Page 13 of Perfect Tragedy
“Because being with her will make someone… well a few people maybe… very unhappy.” He looks in my eyes again, before looking away.
“I don’t understand.”
“I know Jack is one. He’s not going to be very happy with me.”
A small flame of hope ignites in my heart and my breath catches in my throat, but I push past it, afraid to let myself hope.
“Can you tell me something about her?” I ask him desperate for a sign. Any freaking sign.
He runs his hand through his hair, “Well, like I said, I’ve known her awhile, but she’s younger than me,” he pauses. “She loves animals, reading, and listening to music.”
I can’t help but think that these are all things that I like too. The flame inside of me flickers higher.
“What I think is really cool is that she’s totally like one of the guys sometimes.”
It takes everything inside of me not to scream my head off. It’s me. It has to be me. I mean, I hang out with him and Jack all the time. I have more books in my room than anything else, clearly I’m sporty and love taking care of all the animals on my farm. It’s me. How can it not be? Oh my god.
“She sounds… nice,” I manage to say casually like it’s just any other day and this is any other moment.
He smiles at me, meeting my eyes once more, before looking away again. He’s acting so shy and it’s adorable. Would turning to him and saying, ‘I like you too!’ be too much? What would he do? What will I do? Jump into his arms. Oh my god, what if he wants to kiss me? Does my breath smell okay? I blow into my hand and smell just to be sure.
“She is. So, you’ll help me?”
“Yeah,” I smile at him, the worry inside from before completely sated, excitement and wonder taking its place. “I’d be happy to.”
“Any ideas?”
I smile widely, “I’ve got a few.”
A couple hours later, Jack and I are back in his truck headed back to my place. A bright red gift bag sits between us and I can’t stop stealing glances at Blake, wondering how exactly he’s going to give me the gift I picked out - for myself. What will he say? How will he tell me it was me he was talking about the whole time? Will he talk to me privately? Give it to me at my locker?
When we pull up to my house, Blake parks and turns to me with a big smile, “Thank you, again. I know that she will love the gift you picked out,” he laughs softly and it just seems like he’s playing a fun game with me now.
“I’m sure she will. I know she will actually,” I confess.
“I enjoyed spending some one on one time with you, Sienna. Its been a while. I look forward to doing it again, soon.”
I can’t keep the wide smile from my face if I tried. “Me too.”
Hopping out of the truck, I close the door, give Blake a wave and go to the front door. I can’t help but look over my shoulder back at him to find him watching me. Turning away, I know I have to immediately figure out what I’m going to wear to school tomorrow, and of course call Vanessa to tell her everything that just happened so we can dissect every single word spoken.
The next morning, I’m nervous as I walk into school. I took the time to curl my hair and the curls falling down my back, combined with the extra time I took to apply a little more makeup that I usually wear make me feel pretty. Jack made fun of me when I walked out of my room this morning teasing me about it being Valentine’s Day and asking me if I think I’ll have anyone ask me if I’ll be their Valentine today. He laughed at himself like it was the funniest joke, but I’m not about to let him ruin today for me. He can keep his opinion to himself. I don’t care what he thinks about this.
When I get to my locker, I’m surprised Vanessa is there already, that girl is almost always late. “There you are,” she says when she sees me.
“Hey,” I tell her while I quickly place my bag into my locker once I get it open and then smooth my hands down my shirt. “What are you doing here already?”
“Miracles happen.”
I laugh, “Do I look okay?” I ask her, vulnerability clear in my voice.”
She stills and smiles at me, “You look great, Sienna. You always do.”
“Thanks, I’m nervous.”
“Sienna-”
“When do you think I’ll see him? Do you think he’ll take me aside? Give me the gift here at school? Maybe wait until afterward?”
