Chapter Fifteen
Wren
“I still can’t believe he kissed you in the library.” Dae chuckled. “That’s some nerdy shit, Wren. Even for you.”
Shoving Dae’s shoulder, I popped a grape into my mouth and chewed. We’d snagged a spot at a table in a quiet corner of the cafeteria. Luckily, we were the only two sitting there and no one else could hear our conversation.
“I told myself over and over again that I’d never fall for someone like Fuller James. I mean, he’s so not my type, but the more I get to know him, the more we have in common. Plus, he’s so sweet. He sent me a text as soon as he got home from practice to check and see how Gramps was doing. That stupid tough guy act he puts out there isn’t the real him at all.”
“I’m glad Gramps is doing better. My mom’s making a gigantic batch of kimchi this weekend. She wanted to know if she could drop some off for everyone on Saturday?”
My mouth watered at the thought of Dae’s mother’s cooking. “Yum. His favorite. That’s really sweet. I’ll let my mom and dad know.” I reached down and rubbed the back of my leg; my hamstrings were a little tight. I made a mental note to do a longer warm-up on my next run and to do a better job of stretching afterward.
“Good deal.” Dae dunked a carrot stick in a small cup of ranch dressing. “So, not to dwell on the negative or anything, but what about the whole Marissa thing?”
My shoulders sank. I’d heard the whispers in the hallways. I’d seen the picture of her from last year, wearing the Fall Harvest Princess crown on that gossip Instagram account. There were dozens of comments about her and Fuller winning the princess and prince titles back to back. “I know.”
My eyes wandered to the wall behind Dae. Posters advertising the dance had been plastered across every square inch. The LGBTQIA+ committee had been in charge of organizing the dance this year. They’d secured the best DJ in town and the dance was going to be epic. I closed my eyes for a second, and pictured Fuller and me slow dancing in the middle of the gym.
Dae crunched on the carrot, bringing me back to reality. “She’s telling everyone that Fuller is going to ask her to the Fall Harvest Dance. Has he said anything about her?”
“No, we never talk about Marissa.” A bitter taste filled my mouth as I said her name.
“But don’t you think you should talk to him about it? Make sure you’re both on the same page. Maybe ask why he was such a jerk to you in middle school?”
Dae meant well, but I wasn’t going to fall for the rumors and I definitely didn’t want to bring up the past. It had been five years since Marissa had told me that we couldn’t be friends. Fuller doesn’t want me to hang out with you anymore. Recalling her words stung. But they were just that: words. All three of us were different people than we had been in middle school. “Nope. Rumors are rumors and the past is the past.”
Dae shifted in his chair. “All right. If you really think that’s what’s best.”
Guilt tugged at my heart. I didn’t admit it to Dae, but part of me did want to confront Fuller. I’d gone over it a hundred times in my mind. I’d ask him what was going on with Marissa and why he was a jerk to me back in middle school, he’d explain and apologize, and I’d accept. But every time I replayed the scene, I’d only end up feeling worse. What was the point? I couldn’t hold a grudge forever. That wasn’t healthy.
Plus, I was falling for Fuller.
“All right, if you feel that way, I respect it.” Dae shoved a carrot into his mouth. “I wasn’t going to tell you this, but…”
“But what?” I grabbed a box of Nerds from my backpack. Best dessert ever.
Dae grinned.
“Come on, tell me.”
He swallowed. “He messaged me on Instagram last night.”
“He who?” I reached across the table. “He Fuller?”
“Maybe.” Dae shrugged.
“Dae!”
“Chill, chill.” He chuckled.
“Chill? Are you kidding me? Spill it, Dae.” I tore off the perforated top of the Nerds box and dumped a few of the bright pink, sugary sweets into my hand.
He grinned. “He may or may not have inquired as to what kind of movies you’re into.”
I slapped a hand over my mouth to contain the squeal that threatened to come out, spilling the Nerds all over the table in the process. “Wait, why did he want to know that?”
“It sounds like he may be getting ready to ask you out.”
Excitement shot down my spine. “Wait, what? Like on an actual date?”
“I’m not going to ruin his game.”
“Dae!” I quickly swept up the candy and tossed it into a napkin.
The bell rang, signaling that we had five minutes to get to class.
“Gotta go.” He picked up his tray and bolted from the table.
“Dae, wait.” But it was too late. He’d purposely dropped a truth bomb on me and run away. He’s lucky he’s my best friend.
A few minutes later, I’d thrown away my garbage and made my way to AP. Fuller was already in his seat. He smiled when I walked in, and butterflies took flight in my stomach and refused to calm down. I snuck a few Nerds while Mrs. Brewster took attendance on her computer.
I loved AP and it usually flew by, but today time practically stood still. All I could think about was Fuller asking me out. Would it be an official date? Did he want to take me to a movie? Or did he want to watch one together at his house? Would he try to kiss me again? He’d left abruptly after our second kiss. But he had a ton of work today, so even though I didn’t like it, I understood.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the bell rang.
Mrs. Brewster motioned for Fuller to stop by her desk after class. I headed to the library with a fluttery feeling in my stomach. I was pretty sure she wanted to talk to him about his paper. He’d worked really hard on it, but would he earn a grade high enough to pass AP?
A few minutes later, Fuller walked through the door with a report cover in his hand. His expression was neutral, which caused my stomach to clench in anticipation.
“She graded it.” He tossed his paper on the table.
Holding my breath, I waited for him to tell me his grade, but instead, he motioned to the paper with his eyes.
Reaching across the table, I grabbed his paper and flipped open the cover. In the upper right-hand corner was a long note from Mrs. Brewster, but more importantly, his grade. Fuller had earned a ninety-seven percent. A massive smile spread across my face, and my chest swelled with pride. “You did it!”
He came behind me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “It’s all because of you.” His arms lingered for another few seconds before he pulled out the chair next to me.
“I helped you get organized, but you did the work. This is really awesome, Fuller.” I read over Mrs. Brewster’s note. She praised him for his excellent thesis and grammar, and for his overall approach to the paper. She used words like “insightful” and “reflective.”
“My parents are going to freak out.” Fuller’s smile was so genuine; he looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. “And, best of all, Mrs. Brewster said that this already brought my grade up to a C plus. We’re getting an assignment and homework next week, so if I do a good job, my grade is going to go up to a B minus or even a B. Can you believe it? I’m going to be able to play in the season opener and I’m getting a freaking C plus in Advanced Lit!”
“Of course I can.” I smiled. “You did a great job. I’m really proud of you.”
I handed him back his paper. Fuller always looked good, but the authentic smile plastered across his face took his hotness to a whole other level.
“Listen, I, um, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to come over tonight?” He carefully placed his paper back into his backpack. “We could watch a movie? Celebrate my awesome grade?” His shoulders rose slightly, and he bit his lower lip.
“That would be really nice.” I tried to remain calm, but I was freaking out on the inside. I felt like one of those little cars that kids played with when they were younger. The kind you would pull backward, revving it up in the process. Then, as soon as you let it go, it would race across the floor.
Fuller definitely revved me up.
“Really?”
His voice sounded unsure. Did he think I might turn him down? I mean, it wasn’t like he was taking me out to dinner or a movie in public, but still, Fuller James invited me over to his house on a Friday night, to watch a freaking movie. I thought about the freshman girl I’d stood next to in the cafeteria line. The one who said she would invite Fuller in and make out with him. If she were in my shoes, she’d probably squeal so loudly she’d burst people’s eardrums.
“I was thinking we could watch one of the best Avengers movies of all time.” His blue eyes peered into mine. “If that’s okay? We could totally watch something else instead.”
I grinned. “I love the Avengers.” Dae for the win. “But, serious question, which Avengers movie is the best of all time?”
“Infinity War, duh.” Fuller rolled his eyes. The corners of his lips twitched.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” I fought the urge to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. No, stop. You’re still in the library. I’d have to wait until tonight. Tonight, when I was at Fuller James’s house watching a movie.
“Awesome. I have practice until six. Maybe you could come over around seven?”
“I can do that.” I felt like jumping up and sprinting around the room. I also felt like vomiting. Definitely a combination of both. Sure, I’d been over to his house once before, but that was for tutoring. Well, tutoring that led to an almost kiss, that eventually ended in the best make-out session ever. What was going to happen when I went over tonight? Would we kiss again?
My stomach churned. Wait, what if this wasn’t a date? What if he wanted to thank me for helping him with his paper and we were just going to hang out, like when Dae or Brandon and I watched movies? Oh my gosh. What if I had it all wrong?
Distracting me from the whirlwind of thoughts bouncing around in my mind, Fuller pressed his lips together. Those soft lips. He looked like he was trying to suppress his grin.
Reaching under the table, he squeezed my hand. “How about we get some math homework done? You know, so we have all night to hang out.” He emphasized the words hang out.
Butterflies exploded in my stomach.
“Deal?”
My doubts melted away. “Deal.”
…
“I don’t know.” I twirled around in the floral dress. It was still casual, and the jean jacket I wore on top was super cute, but was it too much? I never wore stuff like this to school. I was strictly a T-shirt and jeans girl.
“Come on, you look great, Wren.” Dae sat on my bed with his phone in his hand. He’d been texting someone nonstop since he came over.
“Are you sure it isn’t too much?” I frowned and flipped my braid over my shoulder. “I don’t want to make it look like I’m trying too hard.”
“You look good,” Dae said with a smile.
I smoothed out the dress with my hands. “Thank you.”
He set his phone on my nightstand for a moment and met my gaze. “You’re welcome.”
I tilted my head to the side and glanced at my own reflection in the mirror. “I do look pretty cute. Okay, I’ll wear it. But I’m throwing on these.” I held up my favorite pair of white, low-top Chuck Taylors.
“Good choice. It’s totally you.”
My bedroom door swung open, and Brandon strolled in. “Hey, hey, hey.” He plopped down on my bed. “My legs are killing me.”
“What’s up?” I asked, turning away from the mirror.
“Coach had us do ladder circuits like twenty times. We’ve been working on improving our overall speed as a team all preseason, but today was the hardest.”
“Did you know that Russell Westbrook could get from one baseline to another in 3.36 seconds?” I asked.
Brandon laughed. “I did not know that, Wroogle.”
Scrunching up my nose, I said, “Huh?”
“Wren plus Google equals Wroogle.”
Brandon burst out laughing and I joined in. Dae, on the other hand, did not. Instead, he had his phone glued to his hand.
“Who are you texting?” I asked.
Dae set his phone down next to him on the bed. “Huh?”
I tossed my shoes on the carpet and sat down next to Dae. Catching him off guard, I grabbed his phone and sprang to my feet.
A wide grin broke out across my face. “Are you serious?”
He tried to grab his phone back, but I spun away and tossed it to Brandon.
“Are you flirting with Jenna Marie and keeping it a secret from us?”
Dae tilted his head to the side and shrugged. “Maybe?”
Brandon grinned and tossed the phone back at me.
“Maybe? You think this is maybe talk?” I waved his phone over my head. “I knew you liked her, but I didn’t know you two had become so…extra friendly over the phone.” She was hands down one of the nicest and prettiest girls at Saint Catherine’s, a nearby Catholic high school. Dae and I met her at a cross-country meet. I must have totally missed the sparks between them.
Dae’s dark brown eyes flashed with happiness. “I’m going to ask her out.”
I tossed him his phone. “Dae, that’s awesome.”
“Yeah, man. That’s good stuff,” Brandon added.
Dae tucked his phone into his back pocket. “Thanks.”
Brandon turned his attention toward me.
“Something you want to say, Brandon?” I asked.
“Are you sure you want to hang out with Fuller? His head is so big, I’m amazed he can get in and out of the gym for practice.” His tone usually had a bite to it when Fuller’s name came up, but unless I was imagining it, it seemed a bit softer today.
“He’s not that bad. I promise.” The words sounded foreign as they left my lips. Never in a million years would I have expected to be sticking up for Fuller James.
Dae nodded in agreement with me. “I’ve only talked to him a few times, but something about him has changed. He’s a lot more down-to-earth.”
Brandon opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, Dae’s phone buzzed, giving me the perfect excuse to change the subject.
“Jenna Marie?” I asked.
Brandon’s rigid jaw loosened, but only slightly. He had to put up with cocky basketball captain Fuller. I didn’t blame him for not liking him, but I was hoping that, if things with Fuller and me continued, Brandon would give him a shot off the court.
Dae grinned as his fingers flew across the keyboard of his phone. “Yup, and guess who has a date tonight?” He moved his shoulders and neck from side to side in an impromptu celebratory dance.
“Eek!” I jumped up and down. Dae dated a lot, but I hadn’t seen him this geeked about someone in a while. “Maybe if things work out with Fuller, we can all go on a double date sometime?”
I ignored Brandon flinching in response to my suggestion.
“Deal.” Dae stood and stretched his arms above his head, causing his sculpted abs to peek out from under his shirt.
“Damn, Dae. Looking good.”
“Who me?” he joked, tucking his phone into his pocket.
Dae and I had kissed once freshman year. We bumped foreheads and our teeth clinked together. It was hands down the most awkward experience ever. Luckily, we both decided that it should never happen again. We were way better friends than anything else. Same with Brandon, minus the whole kissing thing. Always had been, always would be.
“Whatever, you’re a Grade A hottie.” I chuckled and checked the time on my phone. “Oh my gosh! It’s six thirty. I need to leave for Fuller’s in like twenty minutes.”
Brandon grimaced but remained silent.
Dae placed his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t freak out. Tonight’s going to go great.”
Ignoring Brandon, I spun around in my dress and grinned. “For both of us!”
A flash of doubt raced through my mind as I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My lack of dating experience left me totally uneasy about tonight. Excited, but worried that something would go wrong. I’d read a sub thread on Reddit about terrible first dates. Bumping faces while kissing and breaking a nose in the process, dumping a hot coffee on the guy’s lap and sending him to the emergency room with second degree burns in the worst place possible… What if something like that happened tonight?
I pushed my fears aside.
Tonight’s going to go great.