Page 40 of I Hear You

Mads,

Now, you know I’m more of a fantasy writer and poetry is not my forte. But for you, and only you, I’ve faced my literary fears.

Mads is rad

She never makes me sad

If I ever got to meet her

It would make me oh so happy

And if I hadn’t ever known her

Well that would just be crappy.

I know, you’re impressed. And yes, I had to google words that would rhyme.

Your Best Friend,

Ender

It was truly an awful poem. But, not so awful it didn’t stop me from absolutely swooning. I hit reply on my phone, breaking my–no more writing Ender pathetic draft emails–rule. I really must be close to being drunk. I type out a quick email just to get the emotions filling my chest out. When I’m done, I lock my phone and put it back in my purse.

I turn my attention back to the game and Caleb. I continue to giggle like he’s the funniest guy on earth and bat my eyelashes, letting Caleb paw at me. The mixture of whiskey and beer threatens to come back up every time he touches me. I drink the cups of warm cheap beer he hands me when the other team sinks a cup. I’m pathetic, and I know I’m pathetic. But when I glance over at Henry, I see him watching us and I know I’m having some effect on him. So I continue putting on the show. Pathetic.

Chapter eighteen

Henderson

Ifinallymakemyway back outside, but I can not believe Jackie is actually following me right now. All I wanted to do was go into the kitchen and find a soda. I needed a distraction after seeing Caleb so close to the girl I so desperately want to be close to. The girl that I know better than anyone else at this damn party and she doesn’t even realize it. Plus, I’m trying to figure out if Madison is actually jealous of Jackie. If she is, what the hell does that even mean? Is it possible she doesn’t hate me even after the library? Do I still stand a chance?

When I turned around from getting a soda out of the fridge, there was Jackie. Before I knew it, her arms were around my neck and her lips were on mine. The girl cannot take a hint. Even after I grabbed her and pushed her away. I told her it was never gonna be that way again. She winked and said, “We’ll see,” and then followed me out here.

I make my way over to Jesse and Taylor, who are in their own world curled up together on a lounge chair making out. Madison isn’t with them, but I sit in the chair she’d been in earlier and clear my throat. The love birds untangle themselves and sit up side by side facing me. Jesse clears his throat and wipes lipstick off his mouth.

“Sorry dude. I’ve been busy with work, classes and football. Just making up for lost time.”

He puts his arm around Taylor and pulls her closer, kissing the side of her head.

Taylor and Jesse are the type of couple that no matter how much they’re all over each other, it never grosses you out. It makes you jealous.

“Where’d Madison go?” I ask, looking around for her.

“She’s, um, playing beer pong,” Taylor tells me, not meeting my eyes.

Sure enough, Madison is at the beer pong table… with Caleb. She made her ball in a cup and Caleb hugs her as she squeaks with delight. I want to march over there and punch him in the dick and tell him to get the hell away from my girl. But since Mads thinks we only met a few months ago and we’ve only shared a finite amount of time together, plus one short kiss that was better than any sex I’ve ever had, she’d probably think I was insane.

I try to distract myself and chat with Taylor and Jesse. I actively try to ignore Jackie. Only glancing over at Madison occasionally, but also occasionally catching her looking back at me. She looks pissed off anytime I catch her eyes, but there’s still that hint of sadness there. I can see it trembling just under the surface of the anger she’s directing at me and the show of happiness she’s putting on for everyone around her.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out to make sure it’s not Mom needing me. It’s not Mom. It’s an email, from–.

What the hell? It’s a reply from Mads to an email I sent her years ago. Confused and stunned, I stare at the notification for a while before I even open it.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Date: August 21 11:43:32

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