“But it won’t be fun without you,” Miranda pouted. I took another drink of my tea. I didn’t want to argue with her about this. “Come on, Pagan, it has been like six months since Jay left. We miss him, too, but he moved away. You need to date again.”
It was the first time the mention of my former boyfriend didn’t make me sad. I’d started dating him my ninth grade year and he’d been a junior. After graduation this past May he left for college and his parents moved to another state. We both agreed a long distance relationship would be too hard and we broke up. At first, I’d been lost. I’d assumed it must be a broken heart. It didn’t take me long to realize I missed the comfort of our relationship. Deep down, we’d just been really good friends. We liked the same things and cared about the same things
“It isn’t because of Jay. I just haven’t met anyone else who interests me.”
Wyatt’s grin got bigger as he took another bite of his burger. If he wasn’t careful I would strangle that goofy grin off his face.
Miranda sighed in exasperation. “It’s a pity you spend every evening with Leif Montgomery and you don’t even like him. I just don’t get it.”
Wyatt raised his eyebrows at her and frowned. “What are you saying, Miranda?”
She puckered her lips and tried to look serious. “Oh, stop it, Wyatt, you know I love you.” He bent down and gave her a peck on the lips before returning to his food. She turned her attention back to me with a silly grin on her face and I wanted to laugh. “I’m just saying if you could get past your dislike for him it would be a prime opportunity.”
I thought for a minute about continuing to let her think I really disliked Leif. Somehow it seemed unfair to Leif. He didn’t deserve my dislike and letting others think I didn’t like him was wrong.
“I don’t dislike Leif. He isn’t like what I thought. I was wrong about him. However, I’m also not hot after him. ” I glanced up from my tray half afraid Miranda might have managed to read between the lines but instead she looked like a deer caught in the headlights. She wasn’t focused on me, her gaze was locked on something or someone behind me.
“Well, I’m glad to know you’re not hot after me. One less worry on my mind.”
I closed my eyes tightly, hoping I’d just imagined Leif’s voice. His shoulder brushed mine as he sat down beside me and I slowly opened my eyes to see a very amused Wyatt watching me. I cleared my throat and forced a smile I didn’t feel, before turning to look at Leif.
“Hi,” I said simply and he chuckled, nudging my shoulder with his arm.
“Relax, Pagan, it’s okay. I’m aware you used to hate my guts and have had a realization from the gods that I’m not so bad after all. It’s cool.” I resisted the desire to sigh in relief.
“So, what brings you to the lower class tables?” Wyatt asked, grinning at his own humor.
Leif glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh, you mean this is lower class? I had no idea. It has the star athlete being scouted by colleges,” he motioned to Wyatt, “his girlfriend,” motioning to Miranda, “and last year’s homecoming queen,” he said, turning to me.
I rolled my eyes, “That was only because of my date and you know it.”
“No, I don’t know it.”
I knew I was blushing and I hated it. My gaze met Miranda’s and I realized she was soaking in every word. This wasn’t good. She wouldn’t miss my pink cheeks. “What is it you need?” I asked, trying not to sound rude.
He grinned as if he could read my mind. “I wanted to tell you I got an A on my speech.”
“That’s wonderful. It’s a really good speech. You had some great stuff in it.”
“Yes, but I couldn’t have done it without your help.”
I smiled and stared back down at my food. I hadn’t told anyone, Miranda included, about Leif’s dyslexia or his adoption. Those weren’t my stories to tell.
“Are you coming to the game tonight?” he asked, and I glanced back up at him, surprised by his question.
“Um, no, probably not.”
He frowned, and then nodded and stood up. “Well, thanks again, and I guess I’ll see you Monday, then.”
“Okay. Good luck tonight,” I replied. Had it hurt his feelings that I wasn’t going to the game? I turned back around in my seat and Wyatt shook his head.
“What?” I asked.
“Poor guy isn’t use to being shot down,” he said and took a swig of his milk.
“Shot down?” I asked, confused. He sat his carton back down on his tray and stared at me with a serious expression, one rarely seen on Wyatt’s face.
“He wanted you to come to his game and you said no.”
I frowned trying to remember if he’d asked me to come. I felt positive he’d asked me if I planned on coming. Not once did he ask me to come. “No he didn’t.”
Wyatt chuckled and shook his head. “Dating Jay ruined you. Most of the time people don’t date someone just exactly like them. You understood Jay because, like you, he was straight-forward and serious. Not all guys, no, make that most guys, are not like that.” He nodded toward where Leif stood talking to Kendra. “He was asking, trust me.” Wyatt walked off and I glanced back at Leif.
Kendra twirled her long blond hair around her finger while grinning up at him. Just a week ago, I would’ve thought he deserved someone so superficial and beautiful. Now, I knew better. He glanced up and caught me watching him. His eyes seemed to say something I didn’t understand but before I could figure it out they changed and took on a polite expression. He turned his attention back to Kendra. Confused and a little annoyed, I grabbed my tray and started to stand up. I started to tell Miranda I’d see her later when I realized she was staring at me with her mouth slightly open.
“What?” I asked, a little defensively, because I knew by the expression on her face that she’d figured it out.
“You…like…him,” she said slowly as in amazement.
I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Not hardly.” I grabbed my tray and headed to the garbage and away from Miranda’s knowing eyes.
“Do girls your age not normally go out and do things on the weekend?” This time I was unable to stop the startled scream that erupted out of my mouth. Luckily my mom wasn’t home to hear me. I spun around to find the talking soul sitting on my bed watching me.
“Would you PLEASE stop popping up out of nowhere and scaring the bejesus out of me! And what are you doing in my room? Go away!” I threw the shirt I’d been about to hang up in my closet at him for good measure. This was getting old. He needed to stop following me around.
One of his dark eyebrows lifted. “You aren’t normally so testy.”
Growling loudly, I stalked over to my window, opened it, and then turned back to him. “Fly away please. Stay out of my room. I could have been naked!”
A deep chuckle caused a strange warmth to course through my body. Dizziness seemed to touch me but just barely. “You want me to fly away? That’s cute.”
I didn’t want to be cute but I also couldn’t seem to work up a good mad anymore either. Some strange lethargy had come over me. Had his laugh caused this relaxing warmth in my body?
“No, not exactly, but I do have the ability to control anxiety or panic. My laugh didn’t really have anything to do with it.”
Did he just read my thoughts or had I said that out loud? He seemed to find me amusing if the smirk on his face was any indication. Another reason I should be furious with him. Stupid talking dead guy.
“For what it’s worth I’m sorry I scared you. It wasn’t my intention, but if I’d appeared in front of you standing in your closet would that have been less frightening?”