four

Luca

~

We make our way to the back corner of the library when Anderson clears his throat.

"Dude, what was that about?"

I shake my head while stuffing the cinnamon toast my grandma made for me into my mouth. "You know how he is."

"A douchebag?"

"I was going to say arrogant, but yes."

He laughs while finishing his orange juice. "He's such a dick. I don't know why this school treats him like a celebrity."

Him being the school quarterback would suggest otherwise.

"Because this school is full of morons."

There's no denying that.

"Just look at their table," He motions his head, making me follow his gaze. "Everyone surrounds him like he's a lost puppy, even Sydney Turner."

My eyes find her sitting beside Cassie and the other jocks. She is paying more attention to her notebook and pencil than anyone else at the table. When her bored expression looks our way, Anderson nearly jumps out of his seat.

I chuckle a little. "You're interested in Sydney?"

He shrugs, focusing more on his orange juice.

"No, I mean, I don't know—

"It's because she turned you down already, huh?"

After I say that his eyes widen. "How did you know that?"

Is he being serious?

"I'm your best friend. I know everything."

"You don't know everyth—"

"Anderson!"

He parts his mouth slowly, feeling defeated, but quickly shuts it again. His body sinks back into his seat. "Yes, she told me someone had already asked her to Prom."

I nod. "At least you put yourself out there, I couldn't ask Cassie even if I wanted to."

"Because she is with Marcus... who is her boyfriend," he says as if I don't already know this.

"Yes, exactly."

He shakes his head. "What I'm saying is you need to give up on it man, it's not going to happen. You're only going to hurt yourself the longer you go on about it."

My lips curve into a frown. "I know."

Glancing back at their table, I notice how lost and upset she is. Just a minute ago she was giggling about something Marcus had said.

What could have changed?

Anderson looks over his shoulder and nods when he sees what has caught my attention.

"This is how Cassie is."

"What do you mean?" I ask right when the bell rings.

He stands up from the table and follows me out into the hall. "She's been with him since, what, middle school? Junior high? It's always going to be the same thing."

"I'm gonna need you to elaborate."

We find our lockers and change the books we need for our next class. I shut mine when I'm finished and slump against the cold metal.

He adjusts the strap on his backpack before answering. "I've seen it so many times with my mom. She finds these men who treat her like shit, but she still stays. Some things never change."

"That's what I don't understand." I rub the back of my neck. "Why do women put up with it?"

He shakes his head. "That's a question I will never have the answer to."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

By fifth period, the conversation from this morning had drifted away, and I was able to focus more on my Spanish assignment. Mrs. Lopez greeted the classroom, wearing her dirty blonde hair in a clip with a black pantsuit.

"This week, we will be playing a game," she mentions, closing the door behind her.

A game? What are we, five?

"Take my Order." The whole class blink steadily, not having a clue what she's going on about. "I want you to pair up with someone and go over a restaurant menu."

She goes around the class, handing out laminated menus she has prepared for us. There's a list of questions and answers for us to say to our partners. Before I am able to pick someone, Sydney Turner approaches me.

"What are you doing?" I clear my throat, watching her as she sits down, throwing her binder onto the desk across from me.

"Being your partner."

Is she for real?

"Look, I know how much you like Cassie, and I think I can help."

My mouth goes instantly dry as the name Cassie spills from her lips.

"How can you help with Marcus in the picture?"

She shakes her head. "She hates him, he's such a dick."

"Tell me about it." I huff.

She inspects the menu Mrs. Lopez has given us and finds a topic to go over.

"Qué te traigo?"

what can I get you?

Without asking her more, I follow suit and continue the assignment.

"Tomaré la enchilada de pollo, por favor."

i'll have the chicken enchilada, please

"Con queso?"

with cheese?

I nod my head. "Si."

"Eso será todo?"

will that be all?

Alright, enough of this.

"Tell me why you're doing this."

She looks up at me from her paper, chewing her lip. "She's my best friend."

"And?" I questioned. That can't be just it.

"And—she deserves someone better."

I fold my arms around my chest, clearly dodging the conversation about me.

"Oh yeah? Someone like Anderson?"

Her eyes study me for a moment before she opens her mouth. "What did he tell you?"

"He didn't have to tell me anything." I shook my head. "I knew something was up."

Sydney shifts in her seat. "I didn't mean to hurt him."

"Then why did you?"

"I told him I already have a date to Prom."

Mrs. Lopez tells us we can stop with the assignment and enjoy the last few minutes of class before the bell rings. Joke's on her though, because we stopped the assignment way before anyone else had.

I turn my head back toward her, noticing her fingers twirling the ends of her strawberry hair. Anderson always told me she did that when she was nervous.

"Do you really, though?"

She stops mid curl and clears her throat.

"Excuse me?"

"A date to the Prom?"

"Yes," she breathes, batting her eyelashes at me. "Why do you question that?"

My shoulders shrug. "Because you don't mean to hurt him—like you just said—but, lying is worse."

"And here I was thinking you were good enough for Cassie."

My hands ball into a fist as I rest them in my lap. "Now I'm not good enough because I'm stating a fact?"

"Fine," she calls out, a little louder than she meant to. "I lied."

A smile appears on my face. Not that I'm happy she lied, of course not, but because I knew I was right. She regrets telling me the truth the minute she sees the smirk form on my lips.

"Why?"

"I don't know, Luca," she sighs. "I just did."

The bell rings, letting Mrs. Lopez wish us a great rest of our day. I grab my things, almost walking out the door when Sydney stops me.

"Don't tell him, please."

How could I not?

"He's my best friend."

She swallows before playing with her hair again. "I will make this right, okay? Just please, don't tell him."

I contemplate on my answer, wondering how this will make me look. Sydney stares at me, face all questioning, slowly turning red the minute Anderson walks up to us. I give her a sudden nod, hoping she understands that her secret is safe with me.

I hope this doesn't bite me in the ass.

• • •

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