Jenni James - Pride and Popularity

I looked up at Taylor, but he was staring at his desk and chewing on his lower lip.

“Mr. Anderson, in eight years, every letter or note I have found in my class has been read to everyone.”

From Taylor’s expression, I could tell he was mortified that the whole school would soon know all about the letter. This is the most brutal lesson ever!

“Until now,” Mr. Young said.

Confusion and disbelief flashed across Taylor’s face as he glanced back up at the teacher.

“Yes, Mr. Anderson. Miss Hart’s reason for not reading to the class out loud was not because she was embarrassed for herself, which I’m sure she was.” Mr. Young paused and looked down at me. “She was concerned for you, Mr. Anderson.”

I stared at my desk and felt my face turn red. Oh, no, I’m blushing. Don’t blush. Don’t blush.

“Miss Hart did not want you to feel the aftermath and gossip that would no doubt have come from reading it. To put it in her own words, ‘I would hate to have someone get hurt because I was impatient.’”

Please let me die right now. Please.

“Mr. Anderson, I asked you to come here this afternoon to make you aware of this young lady, who will now be sitting in detention until 4:30 p.m. on your behalf.”

Four thirty! I have to be here until 4:30? Mom is so gonna kill me.

“No, she’s not.”

Taylor’s statement caught me by surprise, and I think it shocked Mr. Young, too.

“Oh . . . oh really?” he sputtered.

“I’ll stay—”

“Taylor—” I interrupted.

“Mr. Young, it was my fault. I owe her one anyway.”

For the second time that day, I found myself staring into Taylor’s eyes. Except this time they were sky blue and full of relief. But I still wasn’t convinced he was making the right choice. “Thanks, Taylor, but you don’t have to do this.”

“On the contrary, Miss Hart,” Mr. Young interjected. “I find this very enlightening and magnanimous. It gives us insight into Mr. Anderson’s character, and it is the correct and gentlemanly thing to do. In my day, a gentleman was always allowed to be a gentleman. Therefore, Miss Hart, you are free to go and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.”

“But—”

“Go, Chloe. I don’t have a carpool waiting for me like you do,” Taylor said. “I have my own car to get myself home when this is over. Besides, I have a ton of homework to catch up on, so really, it’s okay. Just go.”

He did have a point. Now I wouldn’t have to have my Mom come and rescue me, or make Alyssa and Madison wait any longer. “Thanks.” I smiled. Karma can be good sometimes.

“We’re even.” Taylor grinned. “Oh, could you tell Zack to head off without me? Let him know I’ll talk to him tonight, okay?”

“Sure, no problem. And Taylor? There’s one more thing. About the phone call, I’m really sorry I lost my cool like that. It was, as you said, in the heat of the moment.”

“You mean you’re usually much nicer when you tell people off?” he teased.

“Something like that. Sorry.”

“Forgiven. Am I?”

“I don’t know, we’ll have to see.” I grinned and winked before I turned to Mr. Young. “Thanks. I, uh, have definitely learned my lesson.”

“No more notes in class?” His twinkling eyes belied his gruff voice.

“No more notes ever.” I headed for the door.

I found Zack on a bench at the end of the hallway. He was listening to some music on his iPod and bouncing a basketball to the beat. With his eyes closed, jamming to the rhythm, he looked like he could hold his own on any court. I could definitely see what Alyssa saw in him.

He didn’t hear me the first couple of times I called out to him. Finally, I walked right up to him and touched his shoulder. “Zack?”

“Uh, yeah?” He quickly removed one of the earpieces and turned down the volume. “Sorry. Did you need something?”

“Taylor wanted me to tell you he’ll be in Mr. Young’s class until 4:30. He said you could go ahead and he’ll talk to you later tonight.” I began to walk away, but to my amazement Zack started to follow me.

“No way. Is he in trouble or something?”

“No. Actually, he was rescuing me.”

“Really? Sounds like Anderson, always helping the ladies.” Zack fell into step with me. “Um, you’re Chloe Hart, right?”

I wonder if this is leading to Alyssa. “Yep,” I said as I walked toward the hallway door.

“Oh. Do you have a friend named Alyssa Ming?” Man, I’m good.

Zack opened the door for both of us. “She plays the cello,” he added when I didn’t answer right away.

“Yeah, I’m hoping she’s still waiting for me.”

“Wait, you’re heading to her right now?” Zach asked.

I smiled. “It’s more or less her car I need, but she should be there too.”

“Hey, uh—can I walk with you?”

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Zack Bradford sounded a bit shy. “Sure. If you want to.” I shrugged.

As we headed across the lawn toward the parking lot, I saw Alyssa and Madison lounging against the side of Alyssa’s car. Madison noticed me first.

“Hey, Chloe! Where’ve you been?” she shouted.

“Mr. Young’s,” I yelled back. “Alyssa, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

She did a double take as we I walked closer. “Zack? Is that you? I thought you were Ethan.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.” He grinned as we approached the girls. “Hey, uh, I was wondering if, if . . .” —he looked at all of us and then back at Alyssa— “if you’d like to walk with me for a minute.”

“Sure.” Alyssa beamed and wiggled her eyebrows at us as she passed.

Madison and I watched her and Zack walk over to some shade trees on the lawn. We smiled at each other. It was about time the guy made a move.

“So, I heard you had a more-than-interesting letter during English today, one that you refused to share with anyone.” Madison’s tone was full of meaning. “Don’t look at me like that. Everyone’s been talking about it.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I have to say, Chloe has learned a lot today.”

“You have, huh? Would it have anything to do with a certain note someone wrote you?”

“Actually, it has a lot to do with it. A whole lot.”

“Okay, spill. I’m dying already!”

So, of course I did what any best friend with a good three-year standing relationship would do. “All right, but first you have to promise me not to tell anyone. Promise?” Except Alyssa, of course.

It went without saying that Alyssa was exempt from secrets.

“Not a soul,” Madison said. “Now talk.”

Which I did. I told her everything—except, well, the Darcy part. That really wasn’t my secret to share anyway.

“I can’t believe how harsh Mr. Young was. I mean, you are so lucky that Taylor is as great as he is.”

“It was weird, Madison. He was really cool about it, considering yesterday with my phone call and then his girlfriend right after me.”

“So let me get this straight. Taylor broke up with his girlfriend because of you, right?”

“What? No . . . no!”

“But didn’t the note say he was angry with Anne for attacking you?”

“Yeah, well, but he meant because she didn’t trust him,” I explained.

“So then he fills in for you on your detention?”

“Yeah, well, yeah, but—”

“And he apologizes, plus he admits that you were right.”

“So? We were both right, and I way overreacted—”

“Hello!” Madison interrupted. “Can’t you see what I see?”

“What?”

“What? That Taylor is totally into you, Chloe.”

“Wha–at? No, not even. You’re way off the mark there.”

“Am I?”

“Madison, seriously—”

Just then, Alyssa came rushing back to the car, a shy smile on her face. Madison and I looked at each other, and then we both stared at Alyssa again.

“Well, did he ask you out?” Madison asked her.

Alyssa shrugged, then smiled and nodded furiously.

“Shut up!” Madison threw her arms out.

“Ahhhh!” We all went in for a major group hug.

“So are ya out out with him?” I couldn’t help asking, just to clarify.

“Oh, no. Not out out, but we’re going to a movie Saturday.”

“That is so awesome. I am so happy for you!” I said. Wow. Who’d have thought? Zack Bradford and Alyssa.

“Hey, don’t you have a date on Saturday too?” Madison asked.

“Holy cow, you’re right. We’ve got to get home ASAP. Blake was supposed to call me this afternoon.” I ran over to the front passenger door.

“What an amazing day,” Alyssa said as she climbed into the driver’s seat. “I don’t think there will ever be a day as surprising as today.”

Madison and I smiled at each other over the roof of the car, then climbed in ourselves. Now if only there was someone for Madison. 

“No way!” I whined. “You can’t make me go out with him.” I stormed into the dining room. Of course, Mom followed me.