“I don’t know yet.” I told him I didn’t want to date anyone. I thought I’d have more time before all this came out. “I’m hoping we can still be friends.”
She shook her head. “Boys and girls are never really just friends, Brooklyn. That’s high school 101. The only reason Felix agreed to be your friend last week was because he knew he still had a chance to make it more.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” I said.
“Trust me. It’s true.” She kicked a leaf off the step in front of her. “You could have told me all this, you know. I would have kept your secret.”
“I know. Honestly, I think I was just trying to lie to myself. I didn’t want to fall for him. What if Isabella’s right? What if I’ll never fit into this world?”
“Screw Isabella. You do fit. Matt chose you out of all the girls in this school, and they all come from the right zip code. Plus, you’ll fit in better than ever now that you have that pretty thing on your arm.”
I almost looked down at my arm, but then realized she was referring to Matt. “Oh, yes,” I said with a laugh. “He’ll be quite the accessory.”
“I know, right? Do you think he’ll surprise you for homecoming by buying you something other than a second-hand dress?”
“I think that only happens in movies. I’m fine buying my own dress.”
“If you haven’t noticed…you dating one of the Untouchables is just like a movie. Ah! Here he is!” She lightly slapped my arm and then lifted her camera. “I also want to capture his face when he finally gets to love you in the light of day.”
I didn’t even bother to hide my smile as Matt stepped out of the car. Followed by Mason, Rob, and James. I was pretty sure my heart stopped beating as they started to climb the steps. This was it. Kennedy was right. Suddenly my life really did feel like a movie. Playing in slow motion.
I stood up and waited for Matt to turn my way.
Kennedy snapped the picture to capture Matt’s expression.
But Matt didn’t turn my way. Had he not seen me? “Matt,” I said. He still didn’t turn my way. Maybe he hadn’t heard me either. “Matt,” I said a little louder.
He passed by me and disappeared into Empire High.
Kennedy stood up and grabbed my hand. “It’s okay. He probably just didn’t see you.”
“Or hear me?”
“Let’s just meet him at his locker,” Kennedy said. “I’m sure everything’s fine.”
I released the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. Kennedy was right. This was just a misunderstanding. Matt promised me. He’d promised.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Isabella said. Her gaze trailed from my beat-up shoes to my hair and she rolled her eyes like the sight of me disgusted her. “It seems to me like he’s ignoring you for a reason.” Her minions standing behind her laughed.
“Shove off, Isabella,” Kennedy said. “Don’t you have detention to go to or something?”
“Lame comeback. Detention is after school. Not that I’d really know…seeing as it’s not something I’d ever attend. My father called and got that silly punishment thrown out the window.He’s one of the school’s biggest donors. The principal even apologized,” she said with a laugh. “I’m untouchable. Just like the Caldwells and Hunters. And just to make myself clear…I mean untouchable to the two of you.” She smiled her asinine sweet smile.
“Oh really?” Kennedy said. “Because Matt and Brooklyn are dating.”
“Dating?” Isabella laughed. “Did you not see…” she pointed to the school doors. “You didn’t…” her voice trailed off and she put her hand over her mouth pretending to be shocked. “Oh no. Darling,” she said as she stared at me. “That was Matt’s way of telling you that you two will literally. Never. Happen. Not in your wildest, poor girl fantasies. For goodness sakes, you live with a janitor.”
I opened my mouth to talk, but I didn’t have a witty comeback. And I couldn’t stand up for Matt. He’d walked right by me. Without a glance.
“Close your mouth,” sneered Isabella. “You look like a fish.”
Her friends snickered behind her.
“Well, I should be going. I don’t want to be late for class. Not that I could get detention or anything.” She walked away laughing. The sound of her heels clicking up the stairs sent a chill down my spine.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there before Kennedy pulled me toward the doors. “Take a deep breath,” she said as we stoppedby my locker. “We’ll figure out what’s going on. Let’s hatch a plan in English, okay?”
I was barely paying attention. I’d opened my backpack to remove the books I didn’t need, but Matt’s jacket was staring back at me. All weekend I’d been picturing how this morning would go. After we walked through the halls hand in hand, I’d pull his jacket on as he kissed me goodbye at the door to my first class. Now my dream had been lit on fire and thrown into the dumpster. “Yeah, that’s fine,” I said.
