Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Sara
“Ah! That freaking hurts.”
After watching Patrick all but face-plant onto the track, Tammy, Joe, and I volunteered to take him directly to the school nurse. Now we’re clustered around him as he sits on the recovery couch while Nurse Kelly wraps his wrist in a bandage.
“Please hold still,” the nurse says through a sigh.
I reach for Patrick’s good hand and squeeze. “You’re okay, Patrick.”
From beside me, Tammy’s gaze drops to our intertwined hands.
I couldn’t help but notice that the entire time Patrick was racing Joe, she was cheering for Patrick.
And when I’d turned to look at her, a flush crept into her cheeks.
Between her comment in the classroom and wanting Patrick to win the nonrace that turned into a race, I wonder if she’s starting to like him as more than a friend.
The blush was a familiar reaction; the same one I get whenever I’m around Joe.
“Do you think it’s broken?” Joe asks the nurse.
“Hmm, maybe.” She pins the wrap in place. “But I’m no doctor. Best thing you can do is get to the hospital for some X-rays, so I’ve called your parents. They’re going to pick you up and take you.”
“Great. I’m sure Mom is thrilled.” Patrick groans.
Nurse Kelly checks her watch, then starts for the door. “School’s just about over. You’re all free to go—unless you want to wait here with Patrick.”
Once she leaves us in the nurse’s station, Joe turns to Patrick. He’s suddenly bashful, hand lingering on the back of his neck.
“I’m so sorry about this, Patrick. I feel partly responsible,” he says. “I hope it’s nothing serious. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
Patrick’s eyes jump to his. “Actually, there’s one thing. It’s really important.”
My brows furrow as I glance between them.
“What is it?” Joe asks.
“Declare I’m the fastest runner.” Patrick smirks, his mischievous side returning even though he still looks a little pale. “Wasn’t it a competition? And don’t sweat my fall, dude. That was my fault.”
“Oh! Okay! Yeah, you really did beat me, Patrick.” Joe barks out a good-natured laugh. “I’ve got to run—and Sara? I’ll see you at the festival tonight, right?”
As he asks this, he lays a hand on my shoulder.
Eee! First he touches my chin, now my shoulder? I don’t want to read into this too much, but is it possible he likes me back? And if he does, could it mean Joe might be my first kiss?
“Right,” I say, head spinning in the best way.
His smile widens. “You worked really hard for it. Let’s make sure we have fun.”
It feels as though my bones have transformed into maple syrup, because I’m melting into a puddle of goo before his radiant gaze.
He walks backward toward the door. “Take care, Patrick!” he says before he heads out, footsteps fading down the hall.
“Bye!” I shout, hoping he can still hear me, then spin on the heel of my foot to Patrick.
“Ahh, did you see that? He totally likes me, right?” I slide both hands over my cheeks, feeling the warmth growing there. “I have to go home and get ready!”
“You’re leaving?” Patrick blurts, panic building behind his eyes. “What if I trip and break my other arm?”
I giggle, because I assume he’s joking. He’s known for that, after all.
“Don’t be silly, that won’t happen.”
“But what if it does!” he insists, his tone serious now. “What if I break my legs too?”
“You’re being ridiculous. Besides, Tammy is here.” I sweep my arm toward her. “You’ll stay with him, right, Tammy?”
I wouldn’t call myself high maintenance, but I did just finish running a mile in gym, so I absolutely need a shower. Plus, I’ve got to have time to do my hair and makeup. Everything needs to be perfect for tonight. I won’t settle for less.
Tammy’s staring at Patrick’s bandaged wrist. Suddenly, she throws her arms around his neck. “You have such great arms and legs, Patrick! And amazing ocean-colored eyes—I can’t stop thinking about them—”
And then, as if realizing what’s she’s done, she launches off him and rushes to the door, clasping a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. That was—I mean—I—”
Without another word, she sprints out of the nurse’s office.
My eyes connect with Patrick’s, and he runs his good hand through his hair, brows pinched together. “That was kind of weird, right?”
A laugh escapes my lips. Oh my gosh, this all makes sense now!
“I’m pretty sure she has a crush on you,” I tell him.
“Huh.” He processes this information, and I can’t tell if he’s excited by this or not. Do I want that? For him to be excited? “Guess I found out who wrote me all those love letters, then.”
I tilt my head, my heart constricting at this news. “Love letters? What love letters?”
“Oh. Um. I found some anonymous love letters in my locker.” He gazes up at me through his eyelashes. “At first I thought they might have been from you, but that wouldn’t have made any sense, would it?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I force out a laugh, even though I’m not sure how I feel about this. Am I okay with Tammy liking Patrick? What if he likes her back? “And don’t worry, I won’t write you any more bad poetry. That ship sailed long ago—and it left without you!”
I’m hoping this will make him feel better, but Patrick casts his eyes to the floor. “Oh.”
Okay. Something’s up.
I sit next to him on the recovery couch. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Hm?”
“Do you—” I blink, fingers toying with the hem of my gym shirt. “Do you wish I’d been the one to write you those love letters?” I nudge his biceps with my elbow. “What, don’t tell me you’re falling for me now?”
He winces. “Ouch—my arm!”
“Oh, oops. Sorry!” I hadn’t realized I’d nudged the bandaged arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, good.”
We fall silent. Patrick stares at his gym shorts, and I stare at Patrick staring at his gym shorts. I don’t know what else to say, but I’ve got to say something.
“Sara—” he starts just as I go, “I was—”
We stop. Look at each other.
“You go,” he insists.
“Oh, well,” I begin, hoping the right words come to me. “I was kidding with that comment. When I told you I liked you back then? I mean, things were awkward for a second, and I don’t want that to happen again. But you’ve been acting kind of strange lately, so I was thinking—I don’t know—maybe?”
Patrick’s cheeks flush. “Listen, Sara. I just think—how do I say this?” He lets out a breath. “I haven’t really thought about what I wanted to say to you.”
I swallow. Wait, does Patrick like me now? Or does he want to tell me he’s into Tammy, and would it be weird if he starts hanging out with her more?
How would I feel about that?
For so long, all I wanted was for Patrick to like me as more than a friend.
We’d built this dynamic friendship, supporting each other through hard times and joking with each other during lighter ones.
He knows everything about me, and I’m willing to bet I know everything about him. That’s a bet I’m confident I’d win.
All romance movies ever taught me is that the guy always ends up falling for the girl in the end. Is this the moment I’ve hoped for? Where he tells me he has feelings for me?
“Your new crush on Joe is great and cool and whatever, honestly.” He goes on, “I’m glad you found someone you really like.
But, uh. I don’t know. I’m sorry I’ve been a jerk lately.
I guess I’m afraid I’ll get replaced by whoever your new boyfriend might be.
” He holds my gaze. “Sara, you’re my best friend.
I’d be so sad to lose you. Yeah . . . so. That’s all I wanted to say.”
My heart thuds. This explains a lot. Patrick doesn’t suddenly have feelings for me, so why did I get a tiny thrill at the thought that he might?
No, I’ve got to put that out of my mind. The most important thing here has been our friendship. I’m not going to compromise that.
“Okay, well, first of all, I’m sorry you’ve been feeling this way,” I say.
“And you’re not the only one who has been a jerk lately.
I’ve also been acting stupid. It’s so silly, but for some reason, I thought you started liking me.
And then I got confused, because why now?
When I’ve just started liking someone else?
But I’m glad you’re being clear about your feelings. It helps me know where you stand.”
Patrick smiles, but I swear it looks forced.
“And, you know,” I go on, unable to stop these feelings from pouring out of my mouth.
“You don’t have to worry about any of that, Patrick.
You’ll always be my best friend, but I hope you understand that when I get a new boyfriend, he probably will become my priority.
And that may happen to you too. With whoever you end up dating in the future, you know? ”
He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but then closes it.
I take this as a sign to wrap things up, so I rise to my feet.
The festival is in two hours. There’s a boy who wants to hang out with me all night—one who’s led me to believe he may actually like me—and I can’t waste any more time dillydallying here with Patrick, who only sees me as a friend.
His parents should be here any minute. He’ll be okay.
“Let me know how the doctor goes, and get some rest, okay? I need to go get ready for the festival.” Once I reach the doorway, I turn back to him. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
And then I scramble out of the nurse’s office.