Not So Nice Guy(17)

I try to wiggle out of his hold, but he doesn’t let me.

I give up and hold stock-still, afraid the slightest movement might turn this friendly, lifesaving lap-sit into a $10 lap dance. The thought sends a new flush to my cheeks.

“I don’t smell fumes, just your body wash. You’ve used the same scent for three years.”

He doesn’t sound like he’s trying to be funny. He sounds feral.

“I’ll change it if it bothers you,” I say, breathless.

“Don’t.”

I’m having wild ideas: Maybe I should turn around and kiss him. Maybe I should finally find out what he tastes like.

I catch our bizarre reflection in the window in front of me and an alarm whirs in my brain. STOP THIS! STOP!

I jump up and clap my hands. The noise is like a freight train, interrupting the tension building between us. “Oh! Time to rinse your hair!”

It’s only been like two minutes, but he doesn’t question me. He shakes his head and looks away.

After rinsing off in the shower, we see it was a success.

Ian’s hair is blue.

My cheeks are still red.



Everyone at school goes crazy for Ian’s new do. It’s such a cool, shocking shade that the students call him a badass and the female teachers now think he has some untapped wild side. In the teachers’ lounge, they whisper about him looking like a rock star.

I’m glad the color isn’t permanent. His constant workouts mean he has to shower frequently, and soon, he’ll be back to generic ol’ Ian. Of note, I find that if I call him words like generic in my head, it’s easier to make it through the day. Here’s how it works: Oh, him? That’s just plain ol’ Brad Pitt. Meh.

See? I bet you don’t even think Brad Pitt is hot anymore.

As the blue fades from his hair, Ian’s collection of valentines grows more out of control. He donated two large trash bags full of teddy bears the other day. The children’s hospital called the local news and they tried to film a feel-good puff piece about the gesture. Local Teacher Bears Gifts for Sick Kids. Thank god he declined an interview. The last thing I need is for him to go viral. Can you imagine the YouTube comments?

Granny330: Back when I was in school, teachers could still spank students—I wouldn’t have minded so much if it were him doing it!





SoccerMom88: I think we need a few more parent-teacher conferences…





TeachersPetXOXO: Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” anyone?





He donated the roses as well—to me. I didn’t want to accept his crummy secondhand flowers, but he insisted. They’re stinking up my entire apartment. Every time I look at them, I’m reminded of my competition. After only a day, I decide to toss them and tell him they were carrying a fungus.

Thank god Valentine’s Day is this weekend. The fundraiser will be over soon, and those choir dweebs will get their trip to nationals—Ian’s admirers have made sure of it.

The only downside is that the end of the fundraiser brings with it the most lovey-dovey holiday of the year, the one I’ll get to endure alone for the third year in a row.

Fortunately, I have a busy few days ahead of me to distract me from my bleak and desolate future.

Ian and I have to run that sex-ed course on Friday, then we have the Oak Hill Valentine’s Carnival on Saturday morning, and finally, as if my life couldn’t get any sadder, Ian surprised me by announcing he signed us up to chaperone the Valentine’s Day dance on Saturday night.

“You’re kidding me.”

“What?” he asks, feigning innocence. “Do you have other plans?”

“I might.”

“Valentine’s Day is only three days away,” he points out, oblivious to how pathetic I feel in this moment.

“Yeah, well…Logan came by my classroom earlier and said he wanted to talk to me. Maybe he’s planning on asking me out.”

It’s a stretch, but still, it feels good to let Ian know I’m not a hopeless loser. Logan probably just wanted to chat so he could convince me to give extra credit to one of his players, but I don’t have to admit that to Ian. In fact, I can tell him anything I want.

“Logan?” he asks, displeased. “Football coach Logan? Never met a tub of glossy hair gel he didn’t like Logan?”

I will admit, Logan’s hair is sort of crunchy, but I force enthusiasm when I reply, “He seems nice enough.”

“No. Come on, you’re chaperoning the dance with me. I’ll treat you to dessert afterward.”

Looks like that’s how I’ll be spending Valentine’s Day this year: with my plain, un-sexy, definitely-doesn’t-turn-me-on platonic pal, Ian—oh, and a couple hundred high school kids.





6





I A N



I’ve decided to finally pursue Sam, but I haven’t had the courage to actually get to the pursuing part. For days, I’ve wavered back and forth on the best plan of action. You can’t just be friends with someone for three years then turn to them one day over lunch and ask them out on a date.

Sam would laugh and assume I was joking. My pride can’t take that.

No. I have to employ tact, have to seduce and tempt her organically, like the other day in my kitchen when she was dyeing my hair. I knew there was something there, we were both just too afraid.