arranged our things on the desk. “I mean, in case you ever want to hang out or anything.”
I nodded, a little surprised. I didn’t think he’d actually call me. He was only being nice because we both knew Henry. Old Nova screamed at New Nova to get a boy clue and answer him. “Um, sure. That would be fun.”
We exchanged numbers and our teacher began class. After a while, I began to doodle masks again, looking up at the teacher occasionally to prevent any trouble.
“What are you drawing?” Cole whispered over my shoulder, making me jump.
“Uh.” My hand quickly covered the work and I glanced up to see Cole look disappointed. He’s taking an interest in you, nutjob. He’s cute. Don’t be stupid.
My face contorted into a half-apologetic, half-awkward expression and his golden eyes sparkled with amusement. I pulled my arm back to show him. His eyes dashed to the teacher and back to me as he smiled.
“Face masks?” I nodded and he was full of curiosity. “Why?”
Hadn’t thought that far. Oops. “Uh…a project for my sister.”
Cole’s face went sober and I grimaced as he went to apologize. Now I was referring to my dead sister like she was alive? Had I forgotten how to talk to boys? He opened his mouth and I cut him off.
“I mean…it’s sort of this inside joke we had, that’s all.” I talked too fast and forced myself to slow down. I gave him a small smile and hoped it would lighten the mood. “It beats the usual stick figures and arrow-ridden hearts I usually draw. I’m not a good artist.”
“Ms. Benson? Mr. Warner? Am I interrupting your conversation?” a sharp voice cut in.
Mrs. Slater, our teacher, held the seating chart in her hand and gave us a dirty look. Shaking our heads, we apologized and she continued teaching. Mortified, I could barely take my eyes off the table, but when I glanced at Cole, his lips were pursed together and his shoulders shook with a little laugh. Our eyes met and I quickly looked away; I’d break into giggles if we made eye contact again.
When the bell rang, we walked out and turned to one another. Our classes were in different directions and I explained how he could get to the right room. He grinned at me in thanks and for a moment, with his light hair and wide smile, I was blinded by the brightness of him.
“Maybe I’ll see you later?” I tried to keep even but it came out more like an excited question. To my relief, he nodded immediately and his smile got bigger. The tickle in my stomach came back.
“Henry said we all lived close by, so after class.” He gave me a small wave as he backed away. “See ya.”
I headed to seventh period and managed to slip into the desk beside Henry. “Hey.”
“Hey. How’s class with Cole?”
“Uh, fine.”
“Ask him out yet?” Henry whispered at me in jest.
I rolled my eyes; we both knew even if Cole told me flat out that he liked me, I’d still never make the first move. Henry smirked as the teacher called our attention to the front of the room.
I couldn’t help but think things were looking up. Finally . I really wanted this year to go well. I wanted to participate and do things; it was my last year before I left for college and I didn’t want to waste it. I’d been worried about the new school, but the work seemed easy and the people were nice enough. Penelope was on her best behavior, which would please Dad. All in all, not a bad day.
One person in particular had made an impression. I’d found my thoughts running back to Nova all evening, to the cute way her nose crinkled up when she laughed. I liked her sense of humor. Plus she wore those little shorts that made her legs go on for miles…
A pillow smacked me in the face. “Hey!”
“Earth to Cole,” Penelope said from her position on the couch. “Stop daydreaming about her.”
I didn’t look at her. “Who?”
“You know,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Her voice lilted as she said
I nodded, a little surprised. I didn’t think he’d actually call me. He was only being nice because we both knew Henry. Old Nova screamed at New Nova to get a boy clue and answer him. “Um, sure. That would be fun.”
We exchanged numbers and our teacher began class. After a while, I began to doodle masks again, looking up at the teacher occasionally to prevent any trouble.
“What are you drawing?” Cole whispered over my shoulder, making me jump.
“Uh.” My hand quickly covered the work and I glanced up to see Cole look disappointed. He’s taking an interest in you, nutjob. He’s cute. Don’t be stupid.
My face contorted into a half-apologetic, half-awkward expression and his golden eyes sparkled with amusement. I pulled my arm back to show him. His eyes dashed to the teacher and back to me as he smiled.
“Face masks?” I nodded and he was full of curiosity. “Why?”
Hadn’t thought that far. Oops. “Uh…a project for my sister.”
Cole’s face went sober and I grimaced as he went to apologize. Now I was referring to my dead sister like she was alive? Had I forgotten how to talk to boys? He opened his mouth and I cut him off.
“I mean…it’s sort of this inside joke we had, that’s all.” I talked too fast and forced myself to slow down. I gave him a small smile and hoped it would lighten the mood. “It beats the usual stick figures and arrow-ridden hearts I usually draw. I’m not a good artist.”
“Ms. Benson? Mr. Warner? Am I interrupting your conversation?” a sharp voice cut in.
Mrs. Slater, our teacher, held the seating chart in her hand and gave us a dirty look. Shaking our heads, we apologized and she continued teaching. Mortified, I could barely take my eyes off the table, but when I glanced at Cole, his lips were pursed together and his shoulders shook with a little laugh. Our eyes met and I quickly looked away; I’d break into giggles if we made eye contact again.
When the bell rang, we walked out and turned to one another. Our classes were in different directions and I explained how he could get to the right room. He grinned at me in thanks and for a moment, with his light hair and wide smile, I was blinded by the brightness of him.
“Maybe I’ll see you later?” I tried to keep even but it came out more like an excited question. To my relief, he nodded immediately and his smile got bigger. The tickle in my stomach came back.
“Henry said we all lived close by, so after class.” He gave me a small wave as he backed away. “See ya.”
I headed to seventh period and managed to slip into the desk beside Henry. “Hey.”
“Hey. How’s class with Cole?”
“Uh, fine.”
“Ask him out yet?” Henry whispered at me in jest.
I rolled my eyes; we both knew even if Cole told me flat out that he liked me, I’d still never make the first move. Henry smirked as the teacher called our attention to the front of the room.
I couldn’t help but think things were looking up. Finally . I really wanted this year to go well. I wanted to participate and do things; it was my last year before I left for college and I didn’t want to waste it. I’d been worried about the new school, but the work seemed easy and the people were nice enough. Penelope was on her best behavior, which would please Dad. All in all, not a bad day.
One person in particular had made an impression. I’d found my thoughts running back to Nova all evening, to the cute way her nose crinkled up when she laughed. I liked her sense of humor. Plus she wore those little shorts that made her legs go on for miles…
A pillow smacked me in the face. “Hey!”
“Earth to Cole,” Penelope said from her position on the couch. “Stop daydreaming about her.”
I didn’t look at her. “Who?”
“You know,” she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Her voice lilted as she said
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