Matt appeared behind me, peering over my head into the mirror. His shoulders were about five inches higher than mine. How could he be that tall? He didn't seem to be a big guy. But he definitely was. A geek who was tall, knew how to kiss and had a hot girlfriend. Who'd have thought? Not that he could compare to Zach, but it did raise some interesting possibilities for the future. Maybe I should join the Physics Club if I got kicked off the cross country team.
Or not. No need to showcase my intellectual shortcomings to people who valued that stuff. I was sure I'd be as good—or rather, as bad—at physics as I was at geometry.
The doorbell rang, and he moved away from me. Darn it. I'd kind of liked him standing next to me.
Whatever.
I opened the door to find Blue standing on my doorstep. Colin was our ride, since I wasn't too stoked about riding on Matt's handlebars to the restaurant. "Blue, this is Matt Turner. Matt, this is Blue Waller."
Matt nodded. "I know who you are."
"And I know who you are." Blue clapped her hands. "Well, let's go. I'm starved!"
Right. I'd forgotten that they were both in my geometry class. Blue had even asked Matt about coming tonight. Note to self: Plug in brain.
Matt followed me to the car and exchanged greetings with Colin. He slipped into the backseat with me and then leaned close to me once Colin was driving. "How old is Colin?" His voice was low and tense.
"He's a freshman at Harvard."
Matt swore under his breath and leaned back in his seat. His jaw was tense and a muscle was twitching in his neck.
"What's wrong?" I scooted closer to him so Blue wouldn't hear me over the music in the front,
"Nothing."
"I don't believe you."
He shot a glance at me. "Nothing."
"Are you intimidated because he's in college?"
"No."
"Because he's really a nice guy. And Blue's our age, so it's not like he hates hanging out with sophomores."
"I'm fine." But he looked a little more relaxed.
I patted his arm. "Good." Wonder what he'd think of Theo, who was also in college but who was a major jock. According to Frances, he'd bulked up now that he was playing college football. I hadn't seen Theo in a couple months, but even with his high school bod, Matt would have seen him as too athletic.
Probably should have thought of that before agreeing to tonight. It would be mucho awkward if Matt started shooting his anti-jock hostility toward Theo. "Um ... Matt?"
"Yeah?"
I leaned closer. Did he smell good or what? Maybe I should whisper things to him all night so I had to get close enough for a dose of Matt's amazing scent. "Do you remember Theo Waller? He graduated this past year?"
Matt eyed me warily. "Yeah."
"He's coming tonight."
His eyes narrowed. "Nice."
"Oh, come on. He's totally nice. Get over your jock complex, will you?"
"I don't have a jock complex."
"No? Then how come you're always judging me just because I run?"
"You judge me because I'm smart."
"But I don't hate you. I'd be willing to hang out with your friends."
"I doubt that."
"I would!"
His eyes flashed. "Then come with me tonight."
"Tonight?" My gut sank. "But I have to be home early for my meet tomorrow."
"Convenient," he muttered.
"Yeah, because you already knew I have to get home early. You don't want me to come. You don't want to hang with my friends, and you don't want me near yours." I bit my lip. The truth hurt, even if I pretended it didn't. Sure, Matt and his friends were brainiac geeks, but I still didn't want them to think I was a loser, too.
He narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Sunday night. Study group at my place."
I swallowed. "Study group?" That would showcase my talents. Not.
His gaze softened. "We won't do math, okay?"
"Um..."
He got this smug grin on his face, like he knew I was going to come up with an excuse not to hang with his friends. Was that why he'd invited me? To prove that I was a snob? Forget it. He had another thing coming. "Sure. I'll come."
His grin faded. "You will?"
"Yeah." I folded my arms across my chest. "Which means you have to be nice to Theo tonight. How you treat Theo is how I'll treat your friends." Oh, that was a good one. I was pretty impressed with myself on that one.
Matt scowled. "Fine."
"Fine."
Blue looked back at us. "Are you two done arguing? Because if you are, we're here."
I looked out the window. "You picked Italian?"
"Your favorite pasta place. We know how you like your pasta on the night before races. You runners are so predictable."
Matt rolled his eyes and I stuck my tongue out at him and climbed out of the car. Nearly smashed my door into the side of the Jeep that was parked next to us.
A Jeep very similar to one driven by a certain hot cross-country team captain. I frowned and peered into the backseat. A sweatshirt with Mapleville Cross Country across the front was lying on the floor.
Holy cow. Zach was here? And I was here with my "boyfriend?"
Crud.
CHAPTER EIGHT
When we stepped inside, I nervously scanned the foyer for Zach, but there was no sign of him. Good. Maybe it wasn't his Jeep. Yeah, Natalie. Wishful thinking. Okay, so maybe he would be seated in another part of the restaurant at least. I could hope for that, right?
Blue elbowed me. "There's Frances and Allie."
They were seated at the back of the room at a long table. And I didn't see Zach anywhere between us and them. Score.
I hunched behind Matt, using him as a shield in case Zach was around, and followed him through the maze of tables, ignoring the questioning look he shot over his shoulder at me. No need for him to know every warped thing that went on in my mind, was there? Definitely not.
Theo and Colin were already sitting across from each other, talking about college, and Blue and Frances were sitting on the end, next to the boys. That left the other side of the table for us young 'uns. Matt sat on the end, so I sat next to him, across from Allie. Tad was across from Matt, so that was good. Tad was a sophomore, except he was a runner too. Where did all the athletes come from? I felt really self-conscious. But Tad was cool, so Matt should feel fine.
Greetings went all around, and I saw Matt's gaze flicker when he was introduced to Theo, who had definitely gotten more muscular. After the initial intro, everyone sat back down and I swear every guy's arm went up across the back of his girlfriend's chair.
Except me and Matt.
Hmm ... awkward much?
"So, Matt, where do you go to school?" Tad asked. Nice, friendly guy. I could see why Allie liked him.
"Mapleville High." Matt nodded at me. "With Natalie."
"Really? You run for them too?"
I felt like kicking Tad under the table.
"No." Matt took a long drag of his water.
"Soccer, then?"
His jaw flexed. "No."
I leaned over and rested my chin on Matt's shoulder, trying to support him. "I'd never want to date another athlete," I said to Tad. "That's who I hang with all day, and I like dating someone who has something else to talk about." I could tell Matt was uncomfortable, and it was my fault for putting him in this situation.
Matt glanced at me, which meant his face was about a quarter of an inch from mine, seeing as how I was still using his shoulder for a pillow. I'd meant it as an expression of solidarity, but now I was sort of enjoying it. It felt good. I don't know why, but it did. So I smiled at him.
He smiled back. Nice teeth. Hadn't realized how white and straight they were. "Did you have braces?" I asked.
"Nope."
"Lucky dog." I'd just gotten my braces off about six months ago. It was so great not to be carrying around a wad of wax anymore.
"I agree," Tad said.
We both looked at Tad. Had
Matt also forgotten there were others at the table?
Tad was nodding, and rubbing Allie's shoulder. "I like that Allie and I have stuff to talk about besides running." He smiled at her. "I'm glad you come to my meets, though."
She grinned back. "I know enough to realize that when you win it's a good thing."
He smiled at her "You've figured out a lot more than that. I appreciate it."
Ugh. Sickening.
I tried to catch Matt's gaze to trade vomit expressions, but he was staring at Tad and Allie with a wistful look on his face that caught my gut and wrenched it. Was he thinking of Liz? Missing her? Wishing she was around so he could whisper sweet little things into her ear while others felt left out listening?
Suddenly, seeing Tad being so sweet with Allie didn't make me nauseous. It made me sad. I wanted that, too. I really did. And being with Matt, who liked someone else, made me realize exactly how alone I was really was.
Tad looked at Matt. "Are you coming to the meet tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. It's a big meet."
"I'm going," Allie chirped up. "Double benefit. I get to watch Tad and Natalie." She nodded at me. "Do you realize Natalie is almost the best runner on the team, and she's beating juniors and seniors? They love her."
My cheeks felt hot. "Matt doesn't care about that."
"Why not? He should." Allie eyed Matt accusingly. "Why don't you care? Just because you don't run doesn't mean you shouldn't care about her running."
"Allie! Shut up! Matt is perfect the way he is."
Matt shot a surprised look at me. "I am?"
"Of course. You're the one who has it all dialed in, not me." I tried to kick Allie and smashed my toe into the table leg instead. I grabbed my foot and tried to blink back tears. Stupid! If I broke my toe I'd have a heck of a time racing tomorrow. I bit my lip and tried to will the pain away. "Leave him alone."
Matt shifted next to me, moving a little bit closer to me. I guess he decided that we needed to stand together, which actually felt good. "I care about her running."
"Then why does she think you don't?" Allie accused.
"Allie! What's your problem?" Why was she giving him such grief? I didn't understand what her problem was.
She didn't take her eyes off Matt. "Why does she think you don't?"
Matt glanced at me, and there were questions in his eyes. "Um ... I don't know."
The poor guy. I so owed him. I managed an apologetic smile at him.
"So then come to the race tomorrow and show you care," Allie said.
No, I wasn't going to let them rope him into anything, or make him feel bad. "He has to work," I blurted out. "He can't make it."
He gave me an odd look, and I couldn't tell if he was glad I'd make an excuse for him. "Would you want me to come?"
"Of course she does," Allie said. "Doesn't she, Tad?"
"I like it when Allie comes," Tad said. "I can't speak for Natalie."
Matt ignored them and kept looking at me. "Would you want me to come?"
Did he mean, would I want a real boyfriend to come, or would I want him in particular to come? What was he asking me? "Do you want to come?" I asked tentatively. I had never thought about anyone coming to watch me race. I mean, my parents came sometimes, but that wasn't the same. I wasn't sure what to think about Matt coming.
"You guys are pathetic," Allie announced.
"Hey, Natalie."
My head whipped up so fast I thought my neck was going to snap. Zach was standing at the end of the table, between Tad and Matt. OMG. "Hi."
Matt twisted around to check out Zach, then he shot me a questioning look.
Great. So he remembered who Zach was. I wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or a horrible thing. I couldn't really think, my heart was beating so fast. Zach looked totally cute in a pair of ripped jeans and a loose T-shirt. I could see his biceps peeking out from under his sleeves—those wiry, ripped muscles that runners had, not the huge bulky ones like Theo.
Tad stuck out his hand. "Tad Simmons. I run for Medfield."
Zach shook it. "Zach Fulton. I'm captain of the Mapleville team."
Matt snorted under his breath and put his arm across the back of my chair. Now he does it? Did he think he was helping my cause or something?
Zach's eyes flickered over Matt's arm, then up to his face. "You're the boyfriend?"
"Yep."
Never heard Matt acknowledge the boyfriend status thing so emphatically. Interesting.
"How long have you guys been dating?" Zach asked
"Long enough," Matt said. His arm slipped off the back of my chair and rested on my shoulders.
Long enough for what?
Zach looked at me. "Doesn't sound like it to me. Nat and I had fun at the party last night."
OMG. He'd totally made it sound like we'd been up to something.
Matt's arm tightened around my shoulders. "You mean the team thing?"
Zach winked at me. "Yeah, the team thing." His emphasis on the word team made it totally dear that it hadn't been a team thing at all.
Matt's fingers were digging into my shoulder so hard it almost hurt. Yes, he wasn't my boyfriend in real life, but if he was, this would be a horrible thing to do to him. To me. To both of us. "We didn't, I mean, nothing happened, I mean, it was just a team thing," I stuttered, not liking all the hostile looks from my friends. "I didn't do anything, I swear—"
"We have an extra seat at our table," Zach interrupted. "It would be nice to do some team bonding before the race. Talk strategy. It'll be good for you."
He wanted me to join him for dinner? Wow. But I looked at Matt's tight face, and I felt terrible. I couldn't do that to him, but the thought of turning down Zach's invite was awful. What if I never got another one?
"She's fine here." Allie's voice was like ice. Frigid. "We're perfectly capable of prepping her for the race. Her boyfriend is her best inspiration."
Zach shrugged and smiled at me again. "If you change your mind, we're right over there." He pointed to a big booth in the corner. Valerie was sitting in it, along with a few other kids from the team. All seniors.
No one was paying us any attention, except for Valerie, who looked really pissed.
"Um ... okay," I said. "Thanks for the invite. Maybe another time," I added hopefully.
"Good-bye," Allie said pointedly.
Zach gave me a final smile that curled my toes, then he glided away from the table. Was he cool or what?
"What a complete scumbag," Allie spat out.
Tad nodded. "No kidding." He nodded at Matt. "I think you better plan on showing up tomorrow. He's making a move on Nat."
He was? Really?
Allie must have read the expression on my face. "He was hitting on you in front of your boyfriend! As if Matt wasn't even there. As if he could take you away from Matt anytime he wanted." She shook her head. "Disgusting. I hope he breaks an ankle in the race tomorrow. "
"Allie!" Okay, I could admit that Zach had been kind of a jerk, but he was our best runner. His ankles were off limits to evil thoughts.
Tad was looking at me. "What team party last night?" He shot Matt a look of sympathy.
"Nothing happened with him," I blurted out. "He just made it sound that way." I looked at Matt. "I swear. Matt. He told me it was for team people only and then when I showed up all these other people were there...." My voice faded as I recalled Zach had told me that no one else was allowed so I wouldn't bring my boyfriend. "I didn't realize it was a party, and I swear nothing happened. A bunch of us watched a movie, and that was it." Sure, we weren't actually dating, but I didn't want Matt or anyone else at the table to think I'd cheat on him.
I wasn't like that, but more importantly, Matt deserved better than that.
Matt stared at me for a long time. "I don't enjoy being jerked around."
"I know that! I didn't do anything! I swear it!"
His gaze flicked toward Zach, who was watching us with a smug look on his face w
hile Val leaned against him. "I don't like him enough to let him think he's better than me."
"He already does," Tad said. "Look at that expression on his face. He gives runners a bad name."
Matt locked his gaze on mine. "I have my pride."
I swallowed at the intense look on his face. Matt might be a brainiac, but there was nothing wimpy about the look on his face right now. He was pissed, and he was insulted. In fact, he looked completely tough and sexy, and I suddenly would have bet on him instead of Zach, if they were to meet for a duel at dawn with pistols.
"Is Zach still watching?" Matt asked.
I glanced at the table. "Yeah." Still sporting that smug look on his face too. Even though he was totally cute, it really did make him look like a jerk.
"Then let's give him something to watch." He curved his fingers around the back of my neck and applied gentle pressure. "Come here."
It took me a split second before I realized what he was going to do. He was going to kiss me, and he was going to make it count. This wasn't going to be like the kiss at the field the other day. This was going to be the real thing.
My heart started pounding and I couldn't catch my breath. And I didn't pull away. I wanted Matt to kiss me. I wanted it more than anything I'd ever wanted in my life.
When Matt lips touched mine, I was sure I was going to faint. They were so soft and warm and begging me to join them. So I kissed him back. I mean, I tried. I wasn't exactly the expert, but I tried to copy what he was doing. Well, I tried for a little bit; after that, I couldn't think. All I could do was taste his lips and feel his breath and try not to fall off my chair.
He finally pulled away, but not very far. His eyes were all smoky and made me all warm. "Apparently, running isn't the only thing you're good at." His voice was husky and gravelly and it made my skin pop up in goose bumps. He brushed his thumb over my lips, and I thought for sure I was going to die right on the spot.
"You, too." Was that my voice? Sounded awfully breathless.
The corner of his mouth curved up. "I'm not good at running."
"Well, you're good at kissing."
Smart Boys & Fast Girls (A Girlfriend's Guide to Boys) Page 8
