Lizzie

"I checked the schedule for Miles." Lilly stands next to me at my locker, where I throw in my sneakers since I walked into school this morning. It felt so damn weird since I usually get a ride in with Brandon. Not sure what has happened to him this morning, but he hasn't messaged me. It leaves a gaping feeling of emptiness in my chest.

"By the way you know Denver and Brandon went in for extra practice this morning, right?" Phew. At least he isn't ignoring me then but still he could have let me know. What, am I a mind reader now? And if he is acting weird about my announcement last night, what right has he got unless he has now become some overprotective bestie? That I can do without; I can't have Brandon with his guard up now since it's him I want. Not Miles friggin DeLaney.

I shoot up my eyebrows. "How did you get his class timetable?" Lilly smiles and taps her nose. She looks quite adorable in a white summer dress and red ballet pumps. Most of us just dress casually in jeans and a tee since we're not allowed to wear shorts even though it's baking hot here in the summer.

The dress code got changed last year because some girls couldn't help themselves and wore denim cut right up their bum cheeks, and now it's spoiled it for the rest of us.

"I have my ways." She giggles.

"Tell me already," I say, grabbing my folder with Disney's Beauty and the Beast on it.

"Okay. Well, he posted on social media that he has biology at eleven, and it sucks, oh and that he'd rather be riding a pussy than attending biology. Apparently, that classifies as the same subject." I have to stifle a laugh because actually it's pretty funny. "That means, Lizzie, you and he will be in class together later. You can ask him if he wants to go to prom with you instead."

Wow. Lilly works fast. First of all, I hardly ever speak to Miles DeLaney; he's a hockey player who is usually surrounded by at least ten girls at any one time. And how is he even going to notice someone like me? Sure, Brandon seems to think I am really pretty and that because my eyes aren't the same colour, it's intriguing and makes me interesting. I, however, see myself as the nerdy-geeky bookwork girl. Plus, Brandon is my bestie, so he is bound to be a bit biased.

"I can't just throw myself at him, Lilly. That's not going to work. Besides, I told you and Tam last night that I'm not looking for a change of prom date. I will be going with Brandon if he talks to me ever again."

I close my locker and pull the key out. The corridor is already filling up with kids. "Come on. We've got class." I yank her by the arm and start to move her amongst the kids in the corridor, aiming for our history class down the hall.

"Why isn't he talking to you? You guys never fall out." Lilly practically runs alongside me since I'm walking so fast.

I shrug my shoulders. "Told you already. I told him something, and I don't think he liked it. You know the whole V card thing." We're at the classroom door; a couple of guys behind us snigger. Great, so now they've heard me,

"Fuck off, Denzel," I say to the one on the left. He shrugs and pushes his mate, Harold, into the classroom, barging past us.

"You told Brandon?" Lilly's eyes are like saucers.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I? He's my bestie."

"Yeah, but he's a guy, and how did he take that?"

"He's gone all weird on me. Anyway, let's just drop it. I'm sure it'll be fine. Did you finish your assignment?" She nods, takes the desk next to mine, and starts to open her folder as our teacher comes in. An hour of this class and then I have a free period as does Brandon. I need to catch up with him, then, and make sure we're all good, because I can't stand to lose him as my bestie.

That is exactly why I am now reconsidering everything. Like, perhaps it won't be such a good idea to tell him how I feel about him or that I want my first time to be with him, you know to kind of help me out. This fucking sucks, and I can't concentrate on a word the teacher is saying. I hate history anyway. Always have and always will.

The teacher drones on whilst I continue to think about Brandon. His memorizing electric blue eyes, the way his dark hair flops in his eyes and those damn tattoos he has running up and down his arms. My phone vibrates in my pocket. I daren't take it out since we have a strict no phone policy in class. Why couldn't being a teenager be a little less sucky?

Lilly shoves a Post-it note towards me. You still need to speak with Miles, though, and maybe organize to go have coffee out somewhere. Okay, don't drop Brandon as prom date, but you know Miles is gorgeous, and if you want to be serious about losing your V, then he's got to be the one.

I blush as our history rambles on about 16th-century architecture in Rome. If she were speaking about Paris, then I'd probably be a little more attentive. I turn the note over, start to write, and shove it back to Lilly.

I'm not sure. I kind of had someone in mind already.

I see her eyebrows raise almost to her hairline, and then a smile forms on her mouth, followed by her cocking her head to the left and mouthing Brandon. I say nothing. Honestly, I really need someone to talk to about this and Lilly is one of my best girlfriends.

I nod.

Her mouth falls wide open. I stretch my hand over and gently push her jaw up to close her mouth. She giggles.

The history teacher peers over his glasses. "Something amusing over there, Lilly?"

"Er, no sir."

"Good. Then perhaps you'd like to give us all a recap of the most prominent pieces of architecture during the 16th century in Rome."

I giggle. Poor Lilly.