Page 21 of This is Me

“The one that you’re reinviting Donny to, yeah.”

“Yes. Sorry again about that. But anyway, moving forward, the beforehand part…” Andy trailed off again, and I knew exactly where he was going with this.

“Andy—”

“I’m just saying!”

I groaned at the implications of me getting ready for the party at Blaire’s house when her family wasn’t home. If it were up to me, I would get ready at my own house, but Brad was being super weird about setting it up and not wanting me to be there while he was doing it. Blaire, for some reason, had taken his side.

I had a feeling I knew what Andy was thinking and no doubt what Leroy was also thinking about the situation. However, it wasn’t what was going on in their minds that worried me the most. It was what was going on in Blaire’s mind.

She was a little more closed off than Andy and Leroy, and at times it was hard to read her and know what she was thinking or feeling.

On the one hand, I enjoyed spending time with her, and over the years we had known each other, we had become somewhat close. But on the other hand, I didn’t know if she only felt friendship toward me. I could only hope that she did, as I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I was leading her on.

I wanted to tell her the truth. I wanted to tell all of my friends. I tried to accept myself. If I was honest, I probably didn’t have anything to worry about, but I couldn’t help but feel a pit in my stomach and a particular fear from circling in my head.

“Quick question,” Andy said suddenly, forcing his voice into a whisper as our homeroom teacher finally walked into the room.

I pulled out of my thoughts and focused my attention back onto Andy, who wasn’t looking at me at all, and instead was facing toward the front of the class.

“For me?” I asked in a whisper, unsure if it was me that he wanted to ask.

“Did you get Leroy to do your Maths homework?” Andy asked instead of answering my question, and I instantly knew he was talking to me and was grateful he had changed the subject.

I let out a light sigh before I answered. “He offered.”

“Yeah, well, he bailed on playing Halo with me to get it done.” Andy huffed, though keeping his voice low as our teacher, Mr DeJulius, started marking off the present students.

“That’s not my fault. Maybe you’re more boring than math’s homework,” I defended, and Andy shot me an offended look.

“Maybe so, but Halo? No, no. Halo is much better than math’s homework.”

“Depends which Halo,” I countered, and Andy tilted his head in contemplation.

“You’re right. Damn it. I knew I should have played Halo Two.”

“Well, maybe next time.” I gave Andy a small nudge, causing him to roll his eyes at me.

“Peter Stone?” Mr DeJulius called out, and I raised my hand.

“Maybe next time, you can do your own homework.”

“Andrew Tully?” Mr DeJulius’ voice floated to the back of the classroom again, but this time, it was Andy who put his hand up.

“He offered!” I stated in a harsh whisper but just shook his head.

“I hope he forgot to bring it.”

I faked a shocked look at Andy’s words, dropping my jaw and raising my eyebrows, though before I could say anything, another bell rippled through the school and Andy got to his feet and turned to me.

“See you in English, Halo ruiner,” he shot at me, before blowing me a kiss and wading his way through the rest of the students and exiting the class.

“Is that even a word?” I mumbled to myself, collecting my things and heading out of the room toward my first lesson.

Apart from the fact that I spent the entirety of my maths lesson and all of lunch doing my best not to stare too much at Leroy and failing miserably, the rest of the day was quite good.

Most of the students seemed to be in high spirits, excited about the party that night. Some of them had even brought balloons to school in celebration. Many of them tried to give them to me, which I found very hard to decline. By the end of the day, I had several tied to my bag.