Allie

 

So, the next morning and for the next week- I avoid Connor. Maybe, I’m being silly, but I just had to wrap my mind around the things I’d figured out that day. I’d seen Connor standing at his truck every morning, watching my front door, waiting for me to come out and I’d almost lost my resolve- more than once. It was even worse after football practice, but I tried to make sure I was gone before he got out of the locker room and came looking for me.

I’d felt his eyes on me everywhere I went. In the hall, on my way to class. At lunch in the cafeteria. On the sidelines at practice. My mom had been asking all week where he’s been and why he hasn't come over. I didn’t have the heart to explain to her what was going on- that my best friend had been scaring off every guy at our high school while he dated half the dance team and all the cheerleaders for the last four years. Just thinking about it made me angry all over again.

Still, I missed him. And that made things even worse. How much of a loser am I, that I can even miss him after what he’s done to me? But I do. And I know Connor is not a bad guy. He isn’t. I also know I am not ready to talk about this with him- at all. So, I’ve spent the week catching up on homework, helping mom with the daycare, and hanging out with Eden

Hanging out with Jamie Barnes has been a surprising outcome of Operation Ignore Connor. He still plays with my hair all through Physics and one day he even caught up with me in the cafeteria.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks, bumping my shoulder with his as we wait for the lunch lady to plop a serving of chicken enchiladas on our trays.

“Sure,” I answer, tentatively because that's how the conversations with guys about Connor and I had begun last week.

“Wanna sit with me?”

I stare at him for a second. I had not been expecting that. First, you didn’t just jump tables at our school. Pretty much if you sat down at a table on the first day, that’s where you were going to sit the rest of the year. Second, well, he just surprised me.

“I usually sit with Eden.” Smooth Allie, real smooth.

But Jamie was undeterred, quirking an eyebrow questioningly.

Taking a deep breath, I think to myself, why not? “Wanna sit with us?”

“Awesome,” Jamie nods, a huge grin breaking over his face as he follows me to the table where I usually sit with Eden. He sits down right beside me, so close our thighs touch. Whoa. I shift just a little, breaking the contact, and Eden kicks me under the table.

“Hey-”

“So, Jamie, nice to see you. How’s it going?” Eden asks sweetly, a little too sweetly. I glare at her and wonder if perfecting small talk is on her dang outline.

“It’s okay. I could do without physics, if you know what I mean.”

I did. I was strong in science, but physics did not come naturally to me. It was only the second week of school and I was seriously considering a tutor.

“Do you play a fall sport?” Eden asks, ignoring my narrowed gaze.

“Yeah, I run cross country-”

“He runs cross country-” we both answer at the same time. Jamie turns to me.

“How did you know that?” Jamie asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

I shrug, trying not to blush. “I make it a point to know all the athletes on the different teams, I’m technically trainer for everyone, but football has the most injuries.” Plus, I’d been paying way more attention to Jamie since he started loving on my hair every day. He is amazingly good looking and not a jerk like a lot of the guys in our school. He’s always polite and a little bit goofy. He’s kind of adorable.

“I know, I keep hoping I’ll get hurt so I can come see you in the training room.” Jamie nudges my leg with his knee and winks when my gaze jerks up to his. What is going on here? Is Jamie flirting with me? And then because I can’t help myself or I’m stupid, I glance over my shoulder at Connor’s table and catch him watching me, his face unreadable. What do I care? Connor can stick it.

Eden kicks me under the table again. I’m really gonna have to talk to her about that, I tell myself as I reach down to rub my shin. She cocks her head, just barely perceptible, in Jamie’s direction. I wonder what she is getting at and then I feel it. Jamie is playing with my hair again.

I look over at him and he is smiling down at me.

“I think I’m in love with your hair.”

“Oh, my goodness, Jamie.” I roll my eyes and giggle. Yes, giggle. Heck.

 

After Physics the next day, Jamie walked with me to my next class. I tried to tell myself it wasn’t a big deal, that we were just finishing our conversation from class. But I can’t stop thinking about it the rest of the day. I was starting to like the warmth from his hand on my back where he twirled my hair in his fingers. It made me feel like maybe I wasn’t a girl that no one could like.

When Jamie strolled into the training room that afternoon, I kinda lost it and just stood there staring at him. I must admit, he’s pretty dang hot. Not like Connor (but then, who is?). But good looking in his own right, with kinda dirty blonde hair that curls at the ends and green eyes. And he’s a runner, so his body is tight, fit.

“Hey, trainer girl.” He grins as though he can tell he is making me nervous and I wonder if he really can.

“Hi, Jamie,” I answer, smiling. “What’s up? Finally get that injury you were hoping for?”

His grin broadens at my teasing. “Nope. Just decided to man up and come see you without some lame excuse.”

Wow. Talk about putting it all out there. I’m really starting to like Jamie. My smile must have encouraged him, because he plowed ahead.

“I was, uh, actually wondering if, you know, you’d go out with me? Sometime?” His face tenses up like he thinks I’m going to hit him or something.

Jeez.

My heart rate picks up as I process his question. A date? I know that is the whole point of Operation Find Allie a Date, but I honestly never thought it would happen. Suddenly, I’m so nervous I hope I’m not going to throw up on him before I have a chance to answer.

I must have been taking too long to respond because his face fell and he said, “Or not. That’s okay. I-”

“No!” My outburst silences him. I close my eyes and suck in a calming breath. I can do this. It’s just a date. I’m almost seventeen for heaven’s sake. Long past due for my first freaking date. “I mean. Yes.”

“What?” Jamie looks so confused, it makes me laugh.

“Yes, I’d love to go out,” I say, hoping my voice sounds calmer than my nerves feel. Jamie’s smile is huge. He throws his arms around me in a bear hug.

“Awesome. Saturday?” he asks, his nose buried in my hair.

“Are you sniffing my hair?” I ask, half amused and half horrified.

“Yes.” He sniffs again.

“Do you have a hair fetish or something?” He pulls his nose out of my hair and grins, eyes laughing.

“No, but I think I’m developing one.”

I shake my head, but I can’t shake the smile on my face. Jamie’s kind of fun. He drops his arms from around me and turns to leave, but stops in the doorway. “Saturday?”

I nod.

Jamie starts to leave then stops again. He looks like he’s debating with himself.

“Can I ask you something?”

I nod.

“Is there something going on with you and Mr. Quarterback?”

“What?” Again? Are you kidding me? “Connor’s with Kayla. The whole school knows that.”

“Yeah, well-” Jamie reaches up to scratch at the back of his neck, which is uncharacteristically turning a little red. “I know, but I just wondered…” He pauses, the blush finally reaching his cheeks.

“Wondered what?”

Jamie walks back into the training room, stopping right in front of me. His earnest gaze on my face. “I mean, you’re just so pretty. I’m sure you have guys lining up to ask you out, but I don’t ever see you with anyone but Connor.”

“Connor and I are not a thing!” Jamie’s eyes widen at my angry tone and I’m reminded why I want to wring Connor’s neck. “I’m sorry. It’s just, we’re not.”

“Cool.” Jamie smiles, but his eyes study me, like he’s trying to figure me out. He must have found what he was looking for because a moment later he turned to leave. “See you later, Trainer Girl.”