by Emma Dalton
“We’re just teasing you, man,” Jerry says.
“You mean you’re jealous of him,” DeAngelo corrects. He bends close. “Dude, you can have any girl here. Any girl. You can have Teagyn Myers, the hottest girl at Edenbury High. Yet you choose to remain single.”
I give him a look. “I do have a girlfriend. And I’m focusing on my dream of going pro.”
Jerry rolls his eyes. “I’m sure Kara won’t mind you dating someone else. It’s not like she likes you or you like her. And besides, how do you know she doesn’t have a real boyfriend?”
My eyes shoot to her table, where she and her friends are huddled together in a heated conversation. I wonder about what.
And I also wonder if my friends are right. Kara told me she doesn’t have a boyfriend, but maybe she’s keeping him a secret. I don’t know why the thought of her with another guy bothers me. I have no right.
“Yes!” Jerry cheers when he notices the cheerleaders and the rest of our team enter the cafeteria and head this way.
I can’t look at Teagyn. I know we run in the same circles and share friends, but I’m still not over how she treated Kara. I’ll tolerate her because I have to, but as far as she and I are concerned? We’re nothing to one another. Not even friends.
“Hey, Brayden.” She shoots me a smile as she and the others settle down at the table. She stabs her fork in her lettuce. “Wasn’t that history test insane?”
I nod pleasantly, only because I don’t want to make a scene or split up our group of friends. If I wasn’t quarterback and had a reputation to uphold, I’d march over to Kara’s table and sit with her and her friends.
I quickly shake my head. What am I thinking? Who said they’d even want me? I might be a jock, but those girls don’t care about that. They’re intelligent and good students. They don’t want someone who barely averages Bs among them.
Wow. Where is all this insecurity coming from? I’ve never felt like this before. I have doubted myself here and there, but never to this extreme.
Teagyn squeezes my bicep. “Brayden, it’s such a shame you can’t watch me practice. I feel like we’ll win the competition if you’re cheering for me in the stands.”
I pull my arm free. “Sorry, got football.” I busy myself with my pudding so she’ll take the hint and leave me alone. I don’t want to be rude about it, even though she deserves it. I’m not that kind of person.
The bell rings a few minutes later and Teagyn complains she hasn’t finished her food. I shoot to my feet like I’ve got rockets attached to my sneakers and make way for Kara’s locker. She’s leaning against it, surrounded by her friends.
I rest my shoulder on a locker, watching her for a little bit, that smile so contagious I want to etch it into my memory forever. I know we’ll go our separate ways once our arrangement is over, but I hope we’ll remain friends. If we don’t, at least I’ll always remember that smile.
One of her friends, a girl with long dark hair, looks at me and grins. “Your boyfriend is waiting for you.”
Kara’s gaze flits to mine and she smiles. “Hi, Brayden. Want to meet my friends?”
“Sure.” I head over and smile at each of them. They return friendly grins and greetings.
Kara motions with her hands. “This is Dani, Ally, and Charlie. Guys, this is Brayden.”
Hmm. She didn’t refer to me as her boyfriend. Is she embarrassed to be seen with someone not up to par with them academically? I don’t know why that hurts me. I know she’s way above me on the academic ladder. Girls like her would never choose the dumb jock.
Not that it matters. We’re just friends.
Are we even that, though? Or are we just two people who have an arrangement where one gains and the other is doing it out of the goodness of her heart?
“Hi, nice to meet you all,” I say. “You mind if I escort my girlfriend to her class?”
They step aside to allow Kara to pass. Dani grins at her, Ally nods, and Charlie just watches us like she’s not sure about us or something.
I smile at Kara. “Ready?”
She shuts her locker, tells her friends she’ll see them later, and follows me down the hall, hugging her books to her chest.
“Your friends seem nice,” I tell her. “I like them. Though I don’t think Charlie likes me. She seems suspicious and guarded.”
She hugs her books tighter. “Yeah, she’s not one hundred percent okay with our arrangement.”
I lift a brow. “Oh, so they know we’re faking.”
She nods. “Don’t worry, they won’t tell my dad the truth. They know this is important to me because it’s important to you.”
I’m about to ask her why it’s so important to her, but she continues, “Charlie thinks you’re using me.” She quickly holds up her hands. “But you’re not, don’t worry.”
I stop walking. “But there’s a truth to it, isn’t there? You’re not gaining anything from this.”
She glances away, the tips of her ears growing red. “We’ve talked about this. I want to help you fulfill your dream. Here’s my class. You’re so sweet for walking me here.”
I smile. “Thanks.” My smile drops. “I hope Charlie doesn’t think too low of me. She must not be a fan of jocks, huh?”
“I don’t think that’s true. She likes doing their homework, so I doubt she hates them. She needs them to satisfy her thirst for extra school work.”
I blink at her. “What?”
She giggles loudly. Then her eyes widen and she covers her mouth. “Sorry.” Her face is beet red now.
“Don’t be sorry. Your laugh is really cute.”
Her face grows even redder, something I didn’t think possible. “Oh, um. Thanks.” She clears her throat. “Charlie does your friends’ homework for them because she loves school and wants more work.”
“Wow. I’ve never met anyone like her. Some of my friends told me a nerd does their homework for them, but I didn’t know it was her…” I stop talking and shake my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called her a nerd.”
Kara waves her hand. “She’s fine being called that. She wears it like a crown.”
“Still, it was rude of me.”
“Have you ever asked a nerd to do your homework for you?” she asks.
I shake my head. “Never. I might not be the sharpest penny in the bunch, but I know the value of schoolwork. Coach would kick us off the team if we fail a class. That’s probably why my friends just dump it on your friend. They can’t be bothered with it.”
Her smile is small, but I see so much in it. “It’s great that you’re so honest. You’re different from the others.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Sometimes I feel like I’m too different. I mean, I love my friends and we get along great, but sometimes I feel like they don’t understand me.”
Like they’d never imagine I actually have fun spending time with Kara. They assumed I was suffering. Why would I ever suffer with someone as amazing as her?
The bell rings before she has a chance to respond. I hate that I have to pull away from her, but I need to focus on my classes or else I’m off the team.
I stretch my arm over her shoulder, hauling her close to my chest like any boyfriend would do. “Catch you later, girlfriend.” Then I turn on my heels and hurry to my classroom at the other end of the hallway.
Chapter Twenty
Martina was blown away by the article I wrote on Brayden when I handed it to her yesterday. It was a little last minute—the paper’s coming out tomorrow!—because I kept rewriting it and rewriting it and rewriting it. Brayden is so much more than just words on a paper. He’s…he’s perfect. And no amount of words could capture that.
But Martina gave me a final deadline yesterday and I had no choice but to hand it in. She read it immediately, swallowing up the words. She told me I nailed the article and it’s sure to be a success when it’s released tomorrow.
I’m not so sure, but I’ll try to be hopeful. Maybe she’s right. Maybe we’ll
have more readers and the Edenbury High Times will finally be recognized.
I leave the newsroom and go out to the football field to watch Brayden practice. He’s in his element right now, owning the field like it’s his playground. He’s seriously so good at this, so talented, so driven. It’s a shame my dad can’t see this, but I know we have to be patient. If I pressure my dad, it might mess up Brayden’s chance.
Brayden’s head shoots up as if he feels me watching him, and he waves enthusiastically. My heart picks up speed and my stomach does countless summersaults. I wave back, not able to hold back from beaming at him. Is it so terrible to admit he makes me feel really, really good? I know it’s not healthy because we’ll eventually end this, but I’ll bask in it for the time being.
When practice is over, I wait for him at his locker. He smiles as soon as he sees me, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close to his chest.
I’m definitely going to miss this when we’re done with our arrangement, but I won’t think about that now.
“You were amazing as usual,” I tell him.
“Thanks.” He pushes his fingers through his wet hair and I watch the droplets drip down his cheek. “I was wondering if you want to hang out after school? Or do you have plans?”
“No, no plans,” I quickly say. “My afternoon is totally free.”
He grins. “Cool. Maybe we can go to the mall or to Mikey’s or the park or something.” He reaches into his locker for his phone and unlocks it. “Sorry, I just have to read this text from my mom.” He scans it. “Oh, my parents are going out and I need to babysit my sister.” He looks at me. “I guess we’ll hang out another time…unless.” His eyes light up. “Do you want to meet Bailey? She’ll love you.”
My mouth opens and closes, but no words come out. He wants me to meet his little sister? Isn’t that something real girlfriends do?
I’m thinking way, way too deeply into this.
“Okay. But are you sure she’ll like me? I don’t have a lot of experience with kids.”
He stuffs his phone into his jeans pocket. “Of course she will. What’s there not to love? You’re nice and funny and great to hang out with.”
My face feels so hot I need to dump it in ice-cold water. He thinks I’m fun to hang out with? Me? Invisible Girl?
He leads me out the doors, to his car that’s parked in the student lot. I freeze as it dawns on me that I’ll be alone with him in his car. Just a few days ago, I wished to be in an enclosed space with him and now it looks like it’ll finally happen.
He turns to me, holding open the passenger door. “Kara, you okay?”
I blink and nod. “Yeah, of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
He laughs. “Then get in.”
“Right.” I slide in and he shuts the door, then runs around to his side and climbs in. Why did that feel so intimate? Like a real date?
And his car? It smells so good. Like him, but even better. It’s like his scent is infused into every part of the car. I lean back, shutting my eyes and allowing the scent to wash over me. Oh and the seats? So comfortable, I can sleep here forever. It’s obvious Brayden takes care of his car.
“Buckle up,” he tells me, nodding to my belt. I stretch it over my body and snap it shut. Then he pulls out of the lot.
“You have a nice car,” I say, taking everything in. He’s not the kind of driver who makes a mess in here and treats it like his second home.
“It was Brock’s,” he says, voice soft, eyes on the road. He slowly brings them to me, smiles, then returns them to the road. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted it at first. My parents were about to sell it, but I changed my mind last minute. Brock took such good care of it and I swore I would do the same. He saved up for it and bought it on his own. He didn’t have to do that—my parents planned to surprise him on his sixteenth birthday, but he surprised them first and got it all on his own. And he told me he’d help me save up for mine when the time came.”
“I wish I could have known him,” I say. “He sounds like he was a really good person. I only know he was QB and very popular. Like you.”
He shakes his head. “No, I’m not like him. Brock was friends with everyone. He had a way about himself—you know, like those people who can command a room? That was him. Everyone loved him.”
“Everyone loves you.”
He grins wryly. “Your friend Charlie doesn’t.” He sighs. “I don’t think Brock would have done what I’m doing—fooling everyone into thinking I’m dating you just for a chance to be recruited into a good school.”
I want to place my hand on his knee like he did to me at dinner, but I curl my fingers into my palm. I’m not brave enough.
“I don’t see it that way,” I tell him. “I mean, we’re pretending, but it’s not like anyone is getting hurt. And it’s not that shocking that we’re dating, is it? What am I saying? Of course it is.” I shut my eyes, wishing I hadn’t said that. Seriously, I need more control over my mouth.
Brayden looks at me, then at the road, not saying a word. I have no idea what he’s thinking, but it’s obvious that he agrees that someone like him and someone like me have no business dating.
“It doesn’t bother me that we’re faking,” I tell him. “And I don’t think it should bother you either. Because at the end of the day, all that matters is you getting recruited.”
He nods slowly. “But you’re missing out on meeting a good guy.”
“And you’re missing out on meeting a great girl. Besides, no one would ever…” I press my lips together. Nope. I won’t tell him that no one could ever like someone like me.
His eyes flit to mine for a second. “No one would what?”
I quickly shake my head. “Nothing. I forgot what we were talking about.”
He stops by a red light and gives me his full attention. “You think guys wouldn’t like you?”
My hand shoots to my hair and I pull on the strands. “Well…truth?”
“Off the record.”
I take in a deep breath. “It’s hard being the Invisible Girl.”
“The what?”
I give him a look. “Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of the Invisible Girl.”
“No, I haven’t. Who calls you that?”
The light turns green and he continues to drive. I just stare at his profile. I don’t understand him. Is he telling me he genuinely has no clue what people call me, or is he just being nice?
He glances at me. “Kara, who calls you that?” His tone is full of concern and…care. He cares? Why?
I wave my hand. “Just some kids.”
“Like Teagyn?”
I shrug. “Whatever. It is what it is.”
“It’s not,” he insists. “You shouldn’t let them call you that.”
“But it’s the truth. You didn’t even know I existed until I asked you to do that interview.” As soon as the words are out, I wish I could take them back. Darn it. I never meant to say that. The last thing I want to do is attack him.
He’s quiet, his eyes on the road. I busy myself with looking out the window.
“You’re wrong,” he says after a little while. “You were never invisible to me. Maybe I didn’t know you were on the paper or that you’re so kind and fun and a great friend, but I knew you were smart and studious. I noticed you in class last year, how you were always the first to raise your hand when a teacher asked a question. Or how you nearly always handed in your test paper first, putting the rest of us to shame.”
My heart skips a beat. He…noticed all that?
“I’m sorry I never talked to you,” he continues. “You were just…at the top of the brain tower. You were so smart. And me? I was one of the dummies of the class.”
“Brayden.”
He laughs. “It’s not like it’s a lie. I barely average Bs and I’m okay with that. I know my strengths aren’t in school. Honestly, Kara, we’re so different and run in different circles and our paths never crossed. But I wish they would have. I woul
d have liked to have a friend like you.”
I just stare at him. “You…you really mean that?”
He nods with a smile. “At least we can be good friends now.”
I nod. Right. Friends. Because there’s no chance in heck we can ever be more than that. He said it himself, we run in totally different circles. He belongs at the popular table and I’m with the…not popular kids.
“We’re here,” he announces.
I take in his house. It’s larger than mine with a small garden in front, and a fountain designed as a football.
He gets out, runs around the car, and opens the door before I have a chance to get out. “You don’t have to do that,” I tell him as he shuts the door. “We’re not really dating.”
“So?” He nods to his house. “That’s my home. What do you think?”
“That football fountain is so cute.”
He laughs. “My mom got that for my dad as a gift. She had someone custom make it.”
“Wow. Your parents are probably so in love.”
He brushes his fingers through his hair. “They were…before my brother died. It’s been tough on them, but they’re pulling through.” He smiles. “We’d better go inside so they can get to their meeting.”
I follow him up the steps, where he stabs the key into the lock and pushes the door open. His house is pretty typical, not too rich, not too poor. Just normal.
The first room we enter is the kitchen, where a man and woman are working on dinner. The woman has the same sandy brown hair as Brayden.
“Hi, Mom and Dad. This is Kara,” Brayden tells them, gesturing to me.
They both greet me warmly, and I notice their eyes are filled with pain and loss. But they go out of their way to make sure I’m comfortable, offering me something to eat and drink.
“You have to try my mom’s cookies,” Brayden says with a wink. Then he turns to his mom. “You’ve got some competition there, Mom. Kara’s cookies are amazing.”
