Page 22 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
Logan dropped my hand, letting the summer breeze take its place. My fingers curled in on themselves, trying to replace the absence. “Drive safe,” he told me, and then he turned his back.
I watched Logan head back down Chestnut, staring at his red polo, condensation dripping off the coffee he’d made me. I couldn’t bring myself to take another sip, my stomach once more turning over.
It’ll be okay, I told myself as I picked my keys out of my pocket.Logan will start at Brentwood tomorrow, and he’ll see. Once he meets everyone, he’ll understand.
He went to Haven—a school not known for its school spirit. But he’d see. I’d show him the Brentwood way, and it’d be perfect.
Feeling far less buzzed than I’d felt walking down the sidewalk fifteen minutes ago, I pressed the unlock button on my key fob and assured myself that if anyone was going to be stuck in high school, it definitely wasn’t me.
WELCOME BACK, BOBCATS!!!
Anyone else just miss that sweet, sweet smell of Brentwood High?! (Metaphorically, anyway. We all know the east wing smells particularly like a stall in the men’s restroom)
I, for one, am eager to kick off this school year, and to see what secrets and scandals await us. We have a new Top Tier beginning its reign, so keep an eye out for those in glittering blue and gold today. Leave a comment below: any predications for what the school year has in store?
#HappyFirstDay #UghTooEarly
“Hey, Madison!”
“Welcome back, Mads!”
“Oh my God, Madison, your captain uniform looksgreat on you!”
I smiled at each person who greeted me as they entered the Brentwood High building, their bright smiles and eager eyes boosting my mood higher and higher. The attention was a shot of dopamine straight to my soul, and along with the first day of school, I was about floating in the middle of the hallway. No one would pass by Madison Oliphant without attempting some sort of communication.
Some even stuttered. It was so cute.
But I wasn’t here to greetthem. I was waiting for a specific golden-haired, blue-eyed heartthrob to saunter through those double doors.
I looked down at my phone, opening Logan’s message thread. The last text was from me first thing this morning.Today’s the day! See you at seven thirty!
It was now seven-fifty, ten minutes until the start of the school day, and Logan still hadn’t replied. He wasn’t kidding about being chronically late, even on the first day of school. I bit down on the corner of my lip, debating whether or not I should double text.
Nah, I wasn’t that pathetic…yet. Five minutes ‘til,thenI’d text.
Maybe he got lost on his way to school. Theywerenew streets for him to navigate. Maybe he woke up late. Maybe he couldn’t find parking. Maybe I should call him?—
Was I acting like a needy girlfriend? Ugh.
A girl walked through the double doors with her head bent down, focused on her phone, and didn’t even spare me a look. Landon was directly behind her, though, his eyes focused on the back of her head as if trying to burn a hole through it.
My heart jumped. “Hey!”
Thinking I was talking to her, the girl jerked her head up, and as she did, I realized I recognized her. Brentwood was a big school, but I tried to remember the names of my classmates at least. Lacey… something. I flashed her a polite smile, which she ignored by taking a hard left down the hallway.Ookay.
Landon seemed to know I’d been calling out to him, because he stopped in front of me, though his eyes still trailed down the hallway. “Happy first day,” he said distractedly.
“Nice Brentwood Blue,” I complimented, scanning his tall frame. He wasn’t wearing his jersey, but hewaswearing a blue and gold T-shirt, one that fit his arms tightly but hung loose on his torso. Jade would be happy he listened. “I’ve been meaning to catch you.”
Landon finally looked at me. “What’s up?”
“I just wanted to clear the air about something.”Okay, Madison, you can do this. “Over summer, when I… said we should go out. Jade was the one who told me to ask you. I didn’t… like, ask you because I had feelings for you or anything. I don’t have some unrequited crush on you, I mean. So if you’re uncomfortable… don’t be?”
Jeez, I couldn’t have made it more awkward if I’d tried. My voice even lifted up like a question at the end.
Landon blinked down at me. “You only asked me out because Jade told you to?”
I cringed a little, hoping it didn’t hurt his feelings. “Yeah.”
