“HAPPY REAL BIRTHDAY!” PAIGE SAID, WAKING me the next morning. She sat cross-legged at the end of my bed. She was wearing my pink T-shirt emblazoned with a silver rhinestone heart.
I sat up, blinking and trying to tame my bed head. “Thanks! Do I look older? I feel older.”
Paige nodded. “You look so much older. Definitely thirteen.”
“Maybe fourteen with eyeliner?” I asked hopefully.
“Don’t push it.” Paige laughed.
Someone knocked on the door and Paige got up to answer it.
“Hey, birthday girl!” Callie said, stepping inside. She was carrying two giant bags from the Sweet Shoppe. She was dressed in yoga pants and a hoodie, her hair in a messy ponytail and she hadn’t put on makeup yet.
“Cal! What are you doing here?”
Callie stepped inside and put the bags on my desk. Both she and Paige smiled at me.
“It’s your birthday! Duh,” Callie said, shaking her head.
“But, guys! You’re already throwing me a party. That’s waaay more than enough,” I said.
Callie and Paige rolled their eyes.
“Get over here and look in the bag,” Paige said. “You know you want to.”
Grinning, I hopped out of bed. “Well, if you insist …”
We opened the bags and inside was a variety of scones, muffins, fruit salads, and pastries. There were also containers of cranberry and orange juice.
“Wow, this is amazing! Thank you!” I said.
Paige reached into her closet and pulled out a bag. She produced pink plastic plates and flatware.
“We wanted to have a best-friend breakfast just for the girls this morning,” Paige said. “You get to pick first.”
We loaded our plates and sat in the middle of the floor. I’d chosen two chocolate croissants and a blueberry scone. Yum.
“Raise your cups,” Callie said.
We all did, smiling at one another.
“To Sasha on her official birthday,” Callie continued, her brown eyes warm. “The best friend Paige and I could ever have. We hope you have the most amazing birthday ever!”
“Not just today, but also at your actual party!” Paige added, laughing.
“Cheers to that. Thanks, guys.” We touched our juice containers together and giggled. We started eating and I glanced up at them for a second. Even though I was keeping secrets from both of them, I was more convinced than ever that I was doing the right thing.
Half an hour later, Callie left and Paige started to get ready for class.
“Sooo,” Paige said. “I have an early sort-of present for you.”
I put down my blush brush. “Really? What?”
Paige looked at me from the mirror as she flatironed her hair. “Fall break is, like, three-ish weeks away. I’d love for you to come stay with me in New York. If you want, of course.”
I bounced up and down. “Really?! Omigod, I’d love to! I loved New York so much and we didn’t even get through half of the things on our to-do list.”
“Exactly.” Paige grinned. “Ask your parents. Mine already said yes.”
“I totally will,” I said. “Now we have something awesome to look forward to when we’re up till one studying.”
“For sure.”
We finished getting ready and Paige shouldered her bag, looking at me.
“You go ahead,” I told Paige. “I want to check my e-mail. I’ll see you in class.”
“Okay,” Paige nodded. “See you there.”
I stuffed the rest of my books into my backpack, waiting until Paige’s footsteps disappeared down the hallway before I sank into my desk chair. I played with a charm on my bracelet—a good luck horseshoe that Eric had given me on our first date. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I’d been at school barely six days and I was already exhausted from classes, riding … and worrying. But I reminded myself that I was also keeping the secret to save my relationship with Eric. If he found out what I was hiding from him about Jacob, he’d be furious.
I opened my eyes and flipped open my sleeping laptop. I pulled up my e-mail and saw two new messages. I clicked and my shoulders slumped a little when I saw the subjects—You’ve won a million dollars in the lottery!! and Come find Mr. Right at DateGirl.com.
I slammed the lid closed. I’d thought maybe … no. I wasn’t going there.
“Ugh!” I said out loud. I was the problem! If I told Jacob to stay away from me, then why was I disappointed when he didn’t e-mail to say happy birthday?
I jumped up, my left knee slamming into the desk. “Ow!” I rubbed my knee and yanked my backpack off my bed. I jerked the door shut behind me, probably hard enough to rattle every window in Winchester.
What was my problem?! I liked Eric. Jacob had been a jerk to me and we’d both hurt each other. The last thing I should care about was if Jacob remembered my birthday or not.
I almost knocked over a girl on the sidewalk and I didn’t even stop to apologize. I couldn’t think about this right now. Had to put it away. But what if … no.
“No,” I said aloud, not caring if anyone saw me and thought I was crazy for talking to myself.
I.
Did.
Like.
Jacob.
By the time I got to history class, I considered that hyperventilation might be a possibility. I didn’t want to go to class with Eric and Jacob. We had assigned seats—Eric was two rows away and three seats in front of me. Jacob was in the next row and one seat behind me. They’d ignored each other every class we’d had so far.
When I got into the classroom, a few people were already inside. Jacob was sitting at his desk, flipping through the reading from last night. Eric wasn’t here yet.
“Hey,” he said.
I ignored him, not turning back to look. But a tiny part of me wanted to.
“Just … happy birthday,” he said.
My chest fluttered and I took my time picking out a pen. Today was definitely a pink pen day. I was too afraid to look at Jacob. I couldn’t give away even the slightest clue that I’d questioned my feelings about him. Finally, I twisted back to look at him. “Thanks,” I said, turning back around before he had time to say a word.
More students came into the room, then Eric walked in. His grin was so wide when he saw me—it made me hate myself for considering that I might like Jacob. Even for one second.
“Happy birthday, Sash!” Eric said. He dropped his bag on his chair and hurried over to give me a hug.
“Thank you! But we’re not celebrating yet, remember?” I said, clinging to him for a few seconds longer than usual.
“I know,” he said. “I’m sure Paige and Callie are planning the best party ever. And you’ll have to wait till then for your present.”
“Oooh,” I said. “But don’t know you know my rule?”
Eric crossed his arms. “Tell me, Sasha Silver. What’s your ‘rule’?”
“That anytime is present time,” I said. “And I’ll gladly accept your gift today. It’ll take the burden off you from having to, you know, keep it in your room and stuff. Clutter. Bad.”
Eric laughed. “That’s it. I’m walking away from you now.”
“But!” I called after him, laughing. “A hint?”
“We can’t talk anymore,” Eric said, pretend-shhh ing me. “The teacher will be here any second. I’m not serving detention with you on your birthday.”
I took out my phone as the teacher, Mr. Spellman, walked in. I texted under my desk. Cal wants 2 do a group date nite on Fri. Me. U. Cal. Jacob. Paige. Ryan. U in?
I watched Eric type back. Totally worth it just to spend time w u.
I had the best guy. A girl couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend and I was never going to think about Jacob again. I was with the right guy. No doubt.
“I want to start by talking about an upcoming group project,” Mr. Spellman said. “In a few weeks, you’ll turn in a paper and will present your research to the class. Each person will have a different job, from researching, to writing, to typing, to preparing the PowerPoint you’ll need to present to the class.”
Mr. Spellman stepped over to his dark cherry wood desk and picked up a folder. “I’ve broken up the class. You should trade contact info with your partners so that you’re ready to start working soon.”
I looked over at Eric.
“First group,” Mr. Spellman said. “Kaavya, Leesa, Roger, and Wess.”
He went through a few more people and with every name that was called that wasn’t mine, Jacob’s, or Eric’s, I shrank into my chair. There was no way we’d all end up in the same group. None.
“Next,” Mr. Spellman said. He ran his finger down the page. “Eric, Aaron, Taylor …”
Safe so far …
“And Jacob.”
I almost let my head slam into my desk. That was the WORST possible group! Ever!
I looked at Eric whose eyes were on Jacob’s. Both guys glared at each other. I tried not to squirm, but I was stuck between them.
For a second, I thought one of the guys would ask for a new group. I didn’t even hear Mr. Spellman call my name or announce my partners. What was going to happen when my sort-of-ex and current boyfriend were forced to work together?