Diary of a Teenage Jewel Thief(11)

“You guys are getting pretty cozy, huh?” Nicky smiles a knowing smile.

Even though the idea of getting cozy with Will sets off a flurry of nervous energy in my gut, my cheeks heat, and I shift so there’s a few extra inches of space between Will and me.

“Don’t mind Nicky,” Will tells me. “He’s been trying to live vicariously through my love life since Wendy McGillis sat next to me and not him during circle time in kindergarten. He means well. He just doesn’t understand boundaries.” Will punctuates his last word with a playful punch to his friend’s shoulder. Nicky grabs his shoulder in an exaggerated gesture and pretends to fall back on the retaining wall, catching himself at the very last moment, and Will laughs.

I take a step toward the building, then another. “Hey, I gotta hit up the office for something. I’ll catch you later.” I throw the words over my shoulder as I reach the front door. Will is right there next to me and opens the heavy metal door.

“Thanks.” I slip through and continue toward the office.

He catches up to me with easy strides, and I feel like a hamster running with tiny legs on a big wheel, trying to shake him and getting nowhere.

“You don’t have to come with me.”

“Okay, see you in class.”

I fight the urge to watch him as he strolls away, busying myself, instead, with my phone. I think about checking my timeline, but I already know there’s going to be nothing new there. I don’t have any close friends to leave me status updates or fun memes. So I text my mother to let her know I’ve made it safely. Her response is almost immediate:

Have a great day! Love you!

I tuck the phone back into my pocket and sneak a self-conscious glance around. Not that anyone’s close enough to see who I’m texting. But I’m still a little self-conscious about messaging my mom to let her know I’m okay after a three-block walk to school.

When I get to the office, I spot Jamie behind his computer and smile. He waves back at me. Then I head straight for the rack with all the flyers, doing my best to blend in, even though there are far fewer students in here now than there were a couple of days ago.

I zero in on the call for drama club auditions almost immediately, but I can’t find a flyer listing any of the after-school clubs.

“Hey, Marisol! Can I help you find something?” Jamie sidles up next to me.

I hesitate and almost don’t answer him right away. Will he think I’m pathetic trying to join a club to make friends? So instead, I stand there staring at the wall of papers. I’m not nearly as self-conscious around Jamie as I am with Will, but it’s still uncomfortable admitting I don’t know how to make friends. Finally, I almost whisper, “I was thinking about joining a club and thought there might be some information about different offerings here.”

“Oh cool! Yeah, we have a lot of clubs.” He scans the racks quickly, then grabs a paper and hands it to me. “I’m in a couple of clubs myself. Student government, and stuff like that. If you need any help picking, let me know.” He smiles brightly, and the last of my nervousness evaporates.

“Thanks!” I scan the half-page list, then fold it and tuck it into the back pocket of my jeans for safekeeping. I’ll look it over when I get home. “I’ve got to get to class.” We exchange awkward goodbyes and I escape into the hall, then head for class.

Will’s sitting low in his desk when I get to Mrs. Leonard’s room. His head is tipped back, and his eyes are closed. Is he taking a nap? At 7:50 in the morning? I take my seat in front of him and pull out my book. No sooner have I settled myself than I hear him suck in a shaky breath.

“Even your hair smells like flowers,” he whispers almost imperceptibly, and his breath is warm on the back of my neck. Goose bumps break out everywhere his words touched.

The late bell rings, and the teacher enters the room. The door closes with a heavy thud behind her a heartbeat later. Great. How am I supposed to concentrate on math with my nerves on fire and every cell in my body hyper-focused on Will?





Chapter Five


I pull my coat out of my locker and slip into it, then heft my backpack onto my shoulders. My third day of school was exactly like the first two. I’m just one of hundreds of students floating through the day, and just as with days one and two, I’m doing it alone. Well, if I don’t count Don Juan and his keeper, I realize as I spot Nicky and Will sauntering toward me. I try to hide how excited I am to see Will but settle for ducking my face when I can’t quite stifle it.

“Walk you home?” Will stops in front of me, Nicky no longer at his side but digging deep into a locker several feet away.

I want to shout yes, and then melt into a puddle at his feet, but I hold myself together and put on a stern front, determined not to be transparent in my attraction to him. “You want to walk me home?” Instead of waiting for his reply, I shut my locker and head for the exit.

He blushes a soft pink. “Yeah, you know, to make sure you get there okay or whatever.” He shrugs.

“It’s three blocks.” I’m torn between feeling flattered that he’s worried about my safety and wondering if he thinks I can’t protect myself. With as much weapons training as I’ve had, I’d probably be the one protecting us both in the face of danger.

“Well, maybe I’m scared and want you around for protection.” His grin crooks to one side, and he winks. He’s teasing me.