Page 38 of Shy Girls Can't Date Rockstars
My stomach settles when I’m in Ms. Patterson’s classroom. Ryder’s desk behind mine is empty. Brooks is also absent from class. So my suspicions were correct. They’re still on official band duties, leaving school lower on the priority list.
The need to throw up lessens as I get through each of my classes. It’s like my connection to Ryder has faded, and I’m just a background extra in the movie about more popular students.
Suits me fine.
Just to be on the safe side, I avoid the cafeteria at lunchtime, and soon I’m in my afternoon classes. The ones I skipped out on yesterday.
My art teacher is super chill about my no-show yesterday and encourages me to find an empty seat. The classroom is made up of five large, communal tables, which are covered in paint splatter. It almost feels inspiring if the volume of my peers weren’t dialed up to eleven.
There’s a distinct atmosphere in this room. Like there’s a secret language I’m yet to decode. Hairs stand on the back of my neck, urging me to be vigilant to a threat I’m yet to discover.
I swallow hard, watching notes circle around the desks.Please, don’t be about me. Please, don’t be about me. But all hope is dashed when a note lands in front of the girl across from me.
She puts the note down and leans across the table. “You want to date him, don’t you?”
“What?” I gasp. “Who?”
She smirks. “Like you don’t know who I’m talking about.”
I sigh hard, sitting back on my stool. “Ryder?”
She elbows the girl beside her. “Knew he’d be the one thing on her mind.”
“You’re in love with him.” The other girl stares at me with wild eyes. “Aren’t you?”
There’s a deep ache in my temples, and I scrunch my eyes closed. “Please, don’t.”
“Oh my gosh, Kimberley. She’s not denying it.”
Kimberley leans further forward. “You’d, like, drape yourself all over him if you could. Wouldn’t you?”
I open my eyes, scared they’ll water. “I don’t know him!”
The girl beside Kimberley scrunches up her face. “Why would she say that?”
“I’m not wrong, am I, Jessa?” Kimberley double takes at her friend. “This girl is so off.”
Jessa stares me down. “To freak out a guy like Ryder, she’s gotta be bad news.”
“I don’t know him!” I repeat, but my voice cracks on the words.
Kimberley and Jessa exchange a look, and then they both start cackling.
“Right. That’s why when we asked about you at lunch today, he totally went off on a rant,” Jessa continues.
I gulp hard, feeling my throat dry out. “Ryder’s back?”
“Oh my gosh.” Kimberley rolls her eyes, sarcasm growing thick in her tone. “You’re so obsessed with him. But, no, you two don’t know each other.”
“Come on, we heard all about you stalking his band practices,” Jessa says. “No wonder he can’t stand you. How are you allowed to be in the same house as him? Did you blackmail him or something?”
“Blackmail?” I shout in shock, and every head turns my way.
Our art teacher clears his throat but doesn’t break up our confrontation.
Jessa and Kimberley hold their stares, and I find the words tumbling uncontrollably out of my mouth. “I’m just living there to be with my aunt. That’s all there is to it.”
“Your aunt?” Jessa questions.
