"Alright class, pencils down." Ms. Lively, my AP Literature teacher, announced. I looked up at the clock, noticing it was just two minutes until the bell rang, meaning it was lunchtime. "Exams on my desk on your way out." The young teacher finished. She was easily one of my favorite teachers I'd ever had, and I think it came with being in her mid-twenties. She'd graduated college early, and came back to Barton almost immediately. She didn't have the easiest curriculum, which I appreciated, but a lot of other students detested. I slipped my pencil back into my book bag, and stood up from my desk. I didn't hurry getting my bag like everyone else, knowing Danny was standing outside the door waiting for my class to finish. He'd missed school yesterday, claiming he had caught a stomach bug over the weekend, but I knew it was from the embarrassment of poking his friend mid-tackle with his unwarranted hard on. As the bell rang, I slung my bag over my shoulders and watched everyone else fil
"Okay, so remind me again why she and I are soul mates." It was just past six, and Stacy and I were pulling into the parking garage catty-corner from the venue. I'd driven over to her place since I was staying over after the show, and she been asking questions about Tessa all afternoon. Stacy loved meeting new people, and Tessa seemed to be the perfect challenge for her. I was so thankful my parents had agreed to let me out of the house, but the only condition was that Danny wouldn't be anywhere near me after ten. Which, didn't seem to be any sort of problem in our current situation."Because she was an emo kid just like us. Like, the warped tour kind of emo kid." I said, and Stacy placed her hand over her heart dramatically. "There was a picture on her wall of her and Mayday Parade together." "Oh my god, I'm in love with her." Stacy joked, making both of us laugh. "Okay, Romeo, let's go inside and find your Juliet." I pulled the keys out of the ignition, and Stacy swatted at me p
There was nothing I was currently more afraid of than talking to my boyfriend during church. I'd driven myself since my dad had to work - and my mom hated going without him - which meant I had almost nothing to blame a quick exit on. I was just finishing up the lesson for today, and Danny had been sitting quietly at the table next to the couch, half-heartedly scrolling through his phone. He had hardly spoken, but I could feel his anxiety from across the room. He was waiting for the class to end, so he could ask me a million questions about why I was where I was, and why I saw who I saw. "Okay, kiddos, pack up your Bibles and put your things in your cubbies." I reluctantly announced to the ten kids currently sprawled out across the room, playing with toys and coloring. I tried my best to keep my face free of any worry, and focused all of my attention on the kids packing up their stuff. "I think I hear someone's shoes in the hallway. Who do we think it is?" I said to the kids to hurry
I was spinning again, but not in a good way. My head had been spinning since Sunday afternoon, since Tessa kissed me. I hadn't answered a single one of her texts or calls, and I'd avoided Danny like the plague. He most likely still thought I was mad at him for being annoying on Sunday, which was fine. I couldn't talk to him, he was the reason any of this had happened."Come on, guys, let's pick it up!" It was now Wednesday, and I was leading practice on my own since Stacy was at the orthodontist, attempting to get my team spirit on. "Okay, Abby, we need a water break." One of our flyers, Ella, piped up from the middle of the floor. I looked at the clock and cursed under my breath as I realized what time it was."I actually think we'll call it for the afternoon, guys. With Coach out, there's not much more we can do today." Admittedly, there was so much work to be done before the playoffs game on Friday, but I selfishly wanted to go home and figure out a solution for my problems. Why
"So, she kissed you?" "At this point, I don't know if it even happened or not." I watched Rhys's eyes widen in shock as I caught him up to speed. Albeit, omitting the part about the weekend-long boner being our doing, of course. "So, let me get this straight." He paused to chuckle, which earned an eye roll from me. "You guys are essentially plotting revenge based off a teen movie, and somehow Tessa got you high," I held up a finger to interrupt, but he continued. "And then kissed you." I groaned and rolled my eyes so hard, I shook my head. "Yes, Rhys. Tessa kissed me. Right now, I'm wishing it was just a fever dream or something." "And you're telling me this because I'm your token queer friend." Rhys studied my face. I let out a stressed sigh and sat down on the bleachers. It was currently half past five, and we were out on the football field alone. After hearing Danny gloat with one of the other guys about someone other than me, I had texted him to tell him I couldn't do dinner
"Come on, Barties! Let's go!" The cheer team was lined up, waiting for the last three minutes of the second quarter to finish, so we could bust out our half time routine. Most of us, myself included, loved the thrill of the sport. But some only loved how it made them look. And even though it was a chilled 40 degrees out, we all had our legs on full display, ready for the routine. I, for one, couldn't wait to put my sweatpants back on over the cheer skort.My nerves were settling in as I looked at the timer on the scoreboard. We had less than two and a half minutes to go, and Tessa, who had been sitting directly above me all night, hadn't said a word or done anything to get Danny's attention yet. Honestly, I had absolutely no idea what she had planned, or if she was just going to hope he saw her when he looked at me. So far, he hadn't even looked in my direction once. There were scouts here from all over, and whether he had his plan or not, he still wanted to impress any and all compe
"You really have no idea what you're wearing for Halloween?" It was Monday afternoon, and I was sprawled out on my bed trying to focus on my math homework, but was on the phone with Tessa instead. We'd been scheming - honestly, not much more than giggling about Danny's face on Friday - and the topic of Halloween came up. Normally, Danny and I would come up with something together, but this year we hadn't even discussed our plan. It had been such a busy fall with college prep and everything, that I hadn't even thought about it. Which, I was currently being ridiculed by Tessa for. "No, I don't. Normally we do a couples thing, but obviously I'm not really in the whole romantic kind of mood." I said the last bit flatly. "Yeah, but you still have to do something." I pictured her rolling her eyes and rummaging through her closet for her own costume. "I've had mine picked since Valentine's Day. I'm going to be the Scarlet Witch, but make it hot." I could hear the smile in her voice, she w
I'd never tried on so many different lip colors in my life. Tessa had forced me to try a multitude of lip products, from nude to fuchsia, and only let me settle for a nude gloss when I begged and pleaded to leave with my sanity. It was just past eight in the evening, and I had just pulled into the driveway, ready to go inside and collapse in my bed. My dad's car was here, which thankfully meant my mom had cooked a full, fancy dinner. I could smell the aroma of something Italian wafting towards me as I unlocked the front door, proving my assumption. When I walked in, I heard my name spoken in a hushed tone, followed shortly by Danny's. The voices were coming from the kitchen, and I could only assume they belonged to my mom and dad. If it weren't for Tony's shrill 'yip' when he heard the door latch, they would've continued. "Abby?" My mom's voice was curious. "Hi, I'm home!" I called out, and reached down to scratch Tony behind the ears when he skidded to a stop at my feet. "Hi, swe