Page 10 of Head Under Water

The ruined science fair project just because he could.

How hard he campaigned against me for prom queen.

How he always, always left me out from the time we were little kids.

But still…

Is he a bad guy?

“No. Not in, like, a violent way or anything. His mom would kill him if he ever truly hurt anyone. He’s just…” I curl my upper lip, waving a hand in his direction. A flash of annoyance sparks. “He likes to win. Even when no one else is aware there’s a game being played.”

“Right.” She draws out the word. “So…I guess what I’m asking…would you totally hate me for hooking up with him?”

I snort. “Just make sure you’ve had your tetanus shot first.”

She giggles, swaying to the beat. “You da best, Opal. Now we need to find you a man.” She scans the crowd.

“Oh, I don’t…”

“Him.” She points to a random guy, and like magic, his gaze is pulled to meet hers. She wiggles her finger at him and—seriously is this magic?—he follows her lead, walking in our direction. He’s hot too. Taller than me. Blond. Muscular. He looks like a football player. Very solid.

“What’s your name?” Jess shouts when he gets close enough to hear her over the beat.

“King.”

“King.” She repeats the name, looking my way. I have no idea if that’s a legal, on-the-birth-certificate sort of name, but it doesn’t really matter. I don’t need to marry this guy. I just want to dance with him. “Meet my dearest friend, Opal.”

His eyes flick from Jess to me, and then back to Jess. And then…slowly…back to me. Does he look disappointed? Something tightens in my stomach—that old, familiar feeling of not being enough. The look evaporates, though. Quickly enough for me to almost forget it. He holds out a hand, and when I take it, he pulls me toward him until we’re dancing.

“Smooth,” I say with a laugh. The hand not holding his beer moves to my waist.

“You’re hot, Opal.”

Heat spreads through my body. “Thanks, King.”

“Freshman?”

I nod. “You too?”

“Sophomore. I knew I would’ve remembered you.”

I laugh. “Does that line usually work?”

“First time. You’ll have to let me know.”

I look over, searching for Jess, but my stomach drops. She’s gone. She’s…no. There she is. Still here. Just…gross.

She’s on the far side of the room, already making out with Will against the wall. He’s got one hand braced on the paneling above her head, the other at her waist. She’s smiling into his mouth like she’s won something. His eyes open mid-kiss, and for a split second, he’s not looking at her. He’s looking at me.

She’d better not be planning to bring him back to the dorm. There’s not enough sage in the world.

CHAPTER EIGHT

PRESENT DAY

“Opal, hi.” The woman sitting behind the L-shaped secretary’s desk in the elementary school office is Mrs. Broccoli.

Yes, that’s really her name, and yes, it’s a questionable choice to work at an elementary school when you share a name with everyone’s least favorite vegetable.