you need me, let me know. You’ve got my number."
I waved after him until he disappeared around a corner. Krista joined me, standing on a stair above me and although she was a good four or five inches shorter than me, the stair gave her enough elevation to casually wrap an arm around my shoulder and give me a comforting hug. I was lucky to have a new friend come into my life just as I was losing an old one.
***
Chapter 4
The next week passed in a happy blur. I missed Shep fiercely when I had quiet moments to think, but most of the time I kept myself busy. Evan continued to escort me to classes and sit with me at lunch. I enjoyed spending time with him and I thought that maybe he liked me a little more than as just friends, but having no experience with such things, I was content to just spend time with him and let that nourish my romance novel fueled fantasies. Krista never seemed to be around during school hours. Whenever I'd see her in the halls she'd suddenly remember that she had pressing engagements elsewhere. I couldn't bring myself to ask her why and I couldn't be mad at her because at home she was nothing but enthusiastic and sweet.
Lydia continued to make catty comments at my expense any chance she got. The guys were quick to jump to my defense and usually Olivia and Natalie could be counted on when I needed a friendly face, but Mattie seemed a little cooler. She wasn't overtly rude, but there seemed to be some distance. I found out that she was related to Coach Carter, although I wasn't sure how close the connection was. I hadn't had another run in with her since the first day of school and I was ever vigilant to make sure I never did again. The lady was scary.
The only real dark spot in my days at school was Ben. He continued to ignore me in class and the few occasions I attempted to talk to him in the halls he either glared at me or just walked away. I knew I should just let the rejection roll off my back, but I felt real regret at the loss of him as a potential friend. As much as I liked Evan and Krista and some of the other kids I'd met, none of them were as enjoyable to talk to as Ben was.
Even my brushes with the adults of Desire were more easily handled now that I went places with Krista. People responded kindly to her and when I was with her, it was like I was traveling in a bubble of influence and they were more pleasant to me. I asked her one day if she had any idea why the people in town were so awful to me when I was alone, but she mumbled half heard answers about the unpredictability of small town people to perceived outsiders and changed the subject.
One evening after Krista got home from cheerleading practice she and I were in our room laying across our beds.
"Hey," I asked, "What do you think of Evan Spencer?"
"I think he's pretty incredible actually." Her face lit up.
"Oh yeah? Do you like him?" I watched her carefully.
"You mean, like romantically?" She blushed when I nodded.
"No, not like that. I just mean that he's a good guy. He's really accomplished in school and you've seen him so you know he's totally hot. Plus, he's from a great family so, of course all the girls want him. But he's always super nice. Some guys let that stuff go to their heads. James Middleton comes to mind." I wasn't convinced. I still thought that maybe Krista had a crush on Evan, but I accepted her attempt to change the subject.
"Yeah, James is kind of an asshat. He and Lydia make a great couple." Krista and I laughed.
"Why do you ask?" She asked.
"I'm not sure what to think about him. He's been really sweet to me since we met, but I'm not sure how much to read into that. I've never dated a guy before. I've never even kissed a boy." Now I was blushing.
"Oh. Well, I'm pretty sure that can be fixed without too much trouble." She teased.
I flopped from my side to my back. "I know it's kind of stupid, but I've always pictured my first kiss as being a big deal. I'm not an over the top romantic
I waved after him until he disappeared around a corner. Krista joined me, standing on a stair above me and although she was a good four or five inches shorter than me, the stair gave her enough elevation to casually wrap an arm around my shoulder and give me a comforting hug. I was lucky to have a new friend come into my life just as I was losing an old one.
***
Chapter 4
The next week passed in a happy blur. I missed Shep fiercely when I had quiet moments to think, but most of the time I kept myself busy. Evan continued to escort me to classes and sit with me at lunch. I enjoyed spending time with him and I thought that maybe he liked me a little more than as just friends, but having no experience with such things, I was content to just spend time with him and let that nourish my romance novel fueled fantasies. Krista never seemed to be around during school hours. Whenever I'd see her in the halls she'd suddenly remember that she had pressing engagements elsewhere. I couldn't bring myself to ask her why and I couldn't be mad at her because at home she was nothing but enthusiastic and sweet.
Lydia continued to make catty comments at my expense any chance she got. The guys were quick to jump to my defense and usually Olivia and Natalie could be counted on when I needed a friendly face, but Mattie seemed a little cooler. She wasn't overtly rude, but there seemed to be some distance. I found out that she was related to Coach Carter, although I wasn't sure how close the connection was. I hadn't had another run in with her since the first day of school and I was ever vigilant to make sure I never did again. The lady was scary.
The only real dark spot in my days at school was Ben. He continued to ignore me in class and the few occasions I attempted to talk to him in the halls he either glared at me or just walked away. I knew I should just let the rejection roll off my back, but I felt real regret at the loss of him as a potential friend. As much as I liked Evan and Krista and some of the other kids I'd met, none of them were as enjoyable to talk to as Ben was.
Even my brushes with the adults of Desire were more easily handled now that I went places with Krista. People responded kindly to her and when I was with her, it was like I was traveling in a bubble of influence and they were more pleasant to me. I asked her one day if she had any idea why the people in town were so awful to me when I was alone, but she mumbled half heard answers about the unpredictability of small town people to perceived outsiders and changed the subject.
One evening after Krista got home from cheerleading practice she and I were in our room laying across our beds.
"Hey," I asked, "What do you think of Evan Spencer?"
"I think he's pretty incredible actually." Her face lit up.
"Oh yeah? Do you like him?" I watched her carefully.
"You mean, like romantically?" She blushed when I nodded.
"No, not like that. I just mean that he's a good guy. He's really accomplished in school and you've seen him so you know he's totally hot. Plus, he's from a great family so, of course all the girls want him. But he's always super nice. Some guys let that stuff go to their heads. James Middleton comes to mind." I wasn't convinced. I still thought that maybe Krista had a crush on Evan, but I accepted her attempt to change the subject.
"Yeah, James is kind of an asshat. He and Lydia make a great couple." Krista and I laughed.
"Why do you ask?" She asked.
"I'm not sure what to think about him. He's been really sweet to me since we met, but I'm not sure how much to read into that. I've never dated a guy before. I've never even kissed a boy." Now I was blushing.
"Oh. Well, I'm pretty sure that can be fixed without too much trouble." She teased.
I flopped from my side to my back. "I know it's kind of stupid, but I've always pictured my first kiss as being a big deal. I'm not an over the top romantic
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