Page 43 of With a Little Luck

“Character witness,” she says. “When you all get in trouble for taking bets on a teacher’s private life.”

Ezra makes a swoony face and puts a hand to his chest. “You would do that for me?”

“No. But I’d do it for Jude.”

“Thanks, Sis,” I say distractedly, because Maya just walked into the courtyard. She’s with Katie, heading toward their usual table. For just a second, Maya’s gaze darts toward me and—I am not making this up—we share amoment. Her lips turn upward, just slightly. She tucks a curl of hair behind one ear. She turns back to her conversation.

My heart is drums and cymbals inside my chest.

“Dude,” says Ezra. “I saw that come-hither look. Go! Get over there, man!” He shoves me so hard in Maya’s direction I stumble, barely catching myself before I fall face-first onto the concrete.

I turn back to Ezra with a glower. “I don’t need your help, thanks.”

He holds up his hands defensively. “I know it. You are a butterfly climbing out of your cocoon. I’m just proud to be here to watch you fly.”

My brow creases. Pru and Quint are giving Ezra the same looks—a little baffled, a little annoyed.

Then Quint shakes his head and starts talking about our poli-sci110assignment. I’m allowed a chance to exhale. My attention meanders back to Maya, who’s sat down now. Janine and Brynn have joined them. They’re not looking at me. Maya’s probably telling them about the concert, but that doesn’t mean she’s talking aboutme.

My feet feel heavy—cemented to the ground.

It would be so, so easy to stay right here. Keep my eyes down. Avoid her attention, avoidher. Just like I always have. No risk of embarrassment. No risk of rejection.

But that guy? The wallflower who never takes any risks?

He doesn’t get the girl. He doesn’tdeservethe girl.

My palms are hot and itchy, but before I know it, my feet are moving, almost of their own accord.

I feel the shift of eyes around me. The intrigued whispers.

I try not to panic, but who am I kidding? I am panic personified. My insides feel like a shaken-up can of soda. Fizzy and churning, and not in the good way.

There’s a moment when I think of turning back. I could still change course. Veer right and head to class, pretend that was my plan all along.

But then Maya looks up and spots me. She sits straighter. Her friends notice, and then their eyes are on me, too. Katie puts a hand over her mouth and giggles, and there’s a hint of cruelty to the sound, and if I don’t survive this, please let my gravestone say something cool, like:

Here lies Jude—a noble pilot who died in service to the Rebel Forces.

His sacrifice ensured freedom for entire galaxies.

He shall not soon be forgotten.

Or, you know. Something like that. Feel free to keep brainstorming in my absence.

My breath catches when I reach Maya and her friends.

Holy hell, what am I thinking? I shouldn’t be here.Why am I here?

But Maya smiles at me, and says quietly, easily—“Hi.”111

“Hi,” I say back.

Brynn and Janine exchange looks, but Katie just leans forward, cupping her chin in one hand as her eyes travel slowly down to my shoes, then slowly back up again. “Hello, Jude,” she says, her voice infused with a thousand meanings that I don’t dare to try and interpret.

“Um,” I start. I know I’m blushing. “I was just …”

What?What was I just doing? Thinking? Saying? What is wrong with me?

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