The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“Definitely. Jackson is going to get so jealous if there’s some guy sniffing around you,” Hayden says.

“Sniffing around me? Gross.” I put my hand in her face, but she just laughs harder. “I’m not trying to make him jealous.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Hayden singsongs. “I need to figure out an outfit for me.”

“Let me find you something!” Gracie runs to the closet and shoves Hayden aside. “I want it to be a surprise.”

My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I pull it out to find a text from…

Jackson?

Frowning, I tap my phone to read it.

You going to the party tonight?

I stare at his message, contemplating my reply. So grateful I didn’t reach out first. Does that make me a petty person? Probably.

But I don’t care.

“What’s got you frowning?” Hayden asks me.

I blink her back into focus and hold my phone out to her. “This.”

Gracie leans in to read the text too. “When was the last time you talked to him?” s

he asks through narrowed eyes.

“The night he kissed me.” They know all the details. There was no point in keeping it a secret. Plus, I wanted their input.

Like I do now.

“Don’t respond,” is Gracie’s advice. “Keep him wondering.”

“Nah, that’s not it,” Hayden says, slowly shaking her head. “Tell him you’ll definitely be there. With your new friend.”

Gracie cackles evilly. “I like that.”

“What if Carson doesn’t show up?”

“It doesn’t matter. Jackson will be curious, wondering about your friend. Male? Female? He’ll think female, because he’s just that arrogant,” Hayden says.

“You’re not wrong,” I tell her with a little laugh.

“Right. So he’ll show up, perfectly prepared for fangirl Ellie to hang all over him,” Hayden continues.

I wince. “Was I that bad?”

“You were kind of bad,” Gracie says, not unkindly. Just very matter of fact. I see the sympathy in her gaze and it’s reassuring. “I’ve been there. I feel you.”

“What will be great is you won’t give him any of that. Not an ounce of fangirl behavior. You will ignore him,” Hayden says.

“I will?”

“Yes.” She nods. “Ignore him the entire night, but make sure you’re always standing nearby. Close to him, but not too close. Always in his peripheral.”

This sounds silly. Why avoid him, but also make sure he can see me?

“Don’t frown. This kind of shit works,” Gracie says.