Kris and Kit

Chapter 7 ~ The Inevitable Event

Kit

        I’m not sure how it happened, but reading the notes from my secret admirer became a group activity. I would take the note from my locker in the morning, then I’d unfold it at lunch and read it with Sherry and Sophie.

        “He sounds like a dork,” Sophie giggled. I had just read the most recent note.

        “You guys sound kind of different,” Sherry remarked, a hint of concern in her voice.

        “Opposites attract,” I shrugged. I had decided after reading the very first note that I would give this boy a chance. He seemed sweet despite his awkward and dorky ways. I tried to imagine myself playing a video game, wondering if the mystery boy was trying to imagine doing outdoorsy activities. Maybe our interests would combine. The more I thought about how our relationship would progress, the more I wanted to meet my secret admirer.

        “Do you think he’s somebody you know?” Sophie asked.

        “I’m not sure,” I replied, tapping my fingers on the table. Somebody I know? What boys did I know? Thinking back to the first note, I remembered how the secret admirer had said, You see, I don’t really know you…“I think he knows me but I don’t know him,” I spoke up.

        “Like a stalker?” Sophie raised her eyebrows.

        “No,” I quickly protested, “the note made it clear that he didn’t mean to be creepy.” Sherry mumbled something that I couldn’t hear over the dull roar of talking in the echoey cafeteria.

        Noticing my gaze, Sherry spoke again. “You two will have to meet at some point, if you’re going to be in a relationship.”

        “I know,” I replied, hesitating for a moment. “We’re just taking it slow.”

        “That’s alright,” Sherry clarified. “I just don’t want you to get hurt if it goes too far…” she trailed off.

        “Don’t worry about it, Cherry,” I smiled. As we got on the topic of fashion and began to discuss the creation of a fashion club, my secret admirer was still at the back of my mind.

Kris

        When I told Riley I had to meet Jo for ice cream, she seemed confused at first. I had to tell her about my awkward encounters with Jo. Thankfully, Riley didn’t get the wrong idea, and she went over to a friend’s house. That left me to head over to the little ice cream shack.

        Alcorn is an especially hot town toward the end of the summer. Some days, the sun is forgiving; other days, the heat serves as a good excuse for me to stay inside. Today, it was super hot. I found Jo sitting on her leather jacket and tying her hair into a ponytail. I offered to sit with our backpacks and such while Jo got ice cream.

        “Thanks,” I sighed as she handed me a scoop of mint chocolate chip. “How much was it?”

        “Oh relax, I paid for it. It was only like a dollar,” Jo chuckled. We were silent for a moment, with the exception of Jo muttering, “Damn, it’s hot out today,” and me responding, “Yeah.” Then Jo gave me a wistful stare.

        “Look,” Jo began, and I knew things were about to get serious. “I’m sorry if I freaked you out when I asked you on a date. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I shouldn’t have even…” she sighed. “I’m honestly not over the breakup… I think I was trying to get over it by asking you out,” Jo admitted, not looking at me. “Sorry,” she muttered.