Page 73 of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
“I’m game,” I say.
“Period,” Julieta says. Her eyes are big and brown, dark fawny things that complement her brown complexion. “Maybe we can do it before Christmas?”
“The sooner the better,” I say half-mindedly. I’m still not entirely here.
“You really need it.” Kaitlynn nudges me. “Have you been biting your nails again?”
“What?” I snap at her. “Have not!”
I throw my hands up like I’m trying to show off my nails to the entire school. Okay, they’re bad, but they’re not that bad.
“Uh-huh,” Kaitlynn huffs.
“I swear!” I tell her, which earns me a laugh from Julieta. “I’ve done so much better since I’ve been getting them done!”
I really have. I used to chew them to the quick, and then I’d have them bleeding when I went too far, or they didn’t rip right, but I’ve done better. I just haven’t had a manicure in a while.
“They’re not that bad,” Julieta comes to my aid.
I nod appreciatively at her, then grunt at Kaity. See, they’re not that bad. Even if I did maybe chew on my thumbnail this morning. It was just a little though, and I’ve been so nervous! Hayden’s coming home from the hospital today—much earlier than expected—and I feel like this is about to open a whole new level of wild that I’m not ready for. I’ve not talked to him since yesterday.
“Maybe next week, then?” Kaitlynn suggests.
Julieta makes a big show of checking her phone to see if she’s free. How busy could a fourteen-year-old freshman be? I’m not even busy enough to have to check my schedule, and I work.
“I can do it. We’ll still have to go again before the Winter Formal,” Julieta reminds us. “Have to look good for Kadin.”
Ah yes, Kadin. The two of them have been going steady for a month now, I think. Which is awesome, and besides, he looks like my K-pop crush, Hyunjin, from Stray Kids. I swear he could be the singer’s doppelganger, and my, is he gorgeous. He’s one of my many unattainable straight crushes.
“Can’t be seen next to that piece of perfection looking like trash,” Kaitlynn echoes her.
“We all look like trash next to him,” Julieta sighs lustfully.
If I didn’t agree, I’d be rolling my eyes.
“Agreed!” I laugh.
“You want to look good for your man too,” Julieta says, looking straight at me.
My man?
What is she talking about?
“Huh?” I quirk an eyebrow. Kaitlynn’s eyes widen and she shakes her head at me as if to say,I didn’t say a damn thing.
“Hayden Marcus.” Julieta sayshisname.
“What? No,” I laugh, trying to play it off. As if he doesn’t actually think he’s my boyfriend right now, which while I’m thinking about it, seems beyond insane. I mean, it is insane, and after yesterday there is no way. “He’s just a crush. He’d never.”
“But.” Julieta’s eyes fly wide, her dark black eyeshadow becoming barely a line above long lashes. “You two are dating. That’s what they’re saying, at least.”
“Dat…dating?” I blurt. “They?”
“Yeah,everyone’stalking about it.” Julieta grins. You’d think it was the biggest thing to happen at Mount Laurel High in ages the way she’s bouncing her shoulders and stressedeveryone’s. Excepteveryonedoesn’t seem to includeanyonewho’s talking to me. “I heard you two have been dating for a while but keeping it quiet. So selfish.”
Shit!That’s what I want to scream. I want to yell it loud and clear and profound across the cafeteria. Instead I duck and swipe my eyes across the room, scanning my classmates. People I know, don’t know, don’t want to know. Do they all really thinkI’m dating Hayden? They’re probably stunned beyond belief. Especially my bullies. Yeah, I’ve bullies. This is the mountains.
“Uh…” I make a noise that’s sort of a groan.
