good.
“Well, you and Shawn should make some extra time for each other while this is going on.” Mom gives me another knowing look.
“Yeah, we will.” And we did last night—you just don’t know about it .
My phone buzzes.
LUKE: WORRIED ABOUT U. WHAT HAPND?
There’s no point in pretending I don’t know what he’s talking about.
HE CAUGHT ME AS I FELL INTO THE POOL.
LUKE: I DON’T BELIEVE U. HE’S BEEN WEIRD. I WAS AFRAID TO LEAVE U THE OTHER DAY. I’VE NEVER SEEN HIM ANGRY LIKE THAT.
UR SEEING THINGS THAT AREN’T THERE.
LUKE: IF UR SURE.
Instead of answering, I stuff my phone back in my pocket and hope he drops it. Shawn and I are good. Luke poking around won’t help anything.
***
I find a sleeveless tunic top because my bruises are almost gone, and now that I got them building sets, I won’t have to come up with anything. I also wear a pair of jeans and just for fun, and because I almost never do, I slide on my favorite platform wedges. Shawn and I should be cool. We’ve spent some good ‘us’ time the past couple of nights, even though I haven’t stayed.
Shawn’s smile is wide as I step out of the house. He’s on his motorcycle today, which terrifies me, but the ride to school is only a half-mile. I can be terrified for that long.
“Really?” His brows go up as he looks at my shoes.
I shrug. “I love them. No one cares but you.”
He sits silent and lets out a sigh of impatience as I climb up behind him. “It just makes me feel weird, and you know this, so…”
I wrap my arms tightly around his stomach, hoping to relax him, but he’s stiff all the way to school and doesn’t even try to scare me. Not once.
It sucks.
We’re back to distance, all because I had to wear my stupid shoes. I should know better.
***
“Ronnie,” Mr. Blackman waves at me from down the hall and I jog up, feeling light and tall in my shoes when I’m not around Shawn. Then, I’m heavy…for having the nerve to feel so great.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“I won’t be in rehearsal today. A former student here, and a theater major at the university, will be going over the scenes with just you and Luke, okay?”
My chest tightens, making my heart frustrated and my breath shallow. Nerves. I try to swallow them down. “Sounds good.” Or, terrifying, or…
“Great.” He pats my shoulder and walks away.
I’m still standing. In one spot. This should be interesting. So far, rehearsals have been more about memorization and blocking. Blackman said we’d work on some of the closeness later. I guess later is now.
“S’up?” Mindy bumps against me.
“Sorry.” I shake my head. “Intense rehearsal today.”
“With Luke?” She wags her brows.
“Please don’t do that.” I shake my head, my chest weighted down further by her humor. “It’s already weird for Shawn.”
She rolls her eyes. “Shawn’s hot and can be really sweet, but sometimes I don’t know how you put up with him.”
And she doesn’t even know the worst part yet. I definitely can’t tell her. My eyes float to the floor. She’s in flip-flops. “Can we trade shoes?” I ask.
Our eyes catch.
“That stupid height thing?” Her eyes widen.
“Yes. Please ?” I lean down and am suddenly desperate, fingers shaking as I fumble with the buckles. I’m so stupid. Shawn’s stressed and I had to wear something I know makes him uncomfortable. What kind of selfish girl am I turning into? “It’s just with the play and everything, I think he’s feeling a little left out, and then I had to wear my stupid heels…” The words come out in a rush.
“Whoa.” She puts a hand on my arm as she kicks off her sandals. “Relax, Ronnie. This is high school. He’s your boyfriend. It’s all supposed to be fun.”
I pull in a deep breath. The hallways are clearing. I’m sure we’ll both end up tardy. Whatever. “I know. Thanks for the shoes.” I kick off my platforms and slide on her flip-flops, grateful that despite our dramatic
“Well, you and Shawn should make some extra time for each other while this is going on.” Mom gives me another knowing look.
“Yeah, we will.” And we did last night—you just don’t know about it .
My phone buzzes.
LUKE: WORRIED ABOUT U. WHAT HAPND?
There’s no point in pretending I don’t know what he’s talking about.
HE CAUGHT ME AS I FELL INTO THE POOL.
LUKE: I DON’T BELIEVE U. HE’S BEEN WEIRD. I WAS AFRAID TO LEAVE U THE OTHER DAY. I’VE NEVER SEEN HIM ANGRY LIKE THAT.
UR SEEING THINGS THAT AREN’T THERE.
LUKE: IF UR SURE.
Instead of answering, I stuff my phone back in my pocket and hope he drops it. Shawn and I are good. Luke poking around won’t help anything.
***
I find a sleeveless tunic top because my bruises are almost gone, and now that I got them building sets, I won’t have to come up with anything. I also wear a pair of jeans and just for fun, and because I almost never do, I slide on my favorite platform wedges. Shawn and I should be cool. We’ve spent some good ‘us’ time the past couple of nights, even though I haven’t stayed.
Shawn’s smile is wide as I step out of the house. He’s on his motorcycle today, which terrifies me, but the ride to school is only a half-mile. I can be terrified for that long.
“Really?” His brows go up as he looks at my shoes.
I shrug. “I love them. No one cares but you.”
He sits silent and lets out a sigh of impatience as I climb up behind him. “It just makes me feel weird, and you know this, so…”
I wrap my arms tightly around his stomach, hoping to relax him, but he’s stiff all the way to school and doesn’t even try to scare me. Not once.
It sucks.
We’re back to distance, all because I had to wear my stupid shoes. I should know better.
***
“Ronnie,” Mr. Blackman waves at me from down the hall and I jog up, feeling light and tall in my shoes when I’m not around Shawn. Then, I’m heavy…for having the nerve to feel so great.
“What’s up?” I ask.
“I won’t be in rehearsal today. A former student here, and a theater major at the university, will be going over the scenes with just you and Luke, okay?”
My chest tightens, making my heart frustrated and my breath shallow. Nerves. I try to swallow them down. “Sounds good.” Or, terrifying, or…
“Great.” He pats my shoulder and walks away.
I’m still standing. In one spot. This should be interesting. So far, rehearsals have been more about memorization and blocking. Blackman said we’d work on some of the closeness later. I guess later is now.
“S’up?” Mindy bumps against me.
“Sorry.” I shake my head. “Intense rehearsal today.”
“With Luke?” She wags her brows.
“Please don’t do that.” I shake my head, my chest weighted down further by her humor. “It’s already weird for Shawn.”
She rolls her eyes. “Shawn’s hot and can be really sweet, but sometimes I don’t know how you put up with him.”
And she doesn’t even know the worst part yet. I definitely can’t tell her. My eyes float to the floor. She’s in flip-flops. “Can we trade shoes?” I ask.
Our eyes catch.
“That stupid height thing?” Her eyes widen.
“Yes. Please ?” I lean down and am suddenly desperate, fingers shaking as I fumble with the buckles. I’m so stupid. Shawn’s stressed and I had to wear something I know makes him uncomfortable. What kind of selfish girl am I turning into? “It’s just with the play and everything, I think he’s feeling a little left out, and then I had to wear my stupid heels…” The words come out in a rush.
“Whoa.” She puts a hand on my arm as she kicks off her sandals. “Relax, Ronnie. This is high school. He’s your boyfriend. It’s all supposed to be fun.”
I pull in a deep breath. The hallways are clearing. I’m sure we’ll both end up tardy. Whatever. “I know. Thanks for the shoes.” I kick off my platforms and slide on her flip-flops, grateful that despite our dramatic
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