• • • • •
I can’t believe I am having lunch in the cafeteria for the second day in a row. It still stinks in here.
Seth sits next to me and takes huge bites of his pizza. I adjust my glasses and loudly unwrap my sandwich. “Let me guess. Turkey”?
I nod.
“Why is it wrapped in tinfoil?” Seth asks.
“We’re out of plastic wrap.”
Seth wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “So are you going to tell me what happened?”
“It’s over. No big deal.”
“Then tell me.”
I sigh. “Someone threw Coke at me.”
“No way,” says Seth. He seems genuinely shocked, which shocks me. “Asshole. Who was it?”
“Doesn’t matter.” But Seth doesn’t stop staring at me until I say the name. “Joey Richards.”
“I know who he is.” Seth takes his last bite of pizza. “Let’s plan our revenge on Joey Richards.”
“No way. It’s over. Let’s move on.”
“Fine. If that’s what you want.” I notice that Seth keeps his eye on Joey across the cafeteria for a second longer.
Seth’s being protective of me, which makes me feel respected. It fills me with warmth. I’m now thinking of summer and how quickly it’ll be here and how I don’t want to have Seth out of my life, which is a weird thought when I’ve really only known him for a couple of days.
The bell rings, and we both get up to leave. “I’ll talk to you later, Charlie.” Seth heads to the door but then stops, forcing people to walk around him. “Oh. I almost forgot.” He hands me a torn piece of paper from his pocket. “Text me sometime.” He disappears with the rest of the students.
I stand there clutching his number in my hand.