Six
The next morning I felt the happiest I had in weeks. My newfound camaraderie with Mom made my smiles come easier and the hallways seem less overwhelming. Kaylee snapped her fingers just as we reached her locker. “Shoot I left my economics book in the car I wanted to try to study for that quiz during homeroom”
Yesterdays weirdness seemed to have blown over. I hadnt mentioned her little freakout and in return she hadnt brought up mine
“Do you want me to go with you” I said just as the warning bell rang
She speedwalked toward the main door fast as her threeinch heels would allow “No you go ahead” she called over her shoulder “Ill only be a second”
I settled into my usual spot in homeroom. Even though I purposely tried to ignore the students already in class apparently that was too big a challenge for my analytical brain. Five boys three girls. None of them Hunter
I smiled at all of them anyway
I busied myself digging a notebook out of my backpack. Still I sensed Hunters presence several seconds before he dropped into Kaylees spot next to me
“Hey” he said in his soft voice those blue eyes fixed on me beneath a sweep of messy hair
“Hi” Nervous flutters kicked up inside me. Silly. He was just a boy. Okay not entirely true. He was a boy Kaylee happened to like
Kaylee who would be back any second expecting to sit in her spot
Nervous flutters or not the boy had to sit somewhere else
Just then Hunter dropped his backpack on the desk and laid his head against it Closed his eyes
My heart softened into what felt like a big mushy pile of goo. He looked so tired young even with his dark eyelashes fanning across the tops of his cheeks His mouth softened too. I had a sudden yearning to trace that lopsided top lip with my finger
Whoa
I was so caught up in that crazy thought that the footsteps I d heard clicking in the hall didnt register at first. The kind of clicking made by highheeled shoes
Oh no
I straightened “Hunter you need to” The final bell cut me off as did the tiny gasp I heard from the open doorway behind me
Kaylee stood there freshly glossed lips parted in surprise. She took two steps toward her occupied desk before pausing to smooth her purple tunic dress uncertainly gazing flitting from Hunter to me
“Kaylee hey! Hunter was just hanging out here for a sec”— I started only to be cut off again this time by Mrs Stegmeyer
“Ms Daniels please take an empty seat if you dont want to be marked tardy” our homeroom teacher said over the top of her magazine
Kaylee s gaze lingered on her usual spot for a millisecond longer prompting me into action “Hunter” I whispered His eyelashes swept open The task of kicking him out of the seat became a hundred times harder under that sleepy blue stare “Um would you mind moving This is where Kaylee sits”
He sat up glanced at Kaylee like he was seeing her for the first time then swooped up his backpack and stood “Yeah sorry” he said His sheepish grin was the best parting gift he could give because I could tell it practically melted her on the spot. He loped over to the empty desk he d sat in last time
She slid into the vacated seat with a huge sigh while Mrs Stegmeyer tapped her nails on the desk impatiently “He warmed it up for me” she whispered pretending to fan herself with a notebook “At this very moment Im being warmed by Hunter Lowes body heat”
A huge wave of relief hit me prompting a louder giggle than I intended
“Girls please. Its time for the announcements” Mrs Stegmeyer admonished
Sure enough the intercom screeched followed by the overly peppy voice of our student council president
I listened absently to news about an upcoming car wash fund-raiser while I whispered to Kaylee “He just sort of sort of sat down uninvited”
Though truth be told I hadn t exactly fought him off with a stick
She waved her hand “Please Its fine”
Fine everything was fine
“Girls .. shhh!” Mrs Stegmeyer tapped her lips and glared
But as soon as the teacher looked away Kaylee leaned over to whisper in my ear “Really dont worry. Nothing wrong with a little healthy competition”
What
“Kaylee” I started Only to be interrupted by the loud whack of the manila attendance file as it slapped the desk
“Last warning before I separate you” Mrs Stegmeyer said her drawl thickening the way it did when she was upset
I slouched into my chair and kept my mouth shut the rest of homeroom. But Kaylees comment spun through my head over and over again
Healthy competition? Over Hunter? I didnt like the sound of that not one tiny bit
