Falling For My Nemesis

I moaned and tossed my head back. “You have to do this for me. You owe me.”

“Oh, no. Not that again.”

“Come on. How much trouble could I have gotten into if I had gotten caught sneaking into Mrs. E’s office for you to get that stupid love note you wrote to Amber?”

He shut his comic and rested his forearms on the table. “It wasn’t a love note. And you know I already paid you back for that. When I went with you to see that stupid chick flick.”

“You love chick flicks.”

He smiled, his one dimple showing. “Okay, I do.”

“Then do this for me. Please?” I gave him another puppy-dog face. I knew he couldn’t resist it.

He exhaled and tossed his hands up. “Fine.”

I stood and ran around to his side of the table, hugging him. “Thank you. This is going to work. I just know it.” I was already thinking of ways to put myself into Lucas’s path. The school’s dinner theater and cupid’s dance coming up for Valentine’s day would be perfect.

Parker pulled away from my embrace and ran a hand through his hair like I’d messed it up or something. “Yeah.”

I looked down to my blouse and button up sweater. I looked like a grandma. I’d never been to a party in my life, but I figured if I was going to go to a swanky shindig, I would have to put something better on. “Come on. Let’s go find something for me to wear tonight.”

He made a face. “What’s wrong with what you have on?”

“It’s not nice enough.”

“It’s plenty nice.”

“Just come with me. I have to find the perfect outfit.”

He rolled his eyes but he stood anyway. “Remind me again why you don’t have any girlfriends?”

I grabbed his arm and led him toward the door. “Shut up.”