Page 116 of Hope & Harmony

I shyly smiled, his words warming my heart. Making me feel like shit for what I’d said before.

“If there’s anything important you need to know about me, it’s that I don’t do anything I don’t want to. But with you … I don’t know how to explain it, Hayley. I was drawn to you from the first day you walked into my science class in sixth grade.”

“What?” I jerked back. “You remember that?”

He smiled. “The girl with the turquoise backpack.”

My eyes widened. “Turquoise is my favorite color.”

“It’s mine too.”

“I didn’t know you even knew who I was back then.”

“Of course, I knew. I was going to ask you to be my lab partner, but your best friend beat me to it.”

“Oh.”

“Oh? Is that all you can say?”

“Depends. Are you going to say something mean about David?” I blurted, unable to hold back.

He cocked an eyebrow. “So you’ve noticed that I don’t care for him?”

“I mean, anytime I say I’m with him, your tone immediately turns sour.” I shrugged. “Do you not like him?”

“I’ll answer that question after you tell me what he thinks about us hanging out.”

I swallowed hard.

“I think you have your own answer built in your question, Hayley.”

“We’re best friends.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“He’s just trying to protect me. You don’t have the best reputation, Joshua.”

“David needs to mind his own fucking business before I do it for him.”

“Whoa.” I raised my hands. “Where did that come from?” I lowered my eyebrows, confused by the turn of events. Instinctively, I peered down at the makeshift picnic he had made for us …

For me.

“I don’t want to fight. Especially after you planned this beautiful picnic. I still don’t know if we’re going to get arrested, but you know, it’s the thought that counts.”

He laughed, throwing his head back, and I took the opportunity to ease his mind.

“You have nothing to worry about when it comes to David. I promise. But if you wanted to get to know me back in sixth grade, why wait till now?”

“You’re always with David.”

“So?”

“I don’t like to share.”

“Then why now?”

“Honestly … I don’t fucking know. I saw you at the bonfire party, and you looked upset walking into the woods by yourself. I followed you before I even realized what I was doing. It’s the effect you have on me. I lose all sense of control when it comes to you.”

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