Page 24 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
Rachel gave the two of us a little wave before Maisie pulled her away. I watched her retreat, almost like I was waiting for her to turn around.
Jade sniffed. “What did they want?”
“Reed’s sister was just saying good morning.”
“How did you get talking about being the face of the cheer squad?”
“It was just a joke. You just missed the beginning of it. She was saying how me standing here?—”
“Whyareyou standing here?” Jade asked, suddenly uninterested in that topic. And then it seemed to occur to her, and her pink lips curved into a knowing smile. “Right. Lover boy. He starts today, right?”
“He should.” I looked down at my phone again.
Jade came in close, pressing her head against mine asshe peered at the screen. Her perfume made my nose itch. “You double-texted and hestilldidn’t answer?”
For some reason, I felt embarrassed. “He probably slept through his alarm.” I bit my lip. “We were going to get his schedule and do a walk-through for his classes.”
“Well, you won’t have time for that.” Jade pulled out her own phone, swiping the screen. “Three minutes ’til the bell, and we can’t be late. Remember the Top Tier rules about tardies and detentions?”
I didn’t remember her saying anything about tardies.
“Maybe he’s sick.” Jade thought about it with a noise of approval. “Hey, if heissick—or slept through his alarm, or whatever—that could work in your favor.”
“How so?”
“Introducing him to Brentwood society on day two means the excitement of the first day won’t overshadow his debut.” She gave me a knowing grin as she looped her arm through mine. “It gives us time to spread the word, too—Madison’s hot new beau starts tomorrow.”
She made a good point. People would anticipate his arrival even more, and plus, there had to be a few other newbies starting today. If Logan cametomorrow, he’d get the sole spotlight. “Is it wrong to say that I hope he’s sick?”
“Come on.” Jade tugged me away from the office. “Let’s brainstorm during homeroom. We’ll make sure we geteveryonetalking, shall we?”
I thought about how Logan said he didn’t like gossip, and wondered, briefly, how he’d appreciate stirring the excitement of his arrival further. Jade always knew best, though, and I couldn’t tell her no. “We shall.”
There was no one better to stir up excitement than co-captains of the Brentwood High cheer squad. By the end of the day Tuesday, the whole school buzzed with the impending arrival of Madison Oliphant’s new beau.
Wednesday, almost everyone camped out by the double doors, eagerly awaiting the golden-haired hunk to walk through.
Thursday, excitement had morphed into confusion, because the beautiful boy still had yet to grace Brentwood High with his presence.
Friday, they were half convinced I’d made him up.
Friday,Iwas half convinced I’d made him up.
Because all the texts I’d sent from Tuesday morning on? Unanswered. Our nightly phone sessions? Logan never picked up. In fact, my calls always went straight to voicemail, like his phone was dead.
Or I was blocked.
“I hope I didn’t jinx it,” Jade said Friday at my locker. She tapped her fingers against her lower lip worriedly. “I was totally joking when I said what if he ghosted you.”
“He didn’t ghost me,” I responded automatically, pulling up our text thread as if I’d see a different last message than my???But no. Nothing. “I just hope he’s okay.”
“Have you visited him at work?” Riley asked as she swung her fabric lunch pail back and forth. She narrowly missed the students walking behind her. “You could confront him there.”
Unease stirred in me, and something akin to panic. “With cheer practice and homework, I haven’t had the chance.”
“If I hadn’t seen you run into him in the hallway, I’d be convinced you were lying.”
I let out a short breath. “Helpful, Riley.”
