The heartbeat series

na's

ecide if I still wanted Nate as my date. Although, if I'm b

st against

Maybe a little less irritating? A little more considerate? But no. Nate was st

apped me out of my thoughts, her

realizing I'd co

ws furrowed in mock concern. "I've been talking to you fo

shaking my head. "W

about the theme for the ball. It's going to be 'A Nig

e. He'd managed to monopolize way more of my brain space than

d, studying me. "You

ng w

ut him," she

'm not thinki

closer. "Come on, Tena, spill. Has he s

hether to tell her abou

No, actually, he's been avoiding me a

hat doesn't sound like him at all. He's usually glued to

a mission to make me regret even considering saying yes. One minute he's everywhere,

ng her chin on her ha

dentally dropped my notebook, and instead of just handing it to me like a

ughing. "Oh my gos

ouldn't help but laugh a little too.

us," Jenny offere

e Collins? Please. The guy doesn't

l, which is kind of a big deal for him. Maybe he's acting

is his idea of impressing m

ievous look, "maybe he's just

ight. Like that's e

way, I think you two are hilarious. And if he's avoiding you,

and grabbing my tray. "Completely unpre

s, still laughing. "You know, I ca

part of me couldn't hel

e's

supposed to mak

weren't exactly workin

dn't care about. Across the room, a couple of freshmen were giggling over some guy's Snapchat, and the low hum of co

ll, I thought I'd feel satisfied-confident she'd say yes, just like I told the guy

t used

efinitely didn't make me feel like I had some

scared me

en keeping my distance. If I gave her too much attention, she'd fig

y for her, either. If she thought I was obnoxious befor

was the only way I could keep the

at

e, his arms crossed. "What are you doin

uring vaguely at the ope

"Since when

said with a smirk, but it faded when Ryan sa

eaning forward. "You've been acting

d quickly-t

ed. "It to

"Don't you have so

ning back in his chair. "Come on, man. You've been avoi

prising even myself. "B

d. "What's

t it into words. "I don't know. She makes me

nt before breaking into a gr

tered, slamming

p. "Maybe stop trying to play games and jus

e walked away, his wo

Yeah, right. Tha

time to try som

na's

tly, it felt like I was getting some much-needed peace and quie

urse, he had that trademark cocky grin plastered on his face. But this time, instead of w

urn around and head the other way. But before I

alled out, his voice just loud eno

him. "You seriously need a new nickname for me," I

shrugging. "Gum's always

eyes. "You'r

e to remind you that you still owe m

m, folding my arms. "Rig

opping slightly. "Yeah, and I'm

s something different in the air between us now-almost like he w

asn't g

Nate, I think I've

tered for a m

een avoiding me, acting like you don't even care,

dropped compl

do. If you can't even be straightforward with me, then I don't

ame out. Instead, he looked at me for a long momen

I wa

d luck finding someone e

e, I turned and walked away,

the right decision. But at

I enjoyed turning him down. I wasn't cold-hearted. But Nate had made it clear he didn't

en expecting it to feel like a weight had been lifted off my chest. But now

enny slid into the desk next to mine, r

d probably tell right away th

im down," I

widened. "Y

He was acting weird, and I'm not about to go to the

times, then grinned. "

nly feeling exhausted. "Don't ma

look fine. You look like y

in my chest. I had no idea why it b

the start of class. We both fell silent as the teache

now and then, I'd glance around, half-expecting Nate to be there, waiting for me to

saw him at the e

of his friends. I stopped dead in my tracks, unsure of what

rom watching him. He was acting like nothing had happened, like we hadn

uickly, my hear

right decision, but I couldn't hel