Page 59 of Bookish Boys Don't Date Social Girls
Me: Is this like that old show, Punk’d? Is it a practical joke? I know I wouldn’t like that.
Ava: No! It isn’t like that. It’s not like an assembly or anything. It’s just us. Don’t worry.
Bek: Park in the shop parking lot.
I stare at my phone. That’s a small lot behind the school that hardly gets used. That’s either a good sign that this isn’t a hidden camera thing, or a sign my friends have turned into serial killers and I’m a goner.
Me: …okay…weird. But see you then.
I getout of my car and squint at my friends, who stand expectantly by the door leading into the shop hall. Ava stands especially straight with her hands behind her back and a ridiculous grin on her face. Bek looks as dreamy as ever. Almost like she’s forgotten that they are waiting forme. Now that I’m here, I wonder how we will get into the school. The only door you can enter through is the main entrance.
I approach cautiously, expecting a cameraman to jump out from the shadows or Ashton Kutcher to walk up in disguise and tell me I won the lottery or something.
“Welcome.” Bek’s gaze is finally focused on me, and she has an uncharacteristic smirk on her face.
“Weird,” I reply. I look at Ava with an arched brow.
She pulls her hands out from behind her back and hands me a single, long-stem, red rose. Thornless, thank goodness, otherwise Ava’s hand would be shredded by now.
“What’s this for?” I take it like it’s a live grenade.
“It’s part of your surprise,” Ava says. She knocks lightly on the door and then gestures for me to precede her. The door swings open and Dylan steps out to hold it open for me. He also waves a hand for me to enter first. I step past him with my eyes narrowed.
“Morning, Scott.”
His devilish smirk crooks his mouth. “Good morning, Miss Jones. Welcome to Oak Grove High.”
Okay, so no one is going to spill the surprise yet. I enter the school and see several students in the hall. Many seem to be pausing to read the posters that line the walls. That seems strange. Kids never do more than glance at school posters. One girl even takes a picture of one.
Ava and Bek flank me, each wrapping an arm with mine to usher me down the hall. We come to the first poster, and they pause and give me a significant look. Ava tips her head toward the wall.
It’s an eye-catching poster with a compelling tie-dye of colors as the background. There’s a splat of white in the middle that serves as the background for the flowing red text. I read it and blink.Samantha Jones’s favorite color is red.
My gaze scans the poster, looking for a logo or somethingto identify what this is all about. I’m wondering if this is somehow tied to the #NoMoreShame project. But there are no additional marks to indicate what this is for. I scan the hallway and realize the posters line both sides of the hall.
Ava and Bek turn me and propel me across the hall to the next poster.Samantha Jones likes chips and salsa best.
“What the heck is this?” I ask.
But nobody answers. Ava and Bek steer me to the next poster, back on the other side of the hall, while Dylan lags behind. We zigzag down the hall reading.Horseshoes should be an Olympic sport—which makes me giggle.Samantha Jones’s middle name is Iris. Samantha Jones’s favorite flower is…the iris. Samantha Jones is a fierce warrior—which makes me pause to consider again who might have done this.Samantha Jones is a generous friend.To which Ava and Bek both squeeze the arm they clutch.Samantha Jones loves romantic comedies.Samantha Jones loves to read.
I have the sensation of being on a rollercoaster as I stare at the poster. It couldn’t be Brent.
Ava and Bek gently tug me toward the last poster in the hallway.
Samantha Jones loves a grand gesture.
I suck in a breath and slap my hand to my mouth.
The girls drag me away, though I want to stare at that poster longer. I feel like that poster holds all of the potential for my future in it, and I want to soak it up and dream and hope a little longer before moving on. We cross the intersecting halls toward the gymnasium doors. Bek pulls one open, and the girls let go of my arms and gently push me forward. I’m surprised to realize I’m afraid. I’m afraid I’ll walk in and turn the corner past the bleachers, and I won’t find my Bookstore Boy. What if it’s Chris? Or someone else entirely? I can’t believe how much I want this to end with Brent.
I can barely breathe as I walk into the gym. It’s tomb quietinside, so my heels click on the polished wood. I think how the poor gym teacher will have a fit if he sees my high heels marring his perfect floor. The slamming of the door makes me flinch. Like if my heels hadn’t already, the door has somehow given us away.
A click echoes in the cavernous room and then music blares through the room. I freeze. It’s my favorite song. Ava steps beside me and nudges me forward. Just two more steps and I’ll be able to see into the gym. But for now, I have tunnel vision and can only see the corner I have to turn. The corner that could change everything for me.
I bite my lip and step around the corner.
My heart bursts with joy. Brent stands in the middle of the gym floor, holding an old boombox over his head like in that teen old rom-com movie, Say Anything.
