Page 76 of The Friend Scheme
It’s not as fun as hanging out with Jason is. With him… I was even starting to like dancing. If that doesn’t show how much I like being friends with him, I don’t know what will.
I look up. The hallway in front of me is totally empty.
I think for five minutes.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
And I decide.
I’m just going to leave.
I’m not going to tell him that I know. That’s too risky.
I’m also not going to tell Dad about him.
I’m going to drop him from my life. I know he’s a Donovan. Atthis point, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t. So this is it for us. This party was a last hurrah. And I’ve been too freaked out the whole time to actually enjoy it.
I round a corner and walk straight into someone’s chest.
I spring back. They do as well.
“Hey!” says Jason. “Watch where you’re going, shark bait.”
It’s like an instant sugar rush. He came looking for me. Nobody has ever done that before.
It’s not real, I think.
I can’t forget that.
“Sorry,” I say. “What are you doing here?”
The only sound is the faint throbbing of disco music in the distance.
He puts his hands in his pockets and looks up at me.
Are those puppy dog eyes? Aimed at me?
“I was looking for you,” he says. “Are you okay? You kind of ran away.”
“Yeah, I was just taking a breather. Loud spaces and people and stuff, they mess with me sometimes. I know it’s weird. I was on my way back.”
“It’s not weird, I totally get it. It’s an anxiety thing, right?”
I nod.
“Want to talk about it?” he asks. “We could find somewhere quiet, if you want.”
“Um, not right now. Actually, I was thinking I might go home.”
His eyebrows raise. “What?”
“Yeah, I just feel like… I dunno. I think I should go.”
I turn and jog toward the exit. I don’t like being dramatic, but Iknow myself. If I keep talking to him, I’ll bail on my plan. Because as much as I hate to admit it, I can’t stop noticing how good he looks in his suit.
He follows after me. “Hey, Matt, wait. What’s going on?”
