LOGAN

By sophomore year I finally got up the courage to take a chance. The homecoming dance was coming up and I'd worked like hell over the weekends at my dad's garage to save up enough money to ask her to go with me. I knew it was a long shot. Maisy Jacobs probably didn't even know my name. In fact, we'd never even spoken more than two words to each other.

It happened at the end of ninth grade. She bumped into me on my way out of the gym. Raising a shiny, blue pom-pom up to her face, she pushed back a stand of hair that had fallen from her ponytail and apologized to me.

I was almost too stunned to respond. Maisy Jacobs was speaking to me! I had dreamed of this moment. I wanted to say something cool, and I stumbled for a fraction of a second, before I somehow I managed to respond. "It's okay."

It was completely uninspired, and didn't manage to grab her attention at all. But even if it had, it wouldn't have mattered anyway because some stupid upperclassman from the football team came up between us and slung his arm her.

The moment had passed before I could even grasp on to it.

So no, I wasn't overly confident that Maisy Jacobs was going to say yes when I asked her to the dance, but I knew I had to do it anyway. This crush I had on her had a power over me for far too long and I knew if I didn't act on it I'd always wonder what if, and there was no way I wanted to live my life like that.

I took extra time picking out my outfit that day, and my best friend Will made a ton of cracks at my expense the moment I walked on campus.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Shit man, who are you trying to impress?"

I looked down at my black slacks and dark blue button down shirt. I'd rolled the sleeves up hoping to make it all look more casual, but judging by Will's reaction I hadn't managed to pull it off. I knew that the outfit was a far cry from my normal uniform of jeans and a t-shirt, but for some reason I felt like I should put a little effort in. After all, this was Maisy Jacobs that I was attempting to ask out.

"I should go home and change," I mumbled, starting to second guessing myself as I turned around, and that's when I spotted Maisy across the quad, sitting in her mother's car in the drop-off lane.

They were arguing; it was plain to see if you were looking at them, and I'm guessing that at that moment I was the only person who was. Maisy's mom looked like her. She had the same rich, brown hair, but large sunglasses prevented me from seeing if they shared the same eyes. I watched as Maisy dropped her face into her hands and began shaking her head. Her mother stroked the back of her hair as she said something to her, trying to console her, but Maisy shrugged her off.

Throwing open the car door, she scrambled out, and slammed it shut behind her as she charged up the quad. She didn't turn around to wave good-bye to her mom; she didn't even look at her. Pushing her shoulders back and holding her head high she marched up towards the building. But even from where I stood I could see her chin trembling and the subtle way she wiped her face with her sleeve, removing any evidence of her tears. Deep down I knew that there was more to her, hidden under that perfect facade that she wore like armor.

The bell rang and, without giving another thought to what I was wearing I turned and followed Maisy and the rest of the crowd across the quad. Will made some sort of whipping noise as I passed him and I flipped him off, relieved that Maisy was far enough up ahead not to have heard him. My eyes traveled past everyone else in front of me until I spotted her in the crowd. She was wearing a tight green sweater and my eyes locked onto it as people wove in and out of my vision, stealing her from my view.

I started to pump myself up. I could do this. What,was the worst that could happen? She'd say no? I could handle a no. Shit, I was prepared for a no. And from what I'd seen of Maisy, she'd probably let me down in the politest way possible. The girl was never mean to anyone.

There was no doubt the rejection was gonna sting, but I thought it would be worth it because, then Maisy would finally know who I was. I wouldn't just be some nameless face in the crowd anymore. I'd be one of the guys she turned down for homecoming-- I wasn't foolish enough to think I'd be the only one, but at least I wouldn't be a no one anymore.

I started to pick up my pace, cutting through the endless amount of people filling the hallways. I was confident that I had enough time to ask her before the first bell rang; I'd get my humiliation over with quickly. It'd be painless really, and then I could go about the rest of the day pretending like it hadn't happened.

Maisy was standing over by her locker. I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that she was alone. It was rare that this girl was ever alone and I didn't want to do this in front of an audience. I was up for taking a risk, but not one that big. Gulping down my ever mounting fear, I rubbed my sweaty palms against the legs of my pants as I readied myself to make my move.

I lifted my foot, just about to step forward, when someone grabbed hold of the back of my shirt, stopping me from going any further.

"Logan, there you are!"

I grimaced, forcing a smile onto my face when all I wanted to do was groan. As I twisted my torso around, I found Amanda Fisher holding me back. Trying not to let my annoyance show, I waited for her to say something as she batted her big blue eyes up at me and curved one side of her mouth up into a flirtatious smile.

"I've been looking everywhere for you."

I glanced back over my shoulder at Maisy and my pulse started charging when I saw that she was now surrounded by a hoard of girls. I'd missed my chance; she wasn't alone anymore. My shoulders drooped as I turned back to Amanda, gently prying her fingers from my shirt. "What do you need?" I asked, attempting to sound interested, but really I just wanted to get rid of her.

Amanda was a junior and had a reputation around school, one, that on some level, I'm not so sure she didn't deserve. She stepped forward, pressing her boobs against my chest and gazing up at me with her dark lined eyes. Her hair smelled like smoke, and I could see a faint line on the top of her forehead where her make up ended and her skin began. She was still hot though, there was no doubt about that, but everything about Amanda was painted on and phony.

"You look good today." Her eyes ran up my chest and then she grabbed my shirt again and tugged me towards her. "I thought maybe we could go to the dance together."

I looked down at her hand. To say I was completely thrown off guard would've been an understatement. Sure, we had math class together, this being the second time Amanda was taking it. She sat next to me on the first day and had been blatantly cheating off me ever since, not really bothering to hide it. So, I did what anyone would do and tried to help her out as much as I could.

She started to act differently around me about a week ago-- hugging me goodbye after class, letting her hand linger on my arm a little longer than necessary when she'd thank me for an answer. It was all very weird. Amanda had a reputation for working her way through the guys around this school, but I never thought I'd be on her radar. I was a sophomore for god sake!

But I hadn't asked Maisy yet, and she was the one I wanted to take. I knew I couldn't say yes to Amanda until I had at least tried. I felt like a total asshole, but I lied and told her I wasn't sure I was going.

She pursed her lips together, looking totally pissed that I didn't jump at the chance, and then stepped forward. "Think about it," she breathed, slithering up against my body, "but don't take too long."

My pulse started racing and I could feel the blood rushing through me. I was doing everything I could to keep my dick from standing at attention right there in the middle of the school hallway; I was a sixteen year old boy after all, it didn't take much. I gulped and nodded, letting her know that I understood, just as the final bell rang and put me out of my misery. Amanda fluttered her fingers at me, waving goodbye and I let out a breath of relief, turning towards my first class.

I stole one last look back at Maisy and my eyes reached her just in time to see Justin Bennett lean up against the lockers and strike up a conversation. I knew it right then; it didn't take anything else. Right after first period it was all over school. Justin and Maisy were going to the dance together. I had missed my opportunity.

I ended up going to the homecoming with Amanda. We got drunk off a bottle of vodka she'd snuck in and ditched the dance halfway through to go make-out in the back seat of her car. The whole time I was with her I was picturing Maisy and how she looked on the dance floor with Justin.

I ended up puking my guts out later that night.