Chapter 17 #2
“I don’t think he was pretending. I think he really did care about you, and probably still does.”
“Yeah, right.” I glance at his table and see him talking to Nicole, a tall, gorgeous cheerleader. “See? He’s already got a new girlfriend.”
“You don’t know that they’re together. He could just be talking to her.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s over. End of story. We don’t need to talk about it. Tell me about you. Have you heard from Asher?”
“No. He ghosted me. I think he found someone else.”
“His loss.”
“I know, right? But what am I going to do about prom? I need a date.”
“You could go with me. I’m an awesome date.”
She laughs.
“Charlotte, I’m serious. Why don’t we just go together? We’ll have more fun than we would if we went with guys we didn’t like.”
“I guess we could, but it’s only going to make people think the rumors are true.”
“What rumors?”
“Aubrey and Vanessa keep telling people we’re lesbians.”
“Yeah? So? Who cares? By the time prom comes, the year will be almost over and then we’ll never see these people again.” My phone dings, and I sigh when I see who the text is from.
“Who is it?” Charlotte asks.
“Calvin. He wants to talk.”
“About what?”
“He didn’t say. I’ll be right back.” I leave the cafeteria and see Calvin in the hall, looking nervous as he paces back and forth, chewing on his lip.
“Calvin?”
He stops pacing and turns to me, giving me a nervous smile. “Hey.”
I walk up to him. “What’d you want to talk about?”
“I, um . . .” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
“Calvin? Are you okay?”
His eyes pop open. “I’m good. Just a little nervous.”
“About what?”
He takes another deep breath. “Ella, would you go to prom with me?”
That’s why he wanted to talk? I thought he was over his crush on me. He hasn’t talked to me in over a week, but I’ve caught him looking at me.
“Sorry, but I’m already going with someone.”
“You are?” he asks, his face filled with disappointment. “Who?”
“I’d rather not say, in case it changes.”
“If it does, would you go with me?”
I hesitate, not sure how to word this without hurting his feelings.
“You don’t want to go with me,” he says, looking down.
“It’s just that I see us more as friends. I’m sorry, Calvin.”
He nods. “It’s okay. I get it.”
“I’m sure there’s someone else you could ask. How about one of those girls from the computer lab?”
“They already have dates. I probably just won’t go.” He looks to the side, then back at me. “What ever happened with that friend of yours?”
“What friend?”
“The one getting the texts. Did you ever find out who’s sending them?”
“No. But I don’t think he’ll get any more.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, knots forming in my stomach just mentioning it. I’ve been trying not to think about it, but all through class this morning, I kept looking at the door, expecting a cop to walk in and arrest me.
“Is everything okay?” Calvin asks. “You seem stressed.”
“It’s just stuff with school. There’s a lot going on.”
“I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure everything will work out.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will. Hey, I need to get back to lunch. Charlotte’s waiting for me.”
“Okay, see ya.”
“What’d he want?” Charlotte asks when I get back to the table.
“Looks like you have competition as my prom date.”
She laughs. “He asked you to prom? What’d you say?”
“I told him I already had a date. I didn’t say who.”
“Was he upset you told him no?”
“Well, yeah. Nobody likes being rejected.”
“I mean like in a creepy way, like he’s going to stalk you now that you told him no.”
“Calvin wouldn’t do that. He’s not a stalker.”
“He might be. The guy is strange. He lives in the computer lab and never talks to anyone.”
“Because everyone makes fun of him. They don’t even give him a chance.” I glance back at Briggs’ table and see that he left.
“He didn’t leave with her,” Charlotte says.
“With who?”
“Nicole. He didn’t leave with her.”
“I don’t care either way. He can do what he wants.” I get up. “I need to go. I have to stop at my locker before class.”
I leave the cafeteria and go down the hall, stopping when I see Briggs just outside the computer lab. Calvin is on the floor in front of him. Did Briggs hit him?
I hurry toward them, then stop when I see Briggs offering his hand to Calvin.
“Need some help?” he says.
Calvin looks up at him with fear. I think he might even be shaking.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Briggs says. “I saw you fall. I’m just offering to help.”
Calvin doesn’t move.
“You need help or not?” Briggs says.
Calvin keeps his eyes on Briggs as he takes his hand and gets up from the floor.
“You okay?” Briggs asks.
“I think so,” Calvin says, tripping on his feet as he steps back.
“You sure? You don’t look too steady.”
“I was nervous. I’m feeling better now.” He looks up at Briggs. “Thanks.”
“No problem.”
Calvin hurries into the lab.
Briggs looks up and sees me, then turns and walks the other way.
“Briggs!” I run up beside him. “What you did just now . . . it was nice.”
“Did I ask for your opinion?” he grunts, staring straight ahead.
“No, I was just saying it was nice.”
He stops and turns to me. “I don’t give a shit what you think. About anything. Just leave me the fuck alone.” He storms off.
“This is how it’s going to be?” I yell. “You’re back to being an ass?”
He ignores me and keeps walking.
“Jerk,” I mutter.
Why do I even try with him? Obviously, whatever happened to him those few weeks we were together was a fluke, and the real Briggs is an asshole bully who will never change.
After school, I get home and find my dad in the kitchen.
“We’re not working?” I ask.
“A storm’s coming. We’re done for the day.” He hands me an envelope.
“What’s this?” I ask, dropping my backpack on the floor.
“Open it and see.”
The envelope has the Stanford logo on it. After being rejected by two schools, I’m not feeling hopeful. I open it and read the first sentence.
“Good news?” my dad asks, noticing the smile on my face.
“I got in!” I feel a rush of excitement, but it’s quickly extinguished when I remember I probably won’t be going to college. Even if I don’t go to jail, my dad won’t have money for college. He’ll be spending my college fund on lawyers.
“Honey, that’s great!” My dad hugs me, then pulls back. “Why aren’t you more excited?”
“I am. I guess I’m just shocked. I didn’t think I’d get in.”
“Let’s go out and celebrate. Are you hungry? We could have an early dinner. Or we could go to a movie. Is there anything you want to see?”
“Can we do it some other time? I’m really tired.”
His brows draw together. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just been a long day. I’m going to go lay down.”
I feel him watching me as I go to my room. He’ll ask me about it later, assuming something’s wrong. I’ll tell him I’m stressed about school, but the truth is, I’m stressed about the hit-and-run, and stressed about Briggs. Why won’t he let me help him? Why is he shutting me out of his life?
I still care about him. I miss him. I never would’ve thought it was possible, but I do. I miss Briggs, and care about him. I don’t want this to be the end.