The sun was pouring through my windows in the morning, and I rolled over with a groan. Every part of my body was sore, and I’d only gotten a few hours of sleep.
My alarm was going off, but I let it screech as I tried to remember why I was so tired. When I spotted my muddy shoes on the floor, everything came rushing back to me and I slapped my clock off angrily. Getting out of bed was the last thing I wanted to do, but I let my bare feet hit the cold wooden floor and I padded down to the bathroom.
Frustrated with Cole, myself, and everything else, I squeezed the toothpaste tube a bit too hard and blue goo shot all over, squirting over the side of my brush.
“Damn it,” I said grumpily as I flicked the excess toothpaste off into the sink.
As I brushed my teeth, I thought about the day to come. I bet I would be called down to the office during the day. All the receptionists would glare at me with disapproving looks. Then I would be led back to the principal’s office where he would be waiting behind a big wooden desk, my black sweater in hand. My future was ruined.
I’m sorry, Mom, I thought to myself.
Sighing, I spit out the toothpaste and quickly splashed some water on my face. After grabbing my robe, I turned off the lights and headed back to my room. When I stepped inside, I gasped in surprise. Sitting on the end of my bed was my sweater.
I rushed downstairs and flung my arms around Alex. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I kissed him on the cheek.
“You’re welcome?” Alex answered, somewhat confused.
“You don’t understand how relieved I feel,” I told him.
“Relieved about what exactly?” Alex asked me.
“My sweater,” I said, holding it up. “I just can’t believe you went all the way back out there to get it for me.” Alex stared at me and didn’t say anything. “You did go get it, right?” I asked him.
“Well, now I’m really wishing I’d thought of that,” he said, sounding disappointed in his answer, “but no, I didn’t.”
I turned my head to the other boys in the kitchen. My eyes searched Cole’s face for an answer, but he raised his eyebrows, as if to say retrieving my jacket was the last thing in the world he would do.
“Danny?” I asked. He looked up from the morning paper with an apologetic look and shook his head no.
“You?” I asked, turning to Isaac.
“Sorry, Jackie,” he mumbled through a mouthful of cornflakes.
“Then who?” I asked out loud.
“Isaac,” Katherine said, coming into the kitchen with a coffee mug in hand. “Can you wake up your brother? I can’t believe he’s still sleeping.”
“Sure thing, Aunt Katherine,” he said, getting up and putting his cereal bowl in the sink.
“Lee?” I wondered out loud.
“No, dork,” Isaac said and rolled his eyes. “My other brother.”
During the car ride to school, all the guys chatted about the end-of-the-year party they always hosted. They planned on having it this weekend when Katherine and George were out of town. I listened quietly and watched Lee from my spot in the backseat, trying to understand why he, of all people, went back to get my jacket. Lee was the only one who didn’t seem excited about the party. Maybe it was because he had his face pressed up against the passenger-side window, half asleep.
“All right, everyone out,” Cole said when we pulled into the parking lot. I quickly opened the door and grabbed my bag from the back.
“Ready?” Alex asked me when he retrieved his.
“Just go without me,” I said, still watching Lee slowly unbuckle his seat belt. “I’ll catch up later. There’s something I have to do.”
“Okay,” Alex said before kissing me on the cheek and heading into school.
As I expected, Lee was the last person out of the car, being as tired as he was. By the time he grabbed his backpack from the truck bed, the rest of the guys had already gone. He didn’t even notice me leaning against the back of truck as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Lee,” I said as he started to walk away. He stopped for a second but then continued to walk. “Lee!” I called again. When he didn’t turn around, I ran after him and grabbed his arm. “I know you heard me.” I spun him around.
He just stared at me with a blank look.
“Well?” I asked him, hoping he would spill the answer to my unasked question.
“Well, what?” he said, shaking my hand off his shoulder.
“You know,” I told him.
“No, I don’t,” he said before turning and walking away.
I stood rooted in my spot for a moment, shocked. What was his deal? Why would he do something nice for me and then pretend he didn’t?
“Lee, why did you go get my sweater for me?” I shouted. My question made him stop. For a moment he just stood there, his back to me, and then I realized he was waiting for me to catch up. “Why?” I asked again when I was standing right next to him. “I know you don’t like me.”