Page 43 of Counter Bet

“What on earth happened to you?” Hailey asks when I pull out my chair at lunchtime.

I plop down, looking at her questioningly, so she points at my nose. “Oh, that.” I tear the top of my yogurt and lick it, shrugging. “Art lesson happened.”

“It’s red.”

“I know.”

“Like very red!”

I laugh, reaching for the spoon. “I got red paint on it and tried to wipe it off.”

Jamie does a double-take when he sees me. “You got a nasty cold or something?”

Hailey laughs. “Art lesson.”

The chair scrapes on the floor as Jamie pulls it out and takes a seat. “I didn’t know you do face painting in art?”

“Ha! Ha!” I roll my eyes. “I had an accident.”

“What kind of accident involves painting your own face?” Jamie takes a bite of his sandwich as Rick sits down next to me. “I’m genuinely curious.”

I scoop up yogurt with my spoon. “I don’t know. One minute I was painting the canvas, and the next—oops.”

Hailey sniggers next to me.

Jamie lowers his sandwich, chewing slowly before swallowing. “Oops?”

Rick frowns and grabs hold of my chin. “Did you try washing it off with soap and water?”

“That thought never entered my mind.”

He chuckles, pushing my face back. “Smartass!”

“Seriously, though. I went to every toilet in the school and couldn’t find soap anywhere. What’s up with that?”

Hailey scrunches up her nose. “That’s so unsanitary.”

“Tell me about it.” I scoop up another spoonful of yogurt.

When I glance across the cafeteria, Matt winks at me.

I grin around the spoon, but my smile only lasts a fleeting second when I notice that Dallas is missing.

The chair next to Ben is empty.

Where is she?

* * *

It’s Wednesday when my phone finally pings with a notification from Dallas. I nearly drop it in my haste to unlock it.

Hailey looks at me questioningly but doesn’t comment. She bends down to tie her shoelaces.

We’re in the locker room after cheer practice.

Dallas: Tell me a happy memory.

My belly flutters. I bite my lip to suppress my smile, surprised at how relieved I am to hear from her.

---