Chapter Two Artemis
Chapter Two
Artemis
I take my seat at the dinner table, staring at the beige tablecloth. Two days have passed and I still don’t have a date to the dance.
More posters have been hung around school, reminding everyone about the epic occasion, and it’s like a dagger to my heart.
“Honey, is everything okay?” Mom asks, passing the plates with food around. She made one of my favorites, but I can’t eat it. It’ll taste like wood.
“Fine,” I mutter, stabbing my chicken.
Dad’s in the middle of talking politics, something I’m definitely not interested in.
I’ve got my phone on my lap and I’m creeping on Ryan.
He doesn’t have much on social media, just a picture of him and his parents at some sort of event.
He’s wearing a suit, and darn it he looks so dashing, like Mr. Darcy dashing. Ugh. So not fair.
“Artemis, what did we say about having cell phones at the table?” Mom asks.
I look over to where my brother’s phone sits before him on the table.
Why does he always get away with everything?
Why are my parents so harsh with me? Because he’s perfect and I’m far from it.
He gets good grades and manages to keep them up while dating and doing all his volunteer work.
I can barely keep goldfish alive for more than two hours.
He’s responsible, while I’m the complete opposite. Fine, I get it. I just wish my parents would have more faith in me.
I continue tapping my phone, trying to find as much information on Ryan as I can, but he’s like a ghost.
“Artemis,” Dad says in his authoritative, mayor tone. “What did your mother just say?” He holds out his hand. “Give it here.”
“Dad!”
“You can have it after we’re done with dinner. Let’s eat like a family.”
I groan before handing him my phone. “So not fair. Jason is on his phone, but you’re not confiscating his.”
“Jason has many endeavors he needs to take care of,” Mom explains, for maybe the hundredth time. “He needs to constantly be on his phone, check up on things. You understand.”
Sure I understand.
It’s not like he’s purposely getting away with it, or rubbing it in my face. He probably is legitimately working on stuff. Still, it’s not fair. And besides, I know he’s sneaking in texts to Jenna.
I cross my arms over my chest, huffing. Jason, sitting across from me, lifts his head. “Fine.” He places his phone on the empty chair next to him. “I put it down. Happy?”
At that second, his phone pings.
“You can get that, son,” Dad tells him. It’s probably Jenna.
Jason shakes his head. “That’s okay. If Art can’t have her phone during dinner, then I shouldn’t, either.”
“Thank you,” I say, tightening my arms on my chest. “At least someone in this family cares.”
Mom gives me a look. “Stop being so dramatic, honey. An hour away from your phone won’t kill you.”
Jason’s phone continues to sing, but he makes no move to get it. He’s a good brother as far as brothers go. I still hate the double standards my parents have in play. Not that it’s his fault.
They expect him to follow in Dad’s footsteps. Become this great lawyer, then mayor one day. I have no idea what they want from me. Honestly, I just want a boyfriend and I’ll be happy.
And not just any boyfriend. Ryan Rogers.
***
The next day, I rush into the building and search for the man of my dreams. He’s at his locker, rummaging inside for his books. I decided that today is the day I will get this beautiful, mysterious guy to notice me.
Clearing my throat, I muster all my courage and make my way over to him. “Hey.”
His back faces me, which makes it a little tricky because I don’t want to, like, tap him or anything. Some people don’t like being touched.
“Ryan?”
He doesn’t turn around.
I spot a few girls, Brianne’s friends, in the corner, giggling as they watch my pathetic attempt to talk to my crush.
Ryan slams his locker shut and heads for his first class. Did he really not hear me? Or did he purposely ignore me?
The girls continue to laugh. They pull out their phones. To text the world how much of a loser I am?
I sink down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest. Is it too much to ask to be happy?
When lunch rolls around, I tell myself I’ll be confident this time. Ryan’s at his usual table at the corner of the cafeteria, drawing. I’ve got my tray in my hands and am about to make my way over there, when I’m nearly run over by a few guys running laps around the cafeteria. Seriously?
They’re shouting as they run, giving me a headache. When they’re out of my sight, I glance at Ryan’s table. He’s not there. Did he flee from all the noise?
“Artemis!” Jenna calls from our table, where she’s sitting with my brother. I dump my tray down, telling them I’ll be back.
Then I leave the cafeteria and find Ryan in the art room. He’s got a huge canvas before him and he’s drawing some sort of landmark.
I step into the room. “Hey.”
Like before, he doesn’t turn around.
“Ryan?”
He’s drawing like his life depends on it. An earthquake can hit and he still wouldn’t notice.
Sigh. Clearly he doesn’t want to be disturbed.
I slip out of the room, my heart cracking into a million pieces.
I am a loser. Loser Artemis who will never be happy.
***
I’m on my bed, clutching a pillow to my chest. Four days have passed and guess who still doesn’t have a date to the dance?
Tears pool in my eyes before sliding down my cheeks. Why am I making such a big deal about it? It’s just a dance. A dance I’m dying to go to with a guy. With Ryan. I tried to talk to him a few more times, only to fail royally.
I’m pathetic. That’s the truth. Simply pathetic.
“Art?” Jason says as he passes my room. “Are you crying?” He’s in my room in an instant, dropping down near me on the bed. “What’s wrong?”
I clutch the pillow tighter. “I just want to go to the dance.” I sniff.
Jason hands me a tissue. “No one asked you?”
I shake my head.
He wraps his arm around me, pulling me close to his chest and letting me soak his shirt with my tears. “I want to go with Ryan Rogers. It’d be the happiest day of my life.”
He doesn’t say anything as he pats my brown hair. “A guy will ask you, Art. I know it.”
“I want Ryan,” I moan. “Ryan.”
He’s quiet, letting me cry on him. He keeps telling me over and over that it’s going to be okay. How can it? Ryan doesn’t even know I exist. He’s purposely ignoring me. Same way he ignored Brianne, the most popular girl at school. What chance do I have?