“Hey, girl! Noah said I should befriend you!”

Holly bounces into our classroom practically singing this at me. Beside me Matt exchanges a horrified look with another guy in the class, who quickly opens a book and hides behind it. I definitely want to know what that’s all about, but in the meantime Holly is chattering something at me. I’ve never exchanged two words with this girl, but now she’s talking a mile a minute in front of me. I’ve noticed her in class before because she’s hard to miss: small and vivacious with bright red hair.

“I’ve heard the stories about you two.” She waves a finger between me and Matt, still talking loudly, and I want to crawl away and die. Matt opens his mouth to say something then closes it again and sinks even lower into his chair. I didn’t think things could get any more awkward after that kiss, but they have.

Holly continues, hands on hips now. “And Noah thinks you two need a do-over, right Noah?” The guy hiding behind the book must be pretending not to hear her because everyone else can. “But I think you also need a makeover.”

I gape at her. My mouth is literally hanging open.

Holly laughs and waves another hand. “Not that kind of makeover! You’re too beautiful already—that’s what got you in this mess!” She squints at me. “You ever heard the phrase ‘don’t hate me because I’m beautiful?’”

I shake my head, glad I don’t have to say anything more.

She grunts. “Well, that’s what happened to you. And now you need an image makeover. A reputation makeover.” She looks me over, rubbing her hands together as if she can’t wait to get started.

I don’t know what to say.

“Excuse me?” I try out my haughtiest tone, nose up, chin in the air. I flip my hair over my shoulder like I’ve seen the girls here do and stare back at her.

She giggles. “Not bad! If you’re going for Mean Girl, but you’ve got that down already. We need nice. We need Girl Next Door now, right Matt?”

I swivel my glare to Matt and he looks embarrassed for once.

“Noah! Get over here!” He yells across the room. While the guy with the book makes the slowest possible progress to join us Matt sighs and meets my eyes. I feel the heat of that kiss again and my brain freezes up.

“Okay. I’m manning up here, Annika! Got that?” His dark eyes are serious.

“Loud and clear,” I manage.

“I was worried about Valerie and her friends ganging up on you. And I mentioned that to Noah. And he suggested Holly could help. End of story.” Matt glares at Noah, who has finally taken a chair near ours. His brown hair flops over his forehead like he’s still trying to hide behind something.

“Sorry, Annika.” He sounds sheepish. “Holly really is a great friend to have but I forgot she’s a bull in a china shop.”

“Hey!” Holly smacks him in the arm and he winces. “But aren’t you guys cute! This will be pie! Here’s the plan. Show that Annika has friends (that would be me for now, but I’ll recruit some more). Keep Annika and Matt apart so everyone can move on already. Find Annika a nice boyfriend….” She pauses here to glare at Matt. “So people stop speculating about why this beautiful girl doesn’t date. You are straight, right?” She purses her lips and pauses again.

I’m overwhelmed, still trying to process this barrage. I nod.

“Too bad because being gay would have made an even better story! Anyway! Someone nice….”

She taps her finger on her chin, thoughtfully, and her eyes survey the room. “I’d suggest Noah because he’s the nicest guy I know but I can’t spare him.”

My eyes widen and Noah makes a choking sound. He’s been staring at Holly with something like awe.

“Kyle’s a pain in the ass. Besides I think Lani’s into him. Not that I told you that!” She ends on a whisper, still grinning.

“No,” I get out finally and it comes out louder than I expected. “Thank you for your good intentions, but no.”

I sound firm, thank God, and I turn to complete the writing Marjorie has assigned us. I block out the noise of the heated conversation that follows as Noah and Holly bicker. For the rest of the class I feel Matt’s gaze on me and keep my eyes averted. It’s just too humiliating.

“Hey,” Matt says softly as we’re packing up. I sling my backpack over my shoulder and stand, waiting politely though I want to rush out of here. I keep my eyes focused on something vague in the distance, which usually works. “I’m sorry.”

I shake my head, wanting this over. “Not your fault. This time.” I try to smile and head out the door. He follows but I lengthen my stride to get away, far away. Catching up, he grasps my arm to turn me and we’re standing too close. Again.

“What about our do-over?” His voice is quiet and his eyes are studying my face, seeing too much probably.

I take a deep breath to settle my racing pulse. “What exactly are we going to do over?”

“Our first impressions of each other. Our first time.” He brushes some hair away from my face. “Our first meeting, I mean,” he adds hastily when he sees my blush.

“How do we do that? It’s done. It hurt,” I whisper. I can’t look at him but he inhales like he’s stricken.

“I hurt you?” He sounds so anguished that I look up at him in confusion. Then the light dawns and I’m even more embarrassed and humiliated.

“No, not that kind of hurt. I mean my feelings were hurt.” We’re blocking the hallway and I can see people staring as they move around us. A few whisper behind their hands. What a nightmare!

Matt still looks so sad that I can’t bear it. I take a deep breath, not sure if this will make things better or worse. “We just slept together,” I mumble, staring at the ground.

“What?” he asks, leaning back and frowning a little.

I make myself meet his eyes, waiting for his response. He just stares at me.

“We slept together?” He’s staring as if he’s never seen me before. “And I didn’t remember it?”

I frown at his confusion, then suddenly he’s shaking loose of me and throwing his arms in the air.

“Damn it, Annika! Don’t you know what sleeping together means in English?” He looks furious again and he’s yelling.

“Keep it down!” I say through clenched teeth.

He rolls his eyes and takes me by the shoulders. “It. Means. To. Have. Sex!”

Now I’m confused. “Isn’t that only one of its meanings? And sometimes it just means sleeping?”

Matt releases me and barks out a laugh. “You scared the shit out of me. Believe it or not, I don’t make a habit of drinking and hooking up. You do know who my parents are, right? I have to be super careful.”

I swallow hard and struggle to keep my calm. “Good thing nothing happened then, huh?”

His face goes rigid and I can’t read him at all. “Yeah, good thing.”

And I can’t read his tone either: sarcastic? relieved? angry? Before I can figure it out, he whirls around and stalks off. I sag against a wall, oblivious to all the curious stares. Matt’s right: every time things seem to be getting better between us That Night lifts its ugly head again.