2
I guess Amy was into Jake’s whole
dangerous, bad–boy vibe.
And me? I wasn’t dangerous. I was good.
He wasted no time asking Amy to shoot
hoops.
Г
One afternoon turned into another.
She’d stroll into class halfway through study
hall, glowing, and full of energy.
I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and
warned her, “SATS are coming up soon, you
know? You can’t slack off.”
“Ugh, you’re such a buzzkill! That’s why I
don’t like you like that. You don’t make my
heart race, got it?”
Amy sounded annoyed.
I shut my mouth.
Amy reached under my desk. “Where’s that
cake you promised me? I skipped dinner.”
く
I pulled out the Pikachu cream cake I’d picked
up at the bakery on Main Street.
It was her favorite.
Whenever she got a craving, I’d haul my butt
down there, no matter how busy I was, even if
it meant an hour round trip.
She devoured the cake, not giving me a
second glance.
Study hall ended, and she bolted out of the
classroom.
I walked back to the dorm alone.
On the way, a buddy of mine caught up to
me, slapping me on the back. “Dude, I just
saw Amy over by the loser wing, making out
<
with Jake in the hallway.”
I stopped walking. I knew it was coming, but I
still hadn’t expected things to escalate this quickly.
I just nodded. “Okay.”
My friend clicked his tongue. “Amy’s clueless. You’re smart, good–looking, and an all- around good guy. I can’t believe she’d pick a jerk like him.”
“Is he that bad?” I really didn’t know much
about Jake, other than the rumors.
In my world, there was Amy, and there was
school.
I had our future all mapped out, Amy and me.
く
We’d go to the same college, get our degrees, maybe even start a company
together or go into public service.
But it seemed like that future was just a fantasy I had.
“Don’t you know about Jake? He’s a total
player. He’s been hooking up with girls since
freshman year. He even knocked up a girl
when he was a sophomore.
“He’s a punk, too, always fighting and
drinking outside of school. Even the stray
dogs avoid him.”
My buddy clearly hated Jake.
I frowned. I thought Jake was just a
troublemaker with bad grades, but now I
realized he was worse.
I turned around, heading back to find Amy.
