ra's

ekend always felt like walking i

shouting, and the occasional slamming locker. I tried to walk calmly, keeping my backpack pulled tight against my shoulder, but of

yet, I could neither avoid him nor approach him with any sen

at my side like guardian a

ng me with her elbow. "Ready for anothe

hrilling? I would se

d. "Uneventful is boring, and boring does

mach twist into a complicated k

e in the corner like I wanted. Calvin walked in five minutes late, his backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, m

g on the board. My pen tapped a nervous, rapid rhythm against the paper. I could feel him watching me. I knew i

hout running into the crew, but as I turned the corner, there he was again. H

e." he said, the smir

harmed by his proximity. "I am eve

ed, reaching hi

tepped slightly into my path. "Wh

lking to you

ing heat rise to my cheeks. "Harsh. And here I tho

We do. It is

o feel the sudden weight of his presence. "Then

at him. "Because yo

lightly, finally steppin

esperate urge to glance back over my shoulder. My stoma

igating the hallways. Amanda and Novia were waiting at our usual table, al

g my arm to pull me into the seat.

head toward the table.

ked. "And y

ed on my soda

asis. "Do not lie to us. That little smirk you get? Yo

ied my face in my hands

my distress. "We are just trying to

s?" I ask

ur wit, your allure, and your ability to make h

sed. "I am not t

yourself that. But we all know y

ritated and something else I was

lse for the next stage of the project, I could avoid the storm that was Calvi

, checking her clipboard. "

sing history with was now my forced collaborator once again.

my time, Sa

oice. "Excuse me? I was about to

ting. The perfect trifecta of annoyance. We got to work on our analysis, but our hands

"You could actually be less ho

uld say the same

e faint, clean scent of his cologne. My pulse jumped, and I

countered, his vo

nces. Every correction he made and every smirk he shot my way ma

through my sandwich when I noticed Calvin talking to a girl from

before I could stop it. My friends no

elbowing me sharply. "Look

ng another fry into my mo

ked. "Sure

was laughing, so casual, and yet I found myself wanting him to

triumphant look. My stomach twisted. I was not even sure what I was feeling-anger, jealousy,

He notices you, and now he is offi

my napkin. "I

ure. Keep telling

xams, but from surviving Calvin and my own body's betrayals. Walking out of t

ut into motion. Even now, thinking about the upcoming party, the teasing, the hallway col

ot entirely sure whi