Jackson
Hey! I know you have school, but can you break away for lunch? If not, it’s totally okay. Just thought I’d ask.
I WAS WALKING DOWN THE hall, the discussion my class had just had on the pros and cons of Mr. Darcy still playing in my mind, when Millie’s text came through. An instant grin and, I’m a little embarrassed to say, some stomach flutters, were my immediate reaction to seeing her name pop up on my phone.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to break away during the school day, but was so pleased that Millie contacted me and wanted to see me, that I wondered just how strict Principal Wiggins’ policy on non-staff members eating in the lounge was . . .
Realizing I was willing to risk it, I texted back:
Can’t break free for lunch, but you could come here. I’ll even share my peanut butter and banana sandwich. My break is until 12:30.
I was standing in the middle of the hallway, looking down at my phone as I awaited Millie’s reply, when a gentle hand on my shoulder, and softly spoken, “Jackson?” shook me out of my revere and had me looking up.
“Oh, hey, Rebecca. Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I replied sheepishly, then looked back down when I felt the phone vibrate in my hand.
Lol, I won’t steal your sandwich, I’ll bring my own. Should I go to the front office?
No, I’ll meet you at the side of the school, just follow the sign that says staff parking and I’ll be there.
“Uh, sorry, Rebecca,” I muttered as I tore my gaze from my phone and back to her. “What’s up?”
My phone vibrated again.
Perfect, see you in ten.
“If this is a bad time . . .” Rebecca began, her voice trailing off as I turned my attention to her once more and placed my phone in my back pocket.
“Sorry, no, of course not,” I said, then felt a stab of panic in my chest. What if what Ty had said was true, and Rebecca was about to ask me out?
I noticed she was wringing her hands nervously and that her eyes kept darting around the hall, looking at everyone and everything but me.
“Well, this may be weird, but I was wondering . . .”
When she paused, I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.
“Rebecca, I think you’re great. I’ve loved getting to know you over the years, and having you by my side at the dances always make them much easier to bear, but I think of you as a friend . . .”
Rebecca looked from my hand on her shoulder to my face, her own looking quite puzzled.
“Huh?” she asked, and a different kind of dread began to fill me.
The embarrassing, mortifying kind.
“You weren’t going to ask me out?” I asked cautiously, even though I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn’t. “I’m sorry, it’s just, I’m seeing someone, and Ty said you had a crush on me . . .”
Rebecca’s mouth formed a small O, and she smacked the heel of her hand to her forehead.
“That explains it,” she sighed.
“What?”
“Last year, after Julie, I may have had a small crush,” Rebecca began, holding her finger and thumb up to indicate just how small.
“Not necessary,” I muttered, pushing her hand down with mine and looking around us in hopes that no one else had heard our conversation, or misunderstood what she’d been indicating was small.
“But, after spending time with you, and being your shoulder afterwards, I realized that we were definitely more suited to be friends.” As I was trying to process whether or not that hurt my feelings, she continued, “And, since then, I’ve come to realize who I really have feelings for, and was worried that I had no shot, but now it all makes sense, because he thinks I’m into you.”
It took me a moment to brush off my feelings and catch up, and when I did, I cried, “Ty?”
Rebecca grimaced at my reaction, smoothed her hand over her hair in what I knew was a nervous gesture, and said, “Look, I know he’s kind of a player, but, I really, really like him. He’s smart, funny, a great teacher, and totally hot.”
This time I grimaced. What were we now, gossip buddies? I didn’t want to hear how hot one of my friends thought my other friend was . . . In fact, now that I knew I was off the hook, I wanted to get the heck out of this conversation and go wait for Millie.
“Ah, look, Rebecca,” I began, but she stopped me.
“Jackson, I just want you to feel him out, see if he’s interested, and maybe . . . put in a good word?”
She looked so hopeful that I couldn’t say anything but, “Yes. Of course I will, but I gotta run, okay?”
“Okay,” Rebecca said with a big grin, then bounced up on her toes and gave me a kiss on the cheek and added, “You’re the best.”
I chuckled as she practically skipped down the hall, then turned and rushed to meet Millie at the side door. I could see her walking up the sidewalk through the window of the door as I approached. She was loaded down with her purse, a stylish lunch bag, and a large container that I really hoped contained a cake.
I opened the door and held it for her, her smile warming me when she looked up and saw me standing there.
“Hey,” Millie said sweetly as she brushed passed me. She lifted her arms a fraction and added, “I brought a red velvet cake.”
My response was to sigh and say, “I love you.”