it to be true. No matter how much I'd hoped for a different outcome, if I were being honest, I knew Captain probably wasn't LonelyHeart1. "Are we hanging out tonight with the guys after practice?"
"Actually Anne," Captain said, and that forced smile came back. "I wanted to talk to you."
I nodded. "Okay, about what?"
"Cap," Liam said, his hand coming down on Captain shoulder, cutting off whatever he'd been about to say. "You're just the guy I was looking for. I wanted to run a few melodies by you for our new song."
My best friend looked to Liam. "Anne and I were kind of in the middle of something here."
"It'll only take a second," he said.
"But this is important."
"So is this." Liam looked to me. "You don't mind right, Anne?"
I shook my head. "No, go ahead," I said. "I'll wait."
Captain threw me a tight grin.
"Be right back," he said and walked with Liam until they were a few lockers away. I could tell they were talking music because both of them had pulled out notepads, and I recognized Cap's as the one I got him for Christmas last year. It was small enough to fit in his pocket and had his initials engraved on the front cover. He had loved it, and after he tore off the wrapping paper, he gave me a big hug. For his birthday this year, I planned to get him ten more just like it. I knew he'd need them if he kept writing songs.
While I was watching them, I didn't realize someone had stepped up next to me, not until he cleared his throat.
"Hi Anne."
Turning my head, I saw Jackson Yoast standing there with a small smile. He was blond and blue-eyed with classic good looks. Almost every girl in our junior class had at one time crushed on him. The 'almost' was because of me. It may have been tragic and completely unrequited, but I'd only ever had eyes for Captain.
"Oh hey, Jackson," I said. "How are you?"
He shrugged. "Doing okay. You?"
"I'm good." I tilted my head. "Was there something you need?"
"Yeah actually," he said. "I was wondering if you'd want to go out sometime."
I frowned. "I must be hearing things. What did you say?"
Jackson's laugh was loud, and I blushed, looking over to find Captain staring at us. Liam was no longer at his side. Instead, Rachel stood not three feet away from my best friend with smile on her face, beaming at him. Color guard had already taken their pictures earlier, so she'd ditched the Harley Quinn look. Rachel's face was back to how it normally was: gorgeous natural tan, big brown eyes and long lashes, dimpled cheeks, and pink gloss to accentuate her lips. She looked beautiful and hopeful as she stood beside Captain.
I had to look away.
"Wow, I'm not used to that reaction," Jackson said.
"You shocked me."
"Obviously."
He was grinning, and I returned the smile.
"I thought we could grab some pizza tonight. If you don't already have plans."
"You want to go out with me?" I said and pointed to myself. "Sorry for being weird. I'm just a little confused. We've never really talked before."
"I know." He shrugged. "But I saw that video of you and Captain, and it made me notice you."
"It did?"
I felt like I was questioning everything he said, but I couldn't help it. Jackson asking me for a date was so unexpected. We'd gone to school together for three years and hadn't exchanged more than a handful of words. My head was spinning.
"Yeah, you're kind of cute," he said with a smile I knew most girls fawned over. But all I could think was that when Captain smiled at me, it took my breath away and felt like sunshine in my veins. "That kiss was amazing by the way."
"Thank you," I mumbled.
"So tonight, pizza?" he repeated. "Are you in?"
I ran a hand through my hair. I had absolutely no experience in turning guys down and didn't want to hurt his feelings. That was the only reason that could explain why I said what I did next.
"Can I think about it?" I asked. "I promise to let you know."
"Sure." Jackson ripped a piece of paper from his notebook, scribbled something down and then handed it to me. "Shoot me a text. It'd be fun to get to know each other better."
His eyes landed on my lips which made me blush.
"Hmm, okay," I said awkwardly. "It was nice talking to you."
"You, too."
Jackson gave me a nod and then walked away.