He shifted uneasily.
“It’s my favorite and the only version I ever liked was my grandmother’s. She passed away three years ago, and my mom just can’t . . .” He took another sip. “She tries.”
“All right,” I said, standing up. “I’ll show you how to make it.”
He grinned—nearly stealing my breath—before he popped up. The way his face lit up and even the way his eyes seemed to brighten and widen a little, made him look like a kid on Christmas morning.
“You really have to wear a retainer?” I asked, tilting my head to the side as I looked at his teeth.
They were all pearly white, straight, and perfect.
“Yes, I really do. Makes me drool. Not a pretty picture.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes, as I turned on my heel and started toward the kitchen.
“Attractive, Drake.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the truth.”
I laughed and set my tea on the table as I pulled out two saucepans and placed them on the stove.
“Are you ready?”
He nodded enthusiastically and set his can on the table as well, rocking back and forth on his heels.
“Well, get over here,” I said, waving him over as I sidestepped toward the refrigerator. “There’s a bit to do.”
He was by my side almost as soon as I said it, his hands behind his back as he watched me gather everything from the fridge and place the items on the counter.
I still wasn’t entirely sure what to do with him. He seemed like he meant everything he’d said. And why would he tell me something like having to wear a retainer to bed or watching a show like Ghost Hunters—two things that would definitely hurt his popularity—if he hadn’t meant anything he’d said? I didn’t trust him, and I probably wouldn’t for a long time, but at least this was a step in the right direction.
It had to be the right direction. I couldn’t handle the wrong one.
There was something distinctly different when I walked into the school the next morning. Granted, it was Friday, and it always felt that way because it was just before the weekend. People were either making plans or fine-tuning the ones they already had, and there was a certain energy about the entire student body.
I was just happy for the two days I wouldn’t have to see these people, two days I’d have the house mostly to myself while dad went golfing with his buddies, and two days to relax and just be me.
I was in a good mood, though. I’d had a good time hanging out with Evan last night, and the high hadn’t worn off quite yet. I was still wary of him and at certain points during the night, it had been extremely awkward between us. We’d done homework while the macaroni and cheese cooked, and he’d told me that he’d asked a few of his friends to volunteer for him. We both agreed that he could do that on his own. Dad came home around six thirty again. He inhaled and hummed appreciatively before disappearing into the living room. While the night hadn’t started out that great, overall it hadn’t ended horribly, either.
Today, however, it felt like I was walking to my doom as I stepped into the hallway and made my way to my locker. Every single person turned to look at me as I walked, and I played with a piece of my hair and kept my head down. My heart beat hard against my ribs.
What really sealed the deal, though, was when Kyle, Evan’s best friend, stopped me in the middle of the hallway in front of everyone with his girlfriend Ashley James by his side. He looked as uncomfortable and nervous as I felt. He resembled a short pit bull with spiky blond hair, and his eyes were a beautiful deep green. Kyle’s nose had been broken a few times, the bumps prominent and something he was very proud of. Still, he was attractive, and sometimes he snorted when he laughed. His front teeth were crooked, presumably for the same reason that his nose had been broken so many times—sports. He was on the football team and the baseball team, and while I didn’t go to many games, I knew from all the other students and posters that he played hard. His loud, deep voice was hard to miss, and while he was nice to everyone he came into contact with, he mostly stayed in the same circle that Evan did.
Kyle and Ashley had been on-again, off-again until the beginning of the school year. Now they were one of the power couples. She was beautiful—with her shoulder-length, brown hair, perky upturned nose, heart-shaped lips, and a petite but powerful body toned from years of gymnastics. She had her core group of friends, didn’t venture outside of her social circle, and had her digital camera practically glued to her hand. A moment ago, I was sure she didn’t know I existed.
Ashley never looked uncomfortable or nervous. Neither did Kyle for that matter, and neither of them had ever acknowledged me in front of everyone.
“Anna, could we talk to you for a minute?” he asked, slinging an arm around my shoulders and steering me in the opposite direction.
I thought I heard an audible gasp from everyone.
“I have to put my books away, Kyle,” I said, trying to wiggle out from underneath his arm.
“You can put your stuff in my locker for now.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to walk with us.”
I thought that either he’d lost his mind completely or there was another one of those invisible memos about me not being a diseased outcast for the day.
“To where?”
“Uh . . . to . . .”
“The gym!” Ashley exclaimed, grabbing Kyle’s other arm and pulling us both in the direction of the gymnasium.
“For what?” I asked.
“I feel like we don’t talk enough, Anna, and I want to remedy that.”
“Kyle, seriously, what’s going on?”
I dug my heels into the floor and almost tripped over my own
