I started the next day with a pep in my step. I’d get to see Birdie twice. The Lord was blessing me today.
By the time third period ended, I could feel my heart racing in my ears. I hadn’t been this excited in a long time. I was so excited, in fact, that I couldn’t waste a moment worrying about whether something was going to go wrong. When the prettiest girl in school was involved, how could it?
I picked her out of the crowd easily. Our eyes locked from across the room and, with an excited wave, she hopped to her feet, calling out my name from the other side of the cafeteria. Many people around her had lifted their heads, scanning the crowd until they finally found the source of her excitement: me. I could feel their gazes boring into my back as I wandered between the tables, doing my best not to run into anyone’s head. Though the lasers of their eyes were certainly present, I found that the ache they usually caused had been dulled. Who cared what they thought when I’d won the affection of someone I liked?
Birdie let out an excited squeal when I finally reached her side. “You came! I was worried you might’ve changed your mind.”
I sat down at her side, not even bothering to go up and get food. That could wait until I got home. I had more important things to indulge myself in.
“Changed my mind? You must be crazy. I wouldn’t have changed my mind for the world.”
She sat down beside me, the white sweater she wore hanging off the sides of her shoulders. She had a tray of food in front of her, containing a lopsided burger, some wet fries, and a half-crushed carton of milk. Seeing that I didn’t have a tray of my own, she pushed it between us.
“Why don’t you have some? I don’t usually eat the whole thing anyway. I snack throughout the day.”
Suddenly, it looked like the best food I’d ever laid eyes on.
“You don’t have to do th-”
“Hey, it’s Mr. Smartypants!”
The familiar voice made me jump. The red-haired boy from my history class, alongside two of his friends, was sitting down at our table, dropping their trays to point at me in recognition. Two worlds of mine had collided, and the force had sent me reeling. Why was he here?
“You know Caspian?” I lost the attention of Birdie’s eyes.
“Course I do,” He crossed one leg over the other. “He’s in my history class. He’s a big nerd, you know. Always gets his stuff turned in before the rest of us lowlifes. Didn’t think I’d see my sister hanging with him, though.”
Sister?!
The boy on his left, a blonde with large, rectangular glasses, a narrow chin, and dark brown eyes, nudged his friend in the side. “Aww, don’t play a fool, Almanzo. You know your sister’s got a thing for nerds.”
Her face turned red at his remark. “Watch your mouth, Julian!”
He snickered. “So defensive! My golly. I was just giving you a hard time. There’s no need to burst a blood vessel.”
Birdie huffed, practically fuming, as the three boys, one still unnamed, indulged in their own conversation.
“That guy is your brother?” I still couldn’t believe it. They were almost polar opposites, one an athletic, smug kid, the other unbelievably sweet and precious.
“Unfortunately,” She shot the ginger a glare. “He’s a pain. If he gives you any trouble in your history class, let me know. I won’t hesitate to beat him up.”
“Oh, you needn’t worry. He’s as harmless as a fly.”
“Only cause he keeps you on his good side so he can use you for better grades. He’s got to keep them up to stay in football. Once you get to know him, he’ll be like a parasite.” She scowled, though there was no real anger in her eyes. “His two friends, Julian and Matthrew, are just as bad. Junior year’s got all three of their egos boosted. I can’t imagine what they’ll be like in senior year.”
“At least they want to keep me around for one reason or another. I’d rather have them treat me well than bully me all the time. To be honest, that’s what I initially expected.”
“My brother? A bully?” Her eyes rounded to the size of moons. “Never in a million years. He’s an egotistical pain, but he’s not a villain. The worst thing he might do is pester you for answers until you punch him in the face.” She nudged my shoulder playfully, a smirk growing on her face. The touch was warm. “You’ve got my permission to hit him. If you do so, though, you’ll have to send me a photo. I’d love to see it. I think you could give him a good rough-up.”
My cheeks ran warm as she looked up at me, her gaze almost admiring. I don’t know what she saw in my miserable form, gritty teeth, strawberry-smelling hair, and awkwardly-sized chest, but I wasn’t going to burst her bubble. If she thought I was cool, who was I to argue? Could I beat her brother up? Never in a million years. Was I considering it just to make her laugh? Definitely.
