The crowd around me grew louder as the clock started ticking down and the fourth quarter drew to a close. I kept my eye on Jason, always cool even under pressure with all eyes on him.
Worst of all, this was starting to get too confusing. Too real. I couldn’t wait for the stupid dance next weekend so I could end this once and for all. Unfortunately I had to make it through spirit week first.
One last touchdown by Jason before the buzzer sounded.
Everyone around me leapt to their feet and I joined them, cheering for Jason and his teammates as they ran off the field to celebrate the win. My heart was pounding so loudly it threatened to drown out the crowds.
Why? Because Jason was running in this direction. Toward the stands.
Will I see you after the game?
He ran toward the sidelines…and straight into the cluster of cheerleaders who were bouncing up and shouting and throwing their arms around the prince among men.
I felt my heart land in my stomach with a thud as I watched Julia beaming up at him as she hugged him.
What had I been expecting? Of course he was going to celebrate with his cheerleader friends. Honestly, Margo, don’t be such a moron.
I busied myself with gathering up my equipment. This was exactly why I was ready to be done with it all. The fake friendship, the stupid homecoming crown campaign, my friends’ obsession with making me some sort of geek savior.
I didn’t look up when Becky nudged my arm.
“Hey,” she said.
I didn’t trust myself to speak right now so I ignored her. I was so stupid. At some point I’d gotten carried away. I’d actually started to think—
“Margo, look,” Becky said.
The sharpness in her tone had me looking up and then over as I followed where her finger was pointing. To the aisle right next to me where Jason was bounding up the stadium stairs.
What the…
He stopped at my row and turned to face me, a sly grin spreading across his face as he reached out and tugged on my hand pulling me close. “What are you—”
He cut me off with a kiss.
It wasn’t just a kiss, though. It was…everything. One second I was standing in a football stadium and the next it was just me and him and his warm, firm lips covering mine like this was how it was always meant to be.
This was my first kiss. My only kiss. And it couldn’t have been more perfect. His arms were tight around me, his lips guiding mine—tender but strong.
Just like Jason.
I might’ve been inexperienced but my body seemed to know just what to do. My arms twined around his neck as I leaned into him, my curves fitting against his strong body like we were built to fit together.
It wasn’t until he pulled back and his eyes met mine that I heard the hoots and hollers of our classmates around me.
I blinked up at him, trying not to drown in the warmth in those brown eyes. Struggling to make my mind work as I came back to reality. He leaned down once more and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. One that was far more chaste but no less impactful. If anything, that second kiss nearly knocked me off my feet because it felt so meaningful.
So real.
I drew in a sharp breath because just like that I came back to earth, and I landed with a jarring thud.
Oh freakin’ A, I was such an idiot.
I pulled back from him, only distantly aware that we were the center of attention. But of course we were. That’s what this was all about.
What was it he’d said? Maybe it’s time we take it up a notch.
I met his gaze now and forced a small smile. Well, I guess he’d done just that.
Too bad I’d fallen for it along with everyone else, huh?
I’d nearly fallen for it completely, that’s how stupid I was. It was almost funny how easily I could be duped. Like the old crush that had lived inside of me for so many years had flickered to life and tried to convince me that it was reciprocated.
Stupid, stupid Margo. No one else would fall for it. No one would believe that the guy who could have anyone would choose me.
I let him lead me away by the hand, ducking my head as my bandmates shouted after me. “Go get it, girl!” One of them laughed.
Yeah, okay. So maybe they’d been fooled. I felt the stares of the cheerleaders as he led me past them. Yup, apparently they’d bought it too.
Well, at least I wasn’t the only idiot in this school.
“Look, maybe we should talk—” he started, leaning so his head was close to mine so he could be heard over the crowds.
But then his friends from the team were on top of him. Literally, they were trying to tackle him in some sort of weird male celebratory ritual that I’d never understand because quite honestly it looked painful.
“Come on, man, let’s go party,” one of his teammates shouted.
That was my cue to leave. I slipped out of the massive bro hug without him noticing and made my way to the school bus that was to take the band members back home. I was the first one on the bus and I chose the seat that held a bunch of equipment so no one could sit beside me.
I pressed my lips together and clenched my jaw, ignoring the teasing jokes of my bandmates as they climbed aboard. I couldn’t talk to anyone right now. I literally could not talk because my chest was aching and my throat was raw from holding back tears.
I couldn’t even tell anyone what was wrong because I didn’t even know myself. I wasn’t that idiotic to go and fall for my perfect neighbor, right? I mean, that would just be beyond stupid. I wasn’t some optimistic dreamer and I wasn’t a romantic. I wasn’t the kind of girl who fell for guys who didn’t like them back and I wouldn’t dream of letting Jason get close enough to hurt me again.
Right?
Because we all knew that it wouldn’t work. I knew that. I didn’t fit into his world and I didn’t belong at his side. We lived in different worlds and we had different priorities and…and none of my self-talk was making the ache go away.
Maybe nothing would.
My phone dinged and I saw a group text from Suzie and Matt. Neither was a fan of sports so they never went to home games, let alone away games.
Suzie: What is happening?!?! He KISSED you????
I groaned. Well, that was quick. Someone must have posted the news on social media. I only hoped there was no photographic evidence, but I wasn’t about to hold my breath.
Me: Relax. It was just for show.
I hesitated and took a deep breath before continuing.
Me: All part of Operation Queen Margo.
There was a pause and for some reason that made the pain in my chest even worse. I didn’t know what I’d expected, or even what I’d hoped for. Maybe for one of them to argue with me?
Suzie: Wow, that’s…
Matt finished for her.
Matt: He’s committed, you gotta give him that.
I let out a little snort of amusement because I could practically hear Matt’s droll voice as I read his text.
Suzie: Committed or crazy.
Matt: Yeah, I can only imagine what his friends are saying.
Suzie: Or Julia.
I watched them go back and forth a little while longer before shutting off my phone. I didn’t want to think about anyone else’s reaction to that kiss.
I could barely handle my own reaction.
Matt thought he was committed to his noble quest for peace among our classmates. Suzie just thought he was crazy. Me?
I was pretty sure he was both.
Chapter Eighteen
Margo
My theory was confirmed the next morning when I found him standing on my doorstep bright and early.
Ridiculously early.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as my dad walked away to give us some privacy. He’d answered the door because I’d been upstairs, quite literally rolling out of bed. It had taken me forever to fall asleep last night thanks to that stupid kiss and I’d slept in later than usual.
He was smili
ng at me—of course he was. He hadn’t lain awake all night tossing and turning. No doubt he kissed girls all the time. Last night’s kiss had meant nothing to him. But to me?
I drew in a quick breath because it felt for all the world like the wind had been knocked out of me. It wasn’t fair that he looked so good so early in the morning. His hair was the perfect level of mussed and he didn’t have even the slightest hint of bags under his eyes, whereas I was still clad in my oversized flannel pajamas and fluffy slippers. I hadn’t even looked in the mirror but I had no doubt I was sporting epic bedhead and some smeared eye makeup. Super sexy.
I knew how I must look so I shifted uncomfortably when, instead of answering me, his gaze moved over me from head to toe, his ever-present smile growing to one that felt way more personal. “You look adorable.”
I sniffed and crossed my arms over my chest. There was no way he was serious. “What are you doing here?”
He arched his brows. “Not a morning person, I see. Duly noted.”
I made a sound that might have best been described as a growl. I was so not in the mood for pleasant chit-chat after he’d had the gall to kiss me and make me feel like he’d meant it.
The jerk.
He held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I just thought maybe you’d want to drive together.”
I blinked as if that might help make sense of his words.
“We’re supposed to be working on the floats today?” he said, his tone prompting. “At the school?”
My head dropped back with a groan.
“I’m guessing you forgot.”
“You think?” I muttered. My head snapped back up so I could glare at him, this insensitive, charming jerk who’d gone and made me lose all my senses.
I hated him. I hated myself.
Basically I hated everything right now and the fact that I had to spend my Saturday alongside him and his friends only made me that much more resentful.
He eyed me again and pressed his lips together. Wonderful. Now the nicest guy on the planet was trying not to laugh at me.
Jerk.
He nodded toward his car which was parked in his driveway. “I thought it might be a good idea to show up together.”
I nodded. Right. Of course. After the performance he’d put on in front of everyone last night, we really ought to see it through. It’d be a shame if he’d suffered the indignity of kissing me for nothing, right?
I know, I know. Bitter much? But I couldn’t help it. He’d kissed me. For show. And now he was acting like it hadn’t affected him. Like it didn’t mean anything.
Because it doesn’t mean anything, you moron.
I took a deep calming breath. Right. It didn’t mean anything. Not to him, and certainly not to me. I was smarter than this. I was in control of my emotions. So maybe I’d had a crush on him once upon a time. So maybe that had been my first kiss.
No big deal. I was a big girl. I could handle this. My friends were looking to me to make a statement. My friends in the band, the fellow nerds who’d been bullied with that stupid hashtag. It was up to me to steal that crown.
If that meant playing along? I could do that.
Of course I could do that.
That thought helped keep me sane as I changed into normal clothes and brushed my hair. I did the bare basics to get ready because one look at the clock showed that I’d slept in even later than I’d thought and my friends were expecting me for this float decorating shindig, just like Jason’s friends were expecting him.
“Ready,” I said as I reached the bottom of the stairs a little while later.
He surprised me by taking me by the hand as we walked toward the car.
I looked down at our intertwined hands. I would not read into this. I just wouldn’t.
“Everything okay?” he asked when I slid into the car and jerked my hand out of his.
I nodded. “Of course. Just admiring how committed you are.”
He flashed me a look of confusion but then he walked over to the driver’s side. “Committed?”
“That kiss?” I said. I didn’t actually mean to sound so…accusatory. It came out a little sharper than intended.
“Oh yeah.” He shifted in his seat to face me. “About that…”
I thought I saw an apologetic wince and that just made me feel so much worse. I hadn’t realized that was even possible.
“I can explain,” he started.
I didn’t want to hear it. I so did not want to hear him explain how it was all for show or how he thought it was the best way to win me a crown.
“No need,” I said quickly, forcing a smile. “I get it loud and clear.”
“You do,” he said slowly, a question in his voice.
“Yup. We should get going,” I said. “They’ll all be waiting for us.”
I was right. Everyone else was there when we arrived. Homecoming—the game and the dance—were less than a week away and everyone on the court was here at the school to decorate the floats, along with their friends who’d shown up to help.
This meant that the gymnasium was currently packed with football players, basketball players, cheerleaders, my fellow band geeks, the entire computer science club, thanks to Suzie, and Matt’s friends from the newspaper and AV club.
Our entrance together was…awkward. If music had been playing it would have screeched to a halt at our arrival.
Jason never let go of my hand even when I itched to squirm free under the watchful stares. No one here could possibly believe that this was real. I mean, they had to see what he was doing, right?
Apparently not. Whispers started up as soon as we walked in and they were unceasing, as was the laughter coming from Cara and her friends and the glares coming from Joel and his crew.
Oh yeah. This was super pleasant. Exactly how I’d hoped to spend my Saturday.
Luckily the senior class advisor was there so no one made any overt comments and I took the first possible chance to slip my hand out of Jason’s grasp and dart over to my friends. My people. Suzie and Matt didn’t know exactly what was up with me but they seemed to know that all was not right in Margo-land because they stood protectively on either side of me as our advisor explained the rules and regulations for the floats.
No matter who your date was, she assigned the couples on each float. Was it weird that I was relieved to be paired up with Luke?
Probably. I wasn’t his biggest fan, but then again at least it wasn’t Joel.
And thank heavens it wasn’t Jason. He was paired up with Julia.
Of course he was. Even our senior class advisor could see that the two of them belonged together. Luke headed over to me, Suzie, and Matt. I felt Suzie shift a bit as if trying to hide behind me.
I couldn’t exactly blame her. Luke had taken an odd new interest in Suzie ever since the whole photo incident. He wasn’t mean to her, per se, but he seemed to get a kick out of teasing her.
Basically, Luke saw her now, when he never had before. Partly because Luke only seemed to see girls with big boobs and easy reputations, but mostly because Suzie was pretty good at laying low, flying under the radar. Right up until she’d been outed as a so-called party girl, of course.
So yeah, other than Suzie’s misery at being paired up with her new nemesis, I was breathing a little easier. Like maybe we could actually make it through this day without drama.
Oh Margo. Silly, silly Margo. You didn’t really believe that, did you?
Sometimes I shocked myself with my own sheer idiocy.
Not surprisingly it was Joel who broke the tentative truce. He was working on his float, which he was to share with Cara, but his focus was on us. I’d be the first to admit, we were a solemn group.
I mean, other than Luke. He insisted on trying to turn everything into a joke, calling for scotch tape and scissors like he was a surgeon shouting for a scalpel. His humor was stupid but harmless, other than the fact that he wouldn’t leave Suzie alone. “What do you think, Suzie Q?” he called down a
fter he’d attached a stuffed lion to the top of our float as a nod to the school mascot.
She shrugged and dipped her head. Her way of dealing with Luke’s unwanted attention was to try and hide from him—getting quieter and drawing in on herself like she could disappear rather than reply. It was frustrating to watch because that only seemed to egg him on, and a vicious cycle was born.
All of this would have been bearable if Joel hadn’t gotten wind of it and decided to join in.
“Ah, come on,” Luke was saying, looking down at the top of Suzie’s head from his perch on the edge of the float. He held his hands out wide. “I’m the king of the world!”
Matt and I both grudgingly laughed at his ridiculous Leonardo DiCaprio impersonation but Suzie kept her head bent as if she couldn’t hear him.
“Dude, lay off it,” Joel called over. “Suzie here doesn’t watch normal movies. She just sits home alone in her room every night and plays videogames.”
Suzie stiffened.
It wasn’t so much what he’d said, but his tone. It was sneering and argumentative and just plain rude. I took a step forward to tell him to back off but Suzie beat me to it.
“Are you watching me?” She wrinkled her nose up in disgust, and that made a few people snicker, which made Joel noticeably angry.
“Told you that’s stalking,” Cara taunted, poking the lion, for all intents and purposes. “Although why you’d be watching a pathetic lonely girl sit around playing games is a mystery to me.”
Suzie didn’t so much as flinch but my hands clenched into fists at her use of the word ‘pathetic.’
“I told you. They have a lot of windows,” Joel argued, as if that made any sense.
“You don’t have to look inside, man,” Luke said, voicing what we were all thinking, I’d imagine.
This…was not the right thing to say. Luke and Cara’s mockery, though not in Suzie’s defense, seemed to spur Joel on, as if he could save face by shifting the mocking over to my tiny friend.
“What is she even doing here anyway?” he asked, pointing in Suzie’s direction. “Has she ever even been to a game?”
Love at First Fight: Geeks Gone Wild #1 Page 14
