Page 41 of The Love Interest
“Did someone say my name?” asks Trevor. “I swear I heard someone say my name.”
Juliet reaches her locker and opens it. “I was telling Caden about the carnival today.” She pauses. Sitting in the middle of her locker, in front of the perfectly organized books, is a single red rose.
“Caden,” says Natalie, slapping my arm. “You’re a sweetheart!”
“It wasn’t me,” I say.
“Oh.”
I press my fist against my locker. Dyl never told me about the rose. And unless Juliet has another suitor, one who hasn’t shown his or her face yet, he put the rose there. Yet he didn’t tell me about it. I can’t blame him, because I never tell him anything about what I plan on doing with Juliet, but still, this is noteworthy. He normally tells me everything.
Juliet shelves the book she was holding and closes the door.Good, I think. She left the rose in the locker, which must mean she doesn’t care about it. Or maybe she’s saving it for later? I wish I could just ask her how she feels about it, but that would draw more attention to the romantic thing Dyl did. I need to act like it isn’t a big deal, even though all I can think about now is that stupid red flower.
“We were talking about the swimming carnival,” I say. “You know, the one that I’m going to win this afternoon?”
Trevor chuckles. “Man, if you beat me, my dream would be dead, but I wouldstillfeel sorry for you. I have no idea what kind of punishment Natalie would dish out to whoever beats me, but I know it would be brutal.”
We move away from the locker and turn the corner, and then we walk through the double doors into the gym. It’s a big, open room, with white walls and timber floors covered in blue mats. Plastered on the walls are posters of sweaty, half-naked men and women with body builders’ physiques surrounded by phrases likeYOU CAN DO ITandLIVE YOUR DREAM.
In a messy circle in the middle of the room is the rest of our class, as well as a dark-haired man in a white martial arts uniform that looks tough and uncomfortable. The fabric doesn’t fit together properly, revealing some of his pale and hairy chest.
Behind him is Dyl. He’s stretching his arms, his face set in his Bad sneer. He raises his arms above his head and stretches, showing a sliver of the V-shaped muscles of his stomach. As always, his hair is messy and there are dark circles under his eyes, but they somehow make him look good.Tortured, as he would say.
The instructor claps his hands together. The sound booms around the room, making me flinch.
“First up, we’re going to do some sparring. Break into pairs and face each other on the mats. And no going with anyone you’re dating—this is Self-defense, not Hand-holding One-oh-one. Now go!”
Dyl breaks away from his spot and strides toward us. I freeze. He reaches us and I realize he’s here for Juliet, not me. My cheeks redden. He’s not himself right now. In this moment, he’s not my friend. He’s a Bad, and I need to be a Nice. It’s the way things are.
“You’re with me,” he says, looking her in the eye.
“I am not.”
“You are. You need to learn how to defend yourself and I can teach you. Now come on.”
“I can defend myself!”
“That’s why I had to beat those guys up for you? Come on.”
I step between them. “I’ll go with you, Juliet.”
Dyl’s hand presses on my chest, above my heart. I can feel my heartbeat thudding against his palm. He pushes hard, and I stumble backward.
“You’ve done enough, mate,” he says. “You can’t even protect yourself, let alone her. Juliet, if you want to learn to defend yourself, come with me. This is your last chance.”
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
And she walks to him.
Natalie rushes up to me. She’s smiling, but my entire body is shaking with rage and sadness and God knows what else.He won.
“No need to look so glum, Caden. I won’t gothathard on you.”
“Sorry, it’s just…” I turn my head and look at Dyl and Juliet. They’re touching.Fuck fuck fuck they’re touching.“That is happening.”
Natalie squeals and jumps up and down. “Oh my gosh, are youjealous? You are, aren’t you? That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I knew you liked her! I knew it! Now stop being so obvious and fight me.”
I raise my hands to the sides of my head as Natalie walks into position. She moves slowly, taking big, sweeping steps. Her legs snap together and she grins.
