything.Sorry, Sadie.You’re soft, and she knows she can get away with it.”
“I’m—” I sputter.But then I shut my mouth and look around the table with sad eyes.They all know I am.
Collin pulls me against him.“But it’s what makes you so adorable.”
“My lack of backbone?”I mutter into his shirt that smells of detergent and his clean-scented cologne.
“Your big heart,” he says, squeezing me until I can’t breathe, and I eek out air.
“You can stop that,” Jonathan tells Collin.“She’s not a stuffed animal.”
Collin rocks me back and forth comically.“But she’s so cuddly.”
I shove my arms between us and break free.My ultra-fine hair is a cloud of static, and my face is bright red—I can feel the flush of heat radiating on my cheeks.I slap at Collin’s arm again, and he laughs.Jonathan just shakes his head at us, used to our banter.
“You two should date,” Darcy says.“You’re so funny together.”
I let out a disgusted grunt.Collin opens his mouth, offended.Jonathan raises his brows like he didn’t hear her correctly.
“Darcy, honey,” Jaz intercepts, taking Darcy’s hand.“That probably should’ve stayed on the inside.Or something you share with just me.”
Darcy realizes her mistake, and her mouth rounds.“Oh.Right.Sorry.”
A guy approaches the table, lingering a little too far outside speaking range.He looks scared to interrupt us.I think he’s a sophomore.Danika notices him.
“What do you want?”Not the friendliest welcome.The boy turns white and clears his throat.But he still doesn’t speak.He steps forward and extends his arm, holding out a piece of paper, like he’s feeding a lion.Jonathan takes it.The guy snaps his hand back.Then he spins and scuttles away.
Jonathan looks at the note.
“What is it?”I ask, recognizing the notice slip from the office.
Jonathan slides his chair back and picks up his tray.“I gotta go.”He looks to me and Collin.“I’ll see you later.Maybe.”
After he walks away, I exchange a look with Collin.He won’t say anything in front of the girls.Jonathan being summoned to the office is never a good thing.
As soon as we’re alone, or as much as that’s possible in the middle of the hallway between classes, I ask Collin, “Do you think he’s okay?Why would they call him down?Did something happen?”
Collin just shoots me a side-eye.
I sigh.“You know as much as I do.”
“Right.”
“But you’ll let me know if you hear anything?”My mind automatically considers the cut on his lip, Officer Pratt’s warning and the Greenfield player with the broken arm.
“Or you can just, you know, text him.”Collin’s sarcasm brings me back to the hallway.
I could do that, I guess.I used to text him before, not that he’d always respond.Why am I hesitating now?
BecausenowI don’t know the rules.It feels different.Or maybe I just feel different about us.And this is exactly what I didn’t want.Or… I’m freaking out for absolutely no reason.And he has a dentist appointment or his mom needs him to pick up his brother after school.
I text him:you okay?
Jonathan doesn’t reply.
