Page 42 of The Art of Us

“I wasn’t going to say anything,” Cooper said. “Every time I’ve seen you since then you’ve acted like you were fine, but then when he was talking to the guys last night, I just thought maybe what I’d seen was right.”

“You need to mind your business.” This time the girl spoke loud enough to understand what she was saying.

“But I don’t think I’m wrong about what I saw. You need to tell someone. If you don’t, I’m going to.”

“You seriously just need to leave me alone.” Footsteps were coming to the classroom door. Whoever the girl was, she’d had enough of dealing with Cooper. Kal quickly ducked into the boys’ bathroom so he wouldn’t get caught eavesdropping.

He stayed there until the first bell rang because he wasn’t really sure what he’d overheard, and he felt oddly unsettled about it. Whatever it was hadn’t been good.

He made his way to class and slid into the seat next to Ireland. She crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him. She was definitely goofy, but goofy had never looked more amazing than it did on her. “Hey,” he whispered.

“Hey.” She grinned at him. She seemed happier than before.

The moment with Ireland made Kal forget whatever had beengoing on with Cooper. “We should go on a real date sometime, one where you aren’t stuck listening to me play.”

“I like hearing you play.”

Mr. Nichols had stood and was moving to the front of the class.

“Youmightlike hearing me play, but I want you to be my girlfriend, not my groupie.”

Her smile vanished and her eyes dropped to her hands on her desk. He realized what he’d said. He’d used the “girlfriend” word. Ridiculous.

But did she think he was ridiculous?

Maybe not.

He kept staring at her even after Mr. Nichols brushed back his comb-over and began the class. After a moment, Ireland pulled out some paper and a pencil. She scribbled something on it and then slid it over so Kal could see.

“I’m in. When and where is this date? Please say we’re finally going to pull off the great candy-jar heist.”

He laughed out loud.

All eyes in the classroom turned to him.

“Did you have something you wanted to add to the discussion, Mr. Ellis?” Mr. Nichols asked. What discussion had Mr. Nichols been talking about? It was history class, so chances were good Mr. Nichols hadn’t said anything worth laughing at, which meant Kal had no reason to laugh. School never covered the funny parts of history. Surely there had to be some funny parts, didn’t there?

Kal cleared his throat and said, “Umm. No, sir?”

“Is that a question? Do you not know if you have something to add?” Wow. Mr. Nichols must have been shorted some sugar packets in his coffee that morning.

“I don’t have anything to add, sir. Except that your choice of tie is fire today.” Kal pointed to Mr. Nichol’s tie, which wasemblazoned with Thor’s hammer. “You can never go wrong with Thor, can you? I mean, historically speaking.”

“Thor is not a historical figure, Mr. Ellis.”

“Oh yeah. I know, but certain people in history believed he was a real figure.”

Now several people were laughing. Mr. Nichols sent Kal a withering stare but ultimately must have decided it wasn’t worth the effort because he went back to his lecture.

Ireland pulled back the paper, scrawled something new, and then moved it so he could see what she’d written. “Nice save.”

His eyes caught what she’d written before. “I’m in.” Did that mean she was in on the candy-jar heist or that she was in with the plan of her being his girlfriend? He really hoped it was the girlfriend option becausethatwould be more fire than a Thor tie.

He wrote on his own paper and turned it so she could see. “Is tonight too soon?”

The smile that curved her lips was his answer.

“Pick u up at 6?”

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