It wouldn’t be the worst thing if Kiki got some answers.
As for Shannon, she won’t like Jasmine. Outside of our little group, Shannon doesn’t really like anybody. Some days I’m not even sure she likes me. But Jasmine’s hot and rich enough to ping Shannon’s “importance” radar, so she’ll at least pretend to be friendly and welcoming until she figures out whether Jasmine’s a threat to her popularity, or college prospects, or both. Basically, whatever dirt Kiki doesn’t get, Shannon will. I probably need to figure out how to keep them apart until graduation day.
Gia will spend the entire night trying to decide if Jasmine’s prettier than her. She is, but Gia will pretend not to come to this conclusion, while coming to this exact conclusion. I love that she always tries to wish her truths into existence. It isn’t that she’s lying; it’s that she truly believes that if you will it, it is no dream. Her ex-boyfriend taught her that one, though I’m sure she thinks he made it up and doesn’t realize it’s a famous quote he must’ve stolen from an old yearbook. Anyway, it’s become her strategy for life. Granted, she made cheer captain, has a cute boyfriend who’s hopelessly devoted to her, and obviously has the most fabulous friends at Stratford, so maybe she’s on to something.
I’d never tell her this, but I was inspired enough by her success to try it with Chase, spending nights willing him to offer me a ride home or ask me to dance at a party. As I think about him flirting with me this morning, I wonder if it’s finally paying off, but on delay. (Oh, the timing.)
He’ll be at the party; the football players always go, regardless of their opener results. Whether I’m there or not, he and Jasmine will be in the same room, like worlds colliding. I wonder if he’ll think she’s pretty. (How can he not?) I wonder if she’ll think he’s hot. (How can she not?) Did I mention him to her? I can’t seem to recall any conversations about him, but there’s no way I went the entire summer without any. Then again, he was oddly unimportant when I was around her. But he’s definitely not unimportant now.
The problem is, neither is she.
Ugh, what a mess.
There’s a loud coughing sound at the front of the room and I see Mr. Howard trying to get my attention. Frankly, it’s perfect timing, so I slide my phone back in my bag without complaint and focus on the word “calculus” glaring at me in red from the whiteboard.
Within minutes my focus is gone. Jasmine isn’t in this class, and she wasn’t in my first period history class either. What’s she taking? Is she in AP Calc, like Kiki? Is she in the other calculus section with Shan and Gia? She wasn’t in lab with me and she’s not with me now and she won’t be in my Spanish class because she’s fluent in French.
Who. The fuck. Cares. I am not Jasmine Killary’s keeper. I’m not even Jasmine Killary’s friend. If I were, I’d have known she was coming here. I’d know why custody changed hands and when she arrived, and we’d have driven to school together the same way we went everywhere together this summer.
Instead, all I know is we haven’t spoken since I left the Outer Banks, and maybe it’s best we keep it that way.
I fix my gaze on the back of Chase’s head, remembering how flirty he was this morning. That is where my mind should be.
A note falls on my desk a couple of minutes later, crumpled and ink-smudged. “You should reconsider Friday night,” it says. “I could use a personal cheerleader.”
I stare at the handwriting I wish I didn’t know so well, considering it’s the first note Chase has ever sent me that wasn’t asking for homework. What does it even mean? Does he remember that I used to be a cheerleader, standing on the sidelines in a tiny top and even tinier skirt? Or does he think I’m so into him I’ll cheer him on no matter what? Or is it just him flirting?
Ugh, I might’ve liked it better when he treated me like his little sister. Romantic intrigue isn’t my forte; why would it be when my heart’s been in the same unrequited place forever? Not that I haven’t dated or made out with guys or anything—and this summer was something else entirely—but it was all fun and games, flirting and having company alongside Gia and Tommy and Shannon and “Pick of the Month.” Chase was always real, too real, but also not real at all.
I debate not writing back, but who am I kidding? “I’ll think about it.”
Even with my eyes on the board, I can see his smug smile in perfect detail after he unfolds my note.
I don’t hate it.
As predicted, I don’t have a single class with Jasmine that morning, and there’s no spotting her at lunch, since Shannon promptly sweeps me, Gia, and Kiki into her car to take advantage of our first day of senior privileges by eating off campus. I do get to hear plenty about her, though, since everyone else has seen her, and they have lots and lots of opinions.
“She moved here from Asheville, North Carolina,” says Kiki, her hands flailing like they do when she’s excited about info she’s uncovered, sleek black-painted fingernails catching the light at Lily’s Café. “Her mom’s still there, but Jasmine’s living with her dad now. Apparently he’s some big CEO and his house is incredible.”
“Who knew they had Balenciaga out in the sticks?” Shannon stabs methodically at a lettuce leaf. She always eats as if she’s dissecting a lab rat.
“What’s with her hosting the party?” Gia asks.
“Rumor has it, Hunter tried working his charm on her with a party invite
