Page 6 of Hypothetical Heart
When he gives me a questioning look, I shrug. “I don’tknow what you said,” I say out loud, even though he can’t hear me.
His smirk reflects the fact that I probably look like a drooling dog, and I wave goodbye before ripping my blinds closed.
My back hits the wall beside the window, and the overwhelming feeling returns. The one where my chest gets tight because I’m thinking too much.
I can’t explain it. All I know is that it happens, and right now, it’s happening because of the boy next door.
“Did you get my gift?” Logan asks as he comes up behind me and puts a large hand on my shoulder, making Genevieve and Eloise both laugh as I hang my bags in my locker.
“We know you watched it get delivered from your bedroom window, you obsessive weirdo,” Eloise jokes.
Logan doesn’t even look offended: he just laughs along.
“Yes, I got the flowers,” I answer his original question.
“I haven’t gotten mine yet,” Genevieve butts in. “You might want to get on that.”
Logan makes a hmm sound. “The delivery must be delayed.”
“Find your own friend to buy you flowers,” I joke, which makes Genevieve’s face instantly downturn. Logan, Eloise, and I all realize why at the same time. “Sorry…” I backpedal quickly.
“Don’t be sorry.” She quickly discards my apology. “You’re allowed to make jokes, Winnie.”
Still, Logan, Eloise, and I all look uneasy.
“But I shouldn’t when it feels like they’re at the expense of my best friend,” I reply.
“Are you okay, Gen?” Eloise asks.
Jameson, the foreign exchange student that Genevieve was competing with for valedictorian, left to go back to London two days ago, and ever since, Genevieve has been noticeably out of sorts.
It was only a few days ago that she had to leave school early because of his departure, something she’d almost never done before.
And with her birthday only four days from now and a party on the horizon, we would hate for her spirits to be in the dumps because of Jameson’s decision to leave.
“Yeah,” she answers, but her voice sounds vacant. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
For a long time, we all thought Jameson and Genevieve hated each other, and I think they did too. It wasn’t until recently that we all started noticing the changes between their dynamic.
Then Jameson left, and our friend group realized just how much his absence affected Genevieve.
She loves him. We all know it.
“It’s not a big deal, Winnie.” I hate the way she’s trying to reassure me, all because she knows I’m beating myself up over a poorly-timed joke. “I’m going to have to move on, eventually.”
The warning bell rings through the speakers above, signaling that the first class starts in five minutes. The sound of Mary Janes clacking against the tile floors gets louder as everyone begins walking every which way to get to class.
“I’ll see you guys later,” Genevieve says before she turns to walk away, Eloise following closely behind her.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to class,” Logan says, grabbingmy backpack from my locker, sticking by my side as we make our way through the halls, his hand falling on my lower back when it gets crowded.
“Do you think Genevieve is really okay?” I ask him once we make it to the staircase.
“No.” His answer is simple. “I think she will be in time, but Jameson was the first guy she ever really loved, and that’s not just going to go away.”
I can’t help but still be worried about her. Genevieve has never had the best luck with guys, especially afterThe Brandon Situation–her horrendous relationship a few years ago.
We all thought Jameson was it for her. Part of me still hopes he is.
