Page 27 of Fast Break
He just smiles at that as Mr Peters enters the room and moves to the front. He’s still getting his things in order so Quinn leans across to me, speaking low in my ear as I try not to tremble.
“So listen, I asked Mr Peters for a little time in class to go meet with Mr Allan. We’ve got permission for the last forty-five minutes.”
“Serious?” I ask, nerves tightening my stomach. “That’s awesome.”
He smiles and bumps my shoulder as Mr Peters calls the class to order and I try to pay attention.
“I hope everyone had a good weekend,” Mr Peters begins. “If Mr Sterling and Ms Bourke could leave their little lover’s tiff to Jerry Springer, please?”
I stifle a laugh as I spin around to Trey, noting the very self-satisfied smirk on his face as he places his arm over the back of Millie’s chair and sends me a wink. Sometimes I find it hilarious that my parents approve so highly of my friendship with Trey, like he’s this great, shining example to me. Honestly, he is probably the worst example out of all our friends. I secretly love him for it.
I manage to work myself into a bundle of nerves at the thought of spending more time alone with Quinn. I don’t know why. We literally spent half the weekend together but there’s something about him that just magnetises me. I’m not sure if it’s because of his cool sophistication or if it’s because he is so beautiful it sometimes hurts to look at him. Before him, I’d never really thought of a guy as someone who could be described as beautiful. But he just is. I can’t describe him any other way.
Mr Allan is an excellent cover for my nerves with his enthusiasm for our science project. He already has the aquarium set up in his biology classroom and we waste no time filling it with water and nutrient solution and planting the algae culture, documenting each step with photos. Quinn is watching me with a look in his eyes while I concentrate on making sure I get this exactly right. I want this project to go off without a hitch and I think it’s because I want to impress Quinn.
I don’t think it helps that I know what he looks like under his clothes now. Well, at least some parts of him. I can’t claim to have seen everything. But I try to close my mind to that line of thought as we set up the pump in the aquarium and test the temperature of the heat lamps.
I feel strange when we’re done and it’s time to part ways. I can’t help but linger outside the biology classroom, but Quinn seems to be doing the same.
“Well. I guess I’ll see you around,” he finally says. I can think of no other reason to detain him any longer so I just smile and nod and watch as he walks away. And if my eyes do happen to linger on him a little longer, well, I really don’t think it means anything.
***
I can’t make it to Quinn’s on Thursday night. My parents organised a snap family dinner with my grandparents, and they actually organised it around my basketball training for once in their lives so I know I have to go. I actually really love my grandparents, and I’ve missed enough of my life without them already.
Quinn and I haven’t officially organised anything for tonight but I need to find him and tell him anyway. Just in case. I keep my eyes peeled at lunchtime as I line up at the cafeteria for a hotdog. I can’t see him anywhere and I kind of want to tell him in person rather than just send him a text. That feels too impersonal.
Trey comments on my lack of attention but honestly, that’s not anything entirely out of the ordinary for me. Suddenly the cafeteria door swings open and Quinn arrives like a breath of fresh air. I barely even notice the fact he’s with Jace, the two of them sharing a laugh together as Jace holds onto Quinn’s bicep.ThatI do notice. I quietly grind my teeth as I wait for Quinn to line up at the cafeteria and buy his lunch.
He's just about to leave when I jump up to follow him, grabbing my bag and half eaten lunch and calling out a goodbye to Trey. Jace and Quinn are already outside and I try so hard not to notice the way Jace laughs at something Quinn has said, resting his arm on Quinn’s shoulder. My stomach clenches.
“Quinn?” I call out. He turns instantly, eyes lighting up when he sees me chasing after him.
“Hey, JT,” he says while Jace eyes me warily from beside him.
“Um, have you got a sec?” I ask, glancing quickly at Jace, not missing the hostility coming off him in waves. It’s not that I need to speak with Quinn privately, but I feel weird with Jace staring at me like that.
“Sure,” he replies. “I’ll catch up with you,” he adds to Jace who raises an eyebrow before slowly walking away. I can tell he’s unimpressed but I kind of don’t care about Jace right now. Quinn’s eyes are on me, waiting for me to speak. “What’s up?”
“Oh, um, I just wanted to say that I can’t come around tonight to study,” I tell him, suddenly feeling awkward. This really could have been said in a text. “I have dinner with my grandparents tonight and I haven’t seen them in a while.”
“That’s fine,” Quinn replies. “We’re way ahead on our project so that’s no issue if we skip a night.”
“Oh good,” I sigh. “I didn’t want to let you down or make you think I’m not dedicated to the project.”
“Don’t worry, JT. I don’t think that at all.” He’s smiling that crooked smile at me and part of me thinks he’s amused by me. I always get the feeling he knows something I don’t.
“Cool,” I say, scuffing my shoe on the pavement. I rub the back of my neck, suddenly unsure what to say to him and wondering why I didn’t just hide behind a text.
“Do you want to sit?” Quinn finally asks as the silence expands between us. I look up at him, surprised by his offer but knowing I want to accept. I nod. I grip onto my half-finished hotdog as I follow behind Quinn. My eyes drop to his ass and I can’t help but admire the way he fills out those grey pants so well.
“Here okay?” he asks. I quickly flick my eyes up to his face, hoping he didn’t see me perving. If I had to guess, he seems a little uncertain too—which makes this the first time he hasn’t been completely in control of the situation. I kind of rely on him for that seeing as I act like a lost puppy in his presence. I can’t help but smile to myself.
“Here’s great,” I agree, dropping to the grass beside him. I don’t know where his friends have gone but I feel a little smug that Quinn has chosen to sit with me instead of them.Sorry not sorry, Jace.
It’s only then I notice the overly interested stares from the other students that we seem to be attracting. It hadn’t occurred to me that anyone else would care that Quinn and I decided to break down the school’s unnecessary social barriers and share lunch together.
“So, you have basketball tomorrow night?” Quinn asks, biting into a ham salad roll, completely ignoring the stares of the passersby.
