2
The football team was sharing the field with the
cheer squad, which meant my Lit class was
stuck outside for PE.
I was dozing under a tree, trying to look busy,
but my eyes kept drifting to Chad.
He was leaning against another tree, pretending
to do his homework but he was obviously
staring at Tiffany.
All that longing and desperation…
Because Tiffany was handing Spike a water
bottle, all smiles and sunshine.
Wow.
Spike was being his usual jerk self, barely
acknowledging her and refusing the water.
“Come on, Spike,” one of his buddies said.
“Give the girl a break. Tiffany’s been after you
forever. At least pretend you’re not a robot.”
“Mind your own business,” Spike snapped, his
voice all rough edges.
Chad’s shoulders tensed. His fist clenched, his
eyes fixed on Spike.
He felt protective!
Tiff-
…
11-
1
L
<
Tiffany’s voice cut through the air, cold and
clear. “Spike, why don’t you like me? Am I not
pretty enough?”
Spike laughed, a harsh, ugly sound. “Do I need
a reason not to like someone?”
“You…” Tiffany seethed.
Getting rejected in front of half the school was
clearly not part of her plan.
“Spike, do you like Sarah Johnson or
something?”
Huh?
What the hell was that about?
Spike had never even looked at me before. But
he located me in the crowd with zero effort.
He glanced my way, then glared back at Tiffany.
“What are you talking about?”
Tiffany snorted. “Don’t play dumb. I’ve seen
your phone…”
Spike cut her off. “I told you I don’t like you, so
leave me alone!”
But Tiffany wasn’t letting go. “You’ve got
pictures of Sarah all over your phone, even as
the lock screen!”
Suddenly, I was the center of attention.
I was already half–asleep, leaning against the
trunk of the tree.
So, I promptly closed my eyes.
Calm.
I can’t see you, you can’t see me, they don’t
く
know I’m here.
A heavy silence fell, broken only by the rustle of
leaves.
Then I heard Spike’s voice, all awkward and
defensive. “Uh, everyone, shut up.”
Finally, when the bell rang and my classmates
started heading back inside, I groggily opened
my eyes.
Tried to play it cool.
But it was too late.
Almost everyone was gone, but Spike was still
standing there, looking like he wanted to crawl
under a rock.
I pretended nothing had happened and started
walking.
<
Back in class, the whispers started immediately.
“Spike likes our valedictorian?”
I pretended not to hear.
“No way, really?”
I opened my textbook, trying to focus.
“You were in the bathroom, you missed it.
Tiffany said it herself!”
I scribbled down the wrong answer, then
crossed it out.
“Isn’t Tiffany chasing Spike?”
“Tiffany likes Spike, Spike likes Sarah… OMG!
Does Sarah like Tiffany?”
“This is so messy.”
Understatement of the century.
