I watch as Jason shoves half a taco into his mouth.
Well, I suppose that girls and food are all guys think about.
So gross.
“I can’t believe we have to put up with them,” Teagan says.
“Me, either,” I say.
“Hey, what about me?” Estaine asks.
“You’re the only guy at this table who isn’t a complete pig,” Teagan says.
I nod my head in agreement. “She’s right.”
“Thanks,” Estaine says, then looks at me. “Aren’t soccer tryouts this afternoon?”
“Yep,” I answer. “I’m excited.”
“I want to come watch you tryout. I’ll cheer you on,” he says.
“Me, too,” Emma says. “Soccer tryouts happen right after dance team tryouts, so I’ll just walk over afterwards.”
“Awesome. Thanks guys,” I say.
It feels good to have friends.
Now, I just hope I really don’t suck.
6pm.
A huge mistake.
Soccer tryouts are over, but I won’t know if I made the team until tomorrow. Though, Teagan assures me that I most definitely made the team. And I think she’s right. I did awesome.
Teagan was going to somebody’s dorm to hang out until dinner, so I decided to use my free time to video chat with Brooks. I can’t believe we’re both actually free. I also can’t believe how nervous I am when I hear my computer start ringing.
“Hello,” I answer. His screen is black as I wait for the video feed to come through.
“Phoenix, hey,” Brooks says, as his video shows up. Even on a pixelated screen, he’s still gorgeous. “How were soccer tryouts?”
“Good,” I answer. “I mean, I was completely awesome. Teagan assured me that I made the team.”
“She’s the captain, right?” he asks.
“Yeah. And my roommate,” I answer. “Really, she’s my best friend at East Raven. Well, her and Estaine.”
“Estaine Rinaldi?”
“Yeah.” I remember the negative reaction I got from Estaine when I told him I had talked to Brooks. “You know him?”
“Yeah,” Brooks says, not at all sounding thrilled. “He and I don’t exactly get along.”
“Why?” I ask, then realize I probably sound rude. I backtrack, trying not to sound nosey. Even though, I kind of am. “I just mean... Estaine seems to get along with everybody.” Which is true. “He’s one of the nicest guys here.”
“Let’s just say he’s not nice to me,” Brooks says. “So, how is your first week at East Raven going? And is it bad that I’m hoping it sucks so you transfer to West Raven?”
“Sorry to disappoint,” I say, unable to stop smiling, “but my first week has been awesome so far. If I had known how awesome boarding school would be, I would’ve asked my parents to send me sooner. I just wish Charlie was here.”
“Your parents?” he asks. “I thought your parents are dead.”
“They are...” I pause. Crap. “I mean my uncle.”
“Right,” he says, not looking entirely convinced. “And Charlie is your stepbrother?”
I nod, and then try to change the subject. Because, seriously. Ah! Why am I so bad at lying?
“Charlie is the outgoing one,” I tell Brooks. “In Malibu, he was the one with all the friends and I just tagged along.”
“That is weird,” Brooks says. “It seems like you were a different person then.”
“Or maybe people here are different than they are in Malibu,” I say.
“I still can’t believe you’ve never had a boyfriend.”
“Not even. My brother asked one of his friends to take me to homecoming last year. It was so embarrassing,” I say.
And I can’t believe I just told him that.
“I’m positive the guy didn’t mind taking you,” he says. “I’m actually kind of hoping that we both have homecoming on different nights so I can ask you.”
“Am I even allowed to come?” I ask playfully, though my heart is thumping hard. “You know, with East Raven and West Raven being rivals, and all. I figured they would ban me from coming on campus.”
“Nope,” Brooks says. “People from East Raven always come to our dances and stuff. Being star crossed lovers is romanticized.”
“Star crossed lovers? What is this? Romeo and Juliet?”
“Two people in love who are forced apart by their parents. Who doesn’t love a story about somebody fighting for the one they love?”
“Except they don’t fight. They die,” I say.
“Eh, whatever,” he says. “Most of the kids from West invite kids from East simply to piss off their parents.”
“Is that why you want to ask me?”
“I want to ask you because I like you,” Brooks says. “And you’re hot. All the guys here will be jealous. The fact that it could possibly piss off my parents is just a very nice, added bonus.”
I highly doubt other guys would be jealous.
But, the fact that he says it gives me butterflies.
“You don’t get along with your parents?” I ask.