Page 7 of Only Forever

“Definitely,” I said in agreement. “I just hope I never run into him again. He goes to Darrenston College.”

“I thought something more had happened,” Chloe said. “After you left, Jason practically ripped Jillian’s head off, and then left the party soon after.” Chloe’s mouth thinned out in anger. “I should have punched her in the mouth.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Why? What happened?”

“Jillian was trying to get Jason to dance with her, and he said he didn’t want to, and he wanted to make sure you were alright. She made some asinine comment about you not being a damsel in distress.” As Chloe was explaining what happened, I couldtell that she was getting worked up. She was getting flushed and her eyebrows were crossed together in a vee. “Then she made some gross comment about how you should be happy someone was interested in you, and she didn’t know why you would reject someone’s advances. That’s when Jason blew up.”

Chloe’s look of anger turned into glee as she continued. “He told her that, unlike her, you had standards, and that he was sick of her following her around and begging for attention. Then he stormed off, and I heard he and Chris went home shortly after.” Chloe sighed in regret. “I told Jillian that she was a whore, and that you had more class in your pinky than her entire body. But I really should have punched her.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Chloe’s statement. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I don’t want anyone hitting anyone over me.”

I felt terrible about what Chloe told me. I didn’t want people getting in fights because of me, and as much as I disliked Jillian, I also couldn’t help feeling a little bad for her.

Those feelings of pity vanished on Monday, when I saw her in the hallway. Apparently, they had made up because she was back to hanging on Jason’s every word as they stood in front of his locker. I told myself that I didn’t care and to mind my own business. It had nothing to do with me if Jason wanted to hang out with a soul-sucking social vampire.

I forced myself to forget about them, and, fortunately I didn’t see them for the rest of the day. After my last class, I headed out to the parking lot alone, since Chloe had an after-school meeting for her government and politics group project.

I was surprised when I saw Jason waiting for me by my car. He looked annoyingly handsome leaning on my car door, but my pulse remained in check. I told myself that this was proof that being attracted to him Friday night had been a fluke.

“Hi,” I said awkwardly when I reached my car. Jason straightened and looked down at me, his eyes uncertain.

“I wanted to apologize for going a little batshit crazy at the party,” he said, with a rueful smile. “I didn’t meant to scare you.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay. I’m grateful you got that creep away from me.”

Jason’s eyes darkened. “I made sure to let his friends at the party know that he’s not welcome anywhere.”

“I appreciate it.”

Jason shifted awkwardly from one foot to another, looking uncharacteristically unsure of himself. I waited, not knowing if he had anything else to say or if that was the end of it.

“Um,” I said after a few beats of silence. It was starting to get uncomfortable as Jason just stood there, looking at me. “Well, if that’s it, I’m going to head out.”

I waited for Jason to step aside, since he was blocking my car door, but he stood still.

“Are you doing anything after school today?”

I didn’t know if he was asking me to just make conversation or if he was asking to see if I was free to hang out. I was pretty sure it wasn’t the latter, because I couldn’t remember the last time we had done anything together. It had probably been in the sixth grade, before we had started drifting apart.

“No, just going home,” I answered.

Jason rubbed the back of his neck, looking nervous. “Do you want to hang out? We could get something to eat or something.”

I suppressed my laughter at Jason’s obvious discomfiture. I was suddenly back to seeing Jason as the kid I had been friends with, and I found his awkwardness funny and appealing.

“Sure, that sounds like fun.” There was no reason to refuse and it would be nice to catch up with Jason. Our conversation at the party had been brief, and I felt a wave of nostalgia for the old days when we had been joined at the hip. After our senior year,our lives would be changing, and it would be nice to hang out with him before that.

Jason smiled widely, looking relieved. “Why don’t we go to Albert’s?” he suggested, naming a diner nearby.

“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll meet you there.” I reached for my car door, but Jason still hadn’t stepped aside.

“Why don’t we go in my car?” he said. “I can drive you back to school to your car afterwards.”

I shook my head. That seemed inefficient. “Why don’t we just meet at the diner? That way we can just both leave afterwards.”

Jason hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something, but then he just nodded. “Okay, I’ll meet you there.”

I watched him walk off to his car, wondering at his behavior. It was unlike Jason to not exude confidence.

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