Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(9)

“But–”

“No buts.”

“Oh!” She grins. “I wonder if he’s got a cute butt.”

“You’re so stupid.” I laugh, as my mom calls out that dinner’s ready.

Jen ends up staying over for my mom's dinner, which is enchiladas. She makes this amazing green sauce that's to die for. While we're eating, I glance at my phone a few times, and Jen notices it on more than one occasion. She finally bumps my leg under the table and motions to my phone, but I shake my head that I haven't received any texts.

By the time dinner's over, Jen goes home, and I hang out with my parents for a little while, as we watch TV and forget about my phone. Later, as I'm getting ready for bed, I plug it into the charger and open my text messages. The last exchange was him saying ‘my bad'. Maybe he thought I was mad when I said my name didn't have anything to do with Wizard of Oz. I didn’t mean it in a bad way, but I didn’t add any emojis or anything. Those always lighten up the conversation. Or maybe he forgot about me.

Putting my phone back on my nightstand, I stare up at the dark ceiling. Maybe it’s for the best. He may go to my school, but he could be some freak. But I don’t think he’s a freak. What kind of freak cracks jokes and asks for homework assignments. Letting out a deep breath, I try to forget everything and will myself to sleep.

As soon as I wake up, I grab my phone out of habit. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed to see I had no new text messages. Why? Why am I disappointed? After scrolling my usual social media apps, as I do every morning, I finally get up and get ready for school. Looking through my closet, my Chucks are the first thing I decide to wear today. My glorious, comfy Chucks.

When we first get to school, I find myself eyeing everyone on campus. Everyone I walk by in the student parking lot, as I get out of Jen's car. Everyone in the hallway. I even start scanning Mr. Hilton's class again, since that's the only class I know he has. But no one looks familiar. Which sounds dumb, but I thought I might be able to match up a face, just by the few texts I'd received. I know, I know. Dumb.

By the time second period comes around, I start to forget about the messages. My sound reasoning comes back, and I know it's for the best. Are we going to fall madly in love through text messages, and then reveal ourselves to each other at prom? Yeah, right. This was a stupid coincidence, and I know I should get on with life.

Pulling out my sandwich for lunch, I slide next to Jen at the table we usually sit at in the quad. The tables here are a little further out then the main lunch area tables, so it’s not as noisy.

“Hey,” I say, unwrapping my sandwich.

"Jeez, I thought your mood would be better than this morning, but it's worse."

“What?” I gape at her. “My mood is fine, thank you very much.”

“No new texts?”

“No.” Now I’m painfully aware of how grumpy I sound. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be as bummed out about it as I am. It’s stupid, right? I don’t even know him.”

I do a quick glance around, making sure I didn't say it loud enough for someone else to hear. Micah and Lana, who usually sit with us, haven't shown up yet, so I feel a little more comfortable talking about it.

“It’s not stupid,” she says before taking a drink of her Diet Coke. “It’s like when a guy asks for your number and doesn’t call. It sucks.”

“But he didn’t ask for my number, Jen.”

“No, he already has it. So, don’t feel bad. He’s being a jerk. It’s what guys do.”

Her comments should make me feel better, but they don’t. I take another bite of my sandwich, doing a quick scan of the area, checking out the guys that walk by. Any of them could be him, and I don’t have a clue. I let out a defeated huff, wishing I wasn’t thinking about this so much. Then my phone chimes.

Jen’s eyes widen at me, a smile creeping across her lips.

I try to fight off a smile. “No. It’s probably a tweet or a snap.”

As I pull out my phone, for some reason my heart flutters. I have my phone set to show I've received a text message, but it stays private until I open my messages. I try to keep calm, because who knows, maybe it's my mom asking what I want to have for dinner. Even if she's never texted me for that. Opening up my messages, I can't stop the smile that appears.

“It is!” Jen shouts.

"What is?" Micah says as he and Lana show up.

"Nothing," I mutter, glancing at Jen to not say anything.

We've exchanged enough silent conversations that she knows when I want to keep something a secret. Micah and Lana are our friends, Micah's in art too, and Lana is his girlfriend. We're close, but I don't tell them everything like I do with Jen. Maybe I will if this goes any further, but right now I still want to find out exactly what this is.

BigBaller27: Where do u sit for lunch?

Emerald22: At a table





I smile at my joke, before taking another bite of my lunch.

BigBaller27: Ha. Ha. Ha. <--- Fake laugh. Seriously…

Emerald22: Why do u want to know?

BigBaller27: Idk, maybe I want to buy you a soda ;) Emerald22: With all that big baller money? And u should probably get a name from a girl before u go asking her out for a drink ;P