8 Years Ago
The cafeteria fills with noisy chatter and squeaking chairs against the floor. I’m sitting at my usual table filled with my football teammates and their cheerleader girlfriends and friends.
Ryan slings his arm over my shoulder. “Dude, you have to come this Friday. You’ve got to be out of your mind if you think I’m going to let you miss it.”
I tip my head back and sigh. “I would if I could, man. But, I really have to finish this project.”
Swimming all night with Jeremiah in his backyard was… more fun than I had anticipated. I wonder if he’ll be interested in doing it again.
My eyes find Jeremiah across the cafeteria, scribbling away in his notebook, keeping to himself like always.
“The stupid homeroom project? No way. You’re not ditching the last party of the year to spend the night with…” he grimaces, giving himself a chill.
A weird sensation twists low in my stomach.
“And plus, guess who’s going to be there?” Ryan squeezes my shoulder, subtly tilting his head down the caf table.
Locking eyes with Morgan Casey, she flicks her dark brown hair over her shoulder and shyly looks away. The captain of the cheerleaders should be with the captain of the football team…
They should…
And yet…
I blow out a heavy breath. “Dude, if I don’t finish this project—”
“Ohmygod,” Ryan groans, covering his face with his hands. “Why is my best friend such a lame–o?”
I chuckle, shaking my head.
I wonder if Jeremiah won’t mind me coming over again. Maybe I can sneak in through his back window. And, maybe he could show me his room this time.
While Ryan’s wallowing over how embarrassing of a best friend I am, I try to subtly sneak another look at Jeremiah over my shoulder.
Only, this time, what I see makes my stomach drop.
At some point, Theo Hart has wandered over to Jeremiah and is now leaning over his shoulder, looking at whatever he’s writing.
“What the f—” I can’t help but mutter under my breath.
“What?” Ryan stops wallowing and follows my sight. “Since when were they friends?”
That’s exactly what I’d like to know.
My eyes narrow as I watch them converse. Theo points at something on his paper, and Jeremiah actually responds, describing God knows what.
Why does Theo get to know? Why is Theo always taking what I want?
Wait.
What the hell kind of thought was that?
I look away, jaw clenching so hard, I swear I’ll break my molars.
Ryan watches me closely. “Dude, you’re looking tense.”
My heart starts to pound harder.
I’m not sure why, but I want Theo and his nice smile and charming laugh to get the hell away from him.
Which is the only way I can explain what I say next.
“So mad I got paired up with him. Seriously, no one should be speaking to that guy. He’s such a germ,” I sneer.
“Jeremiah the germ?! Chase, you’re a genius.” Ryan cackles, shaking his head.
I open my mouth to protest, but before I do, Theo laughs at something Jeremiah says, squeezing his shoulder. Oh, he’s making jokes now?
Anger boils inside of me.
“Should we intervene?” Ryan asks, low and quiet.
“Definitely.” I stand up, my chair screeching back.
“Wait!” Ryan laughs, opening his cup lid that was once filled with root beer. Snickering to himself, he starts grabbing at everyone’s drinks around us, pouring it in and filling his cup with a strange mixture.
“What are you doing?” I awkwardly laugh.
“Gotta make Theo’s new friend a special concoction,” he smirks to himself. “Oh—” He grabs at Mike C’s leftover chili, dumping that in too.
My stomach curdles, as he passes it over to me. “There you go. Tell Germ we said hi.” Ryan winks.
It’s not the first time Ryan has ever stirred up a bad situation. Stuck under his strict parents, he’s always itching to get himself into trouble.
I stare down at the cup. I know I shouldn’t. But, once I glance over and see Theo and Jeremiah watching me too, I can’t help myself.
“Thanks,” I mutter, picking up the cup.
Him and the rest of the team snicker behind me as I make my way over to Theo and Jeremiah.
Eyes on me, their smiles start to fade, which only makes me even more angry.
“Hey Chase. What’s up?” Theo stands tall behind Jeremiah’s chair, almost looking like his damn bodyguard or something.
“Hey,” I nod. “Didn’t know you two knew each other.” I frown, looking at Jeremiah.
He licks his lips, giving me a slight smile. “We sit with each other in Economics.”
Theo looks behind my shoulder, undoubtedly picking up on the laughter that’s following close behind me, and returns his gaze on me. “What’s in the cup, Chase?”
My grip tightens. “Jer—”
“What’s in the cup?” Theo asks again, stepping forward.
Before he gets too far, I feel someone rushing behind me. I take a look over my shoulder and see Ryan, with a mischievous look on his face as he races over, eyes locked on the cup in my hand.
No.
I’m not fast enough. He snatches the cup out of my grip and tilts the smelly, liquid mixture all over Jeremiah’s head.
Jumping up from his chair, he gasps, watching the mixture drip down his arms.
“Yo! What the fuck is your problem?!” Theo rushes in, straight for Ryan.
Ryan pushes the cup into my chest, stepping into Theo. “My problem is that your little friend here bothers us. He’s weird.” He looks past Theo’s shoulder. “You hear me, germ? You’re weird. And weird people shouldn’t talk to us. It’s not that hard to understand—”
Suddenly, a fist lands into Ryan's face, sending him tumbling to the ground. Girls scream all around us as guys from all over jump up to see what happened.
I’m at a loss, scrambling to pick up Ryan while I watch in horror.
“Fuck, that hurt.” Theo winces as he opens and closes his red-knuckled hand.
“You’re so fucking dead!” Ryan sputters as he clutches his cheek.
Before I know it, people are crowding around us, taunts following close behind.
I look at Jeremiah who looks at me stunned, hurt and confused.
Theo steps in close, whispering, “Hey, you okay? We can get out of here,” Theo says, wrapping his arm around Jeremiah’s shoulder as though he’s a scared little lamb.
Jeremiah isn't even looking at me anymore.
He's looking at Theo.
And suddenly anger burns hotter than guilt. I want him to feel as hurt and embarrassed as I do right now.
“Yeah, get lost, Germ!” I yell out. This incites a loud roar through the cafeteria, sending Jeremiah flying out the doors, with the taunts right behind him.