Page 58 of I Would Stay Forever
Sebastian slipped past me, going inside without a word, which I was all too happy to mimic. We’d barely spoken this week, and while I knew it couldn’t last forever, I wasn’t willing to be the first one to break yet. I focused back on Nora, but her gaze was lingering after Sebastian and Tiffany, which only made me more suspicious. When she finally noticed me looking at her, she blinked and said, “Anyway, I guess I’ll see you later.”
“Oh, Nora?” I asked as she walked off. She glanced over her shoulder. I held the door handle in a tight grip, knowing that I shouldn’t make my next request but needing to anyway. “If your brother does talk about me, could you let me know?”
Confusion crossed her face, but she said, “Yeah, of course.”
I smiled genuinely at her. “Thank you.”
I closed the door and glanced over my shoulder. Sebastian and Tiffany seemed to have disappeared, while Ainsley was putting the takeout containers on the table in the dining room, which we hardly ever used. Dad was always the one pushing usto sit there for dinner at least once a week, a tradition that died out when he left.
When she saw me looking, she said, “Seems like a shame to never use it, right?”
I shrugged noncommittally but didn’t tell her to stop. I watched her as she continued to lay them out and wondered if she knew what Imogen had asked of me. I had to assume not, with all the secrecy Imogen had kept around our conversations, but it all seemed so odd. Ainsley and Imogen had always been closer to each other than anybody else. I’d never known them to keep secrets. Was it possible that Ainsley wouldn’t support Imogen wanting to see Dad?
I made a mental note to ask Imogen about it when I drove her on Saturday—something I still couldn’t believe I’d agreed to—though a part of me wondered whether Imogen would just say it wasa twin thing I didn’t understand. I was starting to get the feeling there was a lot about this family I didn’t—and maybe couldn’t—begin to comprehend.
twenty-nine
Either I’d forgottenhow all-out Parkhurst Prep went on football game day or everyone had taken it up a notch for the first game of the season this year. It started with the huge “Go Panthers!” signs on either side of the path as I drove into the parking lot. Then it was the set of cheerleaders posted by each major school entrance, alternating between doing high kicks or waving their pom-poms in oncomers’ faces. I was just grateful the ones by the door I went through didn’t include Tiffany. Once inside, I felt like I was being assaulted by blue and silvereverywhere.
Boys walked around in their jerseys, acting like they owned the school. Ribbons, streamers, and balloons had mysteriously appeared on every locker and the ceiling overnight, making me wonder just how early the cheer team had shown up this morning to prepare. Students who weren’t on the teams took advantage of being allowed to wear spirit wear instead of a uniform today, happily showing off new navy blue Parkhurst Prep sweatpants, T-shirts, and jumpers, some with just the school logo and others withPanthers!across the front. Personally, I hadn’t bothered trying to find a full outfit of spirit wear, but I had swapped out my usual blouse and blazer fora crewneck with the school crest in the top corner while still wearing my usual skirt and a blue scrunchie.
I didn’t search for Dean exactly, but I did not notice that he wasn’t in the front hall when I walked in. It wasn’t surprising, since I rarely ever saw him before class in the morning, but I still felt a small pool of disappointment in my stomach. When had I become that obsessed with the idea of seeing him in his game day uniform?
I wasn’t completely alone this morning, though. I found Molly, Paige, and Zoey all crowded around my locker as I walked up.
“Wow, she wore spirit colors and showed up before the bell. It’s like you actually care,” Zoey said.
“I always care,” I said, even though we both knew that was a stretch. I’d only been to a handful of football games in my time at Parkhurst since I didn’t have much interest in going to sports games aside from supporting Sebastian. I wasn’t acting out of the usual for the first football game of the season, though, which was important since I hadn’t told my friends about the kiss with Dean. I felt bad for holding out on them, but I wasn’t ready to talk about this yet. I knew Zoey would be trilled for me, but that was risky in itself because she would put so much pressure on it. I wanted to see what it was like for just me and Dean for a bit before I invited in outside opinions.
“Well, you look cute,” Paige added from the other side, adjusting the blue ribbon she’d tied around her ponytail. “You’re coming to the game, right?”
“Of course,” I said. “Wouldn’t miss the chance to stand in the cold with a thousand screaming teenagers.”
And wouldn’t miss the chance to see Dean play.
“I can’t believe it’s our last first game,” Molly sighed, collapsing against the locker door next to mine and nearly popping the balloon on it. “When did we get so old?”
“Are you going to be this dramatic at our first volleyball game, Miss Team Captain?” I asked. I unlocked my locker and swung open the door. Immediately, a small folded piece of paper came fluttering out, landing on the ground softly. All of my friend’s eyes locked on it, though only Zoey had the knowing look of someone who had seen a note like that in my locker before. I quickly picked it up and shoved it in my pocket, not wanting to read it in front of them.
“Anyway, I better get to class,” I said quickly. Was my face heating or was I imagining it? “I’ll see you guys at lunch, okay?”
“Don’t forget, we’re meeting at my locker for lunch!” Paige called after me. I waved a hand over my shoulder in recognition then ducked around the corner so I could read the small note.
I’ll be under the bleachers until the warning bell. Meet me?
He didn’t sign his name, but he didn’t need to. I would recognize that handwriting anywhere. I smiled to myself as I tucked the note into my bag and walked as quickly as I could through the packed hallways, silently thanking my past-self for getting up early this morning.
It was colder today than it had been the first time Dean had asked me to meet him here, but there was much more bounce in my step as I did. There were plenty of people still out here since there was still more than ten minutes until the bell, but everyone was so caught up in their game-day celebrations that nobody noticed me go around the far side of the bleachers and duck under.
And there was nobody to see me as I ran into Dean Graham’s arms.
I wrapped my arms around him and he picked me up and spun me around as if we were celebrating something amazinginstead of just seeing each other for the first time since yesterday. I giggled, then tried to silence myself in case anyone was around.
“How did you know I’d get your note with enough time to spare?” I asked him, threading my hands through his hair. He smiled.
“I just hoped.” Then he ducked down and kissed me. It was amazing how natural this had become for us so quickly. I grabbed the front of his jersey in a tight grip and held him close as he ran his tongue along my bottom lip. I parted my lips, and he leaned in further, deepening the kiss. His hand found my waist, fingers curling gently against my side, and then I felt the shift of his weight as he moved closer, pushing me backwards into the bleachers. His body was pressed right up against mine, keeping me warm as a cool autumn breeze blew past.
Would it be weird to tell him I would love to use him as a blanket? Yeah, probably. He might take that the wrong way.
