Page 11 of Anytime I Want

“Oh, I don’t know. I can think of something better.” I start to walk away from the sheet. “Come on, let’s go. We can brainstorm on the way to the cafeteria.”

Chloe tilts her head in thought. “Okay, deal. We’ll come up with something awesome. I do love to prank him. Hmm, let’s see. Could we bleach his hair? Leave a can of tuna under the seat in his car?”

“Tuna! Oh my gosh! How gross. It’s so hot here. How about we Oreo his car instead? Still annoying but not as nasty,” Josie says, fitting right in our group.

“Oreo his car?” Chloe asks.

“Yeah! You open the Oreo and stick the frosting side onto the car,” Josie explains.

“Absolutely not. We share a car. Try again.” I laugh, while trying to convince myself that I can build up the courage to sign up another time.

Chloe and Josie chat about everything and nothing the entire walk to the cafeteria, with me answering when necessary. Chloe talks a lot and Josie seems to be able to keep up, so I can just listen and laugh.

“Whoa. Who isthat?” Josie asks, coming to a stop. I track her gaze straight to our regular lunch table. Graham, Nathan, and one of their friends, Josh Fletcher, are sitting there, huddled around something on the table. Nathan has dark blond hair and a decent tan, a result of playing sports in Arizona. Josh is a redhead with a skin tone to match. I’m not entirely sure who she’s talking about, but it looks like she’s staring at Graham. My Graham.Wait, no. Just Graham. Graham Kealoha. Nathan’s Graham. The school’s Graham. Friendly neighborhood Graham.

“Hmm, Jules. Did you hear Josie? Who is that fine-looking man?” Chloe taps her lip in fake consideration. Josie looks back and forth between us, Chloe’s face mocking and mine sure to be red.

“Well, that depends. The blond is my brother, Nathan; the redhead is our friend, Josh; and… the other one is Graham. Kealoha. My brother’s best friend,” I say tightly. I promise I try to be cool. But I’m not. I’m jealous. I admit it. And you can’t blame me. Josie is pretty and fun and new. Everyone likes new things. That’s why birthdays and Christmas are so awesome.

“Only your brother’s best friend? Are you sure? I clearly stepped into something here,” Josie asks. “If he’s yours, nice work. The other two are pretty cute too. I have no attachment to any of them, so I can switch focus like that. But if he isn’tyours…” Josie trails off, her eyes lighting with interest. I make wide eyes at Chloe, a little taken aback by Josie. Chloe laughs, clearly enjoying herself.

“He’s not mine.” I laugh, a little higher pitched than normal. “He’s everyone’s. The school’s. The neighborhood’s, even.” Chloe and Josie give me matching confused looks and I force out a laugh. “Kidding. You’ll get used to my sense of humor. Let’s introduce you to the guys.” I grab both of their hands, dragging them the rest of the way to the table. I notice they are all studying my list. My stomach warms with the realization that Graham is recruiting help. I knew Nathan was helping, and he asked if he could ask others for help, but I didn’t realize he was going to show people the actual list. I take a moment to evaluate how that makes me feel. He didn’t ask me. Am I bothered? That list is a little embarrassing. But, he's putting in effort. A small smile lifts my lips when I realize that I’m okay with it, and Graham makes eye contact with me. I get lost in his eyes for a few seconds, and his lips grow into a genuine smile. I'm not entirely sure how long I'm staring at him, but long enough that Chloe feels the need to elbow me in the side.

“Oh, sorry. Hey guys, this is Josie… uhm, I don’t actually know your last name.”

“Thomas. Josie Thomas. I just moved here last week.” She smiles at the guys, looking at Graham a little bit longer than I think is strictly necessary.

The other two guys glance up in unison, say hi, and then in the most obvious display of interest I have ever seen, Nathan double takes so hard, I swear I hear his neck crack. He jumps up from the bench, sticking out his hand.

“Hi! Hey! I am Pritchett. Well, Nathan. Nathan Pritchett. Call me Nathan. Or Nate.”

“Hey, I’m Josh.” Josh waves from across the table, sparing Nathan an entertained glance. “And this is Graham Kealoha.”Graham folds up the copy of the list and tucks it in his pocket before giving her his whole attention.

“Ah, yes, the brother’s best friend,” Josie almost purrs.

“Hmm, okay. I don’t know your brother but I’m sure he’s a good dude.” Graham smiles. “Welcome to Desert Valley. It’s a great school, full of awesome people, and by the looks of it, you’ll fit right in.” Graham winks. He winked at her. Winked. He just folded upmyboyfriend list, the list that he begged me for last weekend, and now he’s winking at the new girl? Come on. I not so gently toss my lunch bag onto the table and climb over the bench.

Chloe slides in next to me and whispers, “Your jealousy is showing.”

“I know,” I mumble without thinking. “Wait. No. I don’t know anything. Jealousy? No jealousy here. Josie can have him.” Right as I finish saying that, I meet Graham’s eye, catching a flash of confusion and maybe hurt.Crap, did I say that too loud?I decide right then and there that I have nothing to contribute to this lunch hour. I grab my ear buds, turn on some music, and start eating with much more enthusiasm than I actually feel.

I spend the next twenty-five minutes half listening and half berating myself for poorly hiding my jealousy. Josie is leaning across the table, very focused on Graham; Josh is studying like always; Nathan looks a little like a lost puppy, trying to insert himself into the conversation, but not getting much traction; and Chloe is sitting back with a big smirk on her face, enjoying herself, always happy to watch the world burn, randomly checking her phone. Because it already isn’t awkward enough, Ginger comes up behind Graham. She throws her arms around, giving him a hug from behind. He grabs her hands, squeezing them for a second before pulling them away, and spins on the bench. I discreetly mute my music because I’m a masochist, I guess. I hear Ginger flirting with Graham, and you know what Idon’t hear? Graham ignoring her. He is definitely engaging with her. I see Josie lean toward Chloe.

“Who’s that? She looks like one of those twins from all the 90s movies.”

“What?! The Olsen twins? Seriously, I love them. Don’t compare Ginger Cole to them! She’s public enemy number one.”

“Hey! That’s not true! She’s perfectly friendly.” Everyone at the table stops talking and looks at me. That’s when I remember my earbuds are still in, and I absolutely spoke too loudly. I’m fumbling, trying to figure out how to explain my outburst, when the bell rings and I grab all of my lunch trash to throw away.

“Here, let me take that rubbish.” Graham takes it all out of my hands and I glance over my shoulder. The green-eyed monster on my shoulder grins when we see Ginger walking the other direction, a little dejected. I look at him and smile, handing him the trash. Or rubbish. I love when he calls it rubbish. It’s an adorable little Graham-ism he got from his dad.

“Rubbish? Cute.” Josie smiles at him. Okay, I take it back. Not adorable. The green-eyed monster is cracking its fingers, gearing up for a battle.

“Oh, ha. Yeah, my dad grew up in Hawaii. That’s what he calls it. It slips out every once in a while.”

“I love Hawaii!” Josie gushes. “Does that mean you call all adults aunty and uncle, and love pineapple and Spam? What island are you from?”

“Well, I’m from Arizona. Born and raised. But my dad grew up on O`ahu. North Shore. And yes, I do call adults aunty and uncle, but not all of them. I do love Spam, and pineapple is good but mango is better. Hey, it was good chatting with you but I gotta run. My class is on the other side of campus. I’ll see you around.” Graham jogs out of the cafeteria, ditching all the garbage in the bin on his way.

---