“Tonight is my first night teaching dance.”
That’s right. I completely forgot that she’s teaching dance this year. “I knew that. Are you excited?”
“No. I’m nervous, scared, anxious, petrified, and did I say scared already?”
“You’re going to do great, I know it.”
“Thank you, and I am excited, along with all those other things.” She reaches up, giving me a quick kiss. “I’ll see you at school, and I expect you to talk to me today.”
I quirk an eyebrow. “Is that a bet?”
Hannah covers my mouth with both of hers. “No, that is officially a dirty word.”
I lick her hand, and she jerks it away. “Awe, but…”
She wipes her hand down my shirt. “No, buts and no more bets.”
13. The Janitor’s Closet
Today, school finally feels like…school. There’s no drama, and people don’t stare (as much) when Ford and I walk together down the hall. A few girls still giggle and wave at him, but for the most part, girls leave him alone. The weirdest thing is that I don’t think he cares. He gives the girls who say hi to him a nod and a ‘hey,’ but that’s just because he’s a nice guy. He seems to be past the whole ‘all the girls in the school want me’ phase. It makes my stomach flip flop, and the butterflies start up. It’s just another confirmation that he wants our relationship to work.
I shut my locker and pick up my bag when Ford tries to take it, but I won’t let him have it. He scrunches his forehead at me. “I can carry my backpack.”
“I know you can, but I want to carry it for you.”
“Okay, I’ll make a deal with you.”
Ford cocks an eyebrow and smirks. “A deal sounds awfully close to a bet.”
I roll my eyes, mainly because I don’t have a comeback. “It’s not.”
He holds out his hands in surrender. “Okay. What’s this deal?”
I bite my lip, rethinking my whole deal idea, afraid it will cause us more drama. I shake my head. “Never mind.” Ford steps in front of me and then backs me up until my back hits the lockers.
“Oh no, Clark. If I’m going to be more open, then so are you. What’s the deal?” He puts a hand on either side of my head, leaning against the lockers, giving me that smile that makes my knees weak.
I twist my fingers into his letterman jacket. “You play dirty, Cross.”
He leans closer, skimming his lips along my cheek. “You better believe it. Now, are you going to tell me? Or do you require more persuasion?” He kisses the corner of my mouth.
“I was thinking you could carry my bags in the morning and to all the classes we don’t have together.”
Ford’s eyebrows pop up, and he chews on the inside of his lip, thinking. “I’ll accept this deal only if you let me give you a ride to school every day.” He trails a finger down my cheek to my throat, where he plays the charms of my necklace.
I scrunch my forehead. “Have you seen my new car?”
“I have. It’s nice if you’re touting around a couple of kids.” He laughs, a smile breaking out across his face, and he tries to reach for my bag. But I shift my shoulder away from him.
Ford gives me a look of surprise. “Sweet.” He grabs my hand to walk to class, but I pull him back to me.
“When we’ve talked, and we’re officially back together.”
He shrugs. “Fine, I can wait a few days. Now let’s go to class. If you get another tardy, you’ll have a week’s detention with Mrs. Hammond.”
“Yikes. We better run.” And I pull Ford down the hall.
Class with Ford is like it’s always been, only better. After we sit down, Ford taps on my shoulder. “Hey Clark, wanna make a—”
