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The second Jagger pulls me away I start getting excited, maybe he’s finally going to ask me out again. I mean, it’s only been two days since I woke up in his bed but I’m getting impatient. Maybe Karynn was right, I should have worn something sexy from her closet and then Jagger would be begging to go out again.
“I thought you might want this back.” He hands me my shirt and, more slyly, my bra a second later. I tuck it into my bag before anyone can see, how embarrassing would that be?
“Thanks, I couldn’t find this. I thought my mom stole it.” I smile but inside I’m dying for him to ask me out already, the suspense is killing me. I want to tease him about wearing it under his practice clothes but I’m too nervous to joke at a time like this.
“You might want to wash that, I needed a little support for last night’s practice.” He just read my mind, I’m pretty convinced of it even before he does that soulful eye penetration thing he seems to do all the time now.
I laugh. “Please tell me you’re talking about your chest and you didn’t use my bra as a jockstrap.”
He gives me a wink as the bra threatens to fall out of my bag. I’m disappointed when all I get is a tiny hug before he walks away, talking to Brewski and Marc as they walk by. He doesn’t even say goodbye, just throws a glance over his shoulder as they make their way up the stairs.
I spot my friends right away, a big group of girls, no boys in sight, but Morgan cuts me off before I get to them. She can hang out with the popular kids but for some reason she’s pretty attached to me. I like it but I’m not expecting it to last much past the end of babes-ball season, as she calls it. Maybe I’m her pet until she can hook me up with a player and then she’ll ditch me when things don’t work out. I see how it is, Morgan.
“Hey sweetie,” she greets me with a giant hug. I’m a little taken aback and hope it doesn’t show on my face. “I’m totes borrowing that dress, girlie. Teal is so your color. You look hot.”
“Not as hot as you,” I giggle. It’s not like I’m lying, she does look really cute in her ruffly blue dress. It’s a little girly for her overly sexy style and I have to say it totally works for her.
All my friends know Morgan, no introduction needed, and she’s the first to say hi to all of them. I think they’re a little leery of her, wondering what she wants with them when this time last year she didn’t even know any of our names. The circle closes in again after Morgan and I join the group and I realize Jenna’s not here. Maybe she’s giving Sam a piece of her mind. I can’t believe he pretended not to know her, I’ve seen them talking before class a million times. He probably even knows my name, why pretend not to with someone who clearly wants to talk to us? Jagger looked a little annoyed, like he actually cared if Sam hurt Jenna’s feelings, or maybe he thought it hurt mine. I want him to just let me know how he feels already so I can stop reading into his every move. I wish I could say it isn’t like me to be so over-analytical but it really is, I’m always this way.
“So, how’s it going with Jagger?” Morgan asks and all other conversations stop immediately, some mid-sentence. They all know how I feel about him, he’s all I can talk about to the point where it must be annoying.
“I don’t think he likes me. He never made a move, he hasn’t texted me. I’m pretty sure he just used me for my Spotify login.”
“Oooh, sharing is always good,” Morgan asserts and the whole group nods along even though none of them have any idea what constitutes a good thing when it comes to guys.
My back is turned to the hallway and even though I’m almost ready to cry I manage to keep it together. My friends have seen me tear up a million times, I just don’t want Morgan to think I’m a pathetic loser, all wrapped up in a guy I could never have.
“But you talked to him in school,” Lily offers up sweetly. She’s the one in the group that couldn’t care less about boys and knows so little about them that it’s laughable. She has a point, I must admit, I just wish we talked a lot more than we have. I mean, it’s obvious he at least likes hanging out with me but it’s probably only on a friendship level. I think I have another Eric situation on my hands and I don’t know if I can take it.
Now, if I could just get him to take me out again. I had no doubts on our date, why am I doubting it now? It’s not like I can just show up at his house and surprise him. Even if I did have a car to drive there.
“I’m gonna find out for you in history, don’t worry.” I know Morgan is dead serious. “I’m sure he likes you, how could he not?” She takes another look at my outfit and adjusts my bracelets. Sweet Morgan, always looking out for me, I think in another lifetime we could have been best friends.
“He doesn’t Morgan, he didn’t even try to kiss me. You know he’d kiss me if he liked me.” I’m babbling as I continue overanalyzing everything that I know about the guy but by now none of my friends are listening to me. Am I that boring or is the whining finally getting to them?
Without warning I’m spun around and look up to see bright green eyes, almost the exact color of the dress I’m wearing. Oh shit, it’s Jagger. Jagger heard everything I just said. It’s over, it’s finished, I’m....
Being kissed.
Jagger is kissing me so hard my knees are weak. Everyone is staring, I can tell, but I don’t actually see them. All I see is Jagger’s face until I give in and close my eyes. They’ve been dying to close since his mouth touched mine and I can’t fight it anymore. He’s cupping my face in his hands like in the movies, the way I never thought people actually kissed because I’ve never seen it before.
My heart is pounding so hard he can probably feel it in his mouth. Oh, he definitely can with his tongue making tiny swirls in mine. I think I’m going to pass out. It feels so good. Am I dreaming this? When am I going to wake up? What is everyone going to say? I can hear cheering and clapping around us and my friends trying not to squeal with delight. I’ve never seen anything like this at school before and here I am participating in it. This can’t be real. Can it?
When he pulls away I take a deep breath so loud I’m sure the whole school heard it. I’m trying not to pinch myself but it’s becoming harder and harder as the hoots and hollers continue. He’s not saying a word, just turning and walking up the stairs as the first bell rings, a huge smile on his face. I can tell mine is the same way, I couldn’t wipe that grin off if I tried. Did that really just happen?
I catch a glimpse of myself in the glass as I’m walking up the stairs. My lips are red from kissing, my cheeks a little flushed from his stubble rubbing against them. I stumble into the bathroom, vaguely aware that all my friends are talking at once yet I don’t hear a single word they say. My life is complete. I just got kissed in front of everyone, from a guy I’m 100%, head over heels falling for. It’s perfect. I couldn’t ask for more.
My knees are still weak as I brace myself on the sink. My breathing is almost back to normal but every time I think about the feeling of his tongue rubbing mine I instantly start panting again. Is a kiss supposed to feel that good? My whole body is still tingling and I swear it’s been minutes. By now I’m sure the whole school knows that Jagger Greeley was kissing some girl in the hallway and I bet Morgan is spreading my name around as we speak. By lunch I’ll probably have a big congratulations banner hanging outside the cafeteria where I was just justified in my feelings for Jagger. I don’t know how I’m going to make it until I can tell Jenna.
I can’t doubt him anymore, one does not kiss like that if they are not interested in the person they are kissing. You couldn’t fake the spark if you tried, I mean, I swear I have a bald spot on the back of my head where his fingers scorched me. I don’t even know what I did with my hands, if I managed to put them on him or if they stayed right at my sides. Did I even kiss him back? And if I did, did he think it was good, that it was worth kissing me? God, I hope so. I practically float to history class.