Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Patrick
Look, I’m not trying to be nosy. It’s just that Sara sits in front of me, and she’s not exactly keeping her voice down.
We’ve just returned from lunch, and Mr. Day passed back our tests as we entered the classroom. I came to my seat as Sara waited for Mr. Day to find her test. Once it was in her hands, of course she went straight to Joe.
“Can you believe this?”
Joe’s gaze drops to her test, and then his brows pinch together. “Oh? Wow, uh. Look at that!”
“Thank you so much,” she gushes. “I can’t believe I passed!”
I can’t take it anymore, so I lean forward and squint, zeroing in on her paper. There’s a giant 68% marked on top.
“That’s great, really—but, uh, are you sure that’s passing?” Joe asks.
“Unfortunately, I’m all too familiar with lower grades. Don’t worry, it’s passing.” Her mouth breaks into a grin that reaches her eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without you!”
And then I’m forced to watch as she throws her arms around him, squeezing his midsection.
Something uncomfortable twinges in my gut. I remember how she’d thrown her arms around me yesterday, her peach shampoo enveloping me as she buried her face into my chest. Now Joe knows how that feels.
Why do I suddenly hate that he’s the one getting a hug right now?
I shift my gaze away from them, but not before I catch him saying, “Congratulations, Sara. I’m so proud of you.”
It grates my last nerve. I snatch my water bottle from my desk and take my mopey self into the hallway, stopping at the water fountain. Sure I’m using this as an excuse to get away from their little display in there, but ugh. Spare me with the flirting.
Sara normally comes to me with her good news first. Since when does Joe get that privilege?
I refill my bottle. Vicky told me to do something about Sara, but what am I supposed to do? How can I do something when I’m not even sure how I feel about her yet?
A tinkling voice interrupts my thoughts. “I saw you glaring at those two without bothering to intervene. Is there something you’re waiting for?”
When I turn around, I find Rose standing just beyond the classroom door, arms crossed. An unpleasant frown is splayed across her face, like she’s just licked asphalt.
I don’t like where this is going, so I resort to humor to save me.
“So you’re saying you’ve been watching me?” I ask, waggling my brows. “Checking me out, are you, Rose?”
It works. She’s immediately flustered. “No, that’s not—”
“Come on. You must find me attractive if you can’t stop staring at me.” I leave my water bottle perched on the fountain and flex a biceps, planting a kiss on my smooth skin. “You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed these bad boys before.”
“Please stop. I’m begging.” Rose sighs and adjusts her headband—as if it needed adjusting; it’s always perfectly in place. “I want to talk to you about something. It’s about Joe and Sara. I think we should be helping each other.”
My arms fall to my sides. What is she on about? Since when does Rose want anything to do with me, let alone want to help me?
But I’m curious.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve noticed how your little friend Sara’s been clinging to Joe lately, and obviously Joe’s nice to everybody, so he’s just going along with it,” she explains, excitement building behind her eyes.
“I’m sure he’s not trying to lead her on, but I can see things ending in disaster if it continues like this.
And I’m not gonna sit here and pretend I really care about Sara’s well-being, but I know that you do. You don’t want her to get hurt, right?”
I fold my arms over my chest, annoyed. Rose thinks she’s so superior, but she doesn’t know everything. Joe seems into Sara, which is why I’m in this predicament. Because, yes, maybe a teeny part of me wanted those love letters to be from Sara.
But is it because I miss her attention? Or is it because I really like her?
As more than a friend?
“So what are you saying?” I snap. “Get to the point.”
“That’s why I said we should help each other.
” Rose moves her hands onto her hips. “Joe and I obviously have our thing going on, and everyone knows we’re the better match.
And even though you might try and deny it, I know you have a thing for Sara.
You can’t stop staring at her. I saw you in there just now.
And she’s obviously always had a thing for you, Patrick. Everyone knows that.”
I press my lips together. This used to irritate me to no end. (Can’t a guy and a girl be friends? Sheesh.) But now . . . I don’t know. It doesn’t bother me as much, I guess.
“Joe is getting in the way, and I can see how it complicates things between you two,” she continues. “So what do you say? We can help each other, don’t you see?”
My, isn’t Rose so perceptive? Although Sara wasn’t exactly being subtle when she threw her arms around Joe just now. And don’t I want Joe out of the equation?
Ugh, bad calculus pun.
“So,” I say slowly, “are you saying you wanna split them up?”
She chuckles, placing a hand lightly on my shoulder. “Oh Patrick, split them up? I wouldn’t call it that—they’re not even dating. But more like . . . prevent Sara Lin from experiencing heartbreak.” She leans closer to my ear. “You care about Sara, right? If you do, we could do this together.”
I do care about Sara, but she’s her own person. Her feelings aren’t mine to complicate, and I’m definitely not going to team up with I Get What I Want Rose to demolish any chance Sara might have with Joe. I’m not about to be used by the popular girl and ruin my best friendship.
So I shove Rose’s hand from my shoulder, putting distance between us. “Ha, you’re funny,” I intone. “Sounds like you want to use me, but guess what? Me and Sara are just friends, so who am I to stop her from dating whoever she wants?”
Rose huffs, offended. I pluck my water bottle from the fountain and tuck it under my arm, starting for the classroom.
“Sorry, I’mma pass this time,” I say coolly. “Looks like you’re gonna have to woo Joe the old-fashioned way. You’re really pretty, though, so I’m sure you’ll have no trouble.”
“What, Patrick? Did you even hear a word I said?” She catches up to me quickly. “This isn’t just about me—it’s a win-win situation! I’d be using you as much as you’d be using me. That’s why I said we’re helping each other.”
I wave a hand through the air, as if dismissing her. “Still no, but thanks for the consideration. I’m honored you thought of me for your evil plan. Maybe next time.”
“Whatever, Patrick,” she huffs, blowing several light strands of hair out of her face. “Don’t mind me saying I told you so after Sara comes crying to you because Joe’s broken her weak little heart, especially when you could have been there to prevent it in the first place.”
I’ve come this close to escaping Rose, but this makes me pause in the doorway.
I weigh her words. What if Rose is right?
Joe’s nice to everyone. Maybe he’s actually into Rose but Sara can’t tell.
If that’s true, Sara’s gonna be devastated.
I imagine her giving up writing forever, too depressed to write or hang out or eat hot pot—
I shudder. No, I can’t let that happen.
Rose must sense a shift in me, because she says, “If you’re not doing this for me, at least do it for her. You care about her well-being even just as friends, right?”
I turn and face her, taking cautious steps forward. “Okay, I’m just asking questions here, but what would we even do about it, Rose? It’s not like I’m just gonna go up to her and—”
A mischievous glint appears behind her eyes as she smirks. “Just come with me, I’ll take care of everything.” Then she struts ahead of me, making a beeline for the classroom. “I even have a plan for tonight, and all you have to do is show up to the festival.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa! I gave an inch and she took a mile. There’s no way I’m teaming up with freaking Rose. No. Way.
I catch up to her. “What? Hey, stop. I didn’t agree to anything!”
“Just follow my lead, Patrick.”
And then she practically skips inside Mr. Day’s room, humming gleefully under her breath. Oh no—what in the world is she going to do?
“Wait,” I say, chasing after her. “I just said I didn’t even agree to anything!”