Page 1 of Just A Kiss

1

ALLISON

10 years ago

Junior year of high school

I sitat one of the many lunch tables filling the cafeteria, the one that my group of friends has claimed as ours over the last few years.

“Ugh,” my best friend Lindsay says as she takes the seat next to me on the bench.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as I take a bite from a chicken strip.

“History class sucked. We had a pop quiz, and I don’t think I passed.”

“I’m sorry, I hate it when Mr. Lead gives his pop quizzes. I swear he knows when we haven’t done our homework and are not ready for them.”

“Right! Like, help a girl out. Oh, I forgot to tell you!” Lindsay says, smacking my arm in quick succession in her excitement.

“What?” I ask, taking another bite.

“I have a date for prom!” she practically shrieks.

“With who? And when did this happen?” I ask, a little shocked.

“Jimmy King asked me to be his date after first period,” she says.

“Aww,” I coo. “You’re going to have a blast.”

“Now we just have to find you a date.”

“Maybe. I was kind of looking forward to just going as a group, but maybe,” I tell her honestly.

“I’m sorry. Should I back out so we can just go as a group?” she asks.

“No, it isn’t like we won’t see each other during the dance.”

“Now I feel bad for saying yes so quickly.”

“Don’t be. I’ll be fine,” I insist.

“What about Lee? You guys have been quite flirty lately.”

“Maybe,” I state as a group of our friends sit down, Lee and Jimmy being two of them.

“Ladies,” Jimmy greets as he takes the seat on the other side of Lindsay.

“I hear you’ve stolen my date for prom,” I tease Jimmy.

“Sorry,” he says, almost question-like and without one ounce of apology.

“You need a date to prom, Allison?” Lee asks from across the table.

“Looks like I do,” I tell him, my stomach doing a little flittering when I look across the table at him. He’s got this swagger to him. One that says he knows he’s hot; he knows girls would fall at his feet if he’d give them a second of his time.

“Would you go with me?” he asks, all nonchalant.

“Are you serious?” I sputter in reply.

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