arisen. It was hardly Jake’s fault he’d come up with the word
“It’s fine,” I added. “We’ll work on it some more in class. Sorry if I seemed a little loopy just now.”
“That’s okay, we all have our loopy days.”
He gave me a smile, a proper one this time, without the curling lip and attitude. He reached out and touched my arm reassuringly.
“Thanks for being cool about it,” I said gratefully, mirroring what Molly might say in a similar situation.
“It’s what I do,” he said.
I watched him stroll away to join a small group that included Alicia, Alexandra, and Ben from our literature class, along with some others I recognized as music students by their straggly hair and loose ties. They closed in around him like devotees as he approached and then seemed to dive immediately into a deep discussion. I felt pleased for him that he had found a group to belong to.
I went off to my own locker, still feeling as though something was amiss. It wasn’t until I had gathered my books and was waiting for Xavier to come and meet me that I realized I felt physical discomfort. I focused for a moment and located the sensation. It wasn’t real pain — more like a mild case of sunburn. The skin on my arm, just below the elbow, was stinging in exactly the place where Jake had touched me. But how could his touch possibly have hurt me? He had only put his hand very gently on my arm, and I hadn’t experienced anything unusual at the time.
“You seem distracted,” Xavier said as we walked together to French class. He knew me so well, he never missed a beat.
“Just thinking about the prom,” I replied.
“And that makes you look sad?”
I decided to force Jake Thorn from my mind. The pain in my arm probably had nothing to do with him. I’d most likely scraped it on a locker or desktop without noticing. I needed to stop overreacting.
“I don’t look sad,” I said lightly. “This is my thoughtful expression. Honestly, Xavier, can’t you read me by now?”
“I must be slipping.”
“It’s really not good enough.”
“I know. Feel free to punish me in any way you see fit.”
“Did I mention I’ve finally decided on a nickname for you?”
“I didn’t know you were looking.”
“Well, I’ve given the matter some serious thought.”
“And what have you come up with?”
“Cookie,” I announced proudly.
Xavier scrunched up his face. “No way.”
“You don’t like it? What about Bumblebee?”
“Worse.”
“Snookie-wookie?”
“Do you have any cyanide?”
“Well, some of us are just a bit hard to please.”
We walked past some girls poring over celebrity gowns in a magazine, and I remembered my other news. “Did I tell you that Ivy’s making my dress? I hope it’s not putting her out too much.”
“What are sisters for?”
“I’m so happy we’re going together.” I sighed. “It’s going to be perfect.”
“You’re happy?” Xavier whispered. “I’m the one going with an angel.”
“Shh!” I clapped a hand over his mouth. “Remember what we promised Gabe.”
“It’s okay, Beth; no one around here has supersonic hearing.” He gave me a peck on the cheek. “And the prom is going to be great. Tell me about your dress.”
I pursed my lips and refused to disclose any details.
“Oh, come on!”
“No. You’ll have to wait till the night.”
“Can I at least know the color?”
“Nope.”
“Women can be so cruel.”
“Xavier?”
“Yes, babe?”
“Would you write me a poem if I asked you to?”
Xavier looked at me quizzically. “Are we talking love poems?”
“I guess so.”
“Well, I can’t say it’s my forte, but I’ll have something for you by day’s end.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I laughed. “I was just wondering.”
I was always taken aback by Xavier’s willingness to oblige. Was there anything he wouldn’t do for me if I asked?
Xavier and I were due to give a talk in French that lesson, and we’d chosen to do it on Paris, the city of love. In truth, we hadn’t done very much research; Gabriel had given us all the information we needed. We hadn’t even had to open a book or Internet page. When Mr. Collins called us up, Xavier spoke first, and I noticed other girls in the class eyeing him with interest. I tried to imagine myself in their place, watching him longingly from a distance but never really knowing him. I looked at his smooth tanned skin, his entrancing aqua eyes, his half-smile, his strong arms, and the locks of light brown hair falling across his forehead. He still wore his silver crucifix on a leather cord around his neck. He was so striking — and he was all mine.
I was so caught up in admiring him that I missed my cue to start talking. Xavier cleared his throat, recalling me to the present, and I quickly launched into my part of the presentation, focusing on the romantic sights and the cuisine Paris had to offer. As I talked, I realized that instead of making eye contact with the class and attempting to engage them, I was sneaking sidelong glances at Xavier. I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off him for a minute.
With the talk concluded, Xavier spontaneously swept me up into his arms.
“Urgh, would you two just get a room already?” Taylah called out. “
“Yes, that will do,” said Mr. Collins, swatting us apart.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Xavier said with a smile. “We were just trying to make our presentation as authentic as possible.”
Mr. Collins glared at us but the class laughed.
News of our performance in French filtered through the grapevine, and Molly bailed me up about it at the first opportunity.
“So you and Xavier are really into each other?” she said enviously.
“Yes.” I tried to keep from beaming, as I usually did when I thought of him.
“I still can’t believe you’re with Xavier Woods,” Molly said, shaking her head. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I think you’re really gorgeous and all, but girls have been chasing after him for ages, and he hasn’t batted an eyelid. People thought he’d never get over Emily, and then you come along and…”
“I can’t believe it either sometimes,” I said modestly.
“You’ve got to admit it’s pretty romantic, the way he looks after you, like some sort of knight in shining armor.” Molly sighed. “I wish a guy would treat me like that.”
“You’ve got heaps of guys that are madly in love with you,” I said. “They follow you around like puppy dogs.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the same as with you and Xavier,” Molly replied. “You two really seem connected. Other guys only want one thing.” She paused. “Well, I’m sure you and Xavier get up to some good stuff, but it seems like there’s more to it.”
“What sort of stuff?” I asked curiously.
“You know, like, in the bedroom.” Molly giggled. “You don’t have to be embarrassed about telling me, I’ve
