Player plops down next to me at lunch the next day throwing an arm around my shoulders, “man if looks could kill my guts would be spilled all over this table right now in a bloody heap.”
“What?”
He leans in to whisper, “your boy over there at the track table. He’s eyeballing me something fierce right now.”
I don’t bother looking. What’s the point? Abruptly, a loud crash startles me and makes Player’s arm tighten around my shoulders. All noise in the cafeteria stops in a deafening momentary silence. A door slams and the lunchtime din resumes its normal level.
“I’m pretty sure that was not the proper way to return your cafeteria tray to the stacks,” Laurel said, “you can look up now sweetie. He’s gone.”
But I don’t. Again, what’s the point?
“Well, this table is now a major buzz kill,” Player announces.
“Eli!” Laurel chastises him.
“What? Buck up Buttercup,” he told me giving my shoulder a tiny shove with his. “At least we got you in the separation. You’re loads easier on the eyes than he is these days…but, if I’m being honest, not by much.” Jaxon tries to kick him under the table and I feel Laurel reach behind me trying to smack his arm.
“Knock it off both of you. Listen, breakups happen. Shit happens, ok?” he snaps at them both.
By now all three of them have heard the full, unabridged history of Katie and Josh-- The Humiliating Pain, from the time we met in a baby gym class when we were two up until five minutes ago and all the glorious gory details in between.
"All I’m saying is that our little B Cup Bookworm deserves better. If nobody else will say it I will. The guy’s a dick. You don’t mess with people like that,” and he stands, leaving the table without saying another word.
I push the food around my plate for a little while longer until the bell signals us to head to class.
The next week goes by in a blur of studying for finals, talking about summer plans, and getting ready for The Prom. That’s all anyone’s talking about at school. I’m actually a little sick of hearing it, and it’s still one week away, but Laurel manages to talk me into another shopping trip for accessories tonight.
It's only been a week since we were here getting my new dress, but the mall still has the crowded, creepy, ick factor for me that always makes me want to race out of the nearest exit screeching. But, I don't. I'm a good BFF, or at least getting better at faking it these days.
I’m waiting for her to come out of the dressing room for the 19th time when from behind me I hear a deep voice say, “Hey.”
Damn it. Just when I thought tonight couldn’t get any worse. How does he still send shivers down my spine with just one word? Even when it's the first word I have heard him say to me in sixteen days.
I take a quick deep breath and turn around to face the greenest eyes I have ever seen, and haven’t seen in what feels like forever. I try not to stare. And fail. Breathe dummy. Speak!