8

After giving my comment to the teacher, I walk out of the classroom and wait for Karen, who needed a few more minutes to finish. Finally, she appears and together we walk outside and sit on one of the benches. We have a free period now and then lunch, and we usually go outside and chill.

I pull out my lunch, but Karen has to go buy something, so she leaves as I start eating. I'm pulling out my book when a shadow covers me. I look over to see Tom standing right there in front of me, blocking the sunlight that was falling onto my face.

"I'm sorry." he says. "I shouldn't have said what I said. It was stupid."

"Which part?" I ask. "You say a lot of stupid things."

He smiles. Not a smirk, but a beautiful realistic smile. "I'm sorry I called you unattractive." he apologizes. "I shouldn't have said that."

I weird image of Hagrid from the Harry Potter movies pops into my mind. I push the image away.

"Thanks." I say.

"Well, I'm going to get something to eat." he tells me. "Want to join me?"

My heart jumps into my chest. Is he asking me out? "I'm sorry, but I'm eating here with Karen.

"Okay, don't worry about it." he answers. "See ya."

He walks away. I'm stunned for a second. Tom seemed much nicer than usual. He was kind and thoughtful. I mean, he apologized. I see that as a huge step foward. A few minutes later, Karen shows up.

"So, what's the deal with you and Tom?" she asks as she bites into her sandwich.

"What? There is no deal." I answer although I know that's not true.

Karen looks at me in the eyes, trying to convince me to speak. I don't, so she sighs and says, "Fine. Don't talk. But I'll find out."

Her suspicious words make me burst out laughing, and she can't resist either.

When it's time for lunch, even though Karen and I had already eaten, we go to the cafeteria with Suzy and Sarah. We start chatting, as always, but this time Karen is making me feel uncomfortable.

"Mrs. Kerr was speechless!" she exclaims. "She couldn't believe Emma would be able to explain anything. But you proved her wrong!" she says as she gives me a friendly punch in the shoulder.

"And later, in English class, Tom was totally flirting with her!"

"That's not true," I say, but a small part of me doesn't believe that.

"Of course it is!" Karen insists.

I didn't tell her about Tom calling me ugly or the fact that he apologized later, so she doesn't know what she's talking about. Tom was clearly not flirting with me. Who would insult me and then apologize? What kind of move is that? On the other hand, I just want to read, so to shut Karen up, I say. "Yeah, maybe he was."

"I told you! I think he has a crush on you…" she suggests.

"What?!" I shut my book close and stare at her. "That is not true."

"Yes, it is!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes, it is."

"No, it isn't."

We go back and forth a few times, with Sarah and Suzy following us like a cat following a Ping-Pong ball. Finally, Suzy decides to intervene.

"Enough!" she shouts in a deep voice. "We need more proof if we want to confirm this theory." she picks up her water bottle and slams it onto the table. "I declare this matter close until we receive more information."

Everyone laughs at Suzy's imitation except for Karen, who is looking intently behind me. I turn around to see what she's been observing, and my eyes instinctively go to Tom. He's just eating while talking with his friends, but I smile anyway.

I turn back to Karen, who's giving me a smug look.

"What?" I ask.

"I don't think we'll need any more proof," Karen says.

"Yeah, he's been staring at you for the last ten minutes." Sarah agrees.

"You guys are crazy! I just looked at him and he was casually talking to his friends." I complain.

"Yeah, but that's because you turned around slowly. He knew you were about to see him staring, so he turned away." Karen explains.

"Please. Do you think he's seriously that smart?" I ask.

"See for yourself. Turn quickly this time." Sarah says.

I turn swiftly and, I got to admit, I see Tom quickly turning to face his friends again, but he doesn't fool me. He was obviously looking at me. Damn it.

I face my friends again. "Crap."

"See? We told you!" Sarah cheers.

"But why? Why me? I'm a geek and a nerd! Tom's the hot playboy troublemaker! What-"

"Hello, ladies." someone interrupts.

My eyes widen as I recognize that voice. C'mon Emma, you know not to talk about personal stuff in public! What if he heard our conversation… what were we talking about…? Wait. We were talking about… shit. Shit! Fuck! Shit fuck! I was describing him as a hot playboy! Crap! What do I do now? Play it cool or freak out?

"Oh. Hey, Tom." I say after having made up my mind.

"Can I steal Emma from you guys for a second?" he asks.

I roll my eyes, dreading what's about to come next. My friends all nod, and I curse them silently. Actually, no. It's not like they could've said, No, Emma's ours! Go away!

That would be rude.

I sit up and follow Tom to the corner of the cafeteria, where there are only a few people. I lean on the wall and cross my arms, trying to signal him that I really don't want to talk to him.

Remember, says my brain, you have to be reluctant enough.

I know I have to, but it's harder than I thought. The way he smirks at me, the way he runs his hand through his dark hair, his muscles ripping from under that tight shirt… damn it!

"Can I help you?" I meant it as a polite question, but it came out kind of rude. Maybe that's better.

"Yeah," he says. "I wanted to ask you something."

My heart starts thumping in my chest as my mind wanders, thinking of what could possibly ask me. He'll ask me to marry him! Wait, I hate him. Maybe he'll ask me out for a date? I guess I could go. What if he asks me for my number again? Do I give it to him this time?

"Can you be my tutor?" he asks, and my heart drops.