Page 23 of Bad Boys Don’t Date Clumsy Girls

Chapter Nine

“Oh, that’s a nice shirt,” Sam says. “Usually, you end up with something weird.”

I look down at it and my cheeks heat with the memory of all the boyfriend thoughts I had. “Yeah, it’s um… Dylan’s.”

Sam leans forward. “Dylan Scott’s?”

I nod distractedly as I scan the lunchroom. I don’t see him. If he had been sitting near us before, he’s moved since. Or maybe he didn’t come back after giving me the shirt. Did he always eat in the cafeteria? Did he ever eat lunch in this room? Who did he sit with? I frown, realizing how little I know about him.

“I told you he was sweet,” Bek says, stacking cheese-flavored chips on her sandwich.

“How did I know you were going to say that?” I drop my head into my hands and rub my forehead.

“Because it’s true.”

I peer at Bek through my fingers. Sometimes I wonder if Bek’s spaciness is all an act to hide her incredible cunningness and her ability to manipulate everybody around her.

“And because Venus is in retrograde,” Bek adds.

I snort. And then she says something like that, and I’m once again convinced my friend occupies another dimension. “Oh, that’s why I’m having such a weird day.”

Sam snorts too. “I see Andrew tonight after school again.”

“Who’s Andrew again?” Bek asks.

“Sushi Guy,” I answer. Then, turning to Sam, I ask, “What are you guys doing?”

“Making out.” Sam waggles her eyebrows.

“Where will you be making out?” I press.

“Oh, we’re going…” Sam slams her eyes closed and whispers, “Miniature golfing.”

I burst into laughter. “You must like this guy a lot!”

“You hate mini-golf,” Bek says. “Why would you agree to go?”

“He offered me a choice between that and bowling.”

I laugh again. “Oh my gosh. Andrew may be an excellent kisser, but if he doesn’t up his date game, he’ll be gone before the end of the week.”

The bell to end lunch period rings and I stand, rubbing my empty belly. Maybe I have enough change at the bottom of my backpack to get something from the vending machines. Probably not though.

The three of us walk down the hall together until we must split off to go to our lockers.

“Have fun at mini-golf!” I call to Sam. We walk away backward, Sam making kissing motions with her lips. I laugh and turn forward, smacking into someone, my forehead taking the impact of an incredibly hard jaw.

“You okay? Oh, Ava.”

It’s Rex Diller. And from the look on his face, he now considers me a psycho stalker. Great. I rub my forehead. “I’m fine. I wasn’t watching where I was going. Sorry.”

He moves to go around me. I blurt, “I’m sorry about the other night, too. I’m such a klutz. It’s really embarrassing.”

He nods. “Yeah, I know. You’ve apologized a million times. It was just an accident.”

I watch him go, knowing my generic apology does nothing to erase my feeling him up. I blush just thinking about it. I probably wouldn’t easily forgive a guy for blotting my chest dry in front of everyone, even if he was as well-meaning as I’d been.

The halls are emptying out and I still haven’t been to my locker. I race to it and fumble with the combination, getting it to work on the second try. My wet shirt falls to the floor when I fling the door open. I’d completely forgotten about it. I bend to grab it and then whack the back of my head on the corner of the locker door when I stand. Seeing stars, I blink to focus on the books within and grab what I need, tossing the balled-up shirt back in. I slam the door, and run to class, sliding through the door just as the tardy bell rings.

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