“That should stop the bleeding,” I say, putting on a Band-Aid for my friend who cut her hand while doing a cartwheel during gym class. Of course, how someone cuts their hand doing a cartwheel is pretty damn fantastical, but for some reason, Coach Smoak insisted on our having class outside on the soccer field today . . . and nobody checks those fields for sticks and rocks in the off-season.

“Damn, girl, you should be a doctor,” my best friend, Marissa Palmer, says. She and I have been friends since elementary school, but she won the puberty lottery and the skinny, kinda geeky girl I used to do sleepovers with turned into Great Falls’s teenage dream. Blonde, blue-eyed, and a body that leaves boys drooling behind her, but she’s still sweet and we have lots of fun, even if most guys just see me as a stepping stone to get them closer to her. And that’s if they see me at all.

“It’s just a Band-Aid,” I point out, closing the kit. “Coach didn’t want to send you to the school nurse.”

“That’s because ol’ Sourpuss didn’t want to get in trouble. Thankfully, I’ve got the best doctor this side of Meredith Grey on my side!”

I laugh. Marissa’s more into the sexy drama of the new show than the actual medical side of things. Meanwhile, I geek out and look up the medical jargon to check for accuracy. “Trey always tells me that, but I don’t know. Med school is a lot of work and takes forever. But I love helping people so I’m thinking along the lines of a social worker or vet. Probably social worker. I love animals, but some of them scare me.”

“Ha, good point,” Marissa says before biting her lower lip, looking as if she’d rather not say what she’s about to say but is forcing herself to do it anyway. “Hey, girl, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“What’s up?”

Marissa looks down, blushing a little. “Well . . . does Trey ever ask you about me?”

Uh-oh. Marissa gazes at my brother with stars in her eyes every time she comes over, sometimes even resorting to obvious flirting. He’s older and cooler, and even I can see that he’s cute. I can see where this is going, and while Trey’s never told me . . . I mean, he is my brother. I sort of know these things or at least suspect. But it’s not my place to share his business. Time to play it dumb. “What do you mean?”

Marissa shrugs, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else right this instant. “Like . . . you know, don’t make me spell it out! Every time I try to talk to him, he’s just . . . uninterested.”

I pause. I don’t know what to tell her. “Look, he’s kinda in a different world than we are. He’s graduated and has all this pressure to be an adult. I think he just sees me as a kid still, and by extension, you too.” It’s the truth. Well, one of them at least. I’m pretty sure Trey doesn’t swing this way, but even if he did, I’m not sure a high school kid would be on his radar considering the throngs of people at the university, even if we are only a couple of years apart and have always been close and part of the same bigger group of friends.

The bell rings, and for once, I’m glad I have math on the far side of the school. I’ll have to haul buns to get over there in time. “Gotta go. I’ll meet you at lunch!”

Marissa looks chagrined but doesn't argue. “Okay, girl, catch you later.”

I rush all the way across campus, hurrying up the stairs and getting into class just as the bell rings. I sit down, pulling out my pre-calc book, but just as I do, I feel the hair on the back of my neck prick up. Oh, God, he’s looking at me.

I can’t help but glance back to see Aubrey O’Day, the cutest boy in school, looking at me. Tall, lean, and with a body that’s made him star of both the football and the basketball teams, Aubrey’s been the biggest jock to come out of Great Falls in years. There are already rumors that come next year, it’s not going to be a matter of if he’s going to get a full-ride scholarship to some big college, but which ones.

Just about every girl in school’s got a crush on him . . . well, except for maybe Marissa, and rumors abound about whom he’s going to ask to homecoming.

Aubrey winks at me, and I feel like someone just turned a blowtorch on my face. I blink rapidly, gasping in shock. My heart pounds as I turn back, trying to focus on what a derivation is for and failing miserably. It’s like a scene from some old teen movie . . . the nerd that can’t handle even the slightest bit of attention from the object of her crush. Is he laughing at me and my awkward response? I would be. If only I had a scriptwriter setting the scene for the big turnaround moment where he realizes he loves the quiet nerd. As if, I snort to myself.

Can’t blame me for freaking out though. He’s just so hot. He’s been the most popular guy in school since last year, when he ran for the touchdown that made us district champs.

All the hot girls are always crowded around him like a pack of groupies whenever he’s in the lunch room or even just hanging out with the guys before class. Seriously, for Aubrey O’Day, school is nothing more than easy pussy on parade . . . if he wanted. Which I don’t know anything about, because I try desperately to not hear any gossip about that.

I’ve caught him looking at me from time to time in class, but he never talks to me, and that just reinforces my thoughts that he’s secretly and silently making fun of me, even if he’s never given a single indication that it's true. Teenage insecurity? Definitely. I’m probably right though. I think he likes just looking at me to mess with my head because I’m not popular in the least.

I’m the good girl, the one who studies and doesn’t go out to parties, and I’ve got the stats to prove it. Been kissed three times, had my admittedly small boobs felt once, and I’ve seen a guy’s dick exactly zero times if I don’t count on the internet. Even that wasn’t on purpose . . . some asshole sent me a dick pic. It wasn’t anything to be proud of, that’s for sure.

I spend the next half hour trying to concentrate and listen to the teacher, but I can’t focus. Every time I look back, I see Aubrey looking at me, his eyes proudly not skittering away when I catch him. His gaze is just this side of staring, except that he cuts his eyes back to the board every once in a while. When the bell rings, I’m putting stuff in my backpack when I hear big feet approach.

“I creep you out yet?” a deep voice asks. It’s a man’s voice, not a boy’s, although there’s a hint of humor to it.

I turn, my neck craning as I look up into Aubrey’s handsome face. He’s grinning, and the amused twinkle in his eye flusters me so much I need to take a moment to respond. I have to try and put on a casual front and not show that I’m nervous as hell, recognizing that as a death sentence in high school, especially when someone like Aubrey is talking to you. “I was wondering why you were looking at me,” I finally tease back. “Is there something on my face?” I scrub at my cheeks, letting the coolness of my hand ease the pink flush.

Aubrey shakes his head, smirking. “Nope. But math’s so boring, looking at your pretty face is the only way I can get through it without falling asleep.”

His bald-faced compliment brings me up short, a furious blush returning to my cheeks with a vengeance. “I, uh, gee, thanks. I’m glad I’m more interesting than calculus, I guess,” I say with a laugh. It’s not the best compliment I’ve ever gotten, but I’ll take it, considering the source.

“You’re welcome, and trust me, you’re more interesting than a lot of things. Maybe even football.” He says it conspiratorially, looking around to be sure no one hears him say that. It’s silly and cute and makes me smile, like I’m in on some big secret with him, even if it’s all in jest.

Aubrey suddenly looks a little unsure of himself, and he scratches at his short hair, almost as if he’s nervous. But why would someone like him be nervous talking to me? “So, uh, listen. The big game is tonight versus Elgin, and those fuckers have been talking shit about us for so long I can’t wait to beat them.”

Elgin. Great Falls’s biggest rivals and constant shit-talkers. I nod, adjusting my backpack. “I hope you do, too.”

“The team’s ready, but I think I need a cheerleader to help me out and give me motivation,” Aubrey says, nodding. “So I was thinking . . . if we win, you go out with me tomorrow night?”

I gawk at him for a moment, taking a second to realize what he’s saying. “Me?” I ask incredulously. And I swear to God, I actually turn and look behind me to make sure he’s not talking over my head to some cheerleader behind me, but there’s no one there. He can’t be talking about me. He can have any girl he wants and I’m supposed to be his motivation? “Are you messing with me? Is the punch line coming?”

Aubrey’s eyebrows furrow, but then he smiles. “Why wouldn’t I be serious? Be there tonight, on the edge of the bleachers near the locker room. I’ll be looking for you.”

I nod, not even thinking, unable to say anything as he walks away giving me a little wave. As he turns the corner, I can only think of one thing. Marissa’s gonna freak when she hears this.

This has to be the most miserable I’ve ever been in my life.

Seriously . . . why is football like the only sport that they don’t stop the game due to rain? Or maybe that’s not true? I wouldn’t know because I don’t do sports. Yet, here I sit in the drizzling rain that hasn’t let up for the past few hours. If this is a trick, Mother Nature is fucking in on it too.

“I can’t feel my toes,” Trey says next to me as we huddle together. “And my butt’s frozen.”

“I know, but we gotta stick it out,” I reply, yelling over the frantic blasting of the band. Elgin’s got the ball, and the drum section’s determined that the more noise they make, the bigger the chances Elgin’s going to screw up.

“Why, because Stud Boy asked you?” Trey asks, smirking. “Didn’t think you even cared about football.”

I glare at him, trying to look angry and failing. He’s right. I don’t know much about what’s going on, but I can see the score, and I see Aubrey. But damn, this rain’s making things miserable.

Elgin punts, and Great Falls gets the ball back with just under two minutes left. We’re down by five, and it’s going to be tough to avoid the tenth straight loss to our rivals.

“Come on, Aubrey, you can do it!” I yell as he straps up his helmet to return to the field after a conference with the Coach. I can barely read his number right now—there’s so much mud and he’s been banging for tough yards all night.

I know Aubrey can’t hear me, there’s too much noise, but I watch in shock as he stops, looking in my direction. I swear I see him smile and nod before he jogs out to the huddle, and I sit down, wondering if I’m going nuts. “Did he . . .?”

“Look at you?” Trey completes next to me. “Either that, or he was giving me the look. Doubt that though.”

The first two plays are quick duds, handoffs that get stuffed at the line, and on third down, Aubrey’s pass is dropped. It’s down to the last few seconds, and across the field, the Elgin fans are raising hell, trying to distract us as they line up for the last play of the game.

My heart’s in my throat as Aubrey looks left, then right, his eyes freezing on me for a moment. He calls the rest of his signals, and the ball snaps, Aubrey tossing the ball to one of the running backs. Blayden starts running right, and my gaze follows him, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Aubrey taking off the other direction, running downfield and making quick headway on the left side of the field. Next to me, Trey’s getting to his feet, excited.

I gawk as Blayden stops, turning and throwing the ball just as a defender smashes into him. It’s an ugly throw, but Aubrey adjusts, catching it on the run. I’m on my feet, cheering madly as he jukes a defender before bulldozing over another, and Aubrey’s off to the races, streaking down the sideline like a gazelle for the touchdown.

“Oh, my God, we did it!” I’m screaming, jumping up and down while hugging Trey. The clock buzzes. We won! For the first time in ten years, we beat Elgin.

I run onto the field with a bunch of other people congratulating the players. It’s a chaotic celebration, people hugging each other and randomly shouting out their excitement. I lose Trey in the masses, but the crowd’s too big and I can’t see him. I don’t know where Aubrey is either. Even in the crowd, I start to feel a little lost, lonely as I admit to myself that I’d hoped I’d see Aubrey after the game.

Saddened, I finally give up just as the rain stops and the stars start to peek out. I’m still looking at the scoreboard, a small smile on my face, when Trey walks up. He’s blushing a little, and I wonder who he was talking to. “There you are! You okay?” he asks. “You look . . . sad.”

“I guess. I don’t know, I was hoping . . .” I reply, shrugging. I hear squelching behind me, and I turn to see Aubrey grinning as he runs up in his muddy uniform. “Aubrey?”

“Sorry, celebrating with the team for a minute and then Coach wanted me to say something to the radio people,” he says, shrugging. “Hey, Trey.”

“Hey,” Trey replies, glancing at the two of us. “Uh, I think I’ll go get the car warmed up. Maybe I’ll be able to feel my ass in a few minutes.”

Trey disappears, and I look at Aubrey, whose hair is plastered to his skull and his skin’s flushed. Still, he looks so hot that I’m barely able to speak. Finally, I bite my lip and search for words. Ana, for the love of God, say something, anything. “Nice game.”

“Thanks. We did it,” Aubrey says, grinning. “By the way, I got something for you.”

He takes a ball out from behind his back, beaming. I look at the wet ball, tilting my head, my confusion obvious on my face.

“It’s the game ball,” Aubrey explains. “Coach gave it to me, and I’m giving it to you.”

He tosses the ball to me, and I catch it on pure reflex, blushing hard. “Stop it! You’re the reason we won. It’s yours!” I say, trying to give it back.

“Seriously,” Aubrey says, stepping closer. “Without you, we wouldn't have won. When I was getting ready for that last play, I looked up and saw your pretty face, sitting in the rain and cheering me on. I said to myself, by God, you gotta make this play or you’ll never get another chance. Ana will probably never go to another football game for you, and she definitely won’t go on that date.” He’s teasing, but there’s an undercurrent of truth to the words, an honest admission that my being here meant something to him.

I swear if someone took a picture of me right now, I’d be bright red. “You’re teasing me.” Even I can hear the hopeful note to the words, basically pleading with him to mean what he’s saying.

“I’d never do that,” Aubrey swears, and in his voice, I can hear it. He’s being honest. Aubrey O’Day thinks I’m pretty! He brushes a lock of wet hair from my forehead, and I nervously look down. I notice a date and time on the ball. “Hey, this is wrong. Shouldn’t it be today’s date and time for the game? This is tomorrow’s date.”

Aubrey smirks, confidence oozing from his every pore as he bends down to whisper in my ear, “That’s tomorrow’s date and time because that’ll be our first date. The first of many. Pick you up at seven?” he says, tapping the time on the ball.

I nod, looking up at him and grinning. “Seven sounds great.”