She gives me a side-eye. “Why not? Are you embarrassed?”
“Sort of.”
She stops walking and grabs my hand. “Come on.”
I shake my hand free from hers. “No.”
“Come on, Blakely.”
“If I see him again, then I will.”
“Fine.” We both start walking again.
“Plus, we should play hard to get,” I say as we walk into Wet Seal.
“You’re so right,” she agrees.
School starts back up in a week, and I need some new clothes to start the year off right. My mom said she would take me to go shopping for school clothes, but she hasn’t yet. I could at least look around and see what I like.
“I’m going to try this one on real quick,” Paige says.
“Okay.” I move over to the jewelry stand to check for new earrings. As I turn around, I notice the same guy walking past the entrance of the store with his friends. I’m hoping he doesn’t look my way because I’m more shy than people assume. Paige is so outgoing, and I believe that’s why a lot of people don’t realize just how shy I am. Having an outgoing friend helps because she pushes me to step outside of my comfort zone.
Oh my God; he’s looking at me. I stand there, fixated on him, giving him a little wave.
God, I’m awkward.
He smiles back at me. My cheeks flush as he walks out of sight.
Does he go to my school? I’ve never seen him before. He looks like he’s older. Eighteen, maybe? I decided against asking Paige if she thinks he goes to our school because then she’ll make me ask him.
“Are you ready for school?” my mom yells from downstairs.
“Yeah!” I yell.
It’s the first day back at school. Falling asleep last night took me forever. It sucks having to wake up early for school when you get so used to sleeping in every morning for nearly three months. My mom finally took me clothes shopping, and I’ve already tried everything on and have my first day of school outfit chosen.
Once I get downstairs, I take a seat next to Brynlee and serve us Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal for our breakfast. My mom hates it when Bryn and I eat like this. She says kids shouldn’t have sugar first thing in the morning. However, she handles running our house all by herself and lacks the time to prepare breakfast for us daily. There are better options my mom buys besides cereal, but of course we’re going to choose the sweeter option.
“You need to hurry and eat your breakfast, or you’re going to be late,” my mom says.
“Paige is picking me up for school,” I say, chewing my cereal.
My mom pours her coffee into a to-go mug. “What! You don’t want me to take you on your first day?”
“Come on, Mom. I’m not a kid anymore.”
Mom rolls her eyes with a huff. “Fine,” she says.
“Can I have some coffee?” I ask.
“No. You’re too young.”
“Grandma used to give me coffee when I was younger.”
Her frown deepens. "Yeah, because I didn’t know.”
My pre-recorded ringtone, “Low” by Flo Rida, goes off. “Hey, are you outside?” I ask through the phone.
