“OMG why did I spill it! I can’t do anything right! I’m such a me
“I need to change. I left extra clothes in the car.”
Jason, grabbing his car keys, rushed out of the room.
17
I added Jason’s number, trying to figure out what to name him
My teacher peeked at my phone.
“How about ‘Drama Queen Number Two‘?”
Me: …
Teacher, are you serious?
I could not stop laughing.
Did he think Jason was actually trying to distract me on purpo
Jason’s homeroom teacher heard and said, “What are you talk
Then, he turned to my teacher, “Jason is super talented. He’s
“Oh, shut up!”
My teacher’s face went red: “Just because you got first all thre
“It’s not that impressive, since I’m undefeated.”
They began to argue.
I’d heard that they’d been in the same high school and college
<
Jason’s teacher was always the top dog, leaving my teacher
They still hadn’t changed after all these years.
But when my teacher had gotten sick, Jason’s teacher had fr
They were rivals, but also friends, like me and Jason.
We were always compared to each other. But once, I had a st
18
Jason came back, now in a white shirt, looking fresh and clea
He came back to his seat, sneaking glances at me.
“OMG she’s looking at my shirt!”
“I was so smart to buy a smaller white shirt! It shows my musc
“I have to try a little harder to impress her, I’m gonna work out
I was starting to realize I’m not really into muscles.
<
Jason fixed his collar, his slender fingers adjusting the fabric ov
It was all kind of… elegant.
And I think… I was really into it.
19
When the dinner was over, everyone said goodbye.
“I don’t want to leave! I wanna hang out with Sarah!”
“I’m afraid she’ll forget me this summer! I’ll be so lonely withou
“I got her a gift! Hopefully, when she sees it, she’ll think of me!‘
“It doesn’t smell that great, though. Should’ve put some perfur
He mentioned a gift and how bad it smelled. I had a flashback t
I hoped he was just joking!
“Hey “he stuttered
<
“Hey…” he stuttered.
“No no, I almost called her wife!”
“Sarah, I got something for you.
“It reminds me of you, I hope you like it.”
Reminds me of me?
I really hoped it wasn’t a Bradford pear tree!
He pulled a gift from his bag.
A small, wooden carving of a fox, blush pink, with little white flo
I let out a sigh of relief, at least it wasn’t a Bradford pear tree.
“Thanks,” I said.
My hand touched Jason’s fingers as I took the fox. My heart ski
think… I think I was starting to have a big crush on him.
<
“OMG I touched her hand! The sparks! I can’t believe it.”
“After all this time, I’m still head over heels for her. It’s crazy!‘
20
Summer came and went, and I started at Stanford.
I kept thinking, if I got with Jason, he would get everything!
He’d already stolen the top spot from me, I couldn’t let him wi
I was a study–focused workaholic, I wasn’t trying to fall in love
But… I liked him.
No. Men were just distractions. I was going to be the top of my
“Sarah, want to go for a walk?” Jason texted.
“No.”
‘Want to get lunch?”
<
“I’m not hungry.”
“Want to come to my debate tournament this afternoon?”
“No, that sounds boring.”
“It’s for extra credit.”
