IT’S FRIDAY... Finally. And while the day has only just started, I can already tell it’s going to be one of those days that drags on forever. We leave for Harrison Lake tomorrow morning, and as much as I was dreading it in the beginning, I’m actually pretty excited now that it’s here.
A week with my best friends, floating in the lake, soaking in the sun’s rays, sounds pretty damn good right about now. Especially after the blow out fight I had with my mom this morning. It was my fault, really. I knew better than to open my mouth when she walked into the house wearing the same clothing she had gone out in the night before. But alas, biting my tongue has never been my strong suit.
“Hey.” April bounces up next to my locker where I’m switching out books for my next period.
“Hey.” I close my locker and spin the dial on the lock.
“So I was wondering, do you think you could drive tomorrow? My car is making a funny noise and with the lake being three hours away, I’m worried we might end up stranded on the side of the road.”
While I don’t relish the idea of driving, mainly because I hate driving, I nod.
“Sure.”
“Thank you. Your car is so much more reliable than mine, and Camila’s parents won’t let her take the car for the week. I swear that girl needs wheels of her own.”
“It’s no problem.” I turn, and April follows me down the hall to second period, a class we share together.
“Too bad we don’t all have fathers like yours. Maybe then I wouldn’t be driving around in that rusty POS.”
“Tell you what, you can have my father and the car he bought me if I can have your mom.”
“Uh oh.” She stops me right outside of the classroom. “What happened?”
“Oh you know, just typical Stella Harris bullshit.” I blow out a breath. “And no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’m sorry, P.” She gives me a sympathetic smile.
“I should be used to it at this point.”
“Well look at it this way, after today you won’t have to worry about her for an entire week.”
“Thank god.” I groan.
April squeezes my forearm before stepping past me into the classroom. I follow closely behind her, taking our usual spots in the far-left corner of the room. Dropping my books on top of my desk, I slide into my seat as Callum comes strolling into the room.
I internally cringe.
He’s wearing the same smug smile he always does, nodding to a few girls and fist bumping two different guys before he heads in my direction. My shoulders instantly tense when he takes the seat directly in front of me.
“Um, are you lost?” I hiss, not able to stop myself.
“You got a problem with me sitting near you, P?” I can hear the smile in his voice even though he’s facing forward.
“It’s Poppy,” I correct him for the second time this week.
“My bad, Poppy.” He emphasizes my name as he turns in his seat, swiveling his head around to look at me over his shoulder. “Last time I checked, there wasn’t assigned seating in this class.”
“Last time I checked, you always sit over there.” I gesture to the opposite side of the room.
“Well maybe I felt like a change in scenery.”
“Then maybe you should sit up front,” I counter, taking some of the frustration from this morning out on him.
“Don’t go getting your granny panties in a twist. I promise not to talk to you.”
“You’re talking to me right now.”
“Fair enough.” With that, he turns back around and opens his book.
I don’t miss the questioning look April throws my way. I simply shake my head and sigh. April and Camila know that Callum and I used to be friends. Even though things between us changed when he shot up a foot over the summer between eighth and ninth grade and started playing football, it’s not something we’ve really discussed in great detail.
I think probably because it’s self-explanatory. He woke up one day and realized he was too cool for me. Not like I care. Well, not anymore. At first I was hurt, confused, not sure what I had done. But then after he openly made fun of me as I passed him in the hall one day, I decided I was better off without him.
Turning my attention forward, I do my best to focus on the day’s lesson rather than kicking the back of Callum’s chair like I want to. It’s immature, but him sitting here is making it really difficult to concentrate. I’m not entirely sure why though.
When the bell finally rings, I wait until Callum gets up and leaves before gathering my things.
“What the hell was that all about?” April asks as we leave the classroom together.
“I saw him making out with Sarah on his front porch the other night,” I blurt, having kept this bit of information to myself as I’m not much of a gossiper.
“Wait, Sarah as in Annika’s best friend, Sarah?”
“Yep.” I nod, throwing her a sideways glance as we make our way down the hallway.
“Holy shit. I wonder if Annika knows.”
“My guess is probably, considering he made it very clear that she was the reason he was doing it. Pretty sure they slept together too. Based on how they looked when they walked out of his house, I think I’d put money on it.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah,” I agree.
“Let me guess, you said something to him, didn’t you?”
“Me?” I question innocently.
“Oh come on, P. We both know you can’t keep your mouth shut to save your life.”
“I may have commented on how it wasn’t fair to Sarah.”
“Yeah, but Sarah was still there even though Annika is her best friend, so what’s that really say about Sarah?”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way.”
“There’s always two sides, P.” She slows when the hallway splits off in two directions. “See you at lunch?”
“Yep. See you then.” I give her a little wave as I turn down one hallway and she heads the opposite direction down the other.
“EARTH TO POPPY. COME in, Poppy.” I can hear Camila next to me. I have to physically peel my eyes away from where Ethan is sitting across the cafeteria, looking so damn good I have to wipe my mouth with the back of my hand to ensure I’m not drooling.
“Huh? What?” I question, looking back at my friend.
“Girl, you’ve got it bad. Hasn’t anyone ever told you the way to get a guy is to act like you don’t like him? Pretty sure staring at him non-stop sends the opposite message.”
“If I act like I don’t like him then how will he know that I do?”
“I don’t know, but maybe it’s time to change tactics, since clearly this one isn’t working for you.”
“Who says it isn’t working?”
“Well, it’s been two years and you’re no closer to landing the guy.”
“Fair enough,” I grumble, leaning back in my chair.
“We’ve got a plan, remember.”
“Yeah, for me to traipse around the lake practically naked.”
“Not just that. You’re going to have fun. You’re going to let loose and not obsess over Ethan all week. And when he sees you looking fine as hell and not giving two shits about him, he’s going to experience a wake-up call like no other.”