It turns out I wasn’t the only one who bombed the last SAT. Once scores come in and confirm what I think both of us already knew, Wills and I vow to study together as much as time will allow. It’s a busy week for Wills and I, and aside from studying we aren’t going to be able to see each other as often as we’d like. That’s a disappointment for me, but I’m determined not to get so caught up in our own little world that my studies and my friendship with Dana go to hell like they did last year.
I’m in the dining hall one afternoon, studying and drinking coffee, when the chair beside me is pulled out. Blair sinks down into it, gazing at me with forlorn eyes. He has a plate with a fudge brownie on it, topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
He holds this out to me as a sort of peace offering.
“You looked like you could use some chocolate, and some company.” His green eyes are usually alight with mischief and flirtation, but it’s missing today. I can see that he’s hurting, but as much as he hurt me, it doesn’t mean much.
“I’m studying, Blair,” I tell him shortly. “I just need to be left alone.”
“I’m good company, you know that.” He gives me a little smile; not quite big enough to deepen that dimple on his cheek. “Come on, I’ll help you.”
He reaches over and tries to pull my book closer to him so he can see what I’m reading, but I tug it back.
“Good company? How would I know? You’ve been absent a whole lot more than you’ve been present,” I tell him coolly. I slam the book shut and start packing my things.
Before I can stand, he’s up and behind my chair, pulling it out for me. I look at him and sigh.
“Blair …” I want to warn him not to try, but I know I’d get further talking to a brick wall. I’ve tried that plenty of times already, and yet, he just keeps coming back.
I just pick up my book and coffee and step away from the table.
“I like the new hair. You look like a movie star or … something,” he tells me almost awkwardly, and it’s so not him. I wonder what happened to the flirtatious, cool, fun guy who lives somewhere deep in him. He never seemed to have a problem keeping it up all those days when he was torturing me before.
“You’ve got your friend Victoria to thank for it,” I tell him before walking straight out of the room, leaving him behind me. I glance over my shoulder at the door, missing him somewhere inside, and I see that his eyes are still locked on me. He hasn’t moved. His hands still clutch the back of my chair; his knuckles turned white.
I shouldn’t have looked back. There’s a flicker of hope in his eyes when I do, and I know what Blair does with just the tiniest bit of that dangerous emotion.
It starts right away. I see him later as I am walking into class and taking my seat, he gives me a smile and a wave, telling me hello. It’s the first casual, open thing he’s said to me all year. I’m not the only one who notices. Victoria isn’t sitting too far from him, and she shoots him a death glare, which he ignores as he watches me take a seat.
I look at him for a moment, but then I turn my attention to the front of the classroom and don’t say anything at all That doesn’t stop my heart from beating faster.
He’s at the swim meet later, cheering me on from the stands as we compete against another school. He specifically calls out my name and Wills just turns and looks at him, shaking his head.
It’s my first meet, and even though I don’t place in anything … I do way better than I thought I would in the first place. I’m proud, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Wills’ reaction. He whoops and hollers li
ke I just won the super bowl, picking me up off of the ground and hugging me tight, followed by a long kiss. When he sets me down, I glance over at Blair, and I can see him watching us still.
It goes on.
At every turn, every corner, Blair is there, waiting and watching. He’s done this sort of thing before, but never to full-blown stalker levels. It’d be cute if it wasn’t so damn annoying. It’s hard to hate Blair for what he did to me when he’s looking at me with those mesmerizing green eyes of his.
The next day as I’m walking out of the drama club with Dana, I find Blair waiting for me once again. He smiles brightly at us both as if we’re old friend expecting him, and not like he just jumped out at us from behind a dumpster.
“Hey! You two look lovely as always,” he says, a sorry attempt to flirt. “Teddy, I was hoping to talk with you for a minute.”
He sees I’m about to turn him down, again, and he lunges a step forward into my path. “Please, it’ll only take a moment.”
He’s pleading, and it’s not a good look for him. He looks to Dana in a silent request for privacy, but she just shifts her weight to be more comfortable. She’s not going anywhere. His shoulders drop and he gives in with a sigh.
“I’m going to a formal dinner on Saturday night. It’s a college thing. I wondered if you’d come with me.”
“Even if I hadn’t already agreed to go with Wills, what makes you think I’d go with you?”
The hopeful look on his face drops. “Isn’t this what you want?” he asks. “For me to acknowledge you publicly?”
I shake my head. “That was before. Now, I don’t know what I want.”
It feels freeing to say it out loud, but I can see it frustrates him.