Page 71 of The Forever After Bet

“Me, Ty, Jack, and several other guys from the basketball team are going stag. I’ve already committed to them. Look, Bree, I’m—”

“That’s cool. I’ve got to get to class.” She takes several steps backward. She looks like she’s going to break down and cry. “See you later.” She waves, turns, and runs down the hall.

I thread my fingers through my hair, not sure how I feel. I don’t want to be tardy, so I jog to class.

When I sit down next to Hannah, I’m out of breath. I scrub a hand through my hair again. Hannah glances at me, but she doesn’t say anything. Mr. Kazansky gives us the first twenty minutes of class to finish our lab analysis. I finish the calculations, and Hannah did the essay questions. We scoot our stools close together so we can copy the other person’s answers.

“Is everything okay?” she whispers.

I set my pencil down, but before I can answer her, there’s a tap on my shoulder. I glance behind me, and it’s Violet Richland. “Hey, can I talk to you?”

I turn on my stool so I’m facing her. “Sure, what’s up?” Hopefully, she wants to apologize for being inappropriate several weeks ago.

She glances over my head at Hannah, glaring at her. “Alone,” she hisses.

“I need to ask Mr. Kazansky something anyhow.” Hannah gives me a tight smile and walks up to the front of the classroom. I can’t help but watch her hips sway back and forth.

Violet coughs, and I jerk my head around to her. She’s dressed in a schoolgirl skirt with a sweater vest and a tie that’s too long and sticks out the bottom of her vest. Her hair is done up in high pigtails. One is bright green, and the other is bright blue. “So, what did you need?” I ask, giving her a tight smile.

“I wanted to apologize for how I treated you a couple of weeks ago. I tend to be too forward with guys. My mom says it’s a defense mechanism to keep from getting my feelings hurt.”

“Thanks for the apology. I appreciate it. The best thing you can do to get someone to like you is to be yourself.” I smile. I turn on my stool, but Violet grabs my shoulder, stopping me.

“My mom said that too.” She smiles. “I’m hoping I can do that with you. Will you go to the Winter Formal with me?”

It takes everything inside me not to groan out loud. “Thank you for asking me. I know that took courage on your part, But I already have plans for the Winter Formal. I’m going stag with my basketball buddies.”

“Oh.” Violet’s oh starts low and ends really high. “So, you’re not going with anyone?”

“No, not really.”

“But you’ll be there?”

“Yes.” I nod.

“Okay, well then, I’ll see you there.” She smiles. “Bye.” She flips one of her pigtails off her shoulder. I jerk my head back, so I don’t get a mouth full of blue hair.

Hannah comes back over and sits down. She looks at me with her eyebrow arched. I shake my head. Now is not the time to tell her what’s going on. She rips out a sheet of paper, and while we finish our lab questions, we pass notes.

What’s going on?

Girl Drama. Meet me at your car after class. I write.

Hannah reads what I wrote, then shakes her head. Jack has the keys.

We’ll take my car. It’s parked next to yours.

K.

When class is over, I don’t wait for Hannah and bolt out of class and out of the school. I text Jack and Ty and tell them I’m going to lunch with Hannah, so they know where I am. I get into my car and start it. Hannah walks around the Rover like she’s going to get in her car, then jumps into my back seat, shuts the door, and lies down on the seat.

“I feel like I’m in a spy movie.” Hannah laughs, turning over and lying on her stomach. “Good morning, Charlie,” she says in a girly voice.

“You’d make an awesome Charlie’s Angel.” I laugh.

“So, where are we going?”

“My house. My dad had meetings in Seattle today, so my mom stayed with him. They’ll be home tonight around five or six.” When we get to my house, I open the back driver’s side door and help Hannah out of the car. “Did you turn your phone off?” I ask.

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