Whatever is announced floats beyond my comprehension, but then a younger cheerleader stands in front of us and hands Rob a packet of papers. He quickly takes them, then resumes his motion against my hand that still grips his elbow too tightly.
The crowd cheers. He tells me to smile, so I do, and then he leads me back over to my safe zone. Back to the band.
It’s over.
The rest of the pep rally passes by in a haze, but I muddle through. The next thing I’m completely lucid about is getting into my locker after dismissal, packing my bag for the weekend, and listening to Jess carry on about being elected to court with Ashton. It’s Alyssa’s day to take me home, so Jess gives me a quick hug in parting.
At least someone is happy about being elected to Homecoming Court.
“Truth or dare, Papageorgiou.” His voice is as soft and soothing as it was at the pep rally.
I startle because I never heard or saw his approach. He’s just suddenly...here.
I’m so pissed at myself for the things I revealed to him in my panic. “Dare.”
When he laughs it sounds just like the old Rob. I can’t resist peeking my head out of my locker to check if he looks like his old self too. Pretty damn close. It’s the first time I’ve seen a genuine smile on his face since I came back to school.
Did I actually put it there?
“You’re such a smartass. Okay, fine. I dare you to stay on Homecoming Court.”
This feels so close to normal. I narrow my eyes at him like I would’ve done before everything went to hell. “Mmm, no. I changed my mind. Truth.”
When he leans toward me, I take full advantage of his closeness and breathe in his indescribable scent as deeply as I can. I try to get my fill every day in Bio, and ninety minutes out of the whole day is a nice reprieve, but it’s not nearly long enough.
“I really feel the need to point out to you that you played it all wrong back there in the gym. When someone picks truth, they’re supposed to tell you something that’s true, not the other way around.”
I try to stop the blush I feel spreading across my cheeks. Rob always calls me out when I’m wrong. I guess that hasn’t changed. “Yeah. I panicked. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell you that.”
“I miss you.”
I blink. Did I hear him right?
His honest eyes leave no room for doubt, but when he barely grazes my cheek with his knuckles, I still flinch.
He pulls away like my small, reflexive movement burned him. “I’m sorry.”
His gaze casts downward, his shoulders slumped in defeat, and the moment is gone.
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t help it. It’s not you, I swear. I just...I’m trying, but it’s hard.”
Kerri makes a loud production of getting into her locker behind me, interrupting our privacy.
I don’t want her to overhear our conversation, but after his admission, I can’t let this go. I don’t want to be blind again. Maybe he really does just need more time.
I take a step closer to him, which forces his gaze back up to mine.
“You kinda helped me before, so if it’s not too much trouble...do you think, um...would it be too selfish of me to request the all healing powers of your magic hands?”
“Depends. Are you gonna bail on Court?”
“I think maybe we can work something out.” I fall into his solid chest before I chicken out because as much as it brings on outright shudders, I need the safety he provides.
He was my boy for a day I don’t even remember. Don’t I deserve to know what that felt like if only for a few minutes?
He doesn’t wrap his arms around me, but buries his face into the top of my hair. “I don’t wanna hurt you, Evie.”
“So don’t.”
He heaves a deep breath, but pulls away, not meeting my gaze. “I heard you can’t drive yet because of your concussion. Is Mike taking you home?”
“No, Alyssa is supposed to.”
“Can…would it be okay if I drive you home? We should probably work out the terms of this deal.” His quiet laughter sounds
The crowd cheers. He tells me to smile, so I do, and then he leads me back over to my safe zone. Back to the band.
It’s over.
The rest of the pep rally passes by in a haze, but I muddle through. The next thing I’m completely lucid about is getting into my locker after dismissal, packing my bag for the weekend, and listening to Jess carry on about being elected to court with Ashton. It’s Alyssa’s day to take me home, so Jess gives me a quick hug in parting.
At least someone is happy about being elected to Homecoming Court.
“Truth or dare, Papageorgiou.” His voice is as soft and soothing as it was at the pep rally.
I startle because I never heard or saw his approach. He’s just suddenly...here.
I’m so pissed at myself for the things I revealed to him in my panic. “Dare.”
When he laughs it sounds just like the old Rob. I can’t resist peeking my head out of my locker to check if he looks like his old self too. Pretty damn close. It’s the first time I’ve seen a genuine smile on his face since I came back to school.
Did I actually put it there?
“You’re such a smartass. Okay, fine. I dare you to stay on Homecoming Court.”
This feels so close to normal. I narrow my eyes at him like I would’ve done before everything went to hell. “Mmm, no. I changed my mind. Truth.”
When he leans toward me, I take full advantage of his closeness and breathe in his indescribable scent as deeply as I can. I try to get my fill every day in Bio, and ninety minutes out of the whole day is a nice reprieve, but it’s not nearly long enough.
“I really feel the need to point out to you that you played it all wrong back there in the gym. When someone picks truth, they’re supposed to tell you something that’s true, not the other way around.”
I try to stop the blush I feel spreading across my cheeks. Rob always calls me out when I’m wrong. I guess that hasn’t changed. “Yeah. I panicked. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tell you that.”
“I miss you.”
I blink. Did I hear him right?
His honest eyes leave no room for doubt, but when he barely grazes my cheek with his knuckles, I still flinch.
He pulls away like my small, reflexive movement burned him. “I’m sorry.”
His gaze casts downward, his shoulders slumped in defeat, and the moment is gone.
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t help it. It’s not you, I swear. I just...I’m trying, but it’s hard.”
Kerri makes a loud production of getting into her locker behind me, interrupting our privacy.
I don’t want her to overhear our conversation, but after his admission, I can’t let this go. I don’t want to be blind again. Maybe he really does just need more time.
I take a step closer to him, which forces his gaze back up to mine.
“You kinda helped me before, so if it’s not too much trouble...do you think, um...would it be too selfish of me to request the all healing powers of your magic hands?”
“Depends. Are you gonna bail on Court?”
“I think maybe we can work something out.” I fall into his solid chest before I chicken out because as much as it brings on outright shudders, I need the safety he provides.
He was my boy for a day I don’t even remember. Don’t I deserve to know what that felt like if only for a few minutes?
He doesn’t wrap his arms around me, but buries his face into the top of my hair. “I don’t wanna hurt you, Evie.”
“So don’t.”
He heaves a deep breath, but pulls away, not meeting my gaze. “I heard you can’t drive yet because of your concussion. Is Mike taking you home?”
“No, Alyssa is supposed to.”
“Can…would it be okay if I drive you home? We should probably work out the terms of this deal.” His quiet laughter sounds
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