It's tradition to throw a party on the first weekend of the school year. Darian and Gibbs established the tradition when we were sophomores, and Gwen and I somehow got sucked into it considering Gwen was the captain of the JV cheer squad and I was class president. Between the four of us, we just knew a lot of people, who also knew a lot of people. Plus, Gibbs' older brothers always came through when it came to getting alcohol.

Gibbs' family's lake house is a hidden gem for us. His parents aren't your typical hard handed, by-the-bible kind of Baptists, if they even consider themselves Baptists at all. They're hard workers that trust their children to make the right decisions, and with trust came the responsibility of hosting safe parties.

We're allowed to gather there and drink if everyone who did stayed the night. On top of that, Gibbs is, surprisingly, the second most responsible of our friend group.

We all consider the lake house a small miracle, really.

I walk side by side with Gwen into school, wondering what this year's bash would hold. Last year was the first time I had gotten really drunk, courtesy of Darian pressuring me to do a keg stand and ended up puking behind a tree. I made sure no one saw.

"What are you wearing tonight?" Gwen asks as she hugs her calculus book to her chest. "I was thinking either some black shorts with a tank or that burgundy dress..."

My mind is somewhere else as I spot Jamie getting off a bus. She was attempting to untangle her earbuds, and then trips after stepping on an untied shoelace. She looks up in frustration, then kneels to tie it.

She's cute when she was annoyed...

"Hello? Peyton?" Gwen snaps her fingers. "What the hell are you staring at?"

I shake my head. "N-Nothing I uh, I think you should wear the shorts and tank."

She pauses for a minute.

"I think I'm gonna wear the dress," she counters.

I narrow my eyes and give her a nervous look. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Why?"

"Because the last time you wore a dress to a party, you flashed everyone when you fell off the back of the couch," I remind her.

"Now that was a sight," Darian's deep voice bellows as he swings both of his arms around our shoulders. "I vote for the dress."

"Get away you creep," Gwen teases as she shoves Darian.

I just smirk to myself.

"Yo, Gibbs!" Darian calls to our friend in the quad.

I look back to search for Jamie but can't find her. I wonder if she's heard of the party tonight, and whether it was my place to invite her. It is my job to be inclusive, and inviting the new girl would be a good political move... but how would I feel having her there?

That's when I crash into a body, and by the smell of coconut lotion and cinnamon gum, I already know who it is.

"Jesus Peyton, could you watch where you're going?" Jacki hisses.

"It was an accident," Gwen defends. "Chill out, Jacki."

Narrow brown eyes watch me as a manicured hand flicks a strand of tight, bouncy curls behind an exposed, light brown shoulder. Jacki radiates, but not in good taste. Her aura is something of angst and anger mixed together, which makes me stand on my toes. If it weren't for her crappy attitude and conniving ways, I would consider her one of the prettiest girls at this school. Maybe being raised by an extremely strict, overly critical, single mom did that to you.

"I'm chill." Jacki holds her hands up in a fake defense. "Guess I'll see you girls tonight?"

"Sure," I agree, knowing Jacki was never invited by me, Gwen, Gibbs, or Darian, but always showed up anyway.

That's when Jacki's brown eyes light up. "Jamie!"

The name makes my heart stutter, but hearing it come out of Jacki's mouth ruins it. It had taken Jacki exactly four days to sink her claws into Jamie. I can't help but roll my eyes at the thought and walk away. But not before Jamie and I lock eyes for a split second. I quickly pull away when I feel my face heat up.

"I kinda feel bad for Jamie," Gwen reveals. "Jacki isn't gonna let her out of her sight."

"She'll probably turn into one of Jacki's little minions," I state bitterly.

"I don't know..." Gwen walks beside me. "Jamie seems different. You know, down to earth."

I know, I think to myself. I'm jealous over how at ease she seems to be in her own skin. Like she doesn't have a care in the world...

I envy it.

• • •

Jamie beat me to art every day since the first day of school. Considering I was coming from the upstairs physics department, and she was already downstairs in calculus, she had the upper hand.

And yes, I know her schedule. Sue me.

So, by Friday, I had already begun to fall into the routine of expecting to see her in the seat next to mine. I even pace a little faster down the hall, hoping to beat my previous arrival time Thursday.

I walk in and spot her. She's pulling her long, dark hair back into a high ponytail to keep it out of her way, which exposes her delicate facial features. I find a part of me wanting to run my hands through it, imagining how silky and soft it probably was...

"Peyton?" Mr. Z asks, pulling me from my daydream. "Are you waiting for inspiration to hit you or are you having a heat stroke?"

I just laugh in embarrassment, then find my seat.

Jamie gives me an understanding smile. "I wouldn't blame you if you were having a heat stroke. It's really hot in here."

I nod. "Yeah. The art department doesn't get much funding."

"Not even for proper A/C?"

I sigh. "No. It's really unfair."

"Well, you're like the boss, right? Doesn't the senior class president have some political leverage?" Jamie asks.

"Trust me," I start. "I've tried for years to get the art department some support, but the athletic department has priority considering they bring the school money."

"Politics," Jamie scoffs. "It's all bullshit."

I bite my lip at the curse word and find it mildly attractive. Hell, I find a lot of what Jamie does attractive. Who am I kidding?

We fall silent again and I grow frustrated. I can't figure out why I lose my words around Jamie, because I'm always so good at making conversation with other people. I do it all the time. And then there's Jamie, who probably has a wonderful story to tell, and I find it impossible to form a coherent thought!

After a while, I no longer feel so bad for the silence because both of us become engrossed in our daily task. Our assignment today is to draw the object in the middle of the room, which is, cliché enough, a fruit bowl.

After about thirty minutes, I pull back and glance over, seeing Jamie's sketch. It's great. Like, really great. Nearly realistic, if not for the fact that it was just black and white on her paper. I find myself impressed.

She glances at me.

"Hey, no peeking!" she teases while covering her sketchbook.

I smile. "You're really good."

She nods over to my own book. "You're not so bad yourself."

I blush in response, and then the bell rings for dismissal. I sigh and silently wish that my other classes passed as fast as art did.

I pack my bag and stand, but before I can leave, Mr. Z stops me.

"Peyton, can you hang out for a bit?" he asks.

Jamie looks back at me before disappearing out the door. I find myself disappointed that I can't walk with her out of class.

"What's up?" I ask Mr. Z.

"Okay, before I even tell you, I need you to know that I'm not trying to overwhelm you, or pressure you into anything," he starts rambling. "I know you're probably the busiest student at Branton, and you have a hard time saying no..."

"Mr. Z," I interrupt his ramble. "It's fine. What is it?"

He smiles, and there's this excitement in his light eyes. He walks over to his desk in the back of the room and picks up a flyer and hands it to me.

"There's a competition," he reveals. "Between our school district's art departments."

I study the colorful flyer as he speaks.

"A mural competition. Whichever student wins will get twenty-thousand dollars for their school's art department. There's criteria, of course but, I really think you're our best bet," he finishes.

A mural competition.

Criteria: Has to be twelve-by-twelve feet, incorporate symbolism, and painted by the end of the school year. Number of persons allowed to participate for one mural was no more than two. Winners will be determined based on how well they meet the criteria and how creative the mural is.

"Let me sleep on it?" I ask with a smile.

Mr. Z reciprocates with a grin and nods. "Sure thing, Peyton."

I hold on to the flyer and bolt out the door. This sounds big, and important, and time consuming. But it also sounds like a lot of fun.

I search for Jamie when I make it out of the classroom, but unfortunately, she isn't there waiting. Instead of dwelling on disappointment, I make my way to the cafeteria, knowing that it's taco day, and Darian and Gibbs love taco day.

I find my three friends sitting already, and watch Jamie take her place at the table. For some reason, seeing Jamie so comfortable with my friends makes me nervous. It makes me nervous because it's different when it's just us two, without the presence of an audience.

"Well, look who decided to show!" Darian calls.

Gwen moves over. "We grabbed you some food."

I sit next to Gwen and across from Jamie.

"Thanks," I say.

My knee touches another under the table and I look up to see who it is. Jamie also looks up and allows her smile to grow just a bit wider. I find my stomach full of butterflies as she presses the rest of her leg against mine in response.

"So, tonight..." Gwen voices. "It seems like the entire senior class plans on coming."

"Nice," Darian boasts.

"Thank God the folks are out of town." Gibbs shoves half a taco into his mouth. "What time are y'all comin' over?"

"I was thinking ten," I include, watching Jamie's reaction. She seems confused.

"Chicago, you comin'?" Darian wonders.

"I have no idea what you guys are talking about," Jamie reveals.

Darian then looks at me. "Peyton you didn't tell her?"

Everyone's attention is now on me, and suddenly I'm hot with embarrassment. Crap. Crap, crap, crap. Why hadn't I invited her? She's going to think I don't want her there.

But do you really want her there?

Yes, of course! Right?

"I-I'm sorry," I stammer. "It totally slipped my mind."

I can tell Jamie isn't buying it, but she looks more hurt than offended. I want to believe it's because I hadn't personally invited her, and she instead had to hear about it secondhand. I feel the weight of her leg move away from mine under the table and suddenly I'm cold.

"It's whatever." She shrugs. "I won't have a ride there anyway."

"Really?" Gibbs asks.

"I don't have a car and my mom's also gonna be out of town until tomorrow," Jamie explains.

"Where do you live?"

Jamie mumbles something that I don't catch because I'm too hung up on my embarrassment for not inviting her. That's when Gwen kicks my foot under the table. I snap out of my daze.

"Peyton?" I hear. "Can you pick Jamie up before you come over? You live the closest to her."

I look at Darian and then Jamie, seeing an expression on her face I didn't like.

"Yeah, definitely, I can do that," I agree.

Jamie seems unimpressed with the fact that I agreed, but relieved at the same time. I wonder what she's thinking. Does she think I feel obligated to bring her since I forgot to invite her? Does she think I don't want her there?

"I'll uh, text you my address." She pulls out her phone. "What's your number?"

I type it in silence while desperately wanting to escape this situation. I'm a total mess around this girl and other people are surely starting to notice. When I receive her address, I force myself to look at her.

"I'll pick you up around nine-thirty," I claim.

"Sounds good." Jamie nods, and then takes a deep breath. "I uh, forgot... I have to check in with the counselor." She stands. "I'll see you guys tonight."

"Later."

I watch in silence as she leaves, aware that she, in fact, does not have to check in with the counselor because the counselor doesn't come in on Fridays. I wonder why she felt the need to leave but assume it's because I had messed up and made her uncomfortable.

"Tonight is gonna be awesome," Gibbs says.

"Agreed."

My silence probably worries my friends, but I can't find the will to be excited. Instead, all I feel is nervous. Like my stomach is currently caving in on itself.

Jamie is infiltrating my life without any idea how much it's breaking me down. My defenses are crumbling, my mask is cracking, and the closer she gets, the more she would unintentionally reveal.