The rest of my day goes by pretty smoothly. I got a perfect score on my Chemistry exam, which boosts my mood and pushes Baker Scott further out of my mind. Yes, things are going to be just fine. I definitely haven't lost my mojo. AP American History is boring. Just a video about JFK as my teacher argues with his wife on the phone in the hallway. I take extensive notes, just in case there's a test on the subject later. I get a few odd looks, and a text from Beth, who sits just a few seats away from me, calling me a freak.

After History, I run to my locker and grab my lunch before heading down to the library, where I have a short study group with a few kids from my French class. The bell rings, and it's time for English. I take my seat in the middle of the class and pull out my personal copy (with all the annotated notes) of The Catcher in the Rye. I expect my teacher, Mr. Watkins, to jump straight into the lesson on chapters eight through ten. But he doesn't. Instead, he lifts up the hanging projector screen, and we all groan as we see, written on the board in bright green letters, the words GROUP PROJECT.

God, I hate group projects. They're the absolute worst. I always end up carrying the team, whether it's a presentation on Queen Elizabeth I, Lithium and all its elemental properties, or our favorite geometric formula (I'm not joking). They always take up so much time, and they seem to have very little reward. At least very little for me. I have the briefest hope in my chest that maybe we can choose our partners, and that maybe Ollie Thompson will turn around from three seats up and ask me, with those heavenly green eyes that remind me of grass in the summer, if I'll be his partner.

I shouldn't be thinking these thoughts. But ever since my conversation with Beth this morning in the locker room, I've been unable to stop thinking of Ollie. Because the thing is, we had some really great moments together. And despite everything he did, he's not a bad guy. Just the timing of things have always been off between us. And no matter what, we keep having the same issue. I'm just not ready for sex. But I am a junior now. Maybe I can be ready this time?

I drift off in a daydream, wondering what a sexual encounter with Ollie would be like. He was always sweet and playful when he wasn't cheating on me or breaking my heart. Maybe he'll be gentle with me in bed too. My pulse is quickening as all these images enter my head, and suddenly I am way too hot in this classroom. Damn these teenage hormones.

But I don't even get much of a chance to hope for Ollie as a partner before Mr. Watkins ruins it by announcing that the project will be an oral presentation on a theme from The Catcher in the Rye, and that no, we will not be choosing our own partners.

Several groans ensue from the rest of the class, and he smiles as he speaks over the voices of his unhappy students to read out the list of paired students. Henry Dennison will be partnered with Vincent Young. Bella Crawford will be partnered with Sally Winford. Ollie Thompson... my heart races... will be partnered with Sylvia Underwood. The hope in my heart dissolves, and I realize that it's probably for the best that I'm not partnered with Ollie. He would be way too big of a distraction. Mr. Watkins continues to go down the list until finally he gets to my name.

"Summer Lumen," he reads from his list of names in his high squeaky voice that does not fit him somehow. "You will be partnered with...."

I know before he says it. I can't explain how I know. I just do. I can sense a disturbance in the force. A shift in the magnetic poles or even in my own personal atmosphere. Everything seems to have frozen, even time. I feel the eyes of the rest of the class on me, like they're waiting to see how I'm going to react to what our teacher is about to say. But they don't know. They couldn't possibly know what I'm thinking. What I'm feeling. Mr. Watkins opens his mouth. And words come out. Just two words.

"Baker Scott."

Disappointment drains from my stomach like water from a bathtub. I turn to look at the boy who is now both my partner and my rival. My eyes drink him in, and I find that he doesn't seem nearly as impressive as I had imagined in my head. His dark chocolate brown hair is messy and standing up in all directions as if he'd just walked ten miles in a massive windstorm. His left cheek is slightly shiny and discolored, a light purple in comparison to the rest of his skin. Probably a football injury. Or an injury from a fight. Beth did say he was a scrapper. He's staring back at me with stormy gray-blue eyes, and his lips are curved downward in the world's deepest frown, and I get the sense that he's just as disappointed to be my partner as I am to be his. I scowl at him, and he blinks in surprise as I turn my head away from him swiftly. He's probably thinking he's going to have to carry me through this project. My competitive spirit rises in me like lava about to burst through the mouth of a volcano. He probably thinks he's so much smarter than me. But I'll show him. He won't be top of the class for much longer.

We get through the lesson, and I don't make a sound for the entire class. I'm too busy taking notes on potential themes to discuss with Baker when we meet up. Too busy trying to prove to both of us that I am the best student. I'm writing so hard that my pencil tip breaks three times, and I finally have to switch to a pen. An hour and a half later and Mr. Watkins lets class out. I half expect Baker to give me his phone number before he leaves, but he just throws his hoodie up over his hair, pressing his messy fringe into his eyes, and storms out of the classroom. I glare at him. What a jerk. I throw my books into my bag in anger, and I jump in surprise when I turn around and see a figure standing behind me.

"Ollie," I say, pressing my hand to my chest. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

He gives me that dashing crooked smile, and I melt into a puddle of Summer goo. Ugh, I've been down this road before. I know where it leads. But I just can't seem to help myself. "Don't worry about it. I was just thinking about it when Mr. Watkins was calling out partners, and I realized that I haven't really talked to you much this semester. And you know, we made that promise to stay friends and all. So how have you been?"

I brush my hair back behind my ear and start dancing on the balls of my feet like a little girl choosing what candy bar she wants at the grocery store. "I've been good. You know. Same old, same old. Studying." Oh God, I sound like a loser. Heat rises in my face. "How have you been?"

He scoots up to the top of my desk and puts his hands on his knees. "I'm a little disappointed to be honest. Was kind of hoping that Watkins would put us together for this project, you know?"

I must be dreaming. Or maybe I'm having a nightmare? I can't tell. All I know is that there are butterflies in my stomach, and I'm feeling giggly and giddy. I'm suddenly extremely grateful that Beth does not share this class with me. "You were hoping he'd team us up?" I ask, swallowing nervously. "Why?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. I guess I thought it would be fun. You and me. Might give us some time to catch up." Ollie and I have known each other for years, and we've always been friendly. Even before we dated, I had a massive crush on him. I never told him that. Was always trying to make sure I was cool around him. "But maybe we can go out sometime? I want to hear about your summer, Summer." He chuckles at his own joke, and I laugh too, even though I've heard it a million times.

"Yeah, we should," I reply. "That would be fun."

"Great. There's a party at Noel's place in a couple nights. I know you don't really do the party thing, but I just thought we could meet up there? Hang out? Like old times?"

Hmm. Not really a date. He's not offering to pick me up. Maybe it is just two old friends getting reacquainted. Besides, he just broke up with Vivian, so chances are he's not ready to start something new. My schedule is jam packed, and the truth is, I don't have time for a boyfriend right now. But I can't help myself. There's just something about him. "Sure," I say. "Yeah. I will definitely be there."

He smiles at me again, and this time he shows off all his perfect teeth. "Great," he says, and he jumps off the desk. "I'll see you at the party. Eight o'clock on Friday." I nod my head. "Looking forward to it." He winks at me, and then walks out of the room, and my heart is bursting. I wait until I know he's gone before I rip my phone out of my bag and furiously text Beth the news. My fingers are shaking, so it takes me a few tries to get the words right, but when I do, she texts me back a few seconds later with a bunch of open mouthed emojis. I do a little wiggle dance and skip out of the classroom. This has been a rollercoaster of a day, but I'm definitely enjoying the ride.

I'm floating toward my locker when I see a hooded figure approach me. I glance up and see that it's Baker, and he's holding a note in his hand. He stops just in front of me and bobs awkwardly before saying, "Hey."

My eyebrows crawl up my forehead as I give him an apprehensive look. "Hi?" I say, and it's more of a question. What does he want?

We stand there in total silence for a few seconds. Then he puts his hand on the back of his head and says, "Sorry I ran out of class. I left my phone in my locker, and I had to shoot a text, and... gah. Doesn't matter. Anyway, here," he hands me the piece of paper, and I stare at it in confusion. "My number. Text me. We'll get together and talk about our project for Watkins. And I was thinking... I know this might be a dumb idea, but you're also in my History class. We have a project coming up in there, and I think it's going to be a group project. Want to be my partner in there as well? We can kill two birds with one stone that way with our meetings."

The idea of being his partner for another project does not appeal to me, but he is right. It would be convenient. "Um. Sure. Want to meet me this Sunday at the city library? Around two in the afternoon?"

He nods his head, and I see a tiny hint of a smile playing across his lips. "Sure thing. I'll be there with bells on. Text me some ideas if you want. Maybe we can brainstorm before our meeting so we can have some semblance of direction on Sunday? Or maybe we can get together after school one time before that so we can come up with a game plan?"

I nod. "Sure. Yeah. Sounds good." I squeeze the paper with his phone number on it in my hand, and then watch as he turns and walks away. I shove the paper in my pocket, making a mental note to add it to my contacts when I get home. Then I go back to thinking about my potential date with Ollie on Saturday, pushing thoughts of Baker Scott to the back of my mind for the time being.

Author's Note:
Our first meeting with Ollie Thompson and Baker Scott! What do you all think of them? Let me know in the comments!

This story will probably be posted more frequently than Vale's story, because it's already mostly written. But rest assured, Vale's story is not over. I intend on working on the next chapter of A Taste of Cinnamon this weekend. But in the meantime, I hope you're enjoying Summer's story so far! Be back soon, my dears! Stay safe and healthy until then!

XOXO,
~Aly