“Sounds like someone is a little defensive,” he said.
I clamped my lips together to keep from saying anything else.
“Hey, if you like to play a game about wizards and witches, I’m not going to judge,” he said. But his tone said that was exactly what he was doing. He leaned forward. “But just admit that you like it.”
I arched my brows at the challenge in his tone. “Did I ever deny that I did?”
His eyes narrowed a bit but they still danced with laughter. “Admit it. You’re a fan. You’re totally into MageLand.”
I could feel the heat in my cheeks and ignored it, just like I ignored Jason’s warning tone as he said Luke’s name and Margo’s sigh of exasperation. For a second there, it felt like they were in a different world. I could hear my friends—I could even see them out of the corner of my eye—but Luke and I were all alone in a weird little bubble.
“I am into MageLand,” I said slowly, over-enunciating out of sheer anger. “What do you care?”
His smile grew and for a second I forgot how to breathe. His grin was always sexy, in an annoying smug sort of way. But this smile was one of approval, camaraderie even, and it went beyond sexy and into some territory as yet to be named.
That smile was lethal.
“Just wanted to hear you say it,” he said.
I blinked. What the heck did that mean?
He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. “Now was that so hard?”
I shook my head in confusion. What was he even talking about? My brain was buzzing with questions but not a single one could make it through the fog that seemed to be a constant side effect of his proximity.
Then, just as quickly as it began, the moment was over and he was leaning back, popping a chip into his mouth. “So who all is competing in this thing?”
I swallowed and turned back to my friends. Not a single one of them looked like anything strange had just occurred. I tried for normalcy, too. “Uh, the competition is open to every high school in the country. There are some rules and regulations, obviously,” I said, focusing on the logistics rather than the fact that Luke had shifted so his arm now brushed against mine and the heat from his body was impossible to ignore.
“Each high school can only submit one entry, and the school has to officially register, which is why I needed to get Mr. Marsico on board and—”
“What are you submitting?” Luke interrupted.
“Oh, um, well the company is developing new mods for the game.” I paused, ready to explain what mods were but Luke was already on to the next question.
“So, like, new settings, new magical artifacts, that sort of thing?”
“Yeah, exactly.” I didn’t even try to hide my surprise. “They’re specifically looking for new settings—something that would appeal more toward a younger demographic.”
“And what’s the prize?”
“Money toward college,” I said. “Plus…”
“Plus, what?”
I’d gone back to forgetting all about everyone at this table who was not Luke. Not because of his smiles or his proximity but because his questions were not only spot-on, they were specific and pointed, almost like…almost like, he was actually interested.
“Plus?” he said again, prompting me to continue.
I shrugged. “Plus, it’s just an awesome opportunity to be seen by some heavy-duty people in the industry.”
Luke’s eyes met mine and for a second I could have sworn he was looking right at me. Not in my direction and not at my face, but like…he was seeing me. All of me.
It was stupid.
Clearly my brain had been addled by all the excitement from the morning.
“So, is that what you want to do?” he said. “You want to be a video game developer?”
I stared at him. No one had outright asked me that before. I’d never even really asked myself. It was just what I loved. What I felt passionate about. But could it be my future?
I was saved by the bell.
Well, sort of. We all rushed to the door along with everyone else in the cafeteria but while Matt headed left for his next class, the rest of us headed right. Margo and Jason were walking so close together that I probably could have squeezed in on Margo’s other side and we wouldn’t have blocked the whole hallway. But that would’ve been weird and I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect of becoming a third wheel, so I fell back behind them.
And so did Luke.
I took a deep breath and focused on staring at Jason’s back. Anything other than Luke with his incessant mocking. Even when he wasn’t teasing me he was calling attention to me in some way. Using a stupid nickname or pointing out that I was wearing my hair different. Even when he wasn’t being outright mean, he was being mean. It was like he couldn’t possibly comprehend that not everyone wanted to be the center of attention.
Of course, try explaining that to a guy who lived in the limelight. Even now his name was shouted out left and right by guys and girls alike—friends, apparently, who felt compelled to say hi or invite him out tonight.
He was in his element as I tried to edge away from him, getting as far away from the human spotlight named Luke as possible.
Apparently he noticed. “What, do I smell bad or something?” he teased as he glanced over and saw me edging toward the lockers.
Did he smell bad? No. Of course not. Life would never be so fair. In a fair universe, a guy so inherently attractive and charismatic would be cursed with body odor issues. But life was not fair, especially not when it came to people like Luke. I ignored the question and kept my focus on moving forward. We didn’t have the next class together so in a matter of minutes—seconds, really—he’d be out of my hair and I’d be free to resume my life. My invisible life at Grover High.
I made a mental note to self to add invisibility as a possible idea for MageLand. How cool would that be? What sort of setting would make invisibility ideal? I mean, other than high school, obviously. My mind was racing with possibilities about new settings and potential magical abilities but I should have known that Luke wouldn’t drop it so easily.
He never dropped anything these days. He noticed every little thing I did or said and called me out on it like suddenly it was his mission in life to see me. Like he was making up for the past decade of not noticing me—which was exactly how I liked it, not that he seemed to care one way or the other.
“Seriously, Suzie Q, are you embarrassed to be seen with me or something?” His voice was filled with laughter because of course he was joking. The thought of anyone not wanting to be graced with Luke Warner’s presence must have been unthinkable to him.
“It’s Suzie,” I said for the millionth time in the past six weeks. “Just Suzie.”
He reached out and tugged on one of the bright red curls that was held back in a ponytail. “I know, but Suzie Q just seems so fitting.”
I swatted his hand away.
“See? That right there,” he said, his eyes on me as we walked. “Why do I get the feeling that you hate being seen with me?” He leaned over and waggled his eyebrows obnoxiously. “Worried someone might get the wrong idea about us?”
My stupid telltale cheeks burned with heat as embarrassment made the contents of my stomach slosh and slide. I didn’t honestly think he was trying to be cruel—his tone said he was teasing. He was being the big jokester he always was.
But he never used to joke with me like this. And, what was more, we both knew the truth of the matter. No one in their right mind would get the wrong idea about us.
He surprised me by coming to a halt in the middle of the hallway when I didn’t reply. I should have kept walking. I have no idea why I didn’t use the opportunity to rush ahead of him and lose him in the crowd. Instead I found myself stopping too. “What?”
The teasing jokester façade faded fast and for a second he looked startlingly serious. “Wait, was I right? Are you worried someone’s going to get the wrong idea?”
I let out a
little snort of disbelief. “No one would get the wrong idea.”
“Why not?” He didn’t wait for an answer as he moved closer. “Who are you worried about?”
I stared up at him with an open mouth for a second because it seemed like… No, he couldn’t possibly be serious.
But his eyes looked more serious than I’d ever seen them. He seemed one hundred percent serious.
“Um…” That was all I managed. My brain went blank at the notion that Luke Warner truly believed that I was worried people might think there was something going on between us. My mind was blown that he actually believed anyone would ever possibly jump to that conclusion.
He leaned down slightly and his normal laidback demeanor changed to something far more intense. “Who do you have a thing for, Suzie Q?”
I blinked rapidly. “Wait, what?” How were we suddenly talking about me and my crush?
He waved a hand toward my crimson cheeks. “Don’t try to deny it, babe.”
Babe. Babe? Once again my brain shorted out.
“Babe?” It sort of came out as a squeak. No one had ever called me babe. Or sweetheart, or honey, or pookiebear, or any other term of endearment. If babe could even be considered a term of endearment. Personally, I just considered it demeaning and lame.
He ignored me. He also ignored everyone else in the hall who was rushing past us to class, not even bothering to acknowledge the random “Hey Luke” that was called out in our direction.
His gaze honed in on mine and I couldn’t look away. He had nice eyes. Oh heck, he had nice everything—sharp jawline? Check. Long lashes a girl would kill for? Check. That danged cleft in his chin was just overkill. But his eyes…his eyes were darker than dark. And when they were fixed on mine like they were now, like they were trying to see deep inside to my deepest, darkest secrets…
My breath caught in my throat. Sweet mercy, a girl could drown in those eyes.
“Is it Matt?”
I blinked. Surely I’d slipped into a wormhole or something because this conversation was no longer making any sense whatsoever. “Is what Matt?”
One of his brows hitched up ever so slightly as if to say. Really? You’re playing dumb now?
Sadly, I wasn’t playing anything. I honestly had no idea what was happening here. One minute I was excited about a gaming contest and the next I was caught in some sort of absurdist scene that seemed to defy all sense of logic. I was basically living out Waiting for Godot.
“You two went to homecoming together,” he said.
“Um…” Did he expect me to deny the fact that I’d gone to homecoming with one of my best friends? Was there someone else he’d expected me to go with?
He crossed his arms over his chest, both brows arching now in a way that reminded me way too much of a teacher…or, more disturbingly, of my mother. “So, is Matt the guy you’re crushing on?”
“What? No!” Okay maybe that had been a little too vehement. One might even think I was protesting too much, but really…this was getting out of control. Yes, maybe once upon a time I’d thought maybe me and Matt would’ve made a good couple, but it had become very apparent by around eighth grade that Matt would never see me that way.
In fact, no guy had ever seen me that way, and I was starting to think they never would.
Luke’s gaze never wavered from mine.
“I’m not into Matt,” I said, instantly hating myself for being defensive. I didn’t have to explain myself to this guy.
I crossed my arms over my chest and met his gaze evenly, my lips clamped together tight.
His gaze dropped down to my mouth and I thought I saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “Not talking to me anymore, huh?”
I pressed them together into a thin line.
“That’s fine,” he said, dropping his arms and adopting a far less intense pose. He no longer looked like he was attempting to interrogate me. I still watched him warily, not quite buying this sudden shift in him.
“Your face gives you away anyway,” he says.
I swear all the blood in my body chose that moment to rush to my cheeks.
Stupid, traitorous cheeks.
He grinned. Point made. “So, if it’s not Matt you’re pining after, who is it?”
I wanted to say no one but I already knew that my face was doing exactly what he’d predicted. It was giving away my every thought and emotion without my consent.
“Come on,” he wheedled. “I know you’ve got the hots for someone in this school, so you might as well spill.”
Someone in this school. His specific phrasing gave my brain the loophole it needed so I could honestly deny the charge. “I don’t,” I said quickly.
He narrowed his eyes a bit but he didn’t call me out as a liar. And I wasn’t technically lying. Did I have a crush on someone? Yes. Big time. But did that person go to our school?
No, thank heavens.
I had no idea where DataG lived, let alone what school he went to. He could be on the opposite side of the continent for all I knew.
“So, you’re not crushing on anyone, huh?”
I shook my head. “Nope.” Not in this school. Try explaining to someone like Luke that the guy I’d gone and developed feelings for was only a name on a screen. That I’d never even met him in person. Ha! That would blow the smirk right off his face.
Of course, he’d be laughing his butt off at my expense, but still. It might’ve been worth it to see his shock. How to explain to a superficial jock like Luke that my crush had nothing to do with the way he looked or his social status and everything to do with his personality and his sense of humor. Most of all, it had everything to do with the way he got me. DataG understood me like no one else, and he was there for me whenever I needed someone.
I drew in a deep breath and turned away from Luke, feeling once more like I was on solid ground. It was the thought of DataG that did it. I could tell him all about this little exchange and he’d think it was hilarious…of course, I wouldn’t tell him the bit about having a crush on him. No need to ruin a great friendship by confessing to a stupid little online crush.
I sort of hoped I’d leave Luke behind but he kept pace beside me. “Okay then,” he finally said as we neared the door to my next classroom just in time for the bell to ring. “If that wasn’t the reason you’re so opposed to being seen with me, what is?”
I probably shouldn’t have answered. I wouldn’t have except that when he turned to face me he looked so genuinely curious. I let out a short breath and summoned up some courage. “It’s because you’re like Fonzie. Everyone turns to stare when you walk by.”
He stared at me for a long moment before his mouth curved up in that sexy-as-sin smile that made girls everywhere go weak in the knees.
Not me, of course, but other girls.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Did you just call me Fonzie?”
I nodded, already turning away because it dawned on me that he likely had no clue who I was referring to. Only losers like me spent their Saturday afternoons playing games while old TV show marathons played in the background.
“As in Arthur Fonzarelli?”
I hesitated halfway through the door, but I didn’t turn around. Okay, so maybe he had seen Happy Days. The fact that he knew Fonzie’s full name had me fighting a smile as I entered my classroom.
I lost the battle when I heard him burst out laughing in the hallway behind me.
Chapter Three
Luke
I should have known things were going too well for me lately.
I mean, sure, my grades still weren’t the absolute best and I was no closer to telling Suzie the truth about my hidden identity than I had been the first day of school, but other than that life had been pretty smooth.
My father hadn’t been on my case too badly. While I wasn’t acing my classes I wasn’t failing either, and even though I was still only friends with Suzie online, at least I had that going for me.
So yeah, overall life had been good these
past six weeks.
Too good.
I knew something was wrong the moment I walked in the front door. My father was home from work early—never a good sign. But it was the look of warning my mother shot me as I walked into the living room and found them both sitting on the couch that had my stomach plummeting.
“I spoke to your guidance counselor,” my father said in lieu of a greeting.
I let out a long exhale and sank down into the leather recliner across from them. I recognized the start of a lecture when I heard one and I knew it would be a long time before he was finished.
Sure enough, with that lovely opening remark he was off and running, all about how much of a disappointment I was. Blah blah blah, I’d heard it all before. But he ended with something new. A grand finale of sorts. Up until now he’d only ever held this out as a threat, and I’d stupidly thought it was an empty one.
I should have known.
“No basketball for you this year,” my father declared. That’s right, declared. It was a statement of declaration through and through with absolutely zero room for negotiating.
I knew better than to try.
Instead I sat there and reveled in horror at the thought of the year to come. Basketball was the only outlet I had other than playing MageLand with Suzie. But online games didn’t get me out of the house.
They may have been an escape mentally but not physically. Not to mention my whole social life was tied up in the team. Besides, I liked it. I honestly enjoyed the game. But none of that mattered to my dad who was currently talking about how I’d never taken the game seriously enough. If I had, I’d have some hope of a scholarship.
As if the only reason to play a sport was if there was some sort of reward at the end.
The thought of college applications had me sitting up straight. “But you’re the one who’s always saying I need extracurriculars—”
“And you have years’ worth of athletics for your applications,” my father intervened neatly. “Your guidance counselor and I agree that what you really need now is to focus on your grades.”
I stared down at a spot on the living room carpet as a vision of my senior year played before me. Nothing but homework and extra credit assignments with only the occasional online game with Suzie to offer relief.
My Virtual Prince Charming: Geeks Gone Wild #2 Page 3
