I’m sure I frowned a little at the odd request, but I agreed, seeing no reason not to let him have it.
I walked back into my room to grab my phone off the dresser. When I turned around, I barely managed to smother a gasp when I ran right into Bo’s chest. I don’t know how he got through the window so quickly or so quietly, but there he was, standing in my room, big as life.
He was looking down at me with those fathomless eyes and I found it suddenly hard to breathe. All the skin that my short shorts and tiny tank top left exposed felt ultra sensitive, like my pores were opening up to him somehow, craving his closeness—flower petals spread wide to receive the wet kisses of the rain.
I swallowed when Bo reached toward me, but he only took the phone from my fingers. He fiddled with it for a few seconds, punching in numbers and making selections.
The bright screen illuminated his face and I was content to watch him. I didn’t care what he did to my phone as long as he didn’t stop biting his lip in concentration. I was sure I’d never seen anything sexier.
When he handed me my phone, I took it, albeit reluctantly. I could still feel the cool imprint of his fingers on the cover.
“Now, you have me on speed dial. Call me any time,” he said, reaching up to push a stray hair from my face where it tangled in my eyelashes. “Day or night,” he finished softly.
I was totally prepared for him to kiss me, wanted it more than anything, wanted him more than anything, but a dark spot on his white t-shirt collar caught my eye.
“You’ve got blood on your shirt,” I blurted.
It was obvious by his expression that my question not only took him off guard, but that it ruined the moment. I could’ve kicked myself for my impulsiveness.
Had I not been so aggravated with myself, the shocked look on his face might’ve been comical. It was gone in a flash, though, quickly replaced by a frown.
“Where?”
“Right there,” I said, indicating the spot with my fingertip.
Bo tugged his shirt down until he could see the spot to which I was referring. His frown eased and he shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, that. Cut myself shaving. Must’ve been worse than I thought.”
When he turned away from me and walked back to the window, I knew the moment wouldn’t be recovered tonight. I followed him over and stood behind him while he crawled through.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said from outside, just before he turned to leave.
I felt bereft for some reason. I wanted to ask him to wait or to stay or to do anything except leave, but I didn’t. Instead, I stood quietly by and watched him walk away.
He hadn’t taken more than six or seven steps, however, when he quickly turned on his heel and came back to the window.
He leaned his head through the opening and crooked his finger at me. When I leaned down to him, thinking he was going to tell me something, he pulled me in for a quick kiss. He left again after that and I smiled as I watched him go, feeling much more satisfied with his exit.
My smile widened when I heard a faint whistling drift through the window on the gentle night breeze. I felt like whistling, too. Or singing. Or flying.
********
Monday’s post-weekend conversation still revolved around Trinity’s brutal rejection of Savannah Grant at Caster’s party. I thought it was telling that no one seemed to want to rehash Savannah’s brave rebuttal, only Trinity’s vicious attack.
As I looked at the faces of the brainwashed followers that hung on Trinity’s every word, I saw, probably for the first time, the true weight of what I’d done by turning a blind eye to her antics all these years.
There was no one to defend the people that Trinity walked all over, no one to call her out about her cruelty and nastiness. There was no one to stand up to her, no one willing to risk the distasteful consequences.
A bold voice sounded in my head, telling me that I should’ve done something, that someone had to. But then another voice spoke up, this one whiny and selfish, reminding me that few others had their entire future riding on it like I did either. I needed to be a part of the squad. I needed cheerleading. I couldn’t be the one who stood up to her.
Ignoring both voices, I headed for class.
“T, wait up!”
“Ugh,” I murmured under my breath.
Drew. I’d forgotten all about him.
I turned and saw him jogging to catch up to me. When he reached me, I plastered a smile on my face, as natural a smile as I could muster.
“Hey.”
“Where were you all weekend? I tried to call you,” he said, frowning. “Did you get my messages?”
“Sorry, I haven’t even had a chance to check them yet,” I confessed, which was partially true. More to the point, I hadn’t taken the time to check them. I’d wanted to put it off as long as possible. “Dad was home. You know how that goes,” I said, rolling my eyes dramatically.
“Oh, yeah,” Drew said, curling his lip sympathetically. “So, what are you doing tonight after practice?”
Bo’s face flashed through my head. I was hoping to hear from him, but even as the thought ran through my mind, I felt guilty, like I was betraying Drew. Even though I knew in my head and in my heart that it was over, I’d been remiss in not letting Drew in on that little fact. I’d been so consumed with Bo, Drew just hadn’t crossed my mind, and that wasn’t right. He deserved better than that.
I didn’t want to make up an excuse. He might see right through that. But I also didn’t want to keep going on as if nothing was wrong. Thankfully, the bell rang, saving me from having to make any kind of decision until later.
Drew bent to kiss me and I gave him a quick peck and dashed off, calling over my shoulder, “I gotta go. I’m gonna be late.”
As I settled into my desk in Calculus, I was sort of amazed at how much Bo had affected me in a few short days. He took up a surprising amount of my available brain space and was apparently working his way into my heart space as well, pushing out people I’d thought were firmly entrenched there.
I used to really like Drew and, until Bo’s arrival, I had thought things were going well. I mean, it’s not like I saw us getting married or anything, but I figured we’d probably date for the rest of the year. I had no idea how weak my feelings for him really were until Bo came along. I felt like Bo had taken my life by storm and now nothing was the same. Somewhere deep down, I knew it never would be again.