Chapter Eighteen
“Drew, you are so lucky,” Hailey proclaimed, setting her lunch tray down at our table. “That is so cool to get the highest grade on that English paper.”
I moved over, making room for her.
“You always have good grades. So unfair.” Jessica stuck her tongue out at me playfully. “How do you do it?”
I smiled self-consciously. “I don’t know.”
Caroline raised her brows. “Miss Perfect,” she said teasingly.
“Oh, I know, right?” Jessica said to Caroline, then to me, “Look at you, good grades and gorgeous. How’d you end up so lucky?”
I chewed my lip, aware that my face was heating up. “I am not gorgeous,” I protested, thinking of Yvonne. Yvonne was the lucky one, not I. Whenever I stood next to her, I felt like a wilting flower next to a tall, dark, rose. Her mysterious beauty was probably what gave her the confidence that I wish I had.
“Oh puh-leez, Drew.” Jessica said. “Don’t deny it. You’ve got what any girl would kill for—long legs, perfect hair, blue eyes.”
“Pfft,” I said to her, starting to become embarrassed.
“Really. It’s true,” Jessica said knowingly. “I happen to know there are a lot of guys here who like you, including my brother.”
This caught my attention. “How do you know?” I tried hard to make it sound carefree as I busied myself opening my juice box, surprisingly a lot easier said than done.
“By the way he acts around you and talks about you all the time.”
“That means he likes me?”
Jessica giggled. “He really likes you. A lot.”
I started to blush again.
“I really think he wants to ask you out.”
The forkful of food I was about to eat stopped a few inches away from my mouth. “Ask me out?”
“I think he’s going to, soon.”
“As in...?” I asked again.
“You know, a date.”
“Oh,” was all I could think to say, lowering the fork back to my plate. “Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“Well, what do I say to something like that? I mean if he really does um...ask me out?” I stared at her uncertainly, confused about the strange feelings forming in my stomach.
“Say yes, if you like him,” Hailey piped up. “I mean, he’s a good catch. He’s hot.”
Jessica snorted. “Yeah, right. You should see him at home.”
“You only think that because he’s your brother,” Caroline answered, giggling.
“Well, you would feel the same way if you knew him the way I do.” Jessica made a face and we all laughed.
“But anyways, Drew, it’s your call. Just say whatever, depending on whether you like him or not,” Hailey told me, taking a bite of her apple.
I swallowed my food, not knowing what to say. It was kind of exciting to think that Michael might ask me out, but at the same time, the idea made me nervous and I wondered what my answer would be if he really went through with it.