FORTY EXCRUCIATING MINUTES LATER, WE split the bill and left The Slice. We walked outside and stood in a ragged circle outside the restaurant. I was glad it was dark outside—it helped hide whatever lingering stress was showing on my face from dinner.
“So, Jacob and I are going to catch a movie,” Callie said. “Tonight was so much fun!” I knew my BFF well enough to realize when she was being fake-cheery.
“Yeah!” I chimed in. My own excitement was as real as hers. “So much fun.” I glanced at Paige and Ryan. “Eric, want to walk to the courtyard with me?”
“Sure,” Eric said, taking my hand. I waved at Callie as she as Jacob walked off toward the media center.
Ryan turned immediately to Paige. “Can I walk you back to your dorm?”
Paige’s wide eyes darted to me. I nodded slightly and raised my eyebrows.
“Sure,” Paige said. “That would be great.”
Ryan and Paige started down the sidewalk and Paige looked back over her shoulder at me. I smiled and waved her on.
Seeing Paige so happy made the entire uncomfortable evening worth it.
“Paige is hilarious,” Eric said. “She’s a TV star and a great girl who has always given you good advice, but she couldn’t be more freaked out about being around a guy.”
“I know. But she’ll relax once she gets to know Ryan. She does give great advice, but it’s different when it’s you.”
Still holding hands, Eric and I walked down the streetlight-lit sidewalk. The campus was quiet tonight; only a few students were walking around.
“I’m glad we have time to go out just by ourselves,” I said. “I missed you this week.”
“Me too,” Eric said. “Things will settle down, though. And hey, sorry about the weirdness over the lunch thing. I wasn’t trying to make a big deal out of it, but I know it came out that way.”
I hated that he was the one apologizing right now. I should have been the one telling him the truth. “It’s cool,” I said. “Forget about it.”
As we walked together, I loved how good it felt to be with him. Maybe I had been confused for a minute or two—thinking I might still have feelings for Jacob. But it had only been because Jacob had been the first guy I’d ever liked. There was history between us and now the only thing I felt for Jacob was friendship.
“How are you feeling now about the YENT?” Eric asked. “I could tell you were tense this week.”
I slowed a little. “I’m feeling better. At first, I couldn’t stop being intimidated by Heather and Jas. It messed up Charm and we fell apart.”
“But you know you’ve got nothing to worry about. You were chosen for the YENT, Sash. Mr. Conner and Mr. Nicholson both know how good you are.”
We stopped by a bench and sat down. I snuggled against Eric’s shoulder—he rubbed my upper arm.
“How are your classes?” I asked Eric.
“They’re all pretty good so far,” he said. “I like science a lot. Callie and I sit next to each other and text whenever the teacher does something dumb.”
“Oh,” I said, trying to laugh. But it made me nervous that they were texting! “Like what?”
Eric grinned. “A couple of days ago, he was supposed to pass out a study sheet for a quiz we’re going to have next week.”
I nodded.
“Except he accidentally handed out one answer sheet to the quiz and everyone started passing it around.”
“Omigod! Did he get it back?”
“Yeah, some girl got it and turned it in. He canceled the quiz, obviously.”
“Score for you, then.”
Eric rubbed his hand over the back of my head. “What about you? Things okay with classes with the YENT schedule and everything?”
“So far. I mean, we haven’t started prepping for a show yet, so I don’t know how that’s going to be. But I’ll deal with it when we get there. Our first show is going to be a schooling show, so that’ll be a nice transition into competition season.”
“Definitely. And Mr. Conner said he’d give the advanced team our first show date soon. I’d love to practice with you on the weekends, if that’s cool.”
I smiled. “You better.”
“Let’s get you back to your dorm before you’re too tired to practice at all,” Eric said.
I sighed. “Ugh—but true; if I don’t get my beauty rest I’ll do so poorly at practice Mr. Conner will kick me out for good.”
Eric laughed and reached out a hand to pull me up. “Totally. And then I’d never see you again, which would be devastating.”
I mock-rolled my eyes. “Uh-huh. I’m sure.”
We walked back to Winchester and I started up the stairs, but Eric grabbed my hand, pulling me back gently and turning me toward him.
He leaned into me and our lips touched. I waited for the overwhelming feeling of sparkles and the tiny shock waves that I always felt when Eric’s lips were against mine. But I felt … nothing. I pulled back, trying not to show the disappointment on my face.
“’Night,” Eric said, smiling. “Text you tomorrow.”
Wait a sec. He didn’t feel that?! He couldn’t have missed how off that kiss was. Unless … it was just me. OMG. I was so freaked out about my lies that I couldn’t even enjoy kissing my own boyfriend anymore.
“Bye.”
I stood outside long after he’d walked away, trying to figure out what had just happened. And what it meant for us.