OLIVIA
I’ve never had a boyfriend.
I’ve never even kissed a boy. Well, that’s not true. During a game of Truth or Dare in middle school, I exchanged a few kisses on the cheek. But I don’t count those. They weren’t real kisses. Not like the kind Madison has had.
Madison has had two boyfriends already. Right now, she’s dating a guy named Aidan, and the two of them arealwaysmaking out. It’s like I can’t do anything with Madison anymore without Aidan coming out and kissing her in this gross, slobbery way. It doesn’t even look like a good kiss. If that’s what kissing is, I can wait.
But I have a feeling Liam Cass won’t kiss like that.
I think a lot about what Liam’s kisses will be like. Not just during math class, but all the time.
Madison is prettier than me, but not by a lot. On a scale of one to ten, she’s probably a seven and I’m probably a six. My hair is mousy brown, and people tell me I havepretty eyes, but I know I have way too many freckles. I had a lot of freckles on my face when I was a kid and I read they’re supposed to fade when you get older. But my stupid freckles won’t do what they’re supposed to. Yes, they’re lighter than they were, but Istillhave these tiny little spots all over my face. Even though I smear sunscreen all over myself whenever I go out and I have this giant hat with a brim that my little brother makes fun of me for wearing.
That’s why I don’t have a boyfriend. All my stupid freckles.
Not that I haven’t been asked out before. This one guy asked me out earlier in the year and he was kind of a jerk about it when I said no, but I didn’t really like him. I don’t want to go out with just anyone so I can have a boyfriend. I want to go out with a guy I actuallylike.
“There he is.” I nudge Madison as we sit in the audience of the giant high school auditorium. I convinced her to come with me to the debate today, and she agreed only because Aidan has football practice so she has to wait around anyway. A smattering of students and parents came to watch, but the audience is pretty sparse. I’ve never seen a debate before, so today will be my first. Maybe I’ll learn something about…
Well, whatever it is they’re debating.
Madison follows my gaze to the stage, where ourschool debate team is assembled. Andhe’sup there. Liam. Oh my God, he lookssohandsome in that nice blue button-down shirt. Once again, my heart does this weird thing in my chest. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I should go see a doctor.
“He issohot,” I murmur as I lean back in my seat.
Madison crinkles her nose, which is totally free of freckles. Madison doesn’t have one freckle, but she always complains about her double chin. “I don’t know, Liv. I don’t like him.”
“You are so weird. What don’t you like about him? He’s, like, perfect and gorgeous.”
“He’s…” Madison’s gaze travels back to the stage. “I don’t know. He just seems really… Like, when he talks, he seems so fake.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It’s hard to explain. I feel like everyone else is real, like they’re really living life. But Liam is, like, this actor who is being paid to hang out with us.”
I stare at her. “What the hell are you talking about, Mad?”
“I’m just saying. I feel like I don’t trust him entirely. He’s a phony. You know?”
I’m not going to point out to her that between Aidan and Liam, it’s clear who is more trustworthy. Liam is a straight-A student, and he’s a star on both the debate teamand the track team. Whereas Aidan is built like a bull, he’s failing two classes, and he almost got expelled last year for getting into a fistfight in the hallway at school. If anyone makes me uneasy, it’s Aidan.
Liam catches my eye, and maybe it’s my imagination, but his whole face seems to light up when he sees me, and he waves enthusiastically. Is it possible he likes me as much as I like him? I mean, he invited me to come today. So maybe he does. The thought of it is enough to make my heart start beating faster again. Liam Cass. God, he’ssocute.
But then he starts talking to another girl, who is on stage with them. That’s Olivia Reynolds. She and I share the same first name, but that’s where the similarities end. She’s on the debate team, like Liam, and she’sreallygorgeous. She has silky blonde hair that looks professionally styled, and she’s totally stacked.Unfairlystacked, given how skinny she is. When she’s talking to Liam, the two of them look like a really attractive couple. Between the two of us Olivias, she’s clearly the superior one.
How could Liam like me when she’s around?
I try not to think about it.
By the way, Liam is totally brilliant during the debate. I don’t even entirely understand what they’re debating. Something about transportation between different states.It’s all really boring, honestly. But Liam issucha good speaker. He should become a politician or something. Whenever he talks, everybody is paying such close attention to him. Even Madison looks up from her phone for, like, two seconds.
The judges deliberate at the end, and our home team wins the debate. I applaud as loudly as I can. Madison just rolls her eyes. She isn’t into extracurricular activities, and to be honest, neither am I.
“So are you going to go talk to him now?” she asks me.
“What?” My eyes fly up to the front of the room, where Liam is now talking to Olivia Reynolds.Again. God, she’s really pretty. It’s so unfair. “Now?”
Madison huffs. “You made me sit through that whole stupid boring debate and you’re not even going to go talk to him? Seriously, Olivia?”
