Chapter 12

After my last class, I stroll toward my destination: the mediation room on the second floor. I still can't believe this. I open the door. Empty room. I'm the first one to arrive. I can make my escape. No, I'll get in more trouble. I sigh, removing my backpack, sitting in the middle row of desks. I watch the door for anyone else to enter. Since we can't use our phones, I lean on my seat to get a book. 

I set mine on silent. The door opens, Principal Haskell adjusts his red and black tie, stepping to the enormous desk. His height almost towers over everyone, low cut hair is neat as always. He's in a pressed dark blue suit and black dress shoes. He's always in a suit, it's like its his uniform. He probably wears it to sleep. I laugh, holding back a sound. "I'm actually surprised at you, Miss Hall. Fighting with another student," he shakes his head, sounding disappointed. He said that already, the first time in his office with my mom. Hearing it again in the same tone, I internally groan, jiggling my leg up and down. I told him it's not my fault.

It was unheard of. There's no point repeating myself. Instead I say, "I'm sorry."

"I'm shocked. You are one of my top students, graduating this year with top grades and an adequate GPA. You don't want to end it with suspension or expulsion."

"No, sir." I say in a detached tone.

"Let this be the first and last time I hear any type of negligence or violence from you." Of course, because I'm a good student, it's expected of me to be good. I have to respect my boundaries and so did she. Self defense. Keep your hands to yourself. We were taught that in elementary school, right?

"Yes sir."

"Good," he says, picking up the dry eraser on the board and writes the time slot: 3pm to 4:30 pm. I roll my eyes when his back is turned. Hearing more footsteps, Jessica strolls in like a princess. Her head held high, phone in hand and looks around the classroom.

"Wait, I have to stay here, with her?" She points at me.

"This is where we serve detention, Ms. Mendoza," Principal Haskell says.

"Sir, I don't think I should be here. I have the bruises to prove it. She's an animal," she speaks in a duh tone.

"Animal?" I whisper. I hold back another laugh, she's ridiculous. She came at me.

"Nevertheless, you two caused a disruption on school grounds. Please sit." He gestures to a seat.

"Lame." Her mouth sticks out like a duck, taking a far away seat near the door. She pulls out her phone, typing on her screen.

"No phones," he warns.

"What? My livelihood?" She gasps. I shake my head, she's unbelievable.

"No phones, first warning. If I see it out, I'm confiscating it." She scoffs, putting it away in her duffle bag and crosses her arms over her chest.

He sighs and mutters: I'm too old for this. "For the next 90 minutes, sit and be quiet."

Feet squeak on the hallway marble floor, Sam enters, slinging his backpack behind the chair near the wall. "Mr. Rodriguez, just in time with a minute to spare."

"Not by choice," he mutters, sitting in a slump. Three desks behind Jessica.

He looks at his watch, sitting on the desk. I glance at Sam. He leans against the wall, a bored expression on his face. I can do this. Keeping quiet is my expertise. I can sit in my room and say absolutely nothing. I search in my bag for The Hoodie Girl by Yuen Wright. I pick up where I left off, resting my fist under my cheek.

"Ms. Anderson, they're all yours." He wavers her over. She nods, entering the room. Her red hair is in a bob, her pink glasses over her head. Wearing a loose gray skirt and pink buttoned down top, she rolls up her sleeves and she sits behind the desk. She's one of the youngest teachers here, she helps with guidance counseling.

"90 minutes. No talking, texting or eating. Break it, Ms. Anderson will write you up and I'll see you Saturday morning," He smiles and then it drops, buttoning his jacket and leaves. I breathe out my nose, looking back on my pages. It's just the three of us. Yay. someone clears their throat, I adjust in my seat. Damn. I grit my teeth. I should have gotten Alex's number. Time felt like it was slowing down, only ten minutes past. Ms. Anderson sits at the big desk, she smiles at each of us before she drinks from her silver tumbler. I look around with my eyesight, feeling eyes on me. I peak over my shoulder, Sam's gaze is... pensive. Like he was fighting something in his mind.

Jessica shifts in her seat, rummaging in her bag. Pulling out her nasal spray, two puffs up each nostrils and throws it back. His arm is limp, rolling his head against the wall. I went back to my book. Please, please. Let me out of here. I close my book, staring ahead. Waiting for detention to be over. I don't have his number. I should have asked when I had the chance. If you know who wasn't playing around, I wouldn't be here. I exhale, Ms. Anderson is reading off her phone, drinking from her purple mug. If she can be on the phone, why can't we? I search around the room, are we the only ones in school? It's so quiet. The clock ticks like a metronome.

The room door is open, no one else is here. No squeaky shoes, no shadows. Apparently. How am I gonna get home? Dad is still at work, mom doesn't have the car. I'll text Craig. I clatter my teeth together. I'm hungry. A ball of paper lands on my desk. I whirl over my shoulder, Sam gestures his eyes on the paper for me to open it. I frown. He does it again, I open it. It says: Maya loves Thor! I look back, he's hiding his snickers behind his fist. I ball it up and toss it on the ground. Idiot. I try not to exhale out loud, thinking of a way out. Bathroom? That could work.

"May I go to the restroom?" Jessica asks in a sweet voice. Damn it.

"Make sure you come back. I will time you. If you don't, you'll get suspended," she says, not taking her eyes off her phone.

"Time me? It's an emergency." She pouted her bottom lip.

"You're allowed one bathroom break. Timed. I will report to Principal Haskell if you don't come back." She looks up with a smile.

"Never mind." She slumps in the chair, looking away to the open door. I shake my head. At least she tried so I didn't have to. I hear Sam snickering, glancing back he holds a fist against his mouth. I drift off from my book, looking at the clock again. Did it stop? My mouth is slack jawed reading, the words blurred together. Flipping page to page, I should read this when I get home.

A timer goes off, I glance up. "You can go home now," she announces to the three of us, getting up from the desk. "Good night."

It's over, time went by like a sloth but it's over. I guess I'm walking. The sun hasn't set yet, I'll be good. Ms. Anderson waves goodbye, tells us to have a great weekend and rushes out the door first. I wear the strap of my backpack. Someone bumps into my shoulder, "Hmph," Jessica's black boots clamp away. "Watch it." she says over her shoulder.

"Ow," I say out loud. What a bitch. I massage my shoulder.

Sam is right behind her, he looks back and shrugs. I shake my head, why does he take that from her? I move my feet, leaving the school grounds. Sam's in his car, still in the lot. What's he waiting for? I text Craig if he can pick me up from school. I wait two minutes for a reply. I got nothing. No bubbles. I sit on the edge of the planted bushes in front of the building. Sam's still here. The sun is up, bright for the afternoon. I squint. These are the kind of days I wished I wore sunglasses. Those cool, big kinds that shade your cheeks too. Or the eyeglasses that dim to sunglasses. I pick at my jeans, scratching the denim with my nails. My eyes went back to the parking lot, the double doors slam against the posts. Principal Haskell jogs his way to the parking lot, lifting his brown suitcase to his hip. He spots me, startled. "What are you still doing here?" He asks.

"Waiting for my brother," I say.

"Oh. Well, make sure they get home soon and safely."

"Yes, sir." I nod.

"Good night." He jumps off the curb, pressing the unlock button on his car remote. I wave to his back. Jessica seems to have left, so has Ms. Anderson. Where is Craig? Sam backs up from his spot, slowly driving to the front and then stops. I look at the time, over twenty minutes. No text. Looks like I'm walking. I stand, walking across the street. My home is not far, but it's a hassle crossing the road. I do know a shortcut. Behind the school, but it's through a forest. With a lot of trees. No, I'll go my regular route.

A car idles next to me. I exhale. Finally, Craig. I should yell at him for being late. It's Sam's car. I scrunch my face. What the hell? He winds down the window, "get in." He gestures a come in motion with his hand.

I hold on my straps, squeezing it. "Why?"

"Get in," he repeats louder.

"But, I'm confused. You don't-"

"Get in before I leave."

I huff remove my backpack and enter. He hits the pedal and speeds on the road. I wipe something off my cheek. Is that why he was waiting?

"Um, thanks?" my face is still scrunched, confused. Why? Oh, yeah, the audition.

"No problem."

"Uh, is- forget it," I shake my head.

"What?" He glances at me before making a turn. This is the third time I have been in his car.

"How– did you talk to Jessica?"

"No."

I bob my head, looking away.

"Maya, you shock me." He lets out a heavy chuckle. "I thought I was the only one that makes you mad."

"Shut up." I roll my eyes. "Why is everyone shocked? Am I supposed to take some trying to hit me for no reason?"

"More and more I see you, you come out of your shell."

"Get used to it. This is so embarrassing, I don't do detention. Especially something so petty." I hang my head back on his car seat.

"You act like you're above it, Hall."

"I'm not. I'm not at all. I don't get in trouble in school. Ever. I'm not that person." Only that time I got a warning from a teacher when I yelled out my answers instead of raising my hand.

"So you get in trouble outside of school."

"No. Forget it. You didn't have to take me home."

"Don't make it a big deal. We need to practice, anyway."

"Oh yeah." I fiddle with my fingers again. I'm not in a rush to get home, anyway. Maybe he knew that.

"You looked sad walking home."

I scoff. "Maybe because my brother didn't come and it's getting dark."

He shifts gears to drive, coming into view of our neighborhood. It looks like dad wasn't home yet. Nor Craig. "I can't stay long. My parents are already disappointed in me."

"You;re not a baby, Hall. We're studying," he says with a shrug.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask, turning my head to him.

"Doing what?" He asked, his eyes not leaving the road.

"Giving me a ride home, being nice," I state and squint.

"We're neighbors. And it was kind of my fault for today." I notice his jaw muscles clench when he's doing something that's kind.

"Really?"

"I guess I feel guilty for getting you into trouble." I blink in shock. He feels guilty. Sam Rodriguez feels guilty for what he did.

"Was that almost an apology, Rodriguez?" I raise my eyebrows. He enters his driveway.

"Take it or leave it." He parks, removing his belt. I exit the car, Craigs not here. Neither was dad. I follow him quickly into his house. What am I doing here? He unlocks the front door and we enter. The smell of peppers lingers in the room. His house still had that cozy feel. There's a red loveseat by the big screen tv. Photos everywhere. One was a huge picture, blown up on the wall of all of them. The mom in a black dress. She's pretty. Barely any wrinkles, hazel eyes and black hair to her shoulders. His dad is in a pressed brown suit. Whoa, I move in closer. He looks just like his dad. The same hair, jawline and brown eyes. Taller, his mom, stood right to his chin. Huh. His little sister is on her brother's lap with a huge smile. It's been a while since I've seen them all together like this. He looks younger here. I move in closer squinting. He was even adorable back then. What am I thinking?

"Aww," I tell him, I step away, where is he? He was right next to me.

"What'd you say?" He comes out of the kitchen, two bottles in his hand. Beer bottles.

"Nothing. Nice family picture," I point to the black frame.

"I guess. Thanks. You can take off your shoes." He points to the corner by the door. I remove them one foot at a time.

"You look like your dad." It was all I could think of.

"My parents are married, Hall."

"Shut up. Where are they, anyway?" I ask, shutting the door behind me.

"Gone. For the whole weekend. Got the place all to myself." He removes his jacket, hangs it on one of the dining table chairs. "They'll be back on Sunday." He sighs, holding out the beer for me to take. I grab, hesitant to open it.

"Is this a good idea? Alone in your house?" I clung to the bottle, scanning the house again. "Drinking beer?"

"I'm a big boy, mom. I can handle a microwave." He winks. That's not what I meant. Playing along, I pinch his cheek.

"Good for you, son. You're growing up in front of my eyes." I coo, patting his head, he nudges away.

"In all the right places," he winks.

"Jesus." I throw my hands up in the air.

"We can practice in my room," he suggests, already on his way upstairs.

"Uh, why can't we practice in the living room? More space, no one's here." I sweep my hand over the empty room, there's a huge brown couch. Tv. It's perfect. The cushions are spaced away for distance. He frowns, looking at me and then the couch and shrugs.

"Just to let you know, I've never seen or heard of the musical," he admits, his mouth in a straight line.

"Really?" My voice hitches up. "It's very popular, won a lot of Tony awards."

"Huh." He picks up the remote, plopping on the couch, he rests the back of his head on his arm. I swallow, exhaling and sitting at the end. The middle cushion is our fence. I remove my backpack and drop it on the floor.

My hands rest on my knees as I watch him, he relaxes in a lounging pose with his leg on the glass table. The muscle on his jaw throb, I couldn't stop staring at it. Focus, Maya.

"I can show you some youtube clips." I point to the screen.

"There's no movie?" He frowns.

"Not yet. I think they're still casting. There's a documentary on HBO Max with the original cast. Videos on YouTube."

"Show me." He gives me the remote.

"Oh, ok." I take the remote. Pressing the youtube button, I search for the tony awards' clips. Typing in each letter. I found the video, it plays an ad for 30 seconds. It gives me a chance to skip it. Lea Michele comes on from the spotlight, singing Mama Who Bore Me. I'm singing along, keeping my eyes on the screen. Mesmerized again at her moves and voice. I wished I sounded like her. It changes to the reprise of the song then Bitch Of A Living. I nod and mouth the words as it went on. Skylar Astin's voice is so hot. Jonathan Groff's voice is determined and passionate.

"This is pretty good," he says.

"Yeah," I mumble. When it finished, I found the full recording of the musical from the 2008 recording. Halfway through the video, he takes the remote from my hand and pauses the video.

"Question: why can't we do West Side Story?" He asks, raising his hand like he was in class.

"Ms. Laughlin picked Spring Awakening?" I shrug.

"Let's try something," he said, facing me.

"Um ok. What are we doing?"

"The dance scene. In West Side Story."

"The Mambo one? Are we going to dance? I'm not the best." I shuffle my feet on the brown carpet. I'm not the worst, I have rhythm but I don't feel like dancing.

"The one where Tony meets Maria for the first time. The dream sequence."

"Oh, right. Ok. Wait, with the dance?" I clear my throat, moving my shoulders. Don't get me wrong, that is one of my favorite scenes. Love at first sight, seeing each other for who they are. But dancing? No, choreography is a no go. Not with him. He begins his dialogue, his gaze changed into acting mode. I shuffle again, pushing my hair off my neck. Speaking my line, waiting for his turn. I square my shoulders, moving in as he says his line.

"We're not dancing."

"Would this work without a Bernado interrupting us?"

"Do you want to be Bernado?" he teases.

"If we do the fight scene. I get to hit you." I grin. He shakes his head.

"Cute. Come on." He moves in closer, our knees bump, I move back for more space. He starts out the first line, his brown eyes seem bright from the above lighting. I look away to my laced fingers while he continues. He reaches my hands when I say the line 'my hands are cold.' He rubs them in a gentle way. I hitch a breath, I can't look up. I raise my gaze to look at his chin. What's the next line?

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"What?" He looks concerned yet annoyed.

"You can get comfortable, you know. Be in the scene, be Maria." He raises one of his eyebrows.

"I am." I am.

"You look uncomfortable. Your shoulders are up like a turtle."

"No, I'm not." I notice my shoulders are to my ears, knees together and back is erect. I relax them. "So?"

"You can relax."

"I'm relaxed."

"How are you gonna do this when audition day comes?"

"I'll be ready. No worries, I won't let you look bad."

"Maybe I should start calling you turtle." He stifles his laugh.

"Don't call me that."

"Turtle." He chuckles, hitting his knee repeatedly. Does he have a nickname for everything I do?

"Shut up." I hit him with a pillow. He hits me with one too, I'm startled. "Really?" I strike him again.

"You started it." He strikes me too. It goes back and forth, I strike him in the face. He hits me in the mouth.

"Stop." I hold in my laugh, the pillows are soft enough, but his hits become gentle. I hit him again. He takes my pillow, hitting me with both.

"Ok, ok. Stop. I give up, let's continue. Stop." I point to his tv. He doesn't, I try to dodge, pushing the pillows away. I shove him away.

"It's your fault." He manages to shove me on my back. Our faces are close. He smirks. That kind of smirk that makes me want to punch him and grab his face to kiss him at the same time. The tip of our noses brush. My hands on his chest, it's limp. Our gazes frozen. He chuckles, shaking his head. He curls one strand of my hair with his index finger.

"Knock it off," my voice comes out as a whisper.

"What?" He tilts his head to the side.

"That," I tell him and gulp.

"What?" he repeats. He had the same look when we were in the hallway. Is he flirting? Or is he messing with me?

"That look. Get off me." I move my shoulders to get up. Well, I tried to.

"You don't like it?"

"No." The fluttering in my stomach says otherwise. It won't stop. His stare is deep, unblinking.

"You're actually making eye contact. Good. You're blushing."

I rub my face from the heat of my cheeks. "Stop." I manage to remove him from my body. "Are you playing with me, Sam?"

"What?" he scoffs.

"You're playing with me." I lace my fingers together.

"Why do you think I am?"

"Because that's what you do. You do that because you seem to like it when I get flustered." He says nothing. Staring at me, he bites his bottom lip.

"So it's true?"

"Don't get me wrong, I like that you get mad when I mess with you. It's funny." He gets up, eyes still on me when he goes to the other side of the couch.

"It's funny," I repeat, shaking my head. The nerve of this guy.

"Yeah. You get this flushed face, your jaw drops like you watched a horror movie. Your eyes get so big. Bigger than usual."

"Well, I get that look because you have a scary face."

"Yeah right. You're always looking at me."

I squint, "no I don't."

"Yes you do." I don't always look at him. When he's not in my field of vision. He noticed? I mean, he's not that bad to look at. When I had a crush on him, sure I would sneak a glance a few times. Not all the time.

"Whatever, let's watch this." I rewind and play the video. He sits next to me, bumping my knee with his. I scoot over. How did he notice, anyway?

"Do you have a problem if I flirt with you?" He mumbles but I heard him loud and clear.

"What?" I look at him. His doorbell rings, he stands to answer it. My eyes went back to the screen, watching the rest of the musical. Did he just-. Footsteps come closer and closer, a hard tap hits my shoulder.

A cute boy enters and smiles sweetly. "Hey." He has a nose piercing and long black dreads to his shoulders.

"Hi," I smile. I've seen him around the cafeteria with Sam.

"Aiden, " he introduces.

"Maya." I wave. He holds out his hand, I meet it for a handshake. Strong hands. Is he on the baseball team? Or the Basketball team? Maybe the swimming team?

"Am I interrupting something?" he asks, resting his hand on the back of the couch. "I can come back in a few minutes." He laughs, looking down at my shirt. My shoulder is exposed. Oh, God, no.

"We were studying," I reply. "Nothing happened." I fix my shirt.

"Practicing lines." Sam throws a bottled beer at him. He catches it.

"Oh. You're in the drama club with Sam?" He cracks open the bottle with ease, I forgot about mine.

"Yup."

"Strange, this is my first time seeing you. Face to face. Are you the ones that clean the stage after the play ends?"

"Sometimes, also minor roles. Background."

"Like a tree, or a turtle," Sam chimes in, I turn to glare. He smirks, sipping his beer.

I put my hand up to his face. "Mostly background, I do understudy too."

"Like you take place in case the actor gets sick or something?"

"Right. But it hasn't happened. Yet." I was sure that it would happen. Just have to overcome these nerves.

"I hope to see you on stage. Especially with this jackass." He points his thumb to Sam. I giggle. Sam frowns.

His mouth drops and face changes in realization. "Oh, you're the girl that beat Jessica's ass." he laughs. I hit my head on the back of the couch. This again.

I scoff, "I didn't beat her ass, I just pushed her. She was in my face."

"It looked like a beatdown to me."

"It wasn't. She was trying to start something."

"Oh, lover's quarrel between you three?" His green eyes looked at me and Sam back and forth.

"No," we said harmoniously and I shake my head.

"Right," he clears his throat and winks. I puff my cheeks. "Well, are you single?" he asks.

I shrug, "are you?" I bat my eyelashes.

He rests his chin under his closed fist leaning down to my eye level. His smirk is not the same as Sam's, however it is pleasing and playful. "Absolutely." And Sam says no guy looks at me.

Taking a swig of my beer. Ugh, people like this? I place it on the table. "Blech."

"Where have you been hiding her, Rodriguez?" He sits a little closer. I didn't mind. I tuck my hair behind my ear, tucking my chin to hide my blush.

"I've not. She's around." Sam says in a bored tone.

"I'm around?" I squint. "Great choice of words, Samuel. Are you two hanging out? I can go." I begin to stand from the couch.

"There's a party happening tonight at Jessica's," Aiden says. Sam sips his beer, going back to the kitchen to avoid eye contact. Coming back, he's holding a box of beer under his arm. "Let's go."

"Oh, party." I nod. "Right. I thought Sam was throwing it."

"Your prince charming canceled at the last minute so Jessica is throwing one."

"He's not my prince charming. I should get going." I stand up.

"No, come. For me. Since you're here," Aiden jumps over the couch, the cushions bounce when he sits. "I would like to get to know more about you." His eyes are hooded, pouting his lip.

I giggle nervously, there's tingles in my fingers, "I don't think so."

"Please, she won't go anyway. She'd rather stay home on the weekend.."

"How do you know what I do on the weekends?"

"We live next door."

"You don't know my life and how do you know I don't want to?"I scoff. He's so annoying.

"You don't party or drink," he states while laughing.

"Who says I'm not?" I squint. "You know what?" I go to the front door to get my shoes.

"Cool girl, Samuel. I like her." He downs the rest of the bottle and drops it near the table.

"Look, you don't have to go. No one is forcing you."

"No, I want to. Let's get lit!" Clapping my hands, I grab my bag, heading out the door first. Aiden's blue car is behind Sam's. I walk in between the cars.

"Don't come whining to me when you get too drunk," Sam follows, unlocking his car. I climb in the back, wearing my seatbelt. Aiden sits in the front.

"Don't worry about that." He turns on the ignition. Then a cold creeping feeling hits my gut when we're on the road. Is it too late to get out?

+++

Fifteen minutes later, we're in Jessica's house. It's not bad. Big like mines. I haven't seen her. She'll probably kick me out if she sees me. Screw her. I'll stay out of her way. I can party. I can drink. I nod my head to the music, Aiden comes back with two cups and hands me one. More of our classmates came, filling the living room while I was having a conversation with Aiden. He's a good listener. I like listening to him talk. As soon as his friends came in, he left me on the dance floor. I recognize some schoolmates, they greet me and I wave with my own greetings. Helen from my Chemistry class gives me a quick hug and heads to her group of friends. Her hair is down tonight, usually it's in pigtails. One of Jessica's friends saw her, handing her a drink. That means she must be here already. It's time for me to leave.

"Maya!" Quinn yells, I whirl around, she's dressed in a black dress and gold headband, holding Tyler's hand. He's in fitted jeans, a gold belt and a black shirt. I wave, they look like a matching set. I squint and wave. Good thing they showed up!

"Look at you two, wow! Did you do this on purpose?!" I stifle a laugh. "You look like a match made in mannequin!"

"It was on sale!" Quinn responds with a wide smile. Tyler salutes to me and I salute back. "And we look hot together! It was our idea!"

"Her idea!" he says, shaking his head.

"And it was the best idea!" She kisses his cheek. "How come you're here?! I thought you weren't coming!"

"Change of plans: we were practicing lines for our audition! And this happened!" I tell her, shrugging.

"Ooo. intimate! No wonder you didn't change your clothes!" Quinn wriggles her eyebrows, nudging her elbow to my side.

"No, I came back from school after detention and didn't change!" I look down at my school clothes. I don't look that bad. "I should have changed!"

"Oh, well you're here! Let's party!" She grabs my hands, swinging it side to side to the sounds of Tove Lo's Stay High.

"I really should go!"

"Stay for a bit! For us!" She pouts her bottom lip.

"Ugh," shaking my head, I give in. I do love this song. I'm already in trouble. Fine.

"Ten minutes!" I tell her. Swinging my hips to the beat, a bump hits my shoulder hard. "Ow, excuse you!"

"Dance much?!" Jessica's sneering voice makes my skin crawl. I grind my teeth. Maybe I should have beat her ass. "

"Watch where you're going!" Tyler yells back.

"Who invited you here?! Crashing my party?!

"Aiden!"

"Ugh, just don't touch me!" She flips us off.

"Wow, she doesn't like me!" I giggle. I did nothing wrong.

"She doesn't like anyone!" Tyler shakes his head.

"It's obviously just me!" Taylor Swift's Endgame comes on, I throw my hands up and sway my hips. The three of us danced around to the beat. As the next song plays, bopping my head to the beat, Tyler asks if we want anything to drink. I shrug, Quinn tells him she wants another beer. I notice Alex is here. I lean for a better look, he's talking to one of our classmates. Nodding and laughing. His hair looks neat, brushed and gelled.

"Don't worry about her, just have fun! For now!" Tyler tells me. I sigh, might as well. Twenty minutes. Tops. Then I'm out of here. I look back at Alex, he spots me and smiles. I smile, waving. He nods in greeting.

"Who are you staring at?!" Quinn asks, smiling mischievously.

"Mmm?" I play innocent.

"Who are you staring at so hard?!"

"No one!" I shimmy my shoulders to the beat. "Love this song!"

"No, you're looking at someone! You got the flirty face on!"

"I have a flirty face?!" I gasp.

"Your face gets softer and you smile a lot!"

"Oh my god," I mutter. "He's new, his name is Alex!"

"Alex, where is he!?"

"There, but don't make it so obvious!"

"Which one, the brunette with the tanktop or the brunette with the black jacket?!"

"The brunette with the black jacket! With curly hair!" Her jaw drops, looking back and forth to me and him.

"Cute! Nice, Maya!"

"Stop!" I hide my face.

"Hey!" Tyler replies.

"Not as cute as you, Ty!" She hugs him over his shoulders.

"Maya, Hi!" Alex yells in my ear. I whirl around and grin.

"Hey! Hi! This is Quinn and Tyler! Guys, this is Alex, he moved into my neighborhood!" I introduce.

"Hey, nice to meet you! I thought we could hang out since we couldn't after school! Where were you, by the way?!"

"Detention!"

"What?!"

"For fighting! Technically!" I roll my eyes.

"You? Fighting?" His voice went up. "Is that what that Jessica girl was talking about?"

"Yeah. I defended myself, she thought I wanted her ex boyfriend."

"Did you?"

"We have a few classes together and the drama club! I don't even like him anymore!" Not as much as I used to. I fiddle with my fingers.

"Hey, come play truth or dare with us!" Adrian suggests coming up to us, the cup in his hand almost spills on his hand when he approaches us.

"Truth or dare?! We still play that?!" I ask.

"Yep!" He sips from his cup. I'm not in the mood, ready to deny I hold my hands up and scrunch my face.

"I should be-"

"Fun, let's play," Quinn grabs both me and Tyler's arm to join as the circle forms. I give a bored stare, sitting next to them. Sam's across from me. Next to him is Jessica and her friends. The game looks like it has already begun, a girl shirt is off. A boy is swaying side to side, laughing and drinking out a bottle of tequila. The music changes to a slow r&b jam. Alex is sitting next to me and bumps my shoulder. I giggle.

"Maya, truth or dare?" Jessica asks with a sneer. I fix my posture.

"Fly on the wall. Here to observe," I say simply.

"You're in the circle," she says.

"So? I can't watch?"

"No." Let's see, if I pick the truth I have to reveal something I don't want to. If I pick a dare, there's a chance I do something embarrassing, illegal or lose my shirt.

"Truth."

"Lame." Jessica scoffs.

"What? It's what I choose."

"What you chose is boring."

"Just give me a question."

"Fine, do you like Sam?"

"No," I roll my eyes. There. Is she happy?

"It's called truth or dare, not lie or dare?" I quirk an eyebrow. Is that the best she got? And she calls me lame.
"Fine, not anymore. Happy?" I shift in my spot.

"Still boring."

"First I'm a homewrecker, now I'm boring. Pick a lane Jessica." Alex laughs. I laugh as well, shrugging. She doesn't make sense.

"My turn. Jessica, truth or dare?" One of her friends asks her, holding up her hand.

"Duh, dare." The tilt of her voice is high and grinned with a closed mouth.

"I dare you to take three shots," she hands her a shot glass and a bottle of vodka. Pouring each shot and tossing it back.

"Ack. I hate that." He gives it back. I bet the taste is awful. She lays her head on Sam's shoulder. Sam attempts to shimmy his shoulder away. She moves in, linking her elbow with his.

"Truth or dare, Sam?" Aiden asks and then takes a swig of his beer.

"Dare," he says, shaking his head.

"I dare you to kiss Maya." My head snaps up, frowning. What did he say? Jessica lifts her head up, stunned at his words.

"What?" Me and Jessica speak at the same time.

"Maya who?" He asks.

"Her, right there." He points to me. My eyes dart side to side. Why am I in this?

"We don't have to do that. Pass," I giggle, shaking my hands dismissively.

"But I dared him. He has to do it. And it could be practice for the stage." His head looks between us, waiting for either to make the first move. I'm sweating in my armpits. I don't want to be embarrassed here. I turn over to him. I kiss him on the cheek.

"There." I smile, feeling proud of myself. No one moves, everyone is staring at us. "It's done."

"What the hell was that?" Aiden scoffs.

"A kiss." I shrug. It counts, right?

"But we dared Sam, not you. It was lame."

"It's done. We did it. You didn't specify the type of kiss."

"Yeah, she did it. It's done." Jesscia agrees.

"It has to be a real kiss. Mouth to mouth."

"So he's giving me CPR?" I quirk an eyebrow. "I'm alive."

"Stop stalling." He claps three times for us to do it.

Sam shakes his head, we look at each other. I don't move. He doesn't move. His face is blank. Ok. Fine. If they want a show, let it be quick. I roll my eyes, tilt my head and press my lips to his when he leans in. My eyes stay open, his hand on the back of my neck. There. He did it. He tastes like beer but it's not bad. My jaw softens, I hold on his wrists. His movement is slow, one of his hands brushes the nape of my neck. I blink my eyes shut. His lips are soft. I feel like I'm floating on a cloud. My stomach clenches. A tingle hits my chest as his thumb placement wisp under my chin. I'm sinking into his touch. His tongue slides in, trying to break my lips apart. My tongue hits his. Oh, my God, Maya. wake up!

A squeak comes from the back of my mouth. I pull myself away from him, clasping my mouth. "Why did you do that?"

"Thank God that's over," Jessica shudders, pulling him back to her side and clamps on his arm possessively.

He chuckles and licks his lips.

"You didn't have to do that. A simple peck would be good. Don't try to put your tongue in my mouth." I dry his saliva off my lips.

"You're afraid of tongue?"

"No!"

"You're blushing!" One of Jessica's friends squeals in shock. Quinn opens her mouth and laughs and mouths whoa.

"I must say, you keep surprising me, Hall. Had a lot of practice with your hand?" He guffaws, holding his stomach.

"Shut up!" My phone vibrates against my thigh. I have missed calls from mom. Eight missed calls. Shit. I overstayed my welcome. It's almost 11.

"I got to go." I get from the circle, grabbing my things.

"Maya!" Quinn calls out my name but I was already out the door. Damn it. The breeze comes through. I shut my eyes tightly. I kissed him. I kissed him. I kissed him. I need a ride. Sam brought me here. I can't go back to ask him. I caress my heated cheeks. My parents are gonna be so pissed.

"Maya!" Tyler's behind me with a sweet smile. "Are you ok?" Quinn's running right behind him, her expression of tight lips and raised eyebrows.

"Yeah. I don't know. I need to go home. Can you take me home?" I ask.

"Sure. Come on." He leads us to his jeep, and me and Quinn look at each other.

"I don't want to talk about it," I warn before we enter the car. I can see it on her face that she wants to ask how it was. The entire ride was quiet. My mind on Sam's mouth. Crap. I gave him an out, kissing his cheek. He had to show off. Like he always does. Massaging the temples of my head, the cool breeze calmed me down. I shouldn't have come here.

They drop me off, I tell them I'll see them at school. Jogging over to the lawn, the lights are off. Good.

I enter the house, sneaking in and shutting the front door with no sound. I grimace, biting my lip at the sound of the squeak. Whoo. Made it. It's not late. Not late. Breathing heavily, I touch my lips, the sting from his mouth tingles. The lights flick on. I turn around, mom's in the kitchen in her robe, crossing her arms over her chest. I haggle my breathing, trying to put on my best brave face. "Evening, mother."

"Where were you?" Mom's tone is low and angry.

"Next door, practicing lines," I answer, giving my most innocent look. I fix my dishevel hair, my breath doesn't smell like alcohol, right? I lick the roof of my mouth.

"All night?"

"It was needed?" I smile, feeling the back of my teeth grind. It was only 11:30. On a Friday.

"So that was the reason you didn't pick up your phone?"

"My phone was off?" She raises one of her eyebrows. Ok, I have no excuse for that one. "We needed concentration. I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Mom huffs, tugging through the strands of her hair. "You're lucky it was me and not your dad out here waiting. You're grounded. For the weekend. Go to bed." She walks past me and heads upstairs.

"Whatever." I mumble. I head upstairs after her, there's no point trying to defend myself again. I throw my backpack on the ground, bang the back of my head against the door twice. I'm drained. I don't want to do anything. I change, lay on my bed. Scrolling through old photos, there was one I took. A mirror selfie before I went out with Sam. A small grin and hunched shoulders. Light makeup. Not knowing how the night would end with confusion and worry. I touch my lips again, brushing, scratching and picking at it. I take in an exhale, sucking them in. Ugh, stop. I drop my hand and I go to bed.