In seventh grade, she wasn't the
loner. We were the loners.
And we didn't mind.
I had developed a... a crush on Jenna. (I couldn't possibly
tell her that, though, no freaking way!)
We had most classes together. We always ate together at lunch
(sometimes people would be nice enough to join us.)
A bunch of people thought we were dating, but we denied it.
We're just best friends, we would tell them.
And every time I had to say that, it hurt.
I wanted to tell her, but I didn't know how. I didn't want
to weird her out. I didn't want to ruin our friendship.
I always thought this over in periods three and six, when we
didn't have class together. I finished my work earlier most of
the time, which gave me some time to think about it.
Before winter break - two days before we were out, to be exact
- I had worked up the courage to tell her about it. So before
school started, I walked to her locker, and said, "Jenna, I
need to tell you something. I -"
"Hold that thought, Eli, and guess what!" she
beamed, obviously eager to tell me.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I have a boyfriend!"
"What? Who?"
"That new kid, Eric."
"He's only been here for two days," I said.
"I know," she replied, "but last night, at my little
brother's game, he was there, they let his brother on the team.
I don't know why this far into the year though...
Anyways, we started talking, and we like a lot of the same
things! He asked me out last night."
"Well, I'm happy for you," I forced a smile as my
heart sank.
