Chapter 24 Easton
Easton
“Well. Guess you were wrong about her showing up. Guess she is the kind of girl who doesn’t mind having glitter in her hair after all.”
“Huh?”
I pivot back to look at Harper—I almost forgot she was tethered to me.
I shake my head and shift in my spot, forcing her body to contort to accommodate my position. I wouldn’t say we’re twisted like a pretzel, but it is highly uncomfy sitting on the floor like this, unable to separate.
If I move, the glue rips painfully at her neck. If she moves, it rips at the tips of my fingers.
Not ideal.
“Hello, pay attention.” She waves a hand in my face. “We’re trying to fix this?”
“I realize that.”
“Do you?” Harper looks so disgusted with me, her eyes and mine drawn to Maddie Miller and her sudden appearance in the gym. “She is not the priority here.”
I nod along as she complains, trying to actively listen. Dude, it’s so hard, though…
Then.
Maddie looks straight at me.
Like, straight into my soul.
“Easton!” Harper barks, snapping me out of another trance. “I swear.”
First of all, how can I pay attention at a time like this?
I can barely believe this shit is happening—the stuck-to-her stuff.
Second, I should’ve known better. Why did I think I could superglue flowers without screwing it up?
Does Harper think I want her glaring at me as if I were an idiot, especially with Maddie Miller bearing down on me in the middle of this… situation?
Of all the people to walk into the gym, it would be her.
Cell phone clutched in her palm, no doubt she’s here to film content. She told me she’d do as much, although to be honest, I didn’t think she would actually show up. And now? Now she’ll see me in the most embarrassing position I’ve ever been in: with my hand glued to another girl’s chest.
Could this get any worse?
Suddenly hyperaware of how sweaty my palms are, I wipe my free hand on the leg of my pants.
Shit.
Maddie is walking toward us.
Why is she still looking at me?
She never looks at me. Not the way Harper does, and don’t think I haven’t noticed the change in her since our second make-out session. If she wasn’t into me before, she is now. Not that I know what to do with that information…
Maddie continues to sashay through the gym, white sneakers squeaking against the shiny hardwood floor, broadcasting her every movement. I’m caught between wanting to hide and wanting to wave at her dumbly.
All I can do is stare at her, my mouth dry, my thoughts a jumbled mess.
“Guess you got what you wished for,” Harper mumbles beside me, holding totally still, her legs bent in in an awkward position.
“What I wished for? What’s that supposed to mean?”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh please. You were manifesting this so hard.”
I pull a face. Manifesting? “I don’t even know what that means.”
Harper huffs, nose stuck in the air. “It means that you’ve been obsessing over her for so long it’s like you’ve willed her into existence—right here, right now.”
Is it just me or does she sound pissed?
“That’s not…” I start to protest, but Maddie’s getting closer and closer and I lose my train of thought and let my sentence trail off because I am a numb nuts.
I swear my heart is about to explode out of my chest.
The smile she gives me might be like a neon sign flashing Too Good for You—and it’s the kind that makes her look like she’s stepped out of one of those Instagram filters—but it still sends a shock through my already scrambled brain.
She floats over and stops in front of us, holding up her phone with a gleaming ring light attached.
“Hey.” Her voice is upbeat—a little rehearsed—like she’s about to turn this whole scene into the latest trending video. That’s what she does, after all, and I know that’s what she’s here to do. Let’s face it, she’s not here to see me—that would be crazy talk.
My throat tightens, and I manage a half-assed smile.
The kind of smile a kid might give when they shit their pants and are trying to hide it.
“Hey.” I hate how stupid my voice is and wish it were deeper.
Maddie’s gaze flicks from me to Harper and back again, phone still aimed at us, eyes missing nothing.
“You guys are working on prom decorations?”
She’s looking directly at me; I can’t move, can’t blink.
Maybe if I stay perfectly still she’ll get bored and go away. Where is a giant boulder or hedge when you want a goddamn place to hide?
“Obviously that’s what we’re doing,” Harper mutters under her breath, too softly for Maddie to hear, and I bump her with my hip.
If Maddie notices us acting strange or standing too close, she doesn’t let on. I shift my stance to block the fact that my hand is planted on Harper’s chest, arm twisted in a way that cannot look natural to anyone paying close attention.
She wiggles her cell. “Mind if I film some of it for my page? People love behind-the-scenes stuff.”
“Behind the scenes implies that you’re helping, too,” Harper grumbles, again for my ears only.
I cough to cover her sarcastic remarks.
“We’re, uh, just finishing up.”
This time Maddie homes in on my hand. Fingers. Harper’s collarbone. The fact that I haven’t lowered my arm…
“Why are you both acting strange?” Maddie’s eyes narrow as she glances at Harper, then back at me. “Why do you have your hand on her?”
“No reason,” I say dumbly.
“Are you sure? Because it kind of looks like you’re stuck.”
Stuck? She doesn’t know the half of it.
I force a laugh; it comes out more like a nervous wheeze. “Oh, yeah—that. Ha ha. Just a little mishap with the glue.” Lying has never been my forte. “Tiny one.”
“Was this your fault?” Maddie smirks. “You always were kind of clumsy when we were younger, Easton.”
I was? She remembers that? “Gee, thanks.”
Her gaze settles on Harper. My hand. Harper’s face.
“Aren’t you just the busiest bee, Harper Conrad. Prom committee, decorating—and now arts and crafts playtime with Easton?”
Playtime with Easton? I don’t love her sarcastic tone. There’s a sharpness, a sneer she doesn’t try to hide when she’s speaking to Harper that she hasn’t had with me.
Beside me, Harper bristles, stiffens even more, if that’s possible—and for a second, I wonder if she’s going to clap back at Maddie or stay quiet (for once).
Her jaw is tight but she says nothing.
Honestly? Not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed.
“We’re just helping out,” I tell Maddie, one hand hanging at my side like a limp dick, one hand on Harper. It’s so fucking awkward I can’t stand it. “Mr. Grazz needed some extra hands.”
Maddie tilts her head. Fiddles with the cell in her hand. “Isn’t that sweet of you.” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “Maybe I’ll take some pictures for my social media now. Show everyone how dedicated you are.”
“Harper’s been a huge help, too,” I add quickly, glancing down at the top of her head. “Couldn’t have done it without her.”
“Oh, I’ve been a huge help, have I?” Harper gives me a tight-lipped smile that tells me I am getting my ass chewed out as soon as Maddie walks away.
Maddie, oblivious to the tension brewing between Harper and me, holds her cell high, moving around to capture different angles of the gym. A true professional!
I’m impressed, my earlier discomfort forgotten. She probably didn’t mean to be rude to Harper. She’s just focused on her task, right?
“This is going to look great once it’s all done,” she calls over her shoulder. “I’m sure everyone’s going to love it.” She purses her mouth and takes a selfie. “The district agreed to pay me for the finished video.”
“Awesome.”
She continues scanning the gym with her camera. “I’ll make sure to tag you guys.”
“Please don’t,” Harper deadpans dryly while I nod in approval—because I’m an idiot and I think it’s generous for Maddie to tag me. Not that I give a shit about social media, but I give a shit about her.
“Totally. That sounds cool.”
Cool?
Here I go again being a moron.
Maddie’s ring light casts a soft glow over her face and everything she points it at. Her fingers are quick and sure as she taps the screen, adjusting angles, zooming in on details. The flowers on the floor. Flowers already affixed to the trellis.
Me.
“Don’t worry,” she laughs. “I won’t embarrass you. Much.”
Her words hang in the air, and I can feel Harper’s hard stare burning into the side of my face.
Maddie steps toward me, leaning close, whispering in my ear. “No offense, but you should be careful who you spend your time with.” I pray that only I can hear her. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your image.”
Her warm breath and soft lips brush my earlobe.
I swallow a gulp.
With that she steps back, smile plastered on like nothing happened.
“Anyway! I’ll leave you two lovebirds to your decorating and helping the art teacher.” She tosses her blond hair. “Good luck getting unstuck.”
One withering glance at Harper and Maddie Miller spins on her sneaker and saunters off, squeaking with every step, leaving a cloud of vanilla perfume in her wake.
I try not to sniff the air.
As soon as she’s out of earshot, Harper lets out a long, exasperated breath. “What. A. Fricking. B-word.”
I mean, kind of? She didn’t have to whisper that rude shit loud enough for Harper to hear, but my dad always says girls can be petty for no reason. Right?
I shrug. “You’re just mad that you’re still glued to my hand.”
“I don’t think she acted like a B because we’re stuck together!” Harper sputters. “Easton, she’s awful. You need to get over her. She’s…”
I don’t hear any of the words falling from her mouth because my head is turning, following Maddie around the gym, watching her work. Film. Flirt.
Her confidence commands the room.
Sigh.
She doesn’t ask permission from anyone—people just move out of her way, parting like the Red Sea to give her space to work her magic.
Even Mr. Grazz, who spends his time hovering over everyone and micromanaging, steps back to let her do her thing.
She’s the kind of girl who makes everything she touches seem cooler, more important.
I’m stuck, glued to the spot—not just because of the literal glue on my body but because watching her is like watching some different reality. She’s glamorous and poised, and who wouldn’t be attracted to that?
Right now she’s filming the blueprint for the decorations, the committee members who are standing around staring at the wall. Her camera captures every detail. The flowers we’ve been gluing onto the arch? She zooms in on that, too, as if it’s already worth a million likes.
Part of me is hoping she’ll turn that camera back on me, catch me in the act of helping out. But another part wants to stay in the background and watch her. I mean, currently, I’m a conjoined twin.
It’s not long before she lowers her phone and tucks it into the waistband of her skirt, meandering through the supplies and back in our direction.
“Okay, I’ve got enough footage.” She clicks her tongue. “Thanks for letting me crash your work session. I’ll be sure to give you guys a shout-out.”
Harper shakes her head. No.
She does not want a shout-out.
She really is adorable when she’s bent out of shape, and—Wait, why am I thinking about Harper right now? Maddie is right here.
Focus.
“Uh. Thanks.” I’m relieved she’s done filming so we can go back to fixing my fuckup.
“ ’Kay. Well. See ya.”
Maddie turns with a flounce—as if she knows I’m watching her departure, tossing her hair one last time for good measure, squeaking toward the exit.
The doors part as if by magic.
And then she’s gone.
The doors slam closed.
I exhale.
“You might want to pay more attention to what’s in front of you next time,” Harper says quietly, raising the tweezers again, expression unreadable.
I wince. I may be clueless, but I know she’s not just talking about glue.
“Harper, I—”
“Don’t talk to me.” She cuts me off, shaking her head and raising her hand. “I should make you do this.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
She scowls.
It makes no sense; I did nothing to earn her ire.
Not really. I haven’t committed a crime by looking at someone I have a crush on—it’s not my freaking fault that I got distracted when Maddie walked into the gym.
So did a dozen other people! And Harper is the one who insisted we keep things platonic anyway.
She knows I’m into Maddie—that my feelings for her are what got me into this mess to begin with.
Maddie said she was she was going to show up, and she did. She kept her word, period.
Harper needs to chill the fuck out.
She might like kissing me, but after today, it’s clear she doesn’t like me.
I should know.
The fact that she’s staring daggers at me right now says it all.