Page 82 of One Little Kiss
Addie laughs. “Okay, fine. You’re not a butterfly. Can you think of a better analogy?”
I sigh and shrug. “Doesn’t matter because right now I can’t think about Elijah. I have to concentrate on this test.”
And the fact that Elijah’s the one who believed in me enough to get me the materials and offered to help me study until I passed?
Nope. Definitely not thinking about that.
Not thinking about that the entire drive to the testing center. Nope, nope, nope.
I spot Sadie when I enter and make a beeline toward her. She grins, holding up the study guide. “Oh my God, if I never see this thing again, it’ll be too soon.”
I laugh. It’s her first time taking the test. “Try taking this test for a third time and then tell me how much you hate it.”
She winces and then holds up crossed fingers. “We’re both gonna pass. We have to. We know this sucker backwards and forwards.”
I nod. I’ll admit, I’m feeling pretty confident. But what really keeps me from spiraling into panic isn’t just the fact that Mr. Carlson got me extra time or the fact that I really do have that dang book memorized, it’s Elijah’s voice in my head telling me that he’ll stick with me and help me study until I pass.
I got this. Because even if I don’t pass today? I will pass eventually. That’s just the way it is.
But the good news is…
I pass!
Sadie does too, and we do this weird bouncing hug dance thing that makes us both crack up laughing as we wait for our respective rides out front of the center.
When I see Mara’s car pull into the lot, I turn to her. “Hey, do you want to come hang with us? I’m not sure what we’re doing…”
In all honesty, I’ve been a jerk lately. Avoiding Mara and Celia in my quest to steer clear of Elijah. When Mara called me up last night demanding that we all hang out today, I couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to. I’ve missed my friends.
All my friends…
I shake off thoughts of Elijah as Sadie drops her skateboard on the ground and stops it rolling away with her foot. “Thanks but…I’m good.”
I fix her with a knowing grin. She’d been all quiet and aloof the first couple times I’d sat next to her. But the more I chatted with her, the more she came out of her shell, I realized she’s not a mystery girl trying to play some angle. She’s just shy.
“You know you don’t have to be nervous. My friends are really nice,” I say.
“I’m sure they are.” She laughs and dips her head. “And I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m just cool doing my own thing.” She winks at me, and I wish she’d said yes.
I think about pushing it but decide I’ll try again another time. She’ll warm up to us eventually. If not, Mara will make her.
“Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you in school on Monday.” I reach for the door handle to Mara’s car as Sadie skates away. She lifts a hand to wave goodbye, and I slide into Mara’s back seat.
“So?” Celia asks.
“I passed!”
They both squeal as we drive away, and I’m so caught up in answering their questions about the test that it takes me a minute to realize we’re not heading toward any of our houses. “Where are we going?”
“The playground,” Celia answers.
Her tone puts me on edge.
The fact that neither of them is meeting my gaze in the rearview mirror only adds to my wariness. “What’s going on at the playground?”
“Elijah has an epic day planned for us.” Mara’s gaze meets mine for a half a second and she’s way too excited.
“Elijah…” I repeat his name slowly, hating the way the mere mention of him makes me warm and sets off a whirlwind of butterflies in my belly.
