see if you were going to talk to Quynn after class.
Wasn’t planning on it.
Her face scrunches up. Why not?
‘Cause I want to be with you. Thought maybe we could hit the library again.
You’ll tell me about your tattoo? Her eyes get all excited as she waits for me to answer her.
How can I say no to that?
Yeah.
Sounds good.
Definitely sounds good.
“Brody? Could I talk to you for a minute?”
Quynn’s voice is all shaky, but she looks confident as she perches herself on top of my desk again.
Hayles smirks at me as she swings her heavy bag over her shoulder.
“Hey, wait for me, okay?” I ask.
Her eyebrows shoot upward, and she opens her mouth, lookin’ like she wants to argue, but I give her a look. She shuts it and nods before walking out the door.
Deep breath.
“Sup?”
“Bro,” she says before grinning, “you’ve never said that before. Who’ve you been hanging out with?”
I chuckle, but don’t respond other than that. Kind of want to get this over with. Half ‘cause Hayles is waitin’ for me, and half ‘cause I’m not sure if the stomach twisting is because of Quynn or Hayles, and I don’t want to be more confused than I already am.
“I went to your house on Friday.”
I clear my throat. “Uh, yeah. My mom told me about that.”
She smiles. “Thank you for talking me into it. I can’t remember the last time I was able to enjoy a Friday night.”
Good, she’s not mad. Maybe I was reading too much into that sort-of hug she gave me last week. “No prob.” I twist the strap of my backpack around my wrist and stand. “That all you needed?”
“Oh!” Her face goes red, and she dumps my books off the desk with her hip. “Um, no. I wanted to talk to you about something else too.” She bends to pick up the books, and I’m not as big a douche as I thought ‘cause I help.
“Shoot.” Wish she’d just spit it out. Hayles is waitin’ for me.
Her face gets red again as she hands me my stuff. “Just wanted to know how things are going with your signs. Your mom said you were having trouble.”
I shrug. “Good. Hayley’s helpin’ me out. Think I’ll be okay.”
Half smile. “Oh, well… I thought… if you want…” She pauses for a second, clacking her tongue and lookin’ at the door. “I don’t mind going over signs with you after school. That is, if you don’t feel weird about that.”
Damn it. Opportunity I’ve been waitin’ for, and now I don’t want it.
“Uh, thanks. But I’ll keep tryin’ with Hayley for a bit.”
“Okay. Just let me know if you ever need my help.”
“Yup.” Gotta get outta here. Starting to get awkward. I walk toward the door, but her voice stops me again.
“Hey, Bro?”
“Yeah?”
She takes a deep breath and twirls her hair in her hand. Damn it, she’s got somethin’ on her mind. I’m tryin’ not to care, but it’s hard.
“Somethin’ wrong?”
Half smile—again. “Well, I have plans to stop by and see your mom on Friday again. I was kind of hoping I’d see you too for a bit. Like before, you know?”
Friday. Hayles’ birthday. If I ever get the guts to ask her out, and she says yes, I won’t be home. At least, not long enough to hang out with Quynn like we used to. There goes my freakin’ luck, choosin’ between two amazing girls.
The choice is easy though. Surprisingly easy.
“Maybe. I may have plans though.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah.”
I should say it. I should say it right now. I’m goin’ to take Hayles out. But I don’t. I can’t find the words. I don’t want to find the words. Not sure if Quynn would understand. Hayles isn’t… it’s just different.
“Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you next class.” She’s sad, and I hate it. But I can’t do anythin’ about it. Not without screwin’ things up.
“Later.” I smile, tryin’ to seem like this isn’t the most awkward conversation I’ve had in my life.
Reason 12: You don’t let my jackass jerk brother get to you
“Sorry. I just want to drop off some stuff,” I say to Hayles as we pull in my driveway. “You want to wait here?”
“Heck no!” She smiles as she unbuckles. “I want me some Coke, if you got any.”
I laugh and quickly grab the door for her. “Sure.”
She’s bouncing as we walk up the porch. It’s going to be a good afternoon, I can tell already. I don’t want to ruin it by askin’ her out, but I’m going