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My phone vibrates at 11:30. I know Elli’s long asleep because I was too. She doesn’t stir when I reach to check it. Whoever it is better know they woke me up from, like, the hottest dream about the wrestling team. Thank god for spandex uniforms. Why don’t they play baseball in those?
My heart jumps into my throat when I see that it’s Sam and a hey, you up? text. God, yes. I’m way up, if I was a guy my boner would be bouncing off the ceiling. What do I do? Answer right away or ignore him and write back in an hour or so? There’s no chance I’m going back to sleep either way and I go to the living room so I don’t wake Elli up. She’d kill me for not changing my number after the whole thing went down. Thank god her mom isn’t home because I’m gonna wear a hole in the carpet I’m pacing so fast.
Finally I start typing a reply. The bitchy side of me wants to let him see that I saw his message and not answer but I gotta know what he wants. I’m practically peeing my pants just thinking about it. He deserves nothing more than for me to call him out on not knowing me. So that’s exactly what I do.
I thought you didn’t know me
I’m tapping my foot waiting for him to reply. If I keep it up Elli is going to wake up and you don’t want to wake her up in the middle of the night. She’s like a demon when you interrupt her beauty sleep, especially when it’s still dark outside. I swear she’s growled at me before. And not a cute little baby bear growl but I swear a demonic snarl conjured in the fiery depths of hell.
I thought you didn’t want your friend to know about us so I didn’t want to say anything in front of her. My bad
I don’t even get my reply typed before he sends another message.
You should send more pics
Okay, I see exactly what this is. As usual, Elli’s right again. He just wants someone to send him sexy pics when he’s too lazy to go out and try to find a girl to hook up with. No! That’s not gonna be me. Not again. It’s bad enough that I’m giving him my homework every day like an idiot but that’s harmless. I’m taking too long to answer and he sends yet another text.
Those last ones were the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Your face. That body. Damn girl
Oh my god, oh my god. I’m hyperventilating. It took me hours to do those. And he liked my face? Because I felt a little ridiculous trying to be all sexy. It comes naturally to some girls, me, I’m always cracking a smile. I can barely be serious long enough to take my school picture and in all my selfies I have a huge grin or a funny face. Sexy just isn’t me. Now I have to try to do that again? What am I even wearing? Ugh a comfy sports bra, not sexy. Maybe I should steal something from Elli. The one advantage to her being so tiny is that her bra would be so tight that I’d have miles of cleavage. Maybe I’ll take the one she wore on her date, sexy, pink lace. It’s just sitting there on top of the dryer. I won’t even have to go back in her room. It’s like it was fate or something.
With one last check to make sure her bedroom door is closed, I head for the bathroom. The light’s not the best but I pile on her makeup to look somewhat decent. And, come on, let’s face it, he’s not going to be looking at my face this time. Plus, I know my angles. I’ve got this. Elli’s bra is cutting off the circulation to my brain so I ditch it after a few minutes and do a couple with my hands covering my chest. They’re sexier anyway. It’s so cold in here my nipples are going to poke me in the eye.
I’m so wrapped up in taking pictures that I completely forget to reply. And he just keeps texting. Oh no what if he’s a butt man? I should probably take a few pics, I’m wearing a thong at least, a lot sexier than that granny sports bra I had on top. This is going to go over so well. I kinda look hot if I do say so myself.
A couple quick shots in the full length mirror and I have some real contenders. I wonder what one was his favorite last time. That’s when I realize that I never even told him I was taking more.
You should get your friend to pose with you
Elli? Why would Elli pose with me if I didn’t want her to know about us?
Elli. That’s her name. Yeah. You two share everything right? I got something you can share
Eeew. Elli’s like my sister. Just because two girls are friends doesn’t mean they make out
The jackass actually sends a winkie face.
Ummm, no! I don’t think I’m getting my point across. And just because we like a guy doesn’t mean he’s not a complete jackass
Come on. You know it was too much for you to handle by yourself. Your sexy friend could help. She is smokin hot
How do I even respond to that? Is he going to want pictures of just me now? I mean, they’re awesome pics but Elli’s not in them. Maybe he’s been after her all along. I wouldn’t be surprised. That’s why he pretended not to know me, because he didn’t want to ruin his chances with her. I’m starting to feel like this is the story of my life.
So you’re still sending pics right
No! Bye Sam. Forget my number
This right here is why guys don’t like you. You’re such a tease. I’m over here waiting for your beautiful pics and you probably didn’t even take them. No dude is ever going to want you if you act like this. I thought you were cool but whatever. We can just go back to pretending we don’t know each other
I’m too stunned to reply so I slam the phone down, not caring if I wake up Elli. I might need her to slap some sense into me. Even though these photos are smokin’ hot I can’t have them on my phone, she’ll use it to order a pizza and accidentally look me right in the nips. Yeah, my dumbass took a few without covering the important parts. But at least I didn’t send them. This time.
I pick my phone back up real quick and delete everything, and then shut it off. He’s not giving up and I have so many messages that I have to ignore for now. I can’t even think about it. He’s scamming on Elli, right in front of me. I don’t know if he’s blind or what. Elli clearly has a boyfriend. One we’re going to be partying with in a couple nights. Maybe I can clear things up with Sam if he’s there. Right now I can barely talk to him.
*****
I’m not gonna make it through Friday. I’m so wishing it was over so we could get to the weekend already. Tomorrow night’s Jagger’s party and no matter what my big bro says, both Elli and I are going to be there. Jagger asked me to come, I’m not gonna miss it for the world. I hope he has some friends I’ve never met ‘cause I need a new pool of boys to swim in. I’ll jump in head first if I have to.
It’s lunchtime finally! The day is half over but I’m too freakin’ antsy to make it through. I’m waiting for Elli by the cafeteria and who should walk up but Sam? Ugh. I don’t even want to look at his adorable, perfectly symmetrical face and that cute little smile he always has when no one else is around. I should walk away but then how is Elli going to find me?
“Hey Jenna.”
Oh so he does remember my name. Probably because Elli’s not around to steal it right out of his brain with her skinny waist and mile long legs. I turn my back to him instead of answering.
“Jenna, it was just a stupid fight. That’s what couples do. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
He’s not even looking around to see if anyone is paying attention. This has to be a first. Wait. What? It’s like the words just registered in my head. Couples fight. Is he saying we’re a couple? I’m so confused.
He leans in for a hug. My heart is doing summersaults in my belly. “Can I just borrow the homework? All that time waiting for sexy pics from my girl and I was too tired to get it done.”
His girl? Seriously?
I have no words. I just hand him the page I rip from my notebook, scanning the room to see if anyone else is seeing this. Where are my friends when I need them? I think I might be trippin’, maybe that soda I guzzled from Elli’s fridge was laced with something. She sees the two of us talking but she walks right by. I’m surprised she didn’t come over and ream him out, she definitely would if she knew about last night. Without figuring out what to say to him, I just kind of leave him standing there and follow Elli. I pick out my lunch on autopilot and sit down at the table with a salad and a packet of ketchup. I’m not, like, some kind of weirdo who puts ketchup on her kale, I meant to grab ranch.
Thank Jesus. Thank god. Jagger is sitting at our table, ready to save me from whatever it is I swear Elli’s gonna say. Anything about Sam would probably make me have a nervous breakdown, I’d be convulsing and drooling all over this useless packet of ketchup.
“Hey, what are you doing here? Don’t you have class?” she asks sweetly.
“Nah, it’s no big deal,” he brushes her off. “How are we, ladies?” It should sound corny but coming from him, it really doesn’t.
“Good,” Julianna giggles. It’s like she’s never seen a boy in her life. Well to be fair she’s never seen one with Elli. Definitely not as cute as Jagger. I could think of a couple things to do with this useless packet of ketchup... No, stop it, he’s Elli’s.
“What about you, Jenna?” he asks me with this weird twinkle in his eye that has me wondering if he can read my mind. It’s weird but he’s kinda always talked to me like I matter. He knows I can make his life a living hell if he pisses me off. At least when it comes to Elli.
“I’ll be better tomorrow night.”
“So you’re coming then?” He looks genuinely happy and for a second I wanna be the one kissing him. When will anyone look at me in a more than friends way?
“Yeah, I’ll be there. You better have cute friends or I’m leaving and taking Elli with me.” I look at her for confirmation and she nods her head in agreement but quickly changes direction when she looks in Jagger’s eyes. I’d never be able to drag her away from him and I wouldn’t want to. “Don’t worry, I’m so kidding.”
“I know,” he says but he still can’t look away from Elli. Every time they spot each other in the hall, he’s got a little kiss for her. It’s so sweet it’s straight sugar.
“Seriously, you better show my friends a good time,” she teases in a cutesy way that makes me puke in my mouth.
Kiyah’s shaking her head but we all know her parents won’t let her go. Lily has plans to watch some weird sci-fi show that all her friends from band are obsessed with. Julianna actually might show up, I think she likes one of the guys on the team but I could be wrong.
“Will do, as long as you’re there,” he pauses, “all of you.”
Finally he can tear his eyes away from her and looks at each and every one of us before he gets around to her again.
“You have Mr. Hogan right? He’ll kill you if you don’t get back, you should probably go.” How does she know his schedule? I couldn’t tell you where Sam is right now let alone what teacher he’d be with. Maybe that’s my problem.
“Walk me?” It comes out like a whiny beg. Before she even answers he slings his muscular arm around her shoulder and pulls her in the direction of the stairs like she has no choice. I bet he could ask her to do anything and she would, probably what he’s hoping for. I guess we’ll see on Saturday, won’t we?
I space out the entire time she’s gone. Lily’s telling us about this guy in band but she talks about him almost as much as Elli used to talk about Eric. Plus, I was kinda there for the story she’s telling so it’s not like I’m a bad friend for tuning her out.
Elli makes it back just in time to shove her chicken sandwich in her mouth before the bell rings. I bet she didn’t eat a lick when he was sitting here. How did she eat in front of him on their date?
“I’ll walk with you,” she offers, a giant grin still on her face. “So I don’t catch you talking to Sam again. Jenna...”
“Can you please stop smiling?” I yell. Seriously. “I have to go to class with Sam and you’re over here grinning like an idiot.”
“Sorry,” she whimpers.
“You don’t look sorry. You’re still smiling.”
Luckily, Sam walks around the corner and her smile disappears without a trace. It doesn’t even look like she was ever smiling that thing went away so quick. He looks right at us and acts like we’re not even there as he shoves his broad, sexy shoulders through the doorway. Does that sound like I hate him? Yeah, I’m not convinced either. Especially after the things he said about us being a couple. Elli’s gonna kill me just for talking to him, imagine if she knew I contemplated sending him nudes. Again. Pretty sure Morgan would be proud though.
“I’ll see you at practice?” she asks, giving me a huge hug and I’m positive I see Sam’s eyes light up just a bit even though he’s pretending not to see us. Does he know she saw us talking, is that what he’s worried about? If so, because he doesn’t want her to know or because he thinks I don’t?
I take a seat near the front of the room, a few seats in front of Sam in the same row. It’s where I always sit, it’s not like I’m sitting here to avoid him. Plus, when we pass up the homework, he just puts mine in the pile with the people behind him. It works out perfectly.
“Okay class, any questions on the homework?” Mr. Myers asks as we instinctively pass it up. I don’t know why he bothers to ask, it’s almost the end of the year and literally no one has ever asked a question.
Sam looks oh so cute as he passes it to the front. I’m barely paying attention as Mr. Myers starts explaining the next chapter while he picks up the papers.
Sam’s doing this shifty eye thing and won’t make eye contact with me. Maybe he really is worrying about us, whatever the hell we are. We’re not a couple, are we? I thought that would mean hanging out more, not just texting once or twice a week and not talking at school. Then again, that’s exactly what Elli and Eric did.
That’s when I shuffle through the pile in my hand. Sam’s isn’t in here. Did he not even bother to copy it down? I shoot him a look and he just shrugs. Aww, he’s worried about us, I can tell. He looks like he’s about to get in trouble.
When Mr. Myers finally gets to our row, he glances down at the four papers in his hand and the five of us in this row of seats. “Ms. Reynolds, have more important things to do than homework for my class?” he asks and I’m, like, totally confused.
He leafs through them again and I’m sure he’s going to realize his mistake. Mine’s in there, it’s Sam who didn’t get around to it. Then it hits me. No, he did not! Sam did not get so assholey that he didn’t bother to copy over the homework! He just erased my name and put his own. Wow. There are no words. And I never run out of things to say.
Mr. Myers is looking for an answer but there are tears in my eyes. If I speak, I will cry. God, I feel like I’m turning into Elli. I don’t make eye contact with my teacher as I mumble out some excuse about grabbing the wrong notebook this morning. It’s about as believable as telling him that Elli’s a double D but he just nods when he sees the tears. He probably just thinks I have monster PMS but it is so much more than that. It’s rage. It’s murder. I am going to kill Sam mother-trucking Muncey.