His smile droops, but only for a moment. “Can I be on your team?” He waggles his eyebrows in the most awkwardly teen way.
“Not at this time.” I give him a placating smile and step around him.
“Someday, beautiful,” he says behind me.
This is going to be a long night.
I finish my circle of the room and lean against a wall. My bare back lands in something sticky, and I lurch away. Ugh. Diedre owes me for this.
Speaking of the beautiful, conniving girl.
“Look!” Diedre squeals as she reaches me. “Isn’t it gorgeous? Lyndi did such a good job.” She spins, and the elegant ivory-colored gown floats around her, like she’s a goddess.
I love my best friend, but I know for a fact she didn’t make that dress.
“She did.” She made Diedre feel like a million dollars. And I love her for it. “But don’t be mistaken, it’s not the dress, it’s always been you.”
Tears brim in the corner of her eyes, and then she thrusts herself at me. I’m shocked by her second sudden display of affection, but I return the embrace. A month ago I would have thought she’d rather kill me than hug me. Heck, a month ago I still wanted to kill Connor. There really is no time limit for how quickly things can change.
“Thanks for sticking around, Miss M,” she says against my shoulder.
I grin. “Wait until the season starts.”
She pulls back, determination lighting up her face. “Oh, I’ll be ready.”
“You better. Now get out there and have some fun.”
“Bye!” She drags her date to the dancefloor, and I watch them for the next song. Then I take a break and check out the girls’ bathroom.
On my next trip around the cafeteria, I get the strange sense that someone is watching me. But I don’t see anyone I know besides the girls.
I shake off the paranoia and return to my self-appointed station to wait. I mean watch. What is it I’m supposed to be doing again? My eyes are heavy, and they drift closed. The second they do, it’s like I’ve given my brain free reign to run back to Connor. Our past runs on a loop through my mind, every competition, every fight. There’s always been more to it though, hasn’t there? Some of our worst fights and arguments happened right before I participated in my mock trials. And instead of being afraid, I focused on that anger toward him and it fueled me with enough energy to make it through the case. Like when he brought me into his class to prove a point. I was so nervous until he angled me toward him. I thought he was doing it to annoy me. But he was protecting me.
The back of my eyes sting. Why did I never notice? He let me channel my frustration at him so I wouldn’t freak out, becausehe knew.I’ve been so stupid. He realized I hated being a lawyer before I did. He said I’d get along with high school girls when I didn’t even know…
I gasp. That dirty little devil. He’s the one who left the listing for the job on my car and probably emailed it to me as well.
Who else would have done that?
I should have realized it sooner. Maybe I did but refused to believe it because I wanted so badly to stay mad at him. But I think…I started falling for him before I realized I no longer hated him.
I need to talk to him. This time, I’ll askhimfor a chance.
“Miss M!”
My eyes fly open, and I forget where I am for a moment. “What?” I take in Diedre’s frantic eyes and Callie and Megan next to her. “What happened?”
“Some kids are stuck in the closet in the gym, and we can’t get them out.”
“What are they doing… never mind.” I don’t want to know what they’re doing. “Let’s get the principal.”
“We can’t find anyone else but you. Hurry. I think one of them got hurt with the bat in there.” Diedre grabs my arm and yanks me toward the door.
“How did they get hurt?” I don’t know why I keep asking stupid questions. This is a high school, after all. It’s a proven fact that teenagers’ brains are not fully developed. They are allowed to make stupid decisions every once in a while.
What’s my excuse?
I shake my head. “Let’s go.”
