Bridget

The next day at school I decide I want to find out more about that guy, the one whose neck I couldn't stop staring at. In Yearbook class second hour, I tell my friend Tairyn about him.

“You’re talking about Denny! I have math with him,” she exclaims.

“Oh my gosh, no way!? He’s kinda cute.” I gush, excited to have some kind of connection to him now. “So are you friends… or?”

“Yeah. I mean I talk to him and we kind of studied together for our math test... I can talk to him more now to see if he likes you!” She raises her eyebrows. One thing I love about Tairyn is her ability to make light of every situation.

We explode in laughter. She’s poking fun at the carrot she dangled in front of me and I’m just giddy at the thought of getting to know him. Denny. I sigh at the possibility within it all.

“If he has lunch with us, we could all sit together. He seems nice….Maybe you can talk to him about me randomly and then he’ll realize he has me in his history class.” I talk through the plan out loud.

“You want me to tell him you loooove his neck hair?!” She teases

“Well maybe not before he knows I’m not insane. And besides. I don't even know him.” I give her a wide-eyed stare that says, ‘Don’t test me.’

“What hour is math anyways?”

“I’m kidding, I'm kidding. It’s 4th hour. I can’t wait to play matchmaker.” Tairyn gleefully smiles.

“Please do not tell him I like him. If anything, get his AIM name so I can message him sometime. Or give him mine!” I suggest, trying to pull back how eager I am so she doesn’t tease me further. The bell rings and we throw our things in our backpacks and head for the halls.

A few hours later, I’m sitting behind Denny, knowing his name now. I wonder if he knows who I am yet. After the teacher reads part of the chapter, she has us break into groups of two to go over the questions at the end of it. (we were supposed to read most of it on our own last night. I skimmed it.) I’m itching to tap Denny on the shoulder and ask if he wants to pair up but before I can, the girl Riley behind me says

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“Hey Bridget, wanna be my partner?”

“Oh, sure!” I act excited, flattered that she wanted me to be her partner.

We turn our desks to be next to one another and I keep track of Denny behind me as everyone else in the class splits up for the assignment. He is left working with one of the new students who hasn’t had time to make many friends yet, Tom. He seems like a kind enough guy for my quick analysis: above average looks and no creepy vibes, smells fine. Denny and Tom turn their desks next to one another and are facing towards us when seated.

“Okay!” Riley exclaims, not noticing my distraction, “Do you want to read number one?”

“Yeah. Um…” I scan the page, “What caused the Civil War in America?”

Riley blows out a breath. “Well that’s a bit broad.”

“How about the Confederates believed in slavery and the Union was trying to end it, so they went to war to abolish slavery.” I suggest.

“Well maybe we start with that and add that the Confederates officially started it by opening fire on Fort Sumpter in South Carolina.” She thinks about this answer much more intently than I am.

“Perfect. We can cover two interpretations of the question.”

I look up from my book and study Denny’s face which is much more entrancing than these questions. His eyelashes are so dark and long, like mine with black mascara only straighter and not as clumpy. They soften his boyish features in a mysterious, alluring kind of way.

“What do you think?” Riley inquires and snaps me out of my stare.

“Um, hmm let me look back in the chapter to see what it says..” I try to cover for my inattentiveness shuffling through the pages having no idea what question she just read, realizing I can flip back to the questions and reread the second question real quick.

“What is up with you?” Riley asks.

We aren’t incredibly close friends but we have many mutual friends so we’ve ended up at birthday parties together more than once. She’s honest enough to trust but I’m not ready to go telling the world my interest when I truly know nothing about Denny.

“Nothing. Sorry I’m just tired. I keep spacing out.” I lie, hoping it passes.

“Okay well then let’s finish this so that you can sleep when you get home.” Riley kindly supplies the solution.

I agree but not before looking up one last time and seeing Denny staring right at me. My eyes dart down to my book and I can feel heat rising in my cheeks. I have to push my lips inside and bite on them to try to suppress the smile I’m failing to hide. I immerse myself in the last few questions to fight my urge to look back up and see if he’s still looking. I want so badly to know but I also don’t want Riley to find out what is going on in my mind.

The bell rings and I finally let my smile loose. The excitement threatens to escape in a shriek so I grit my teeth down hard and raise my eyebrows letting my muscles do the shrieking for me. My cheeks feel like they’re about to explode and my heart is racing. Denny has looked at me! I mean we locked eyes! This is way better than yesterday and I can’t wait to tell Tairyn and Mallory. When we moved all our desks back together, I bolted out the door so fast I didn’t realize that I beat Denny out the door. I caution a glance over my shoulder to see if I can get another look at him and even though he’s gone, the feeling I have is far from.