I smile at my phone when I see his name. I should be used to it by now. But I'm still not. I still don't think I believe Shawn wants to date me –or maybe date me.

@ lifting
text u after practice

OK!

Maybe the exclamation was too much, but I don't want to seem disinterested. Here I go again, overthinking literally everything.

"Oo. Is that the varsity boy toy?" Nikki glances at me, trying to peek at my phone.

"Maybe."

Texting with Shawn has kept Nikki from suspecting anything is going on between Jake and me. Not that anything is going on between Jake and me. Not that I picture us outside my door, inches apart. Not that I replay Jake's words about waiting until I ask...

"So how about the band announcement? Did you hear? They're officially booked for the singles dance," Chloe says.

"Oh my God! Elle! Did you know they were the band? THEM?" Nikki is clutching my elbow for life support.

"Yea, I saw on Glitter Girls' poster. So what?" I shrug her off. I can't find my pencil case in my bag. It must have fallen to the bottom.

"So WHAT?" Nikki repeats, eyes rolling. "It's GILDED RAGE. Honestly, I can't with you."

"She can't with anyone," Chloe says, squeezing Nikki's other hand.

"I can with you," Nikki smirks.

"Well, I'm the exception." Chloe kisses her full on the lips.

"Yes, you are. But still, the band. THEM!" Nikki is beside herself.

"Is it because they're British? I bet it's because they're British." I laugh. Nikki loves everything UK related.

"That. And the accents. And the music. And their faces." Nikki laughs. "What's not to obsess over?"

"Well, I don't think I've heard them. And from the poster I saw, they all look kind of grungy." I have other things on my mind besides Gilded Rage.

I think back to last night –to my walk with Jake –to the fact that I haven't told anyone else about it yet. Not that there was anything to tell.

...

By Friday afternoon, I am beyond overwhelmed and ready for the weekend. The only thing left on the agenda is to sort out a bit of student service.

We reach the gymnasium on the backside of campus. Nikki and Chloe are going to the student gym across the hall. I am going to the rec center next to the gymnasium to meet up with the students-in-service volunteer committee. We are reviewing the list of things to do before the dance. Decorations and tickets and everything else. Oh my.

"Okay. This is where we leave you," Nikki says. Her oversized headphones are hanging around her neck.

"Have fun," Chloe says.

"Bye!"

I cross the hall to the double doors. I can see the football team through the glass windows in the student gym. My eyes search for Shawn without realizing it. I see him, sitting at the bench press, Andre towering over him. His practice jersey looks so good on him. The whole team looks so good.

Focus.

Brittany, Amanda, and Olivia are already assigning people to specific stations when I walk into the rec center of the SAC. I'm not surprised to see they're wearing matching glitter scarves. There's a table set up in the center with paints and posters and markers and, of course, glitter. It's not very crowded today. There're maybe 10 or 15 volunteers in total.

"Elle, right?" Olivia asks, coming up to me.

"Yea, hi." I nod. I toss my pea coat and scarf and hat on a chair behind some tables. I reapply my lip balm to try and stop the chapping from the wind.

"Great. Welcome to volunteer service." Olivia smiles. "We've begun cutting decorations. You can start on your set when you're ready."

"Thanks." I nod.

"Oh great. You decided to show," Brittany says, joining us. She looks at me with what I can only describe as an Oscar-worthy smile. "Can you please take these old posters around the back? There's a dumpster somewhere behind the stage. I'm sure you'll find it. Okay, thanks." Brittany holds up a pile of yellowed posters leftover from the last pep-rally.

"Sure." I smile, taking the pile from her. Olivia rolls her eyes behind her back, and I smirk. Definitely my favorite GG.

I carry the stack around the side of the semi-raised platform. The back is concealed by a thick red curtain that separates the stage from the rest of the floor. I can hear someone shuffling around on the other side. I try to pause, but my boot catches in the folds on the fabric, and I stumble right through the curtain.

"Watch it!" Someone shouts. It's not an angry shout but more shocked. My heart is racing. "Are you okay, love?"

I look down at the hand wrapped around my waist –the hand that caught me from falling on my ass. It's tan and smooth and covered in dark ink. I see black skinny jeans and black button-down shirt that's opened to reveal a beater tank and even more tattoos.

The grunge is real.

"Are you okay, lovely?" He asks again. This time I note the accent. His voice sounds like honey. What is it with a British accent?

"Yes, sorry. I'm fine. Sorry I knocked into you." I shake my head, embarrassed. The old posters are scattered around the floor at our feet.

I look around behind the curtain. It's the stage –the music stage –for the band. I look at him. He has beautiful green-blue eyes that are looking at me from under long brown hair. Man-bun long brown hair. His chest and neck and forearms are all covered with tattoos.

"I'm Elle. You're..." I pause. I know he's in Gilded Rage. He is always front and center in all the posters. I know he's semi-famous, but I can't remember his name! "I'm sorry. I'm drawling a blank."

"I'm Harry." He smiles, unperturbed, and shakes my hand. His other hand is still on my waist. I feel awake in a way so unfamiliar to me. I step back from him to free myself.

"That's it." I laugh. I try to smooth my messy hair and readjust my fake glasses. "I –Why are you here already? The show isn't for another week."

"Should I leave?" He asks, cocking his head to the side. How can I be so mesmerized by his neck veins? What is going on with me?

"I just meant I wasn't expecting you here already." I try to sound relaxed, like running into famous musicians is casual to me.

"Didn't have anything else scheduled this week and I know some people over in Boston," Harry says, not offering any other details. He picks up an empty guitar case and buckles it shut. I look around the ground for the guitar and spot it leaning against a stack of crates.

"Boston? Oh." I mumble. "Well, welcome to campus."

"Is this my official greeting?" He laughs and the corners of his eyes crease. The scent rolling off his skin is intoxicating.

"No. Of course not. Someone else will greet you. Haven't they already?" I ask. I'm starting to word fumble again.

"Not yet. I sort of snuck in this morning." Harry lowers his voice, like he's pretending to tell a secret. He grins. "Don't tell on me."

"I won't," I shake my head. I feel clammy and nauseous, but I smile back. "I don't know how long you'll be able to stay hidden back here. You're on a college campus. Girls are going to go crazy. Some guys too."

"Fair assumption," Harry laughs. "I have my interview tomorrow. MTR? What's MTR?"

"Oh, that'll be Mix Tape Radio." I nod.

"Mix Tape Radio?" He repeats.

"The college campus radio station. It only plays if you're within 20 feet of the comms hall," I laugh.

"Well, I hope you'll be in range. I'll give you a shout out for your first welcome," Harry grins.

I blush and try to refocus on collecting the posters and pieces of scrap paper all over the floor. Harry bends down to help and his hand brushes against mine when he hands me a pile. I draw my arm back quickly. He seems to notice but doesn't say anything.

The music in the other room blasts suddenly as the song changes. I hear everyone laughing on the other side of the stage curtain.

"Colton! What the HELL? I said hook it up. Don't break the speakers." Brittany's voice travels through the red fabric. "Damnit! NOT YOU TOO, TROY!" Brittany yells.

I roll my eyes. "That'll be Brittany."

"I'd hate to be them." Harry grins, looking frightened for Colton and Troy.

"Elle! Elle! Are you still here?" Olivia's voice is drifting from the other side of the curtain. Shoot.

"Coming!" I shout over my shoulder.

"Well, Harry. I have to go." I bite my lip.

He takes a step in, reaching for my hand. He picks it up. "Lovely to meet you, Elle. I'll see you at the dance?"

"Oh, um." I shift uncomfortably. He's so close to me! "I'm not sure I'll be at the dance yet."

"Oh? Not a fan? Or not a single?" Harry asks.

"Not a dancer, not really." I look down. I'm afraid I'll jump into him if I look him directly in the eyes. I've never ever wanted to kiss someone so badly.

"That's too bad."

Oh my–

"Well, nice to meet you!" I turn to walk down the stairs, abandoning the old posters I dropped.

"Maybe I'll see you around campus, then?" Harry's voice rings after me.

I don't turn around because I'm afraid to see him. I'm so warm and nervous and can hardly breathe. "Maybe."

"There you are. God, I thought you ditched." Amanda is saying, looking at me over a clipboard.

"Sorry. I can't stay. Sick." I push past her, grabbing my coat and not paying attention to anyone else in the rec center.