Adelaide

After several exhausting – but exciting – days of school, work, and keeping score, it's finally Friday, and the third week of October is almost over. I'm pleased with the way the first month and a bit of my senior year has gone so far. Sophia, me, and the girls have won every basketball game, I aced the English test, and I'm excelling in all my classes. I've even been requested to be part of the grad council just like my mom was when she was in high school.

As I sit down beside Sophia and the girls for lunch after first period, I find myself searching the room for a certain someone.

Justin McCallister has officially invaded my brain.

I don't know when it happened, but it's like making friends: It just happens. There's a sudden connection.

Whatever the reason behind it, I've got it bad for him. He's not what any girl in this school would call "hot," but I don't care. Mom and Dad raised me better than that; they've told me since the day my memory kicked into action that it's what's on the inside that counts.

Justin doesn't have the typical jock-build, he's not taller than me, and he's certainly not bleeding confidence, but he is sweet, funny, and respectful. He's different.

"Levesque!" Nadira says, snapping her fingers in my face. "Look alive!"

I blink, swat her hand away, and then begin unpacking my lunch. From the quick sweep I did, Justin isn't in the cafeteria. "What?" I ask, annoyed. I take a bite of my sandwich.

"She asked if you and your family are having the usual Halloween party this year," Jacey inputs.

"What kind of a question is that?" Sophia scoffs, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Of course Uncle Brett and Aunty Mira are having a Halloween party – they do every year. Dad would lose his shit if they didn't."

I choke on the water I'm drinking, spewing it all over the table as I laugh. Uncle Hart would lose his shit – he's about as traditional as it gets. There always has to be a Halloween party just like Christmas dinner always has to be held at my grandparents' house. Mom is like that, too. No surprise there, though – Uncle Hart and Mom are basically siblings.

I look a Nadira and nod my head. Nadira is from India, with brown skin, brown eyes, and dark hair that's been pulled back into a braid today. "Yes, we are having a Halloween party." I shoot a joking glare at Sophia.

She grins and pokes me in the arm.

Jacey tucks a lock of her red hair behind her ear. "So, what are we all going as this year?"

The girls begin to throw ideas around. I hear the typical ideas that involve sexy lingerie and showing off our bodies. Jacey suggests Disney Princesses. Sophia suggests...Well, I don't actually hear what Sophia says because I catch a familiar figure from the corner of my eye.

Justin is here.

My heart pounds against my ribcage.

He's sitting alone. I've gotten used to seeing him do things along – projects, walking the hallways, entering the school, et cetera – but doesn't he have any friends? I know he's new to this area, but it's been a month and a half. He should have friends by now.

Then I realize the one obvious fact I've been ignoring: I'm his friend.

Getting to my feet, I throw my napkin beside my half-eaten sandwich and decide I'm going to ask Justin if he wants to sit with us.

"What are you doing, Addie?" Sophia asks, grabbing my arm as I begin to walk.

"I'll be right back, Soph. Just give me a minute." I don't look at my cousin – I'm too focused in on Justin to care.

Ignoring the questions my girlfriends are throwing at me, I head over to the table where Justin is sitting all alone, his hood pulled up and the cord of his earbuds streaking across the mahogany fabric.

When I'm behind my friend, I rest a hand on his shoulder.

He jumps and turns around, eyes wide. Realizing it's just me, Justin pulls his hood down and removes the earbuds. "Addie?"

I give him my best smile, which isn't a very good one considering how nervous I am.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in Justin. We don't do much talking, but for some reason, I feel like I can really be me when I'm around him. Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with Sophia and my friends, but Justin is real – he doesn't sugar coat stuff or anything like that. Being with him is like breathing fresh air.

"H-hey, Justin," I reply, hoping he skips over the small stutter in my voice. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to come sit with me and my friends?"

He looks over my shoulder at the table, probably noticing Sophia's investigative stare. "I don't know, Addie. I don't think they want me over there."

I roll my eyes and tug on his arm. He's rolled up the sleeves past his elbows, so when my fingertips make contact with his bare skin, I feel something that strangely resembles an electric shock. I quickly retract my hand, cheeks burning. I cover up my embarrassing behaviour with a shrug. "Who cares what they think? I like having you around and I'd be really happy if you came and sat with me."

There. I said what I wanted to say. It's all out on the table.

Okay, that's a freaking lie – he doesn't know I have a crush on him. I inspect Justin's face, my eyes focusing on his lips. They're a light pink and look soft beneath the gaudy lighting. Totally –

Oh my God, Addie. Why are you obsessing over his lips? You creep!

I look down at my scuffed-up runners, waiting in uncomfortable silence for his answer.

"Uh, sure," Justin finally says, getting to his feet. He stuffs his iPhone in his pocket and begins to gather his belongings. As he stuffs his loose papers into his backpack, one slips and flutters to the floor, so I reach down to pick it up.

I also can't stop myself from looking at it.

A failed Chemistry test.

Justin looks up just as I see the mark and the bright glow in his eyes I saw a moment ago is suddenly gone. He grabs the test from me and crumples it into a ball before tossing it in with the other papers.

He then looks at me and shrugs. "Chem isn't my strongest class."

I instantly feel bad for him. I know what it's like to be failing a class. I sadly inherited Dad's math genes. Suffice to say, Calculus wasn't good to me last year. "I can help you," I blurt.

Justin cocks an eyebrow as we walk.

"I could tutor you," I quickly rephrase. "I'm very good at Chemistry."

For a moment, I think Justin is going to decline my offer. But he replies with: "I'll think about it."

I take that as a half-victory.

When we get to the table, my girlfriends are staring at me like I've gone insane. "Ladies," I say, ignoring their stares. "This is Justin McCallister. We're in English together. He a good friend of mine." I swear I see his blue, blue eyes light up a little. "I asked him if he wanted to come sit with us. So make some room."

Grumbling, but not complaining aloud, Sophia gets up and walks to the other side so she can sit beside Jacey. Justin then sits down in her old seat, while I take my rightful one.

"So, Justin," I say. "This is my cousin Sophia Clarke. Uncle Hart – my parents' best friend – married my dad's twin sister." I point to Nadira. "This is Nadira Khatri – she's from India and occasionally speaks good English." Nadira rolls her eyes at my joke (she really was terrible at speaking English when she first moved here six years ago) and Justin lets out a low laugh. "Finally, this is Jacey Brown."

"It's nice to meet you all," Justin nods politely.

While Nadira and Jacey seem to like Justin, Sophia is acting like a stick in the mud. I don't know what her problem is, but I'm not liking it.

"So," I say after a bite of my sandwich. "Did you all decide on some Halloween costumes this year?" I glance at Justin and make some clarifications, telling him about the annual Halloween party my parents have.

"You should come," Jacey says. "It's always a lot of fun. Addie's dad makes the best candy apples."

Justin smiles a little. "Maybe."

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaim. "You should come, Justin! Your family can come too – any parents and siblings are always welcome."

He shoots me a glance. It's not a normal glance. It's almost...panicky. I blink several times, wondering what I did to upset him. But he shakes his head and clears his throat. "I'll see if my mom wants to come."

"Just like I figured," Sophia mutters. "A mommy's boy."

The toe of my runners makes contact with her shin.

"Ouch," she shrieks. "What the hell was that for, Addie?"

I glare at her. Is she joking? If Aunty Elle and Uncle Hart knew she was acting like this, they'd reprimand her like never before. Hands freaking down. I send my cousin the sweetest fake smile I have. "Soph, can I talk to you over there for a moment?" I point to the edge of the cafeteria.

"Fine."

"Excuse me for a moment," I tell Justin.

When Sophia and I are at the edge of the room, I lay it out thick. "What the hell was that?" I demand, channelling my Mom when she's pissed off. "You were being rude to Justin. You had no freaking right to do that to him. He's new to this area and I'm trying to make it easier." I also might be crushing hard on him, but I'm not going to tell you that because you'll hold it over my head for the remainder of the year.

"Please, Addie," my cousin says, giving me her signature look. "That Justin kid – he's a weirdo."

"In what way?" I challenge.

Sophia looks desperate and I relish in it. "Addie, I don't know how to explain what happens. It's like he, I don't know, checks out and stares off into the abyss sometimes. It's really weird. He's in my Chemistry class and there have been moments where I've tried to ask him a question about the notes, but when he replies, jumbled words that sound nothing like English come out of his mouth. It was rude and fucked-up. Almost like he was mocking me."

I frown. "And I still sleep with a stuffed animal, Soph. We're all a little effed-up, and there's nothing wrong with that. I also doubt he was mocking you. Justin is not that kind of guy."

Sophia shakes her head. "It's different – you need to see it to understand it." She glances over her shoulder. "I just don't think Justin is someone we should hang out with."

Her comment bugs me. Other than the way our bodies are built, there's no difference between her, Justin, and I – we're all people that live on the same planet. "I think you're being rude."

"Whatever, Addie. Can I go eat my lunch now?"

Before I can answer, she's gone. And I'm left wondering what that conversation was really about. I'm appalled by Sophia's reaction to Justin. When I told her about him the first day of school, she seemed interested in meeting him. What changed?

As I head back to the table, I decide that I'm going to apologize on my cousin's behalf. Her comment about Justin living with his mom was downright rude and immature. I can't stand it when people act like that and make other people – who don't deserve to be treated like that – feel like crap.

He definitely deserves an apology.

Winding through the final chairs and tables, I make it to ours and look up from my painted fingernails, ready to speak my mind.

But it doesn't matter because Justin is gone.

My shoulders slump in defeat. He's probably never going to want to see me again after what happened. I know I didn't say anything bad, but I didn't stand up for him as I should've. Sophia is a family member, but families are meant to be there for each other – even when if it means telling them they're wrong. I should have done something. But I didn't.

So much for getting close to him.