Page 13 of One Little Kiss
Neither of us have ever been into dances, but they used to be kinda fun…just another excuse for a group hang. Until this year when suddenly all of our friends started to pair up.
Celia turns to us with a grin. “Another dance!”
I look to Elijah, who’s giving me that crooked smile I know so well. I do my best to widen my eyes and feign excitement. “Did you hear that, Elijah? Another dance.”
“Awesome!”
His smile is so fake it makes me laugh for real.
FOUR
Elijah
It’s kinda hard notto crack up at Noelle’s exaggerated excitement that borders on maniacal.
“It’ll be fine,” I tell her as we head out toward the parking lot a little while later when the pep rally lets out.
We both head toward the cars, but she casts me a sidelong look. “Don’t you have football practice?”
“Nope. Coach gave us today off.”
She nods and we keep heading toward my car. On days when we’re both heading home at the same time, I always give Noelle a ride. She lives close enough that on sunny days like this one, she’d most likely just walk home. And on cold days when I’m not free…
Let’s just say she wouldn’t have to wait around long for some guy to offer a ride.
As far as I know, she’s never bothered to get her license, and why would she need to?
The girl has never once had to take a bus thanks to that gorgeous smile of hers. Sometimes I don’t even think she realizes her own power. Which is…kinda adorable and frustrating all at the same time.
“Aren’t we waiting for Leah?” she asks as we near my car.
“Nah, she’s sticking around waiting for Ben to finish up in yearbook,” I say. “Then they’re going out to eat or something.”
Noelle sighs.
And I get it. I really do. Some days it feels like Noelle and I are the last two survivors of a plane crash called love. I knew senior year would be different, but I didn’t realize it would be anything like this.
For me, at least, today’s pep rally only highlighted how much everything’s changed from last year. Suddenly dances aren’t lame events for us all to hang out, they’re actual dates for the worlds’ happiest teen couples. And football isn’t just a game we play, now it’s what Ryan and a bunch of the other senior dudes are banking on to get them scholarships. And don’t even get me started on all this talk about colleges.
Right on cue, Noelle says, “Did you see the announcement about the college fair?”
My shoulders tense automatically.
That’s exactly what I’m talking about right there. Last year, no one was in a serious relationship—well, no one aside from Heath, but his toxic relationship with Pamela hardly counted. And sure, Mara and Celia were obsessed with SAT scores and early admissions as juniors, but for the most part I could make it through an entire day without the word college ringing in my ears.
Now? I can’t make it two hours without someone asking me where I’m applying to or what I want to study.
How should I know? When did everyone else suddenly figure all this stuff out? I feel like I missed that day in school when everyone stopped being content to just hang out and be high schoolers and started planning for their futures.
I hate even thinking about it so I try to change the topic. “What do you think of my new plan for the scavenger hunt?”
Her expression shifts ever so slightly and I’m pretty sure I can feel a chill in the air. Crap. It’s been like this ever since the other day when she accused me of thinking she doesn’t deserve the win.
I flip around, walking backward to my door so I can face Noelle. “Look, it was time to shake things up, that’s all.”
She doesn’t pretend not to understand, but she doesn’t address whatever has her all prickly about it either. “Shake it up how?” Before I can answer, she walks toward me. “You wanna see just how many couples you can break up before you declare a winner?”
She’s kidding, I know that, but there’s a cynical edge to her tone that bothers me.
