Page 20 of Catching Feelings

Tyler takes a step closer, and I have to tilt my head back to maintain eye contact. He smells fresh, green—like sun-warmed grass and lemon peels and eucalyptus, and until this moment I didn’t even know I could recognize eucalyptus, have never cataloged a boy’s smell before.

“You’re really going to throw me to the wolves like that?” His eyes flick to the side, and I realize why he’s stepped so close. A tight cluster of girls inside the classroom hurriedly turn away, which only makes it glaringly obvious that they were watching.

I ignore them. “I know,” I say to Tyler with a sigh. “I don’t want to. It’s just… I didn’t realize you were Ryan’s cousin.”

Tyler blinks, frowns. But before he can open his mouth, everything else in my head is tumbling out.

“And I have so much to do over the next few weeks! I bit off way more than I can chew, and I don’t need anything that’s going to be a distraction or a problem. The first pep rally of the year is, like, a week away, and I want it to be the best one ever. Our teams deserve that to kick off our senior year. Plus, there’s fundraising logistics—organizing the annual car wash is no joke—and my new buddy system is clearly deeply flawed if crucial information is falling through the cracks—and I need to be planning homecoming, not stressing about who I’m going with—”

My forearms are suddenly grasped in two large, warm, steady hands. “Hey. Sabrina.” Tyler peers at me with no small amount of concern (but also a tiny bit of amusement). “Stay with me.”

I suck in a slow, deep breath. My heart speeds up at being so squarely face-to-face with him, but his calm gaze still gives me a weird sense of comfort.

“Let me help—” he starts, but then the warning bell rings, and Ms. Moore appears in the doorway like an extremely punctual wraith.

“I gotta go,” I say, casting her an apologetic glance. She nods approvingly.

Tyler opens his mouth again, but I’m already heading to English. I don’t allow myself a glance backward.

He may be a good guy, but nothing is worth ruining my one remaining safe space.

10. TYLER

I finish putting up the last of Sabrina’s posters during my free period at the end of the school day. A lot of what she was stressing about might as well have been a foreign language—I don’t know how to help with car washes and homecoming dances—but I did remember her carrying all those posters to advertise the pep rally.

So now I’m staring down a poster of my very own face, glowing in the golden-hour light on the football field. That photographer guy is good. There’s a string of question marks below my name where the others have talents—juggling, body rolls, presidential impressions—but it doesn’t seem to dissuade anyone’s interest. And if Sabrina’s persistence with everything from interviews to her junker of a car is any sign, it won’t take her long to figure out every secret I possess.

The thought, combined with the sticky stares of a girl down the hall (who pretends to be on her phone, but that angle is suspicious), returns me to that strange first-period conversation with Sabrina. Is she seriously backing out on me?

“You’re really strong,” the girl down the hall says.

I turn, caught by surprise. “I am?”

“Oh, yes. The way you… put up those posters…”

I wave her off sheepishly, surely blushing bright red, and head outside to meet Ryan. I’m lost in thought, frowning to myself as I trudge through the halls. I shouldn’t be disappointed about this—or should only be disappointed by the logistics and hassle of dissuading the other girls.

But I’m bummed for real. I enjoyed spending time with her. And is there something going on with Ryan that I don’t know?

What on Earth does he have to do with any of this?

I meet him on the steps, where he’s chatting with Gabe and a brown-haired white guy I don’t recognize.

“I’m just saying.” Gabe’s leg jiggles up and down. “We’ve had a lot of boring homecoming themes in the past.”

The brown-haired guy nods. “Yeah, Max is lobbying to make it something literary. He has his heart set on Gatsby.”

Gabe grimaces. “I don’t know—I’m not sure I need a reminder of English class when I’m trying to—”

Ryan spots me, and his face lights up. He waves me over with the enthusiasm of an air traffic controller. “Tyler, this is Alex. We’re on the team together. And you know Gabe. I told you we play baseball in the spring together, right?”

I’m not sure there’s a sport Gabe can’t play, or a person at this school Ryan doesn’t know. I nod and hold out my fist for Alex to pound. “Hey. Tyler. Excited to go to some games this fall.” I shove my hands in my pockets, trying to play it cool as I ask, “What were you saying about homecoming?”

Alex heaves a fond sigh. “Max would kill me if I didn’t remind you that everyone loves the roaring twenties. Maybe you can put in a word with Sabrina, Ryan?”

I freeze. Am I about to get some answers? Something flickers across Ryan’s face, but he just shrugs casually, like always. “Sure, sure. I’ll see what I can do. I promised my mom Tyler and I would be home for lasagna night—but maybe we all can hang out soon? Come over to chill this weekend, welcome Tyler to town!”

Thumps on the back are exchanged all around, and Ryan and I begin the trek to his car.