Chapter Forty Six
We normally arrive at school at least ten minutes early every day. Today, Tray decided that it would be better if we arrived right on time. We barely made it to our first period classes before the final bell sounded. We would continue to squeak in daily, until this crazy Ember-popularity madness subsides.
In order to make it through this insanity in one piece, I planned to be sociable between classes with everyone. That way they can feel like they are included in my circle. The conversations however, will be short and sweet because time between class periods is limited.
I asked for the hall pass during my second period teacher’s lecture although it was so rude to interrupt her. But I have to avoid getting cornered in the bathroom. So I have to use the restroom while class is in session instead of in between them like I normally do.
“Hi Ember,” a voice said shyly in the girl’s restroom while I was at the sink, washing my hands.
I inhaled deeply and turned around not knowing who might be standing there. It turned out to be Jessica and I exhaled in relief.
“Hi…” I greeted my friend.
“I wanted to tell you why we were being rude and mindless idiots to Greg. But you have to promise to keep it between us,” Jessica told me.
I nodded my head and said, “Sure, just between us.”
“Jeff has had a crush on Krista for – well, since forever I guess. But she doesn’t seem to know he exists most of the time. When we started to talk about Krista being hot-n-heavily involved with your brother and their ‘super top secret midnight romance’ as it were, Jeff got kind of upset.
“But boys have this total moronic streak and instead of just saying something like ‘shut it Prissy, that’s my woman you’re talking about’ he became male-hormonal and started a fight with his best friend Steven. Don’t ask me why guys act like that – all ‘testosteroned out’ but they do. Now Steven was like ‘whoa buddy, what are you tripping about’? After a few more swings and insults Jeff admits to Steven that he’s so liking on Krista. Steven was sworn to secrecy. But, that doesn’t really matter. He ran straight to me and spilled the information.
“We gals took pity on the poor soul and tried to stop our ‘Tray-Krista-inquest’ in front of the guys at least. We turned our questions – well most of ‘em anyway – to general topics like what your brother eats and watches on T.V., because he’s still so hot.
“Ya’ know Cassie started watching sports on the tube because you told her that Tray watched some kind of ballgame. She doesn’t know anything about sports but she kind of figures she can ask your brother to explain everything. That way they’ll have some common interests and something to talk about when she works up her courage to speak to him. So far, she’s only drooled in his direction, but at some point…”
“Jessica we have to get back to class, sometime…” I reminded her, interrupting her side-tracked thoughts.
“Oops, sorry…so, we tried to stop joking around about Krista and Tray having an affair or a love child. That way Jeff could make some kind of move or something. Then, suddenly, Greg’s there and Krista started falling or flirting or whatever that was she was doing. We felt guilty because if we would’ve known that Jeff really liked her, as in wanted to date her, we would’ve clued her in before she had her Greg-filled meltdown. But we were too late because she was suddenly all “Greg mushy-mushy this and Greg mushy-mushy that”.
“We couldn’t say anything about Jeff being interested in her ‘cuz we weren’t supposed to know about it in the first place. So we had to make a plan, fast. We decided to crank back up the ‘Krista-Tray-secret-romance’ because no way would he be willing to take on your hot brother and ask her out. When that didn’t seem to work, we attempted to make Greg dislike us so much that he would want to make new friends.
“They were both stupid ideas, but they were the best we could come up with on such short notice. I’ve known Krista since first grade and I’ve never seen her make a move so fast with any boy. In fact, I’ve only known her to be serious about one other guy and he made the moves on her. She also made him work for a first date, according to her account. So that’s what made this situation with Greg so crazy. It’s like she knew where to find him and exactly what to say somehow – way too convenient and annoying…”
Thanks to me and Tray…
“Jeff is hurt over the whole thing, but there’s nothing we can do to fix it…” Jessica explained and she looked so sad.
I couldn’t help myself – I hugged her quickly and told her that it wasn’t her fault. We both ran back to class and I took my seat as my teacher gave me the infamous ‘I know you were goofing off’ look.
So Jeff likes Krista, but she’s all about Greg – I was starting to realize that teenage romance is way more complicated than I first thought. I vowed to avoid all things in the romance department until I either graduated from high school or could develop mind reading skills. Since I knew I wouldn’t ever be able to read minds, I was safe from the complicated dating minefield for at least the next four years.
I’m sure Tray will be thrilled to hear that news…
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 50
