"Why do we even have gym on a late start day?" Trish rolls her eyes and leans against the door of my assigned locker.

I use my shoulder to bump her out of the way. "I doubt the teachers wanna be here any more than we do. Gym's an easy way out."

I stuff my books and bag into my assigned locker and accidentally slam the door shut a bit too loudly. "At least we're done after this."

Trish smooths out her outfit. "True. And it's a mixed class today, so we probably won't have to do much, anyway."

Damn it. I'd forgotten about that. Mixed classes mean a higher possibility of running into him, which is the opposite of what I need right now.

Is it too late to fake sick?

"Let's go before the bell rings and we're late again." Trish pulls my arm and leads me down the hall, apparently not caring when we bump into other students along the way.

Since three classes will be sharing one space, it only makes sense that this period will be held in the field house across the street and not the attached gymnasium. Thankfully, it's spring, so we don't have to brave the winter to make it there.

Checking both sides before crossing the street, Trish and I jog up the few steps and through the front doors.

The high-pitched bell from the main building echoed even inside this one.

"We made it!" Trish exclaimed, hugging and squeezing my arm.

I glance around the main area of the field house, totally not trying to check if he's here.

I... don't see him anywhere. Good.

The main area already has some stations set up. Half of the floor has volleyball and badminton equipment around two nets and the other half has a large bin full of basketballs.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Crap. His warm breath tickles my ear and I dig my head into my shoulders before turning around.

I have to pretend I'm not still attracted to him, especially in front of Trish. She believes Eli is better for me.

"Oh, hey, Jake."

I catch him glimpsing at my lips before making eye contact and giving me a crooked smile. "Why is it always gym class?"

Because fate is a cruel mistress? Gym is where we first met our freshman year, and gym is where we keep meeting up.

It never fails.

I shrug, trying to make myself look indifferent in front of Trish. "No idea."

"Pretty funny how—"

"Nope, nope, nope!" Trish interrupts. "Shoo, Jake! Go away!"

She's really subtle. But Jake seems amused by her reaction rather than repulsed.

"Ahem!" One of the male gym teachers clears his throat to get everyone's attention. Thank God. "Today's a free day. So long as you're moving, we really don't care what activity you decide to take part in. You stay moving, you'll get credit for today. Feel free to head upstairs, too, but make sure you change into your gym clothes first."

Trish scowls at Jake one last time before pulling me into the girl's locker room. I peek over my shoulder to look at Jake, but he's already walking away. Trish and I immediately turn right once inside the locker room. Our lockers are side-by-side in a little corner of the room.

"What do you wanna do today?" Trish asks as she starts undressing without hesitation.

Must be nice to be that confident with your body.

I avert my eyes when she starts unhooking her bra to change into a sports bra. "Ummm, I don't know. There's bikes upstairs, right?"

Guess she's just gonna ignore what just happened. She knows how on-and-off Jake and I were our freshman year, so she doesn't want me going down that route again.

"Nah, I don't wanna get sweaty," Trish says. "I have plans right after school."

My eyebrows raise. "Oh? Got a date?"

Trish giggles. "Yeah, some guy from another school."

From another school, huh? Which reminds me.....

I pull my phone out of the pocket of my pants before folding them and placing them in the locker. Five new text messages. All from Eli.

I sigh.

Part of me doesn't want to read them since I'd prefer not to get swayed into thinking everything is okay.

But I read them anyway.

12:47 pm Hey, babe. Sorry about leaving without saying anything this morning.

1:02 pm Are you still mad about last night?

1:29 pm I hope you're having a good day. I miss you.

1:33 pm I get so worried when you don't text back.

1:48 pm Can I see you after school today?

I guess I should stop pouting and face him. It'll only get worse if I don't.

I send back a simple text:

Sure

Hopefully, that's enough to get him off my back for a bit.

"How about we just walk laps around the gym, then?" I offer, tying my hair up in a ponytail.

"Oh, you genius, you! And you can take this chance to tell me what's going on between you and Eli."

Damn. I miscalculated.

***

We've been walking around the main area of the field house talking and people-watching for about twenty minutes now. Most of the girls chose to partake in the same activity and most of the guys split up between basketball and lifting weights upstairs.

There's not really a track, per se, around the courts, but everyone always considers the outside portion that encircles the entire field house a 'track.'

As Trish tells me all about the guy she'll be going on a date with while we stroll, I can't help but watch Jake. He's always loved basketball, so he plays with his boys whenever he gets the chance. That's how he's managed to keep his body the way it is, I guess. I watch the sweat drip down his chin and onto his shirt as we round the corner behind one of the hoops.

"Earth to Brooke!" Trish yells close to my ear.

I jump. "Uh, yeah? What?"

She smacks my arm. "You think you're sneaky, but you're not, so stop it."

"I know, I know. I'm sorry. I'm just—"

"Look out!" Someone yells.

I spin on my heels and search around for the source. And that's when I see it. The orange ball getting bigger and bigger.

My reflexes are pretty bad, but I stick my arms out anyway to attempt to catch it. It would suck for it to hit my face. Again.

I squeeze my eyes shut just in case.

A hollow sound echoes around me, but my hands don't sting. They actually feel like they're touching....

I open my eyes to look. Yep. My hands are up against Jake's strong, sweaty back.

"Ah- what?" Nothing else comes out of my mouth.

"My bad. You good?" Jake says over his shoulder, grinning.

I'm still touching his back and I can feel my ears getting hotter by the second.

"Uh, yeah, thanks?"

"Sure thing," he says before jogging back to his friends.

What the hell was that? Did he just protect me from getting hit in the face?

That's cheating. It doesn't help my jumbled thoughts.

Trish walks up to me, but instead of freaking out at what happened, she nudges my side with her elbow and points with her chin to the other side of the field house.

Uh-oh. She saw us.

Ana, Jake's girlfriend.

I didn't know she was in this mixed class, too. Crap. Her tight, strawberry curls bounce atop her head as she turns around to get back to her volleyball game with some of her friends.

Was she just... glaring at me?

Maybe Trish is right and I should focus on Eli. If I keep walking this rope with Jake, things will only end up getting ugly.

Fine, I'll make it up with Eli today.