High School Hangover Read Free

almost-whispers. I had forgotten all about the nickname that Jack gave me when we were partners. Hearing him whisper that is like my Kryptonite, but I can’t let him see that.
    “We’ll probably never see each other again after today, so it doesn’t really matter,” I say, defeated. Today has been an emotional day and this confrontation is the last thing I expected.
    Jack’s annoyingly perfect shade of chlorophyll eyes take on a pained expression. Before he can respond, Leo Doolin saunters up almost directly behind him, all six foot, three inches of him. My heart rate picks up considerably.
    Leo unzips and steps out of his graduation gown revealing a powder blue dress shirt and neatly-pressed black slacks. I physically cannot look away.
    “Are you seriously still hot for that douche?” Jack asks, exasperated. For a second, I forgot he was even standing here. I fan myself with my diploma, my eyes still following Leo.
    “He helped me out of a tight spot once,” I remind Jack. “Remember?”
    Sophomore year, Jack and I were assigned as lab partners. We worked well together and Jack even made it fun. So without hesitation, I allowed him to keep our project in his locker for safe keeping. The morning of the presentation, he was MIA.
    As I stood in front of the class trying to remember our presentation from memory, Leo volunteered to help me. He couldn’t really do much since he hadn’t participated in our research, but I was grateful that he was willing to stand up with me.
    Before that day, I just thought that Leo was an obnoxious jock who somehow lucked out and got good grades. That terrible day showed me that Leo has more character than Jack ever will.
    “Don’t get mixed up with him,” Jack demands. He follows up this order with the most serious look I have ever seen on his normally-goofy face.
    “Like Leo Doolin would ever want to get mixed up with me,” I reply, laughing at the thought.
    Leo picks that exact moment to move over and congratulate me on beating him out for valedictorian. “Bested by a chick,” he teases me.
    “You were my stiffest competition,” I say, hoping I don’t come off as conceited and scare him away.
    “You said, ‘stiffest’,” Jack howls, showing his maturity level.
    “Are you going to Josie’s party later?” Leo asks, setting his intense blue eyes on my boring brown ones while completely ignoring Jack.
    “I am,” Jack pipes up. “Save me a dance, Leo.”
    “Funny one, McAllister. That humor should serve you well at community college,” Leo says.
    I know I should be happy that Leo just burnt Jack, but I can almost smell the sting of Leo’s words coming off Jack. It’s a well-known fact at Higginsville High that Jack’s father somehow ran his business into the ground and their family was forced to sell their McMansion and move into a condo. As aggravated as I still am with Jack for letting me down, I know how hard it is to be the talk of the halls. Even though I’m not popular, I could tell that people knew about my parent’s divorce, and Dad’s subsequent move, because of the pity looks I got a few years ago. I’m sure Jack has dodged his fair share of those, too.
    “Which college was it your father paid your way in?” Jack responds, his body stiffening.
    “ I’m the smartest person in this school,” Leo says, gritting his blindingly-white teeth. “My dad didn’t need to buy anything for me. But at least he could afford it if I needed him to.”
    “Guys, please,” I interject, not liking where this is headed. It would be flattering to think that they’re fighting over me, but I know this isn’t the case. These two have been taking verbal jabs at each other for years. I guess it’s a guy thing.
    “As I was saying, Laney,” Leo says, composing himself, and refocusing his intense icy blue stare at me, “I would love to see you tonight.”
    My heart flutters in my chest. I have waited two years for Leo to talk to me about something besides the