Page 13 of Final Score

Mid-terms were in two days and my brain felt like a scrambled egg someone had left in the pan too long, the edges now fried and crispy. A mountain of textbooks sat in the corner of our living room, while pages of notes, highlighters, and study guides littered the coffee table.

Fallon was hanging upside down off the couch, hugging a throw pillow, and mumbling underneath her breath.

“What was that?” I asked, not catching her incoherent babbling.

“I was complaining about my choice of becoming a lawyer.” Releasing a sigh, she rolled over onto her stomach, grabbing a piece of candy from the jar on the table. “I need a mental break.”

“I feel you there.” I answered, closing my anatomy textbook, as my phone dinged with an incoming message.

Jenner: What are you doing tonight?

Kat: Most likely drying my tears with pages of a textbook. I’m studying Jenner, we have midterms in two days.

Jenner: Boo… take a break and come see me.

Kat: I can’t. You’ll just have to find something else to fill your time. I have to study for my anatomy midterm.

Jenner: I can think of a way you could learn all about anatomy without your silly textbook getting in the way ;)

Kat: You’re impossible.

Jenner: You love it ;)

That boy is something else. Pocketing my phone, I turn my attention back to the mountain of books we still had yet to open… maybe Fallon had a point.

“How’s Jenner?”

“How did you know I had been talking to Jenner?” I asked, knowing she had been too far away to see my phone.

“Because you just lit up like a freaking Christmas tree.” Fallon teased. “You like him!”

“No, I don’t. We’re just using each other. This whole arrangement is fake.” I remind my best friend, who currently looked like a cat that caught a mouse. Smug and happy.

“Oh, come on, Kat. You can’t tell me you aren’t even a bit little interested in him. The man is tall, gorgeous, muscular, and not a total asshole 100% of the time. What isn’t there to like?”

“It’s complicated, Fal.”

“No, it isn’t. You’re making it complicated. Need I remind you, you kissed him back at Hanks the other night.”

“That was fake. We were putting on a show to get under Noah’s skin and it worked.”

“You can’t fake chemistry like that. Just admit it, Kat. You’re attracted to him. You think he’s sexy and you want to make cute little dark-haired hockey babies with him.”

“Alright, alright.” I groan. “Shut up about it. First, I do not want to make cute little hockey babies with him. Second, yes, I find him attractive. You’d have to be blind not to. Are you happy now?”

“Yes, I am. Thank you.” Why Fallon ever questioned wanting to be a lawyer was beyond me. That girl could get anyone to do anything she wanted, no questions asked.

“Let’s take a break from studying and talking about fake boyfriends. Maybe order takeout, watch a movie, and then get back to work?” I ask as Fallon nods excitedly, already walking into the kitchen to get the takeout menus. Finally, anything to get her to stop bugging me about Jenner.

The doorbell rings inside the apartment just as we finalize our movie choice. Neither of us was in the mood for anything romantic, so we settled for a classic thriller.

“Fal, food’s here!”

Opening the door, I expect to see a delivery man holding a bag full of tacos, chips, and queso. Instead, I see Jenner leaning casually against my doorframe. He’s dressed nicely in dark jeans, a white t-shirt and grey flannel. In his hand is a bouquet of pink roses and a blindfold.

“You’re not the Mexican food I ordered.” Suddenly self-conscious, I cross my arms, hoping to hide the fact that I’m not wearing a bra. I am dressed for comfort, in short black shorts, and my dad’s old San Diego firefighter hoodie.

“No, I’m not and I regret to inform you that plans have been canceled for the evening.” Jenner smiles, showing off a row of perfectly straight white teeth. How he hasn’t lost any in a fight I’d never understand.