11

PAIGE = HOMECOMING OBSESSED

ON MY WAY BACK TO MY ROOM, I STOPPED by the girl’s bathroom to shower and change. Paige was out, so I decided to text her to see if she wanted to meet up and study in the common room together.

When u get back wanna study in com room? I sent the text and started gathering my books. I had enough to do that I could go and get a head start.

My phone beeped a couple of minutes later.

Just finished w HC committee—b there in 5

I deleted the message. At least if we had to work, Paige wouldn’t have any time to talk about Homecoming.

In the common room I spread my stuff on the round table. If I sat on the couch I’d get too comfy and would probably fall asleep. I took the egg that Jacob and I shared for health class and set it on the table, then snapped a picture of it. I was definitely going to get an A in this class—no doubt. I’d wanted to give the egg to Jacob yesterday when I’d seen him in the hallway, but things had been too weird with Callie.

I pulled out my history book and started reading the assigned chapter. Mr. Spellman’s class wasn’t too hard, but he always assigned a lot of required reading. I’d read a few pages when I heard flip-flops approach the common room.

Paige walked inside, her arms full of green folders.

“What are those?” I asked.

She grinned at me. “Details for the dance!”

Did every sentence about Homecoming have to end in an exclamation point?

“Oh, cool,” I said. “I’m sure it’ll be great.”

Paige put the folders on the table and flipped open one. “It’s going to be amazing. Seriously. I’d tell you every detail, but I don’t want to ruin the surprise for you.”

“Yeah,” I said. “You definitely don’t want to do that. I love surprises.”

And if I hear one more thing about it, I’ll go insane, I thought, but smiled at Paige.

“Are you the first person in Canterwood history who doesn’t have homework?” I asked, nodding at the folders. “Because then I’d be so jealous.”

Paige sighed. “I have homework, but I really want to go over all of this first.”

I nodded, not saying anything, and went back to my textbook. I wanted to talk to Paige about so many things, like my party and what we were going to do over fall break, but all she wanted to talk about was Homecoming.

“So, has anyone heard from Jasmine?” Paige asked.

I looked up slowly. “That’s kind of random. Why would any of us hear from her?”

Paige shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I didn’t expect her to contact any of you, but I kind of wonder where she is and stuff.”

“I don’t care as long as it’s not here.” I uncapped my pen pointedly, trying to signal to Paige that I was done talking about Jasmine.

“How are Julia and Alison doing?” Paige asked. “They have to be feeling awesome now that the truth about what really happened is finally out.”

I stiffened in my seat. I knew Paige well enough to know where she was going with this. If I let her, she’d make the conversation about my party. She was using Julia and Alison’s situation as a way to ease into talking about my party. I wanted to talk to her about it, but not like this. Not when she’d spent so much time talking about poor Jasmine and Homecoming.

“Julia and Alison are happy. Glad to be back on the team.” I pointed to my book. “I’ve really got to get this done, okay?”

Paige shrank back a little. “Yeah. Sorry. I’ll go get my homework.”

She gathered her folders and left the common room. I folded my arms on the table and laid my head on the desk. This was ridiculous. I couldn’t even have a normal conversation with my roommate anymore! She was obsessed with Homecoming and with trying to find a way to prove that I’d lied about what had happened with Jacob at my party. And I was getting tired of it—I wanted to tell her the truth on my own terms.

Paige entered the common room without a word moments later and we both got to work. Neither of us talked as we did our homework and the tension in the room was crazy. I was considering saying I was done with my homework, even though I wasn’t, and telling Paige I had to run to the stable to pick up something I’d forgotten. Just as I started to close my book, my phone buzzed.

4got 2 get egg from u yest. Wanna trade now?

It took me two point five seconds to type a response. Sure. Meet me outside Winchester.

I picked up the egg, its padded box that Jacob had made, and our notebook, leaving my books spread open on the table.

“Back in a sec,” I said. “I’ve got pass my egg to Jacob.”

“’Kay,” was all Paige said.

I left the room and felt immediate relief the second I got out. I hurried down the hallway and when I pushed open the door, Jacob was leaning casually against the railing. I tried not to smile when I saw him, but I couldn’t stop myself.

“Hi,” I said. My voice sounded shy and it felt like it was the first time we’d met.

“Hey,” Jacob said, his voice soft. Our eyes met and, for a second, all I could think about was how much I’d missed the tingly feeling I’d had whenever I’d looked into his eyes.

Stop it, I said to myself. He’s with Callie. Just like you wanted. You had your chance to be with him.

I thrust the egg and notebook in his direction, then took a step back toward the door.

“I logged everything in the notebook,” I said. “If you just write that you took it tonight, we’ll be ready when we turn it in tomorrow.”

“Great.” Jacob looked at the egg, then back up at me. “I know we’ll get a good grade. There’s no way we won’t.”

“Yeah, we really did carry that thing everywhere,” I said.

As I spoke, I tried to think of something—anything—to talk about to keep him here. But I knew better. I didn’t need to be talking to Jacob. I should have been inside, doing homework and not chatting with my ex—best friend’s boyfriend. I didn’t need anyone to see us together and think there was something going on.

He had a look on his face as if he wanted to tell me something. I could feel it. But if this had anything to do with Callie, I definitely didn’t want to know. But maybe it has nothing to do with her, I thought. It could be about a zillion things—school, parents, whatever.

Paige was waiting for me in the common room, probably counting the minutes of how long I’d been out here with Jacob.

“I’ve got to get back inside,” I said, tipping my head back in the direction of the door.

“Oh.” Jacob put his free hand in his pocket. “Okay.”

“Bye.” I turned, pulled open the door and left him standing on the steps before he could say another word.