What You Always Wanted Read Free Page B

mouth to introduce myself but remember there’s a slight chance Angela may have mentioned me to them as Maddie. I’d rather see how they act around me as someone they know nothing about.
    â€œI’m Madison.”
    I slide into my new seat, accidentally slapping my notebook on top of the desk with too much force, and it thuds to the floor. I hurry to retrieve it but see that it landed on a pair of boots.
    â€œEeek! I’m sorry, Jesse,” I say in a hurry, bending down to grab it.
    He beats me to it and I pause, hunched over, arm extended, as he hands it to me. We both raise our heads until our eyes find each other’s. The green of his irises transitions to amber near the pupil, as though they couldn’t decide on being green or brown.
    â€œSteel toes. Didn’t even feel it.”
    We sit upright and I busy myself by opening my notebook to the next blank section and writing the date on the top. I want to die. My very own meet-cute. Well, the way we just met might not really be that cute, but
he
sure is.
    â€œSo you’ve heard of me?” he asks, resting his elbows on his desk and leaning toward me. “Been to any of my games, or have we had a class together before?”
    Great. He’s one of those.
    Pressing my eyebrows together in an attempt to look distressed, I say, “We’ve had at least one class together every year since we were eight.”
    He sinks into his seat. “What?”
    I blink, not ready to break just yet. I want to see if he’ll pretend to recognize me or tell the truth even if it makes him look like a jerk.
    â€œI—I’m sorry.” He shrugs, looking genuinely confused. Maybe even a little embarrassed. “I don’t remember.”
    Good boy.
    â€œI’m kidding. I’m new. I heard your name when he came in.” I motion toward Curtis or Red or whatever his name is. “Jesse, my man,” I say, imitating him and offering my hand.
    I hold my breath and watch Jesse instinctively take my hand. He smiles when I finish out the handshake with a snap using both of our thumbs, just like the guys did. I may or may not have just initiated myself into some sort of guys club.
    Which is fine, I guess, but I have to admit I’m disappointed our touch failed to cue fireworks. No one burst into song. This is just another first day of school, like every other year before.
    Reality has a lot to learn from the movies.

CHAPTER THREE

    There are four lunch periods over a two-hour span, but Angela and I have the same one. It’s typically my policy not to eat cafeteria food, so I’m halfway through my ham and cheese before Angela and a girl sporting a super-high ponytail get their food and sit across from me.
    â€œMaddie, this is Tiffany. One of my friends from volleyball.”
    â€œHey.” Tiffany smiles and wastes no time digging into her meal.
    â€œGood to meet you,” I say, but honestly my mind’s swirling with all the new people I’ve met. Tiffany should be easy enough to remember, given my love of
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
. Though this girl is far from an Audrey Hepburn type.
    Angela scoops her mashed potatoes with a chicken tender. “Tiffany’s a sophomore like me, but she already plays varsity.
And
she’s been looked at by a few colleges, including Duke. How crazy is that?”
    â€œGee, thanks. You’re leading with
that
now?” Tiffany’s accent is definitely Texan.
    â€œImpressive,” I say, sipping on my bottled water.
    Pulling a shoulder toward her ear, she says, “I eat, sleep, and breathe volleyball. Momma’s orders.” She doesn’t completely close her mouth when she chews, and it makes me cringe inside.
    â€œWhen Tiffany was little,” Angela adds, “her mom went to the Olympics for volleyball. They got bronze, can you believe that? Her mom medaled in the freaking Olympics!”
    â€œWow. Is that a goal of yours too?” I ask