“It’s cute, Mom. Thanks.”
Brynna finished her breakfast and gathered her shoulder bag and the new swimsuit. She tried to shove the suit and a towel in with her books, but the result was a huge, awkward bulge. At Lincoln she had a swim bag—between two years of high school swimming and five years of club, she had a half dozen. But again, just the thought of her old bag was too much to handle, so she shoved the towel and the suit back into the bag it came from and carried it with her to school.
All around her, students were bustling with homecoming excitement, and the Hawthorne halls were covered with construction paper leaves in fall colors. Lauren and Darcy descended upon Brynna the moment she stepped on campus.
“So, so, tell us, B, we’re dying to know. What’s your homecoming dress like?” Lauren asked.
“How do you know I’m going to homecoming? I don’t think I even said anything.”
Lauren rolled her eyes and Darcy looked away. “Duh, the whole school heard about Teddy’s mid-class invitation. Cutest. Thing. Ever. Right, Darce?”
Darcy shrugged, and Brynna got the distinct impression that Darcy wasn’t happy.
“Who are you going with, Darcy?” Brynna said, trying to make the girl the center of attention.
Darcy sighed and looked incredibly put out. “Oh, I don’t know yet. I’ll figure it out.” Her eyes cut to Teddy, and Brynna watched Teddy look at his shoes. A little flick of jealousy went up in the back of her head but she pushed it away. Teddy and Brynna hadn’t made any official proclamation, but it was pretty well known that wherever Brynna was, Teddy wasn’t far. They were as close to being boyfriend and girlfriend as they could get—and they would have been together, Brynna suspected, if she could put all this guilt behind her, if she could just turn the page and be one hundred percent normal again.
Despite Darcy’s reaction, Brynna really was excited to be going with Teddy. The signs for the homecoming dance were everywhere, and though they weren’t officially dating, it was becoming common knowledge that Teddy and Brynna were together.
“Bryn, your dress?” Lauren said, snapping her fingers anxiously.
“I actually haven’t even thought about it yet.”
Lauren gaped, her crayon-red hair shaking. “That’s unnatural.”
“Don’t worry.” Evan showed up out of nowhere and slung one arm around Brynna’s shoulders and the other around Teddy’s. “It’s not like we’re going to let Hawthorne High’s premier couple show up in trash bags. We’ll get the whole thing sorted. Shopping trip this weekend.” He grinned.
“We’re the premier couple?” Brynna asked skeptically.
“In!” Lauren said.
“I guess,” Darcy nodded.
“Dress shopping?” Teddy held up his hands. “I’m out. I know you’re all fashion-forward and everything, E, but I plan on wearing whatever the rental place hands me.”
Evan swung his head toward Brynna and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry; I’ll make sure to get him in something black and from this century.”
“I don’t know,” Brynna said with a sly smile. “I think Teddy could totally rock one of those powder blue, frilly collar tuxes.”
“I’m going to pretend you never said that so we can continue being friends.” Evan narrowed his eyes and did the universal “I’m watching you” sign before he, Lauren, and Darcy melded into the swarm in the hall.
“So,” Teddy said, his fingers lacing with Brynna’s, “hang out after school?” His smile was hot chocolate warm, and it shot a zing throughout her as she slid the combination on her locker. Her good mood was immediately cut short when she saw the swimsuit bag sitting there.
“I forgot,” she said, shoving the bag back into her locker depths. “I have to make up a test after school.”
He shrugged. “No big. I’ll wait.”
“No.” She rested her hand on his bicep. “No, that’s okay. I’ll probably take forever. Maybe later, okay?”
A trace of annoyance flittered across Teddy’s face, just long enough for it to register with Brynna. “Whatever,” he said nonchalantly, pulling his hand from hers. “See you later then.” He gave her a quick peck on the forehead and turned on his heel, her hand immediately missing the warmth of his as he walked away.
Brynna had forgotten the exchange with Teddy in the hallway—and so had Teddy, it seemed—by the time the lunch bell rang.
The lunchroom was a maelstrom of voices, blaring cell phones, and silverware clattering. The constant noise and the warm, familiar scent of a high school cafeteria were oddly comforting to Brynna—as if in the flurry, she could shake off her guilt, as though it wouldn’t be able to find her among the moving bodies.
Teddy was pressed up next to her, and with every breath, she could smell his fresh, soapy scent. Evan was on her other side, fork full of tater tot raised as he argued with Lauren about a movie.
Darcy sauntered up and set down her bag then flopped down next to it with a groan.