Papers crackled like dead leaves under my touch as I shuffled through my textbook. He sat across from me at the library table, brow furrowed in concentration. We'd been at it for an hour.
"Oh, this is so stupid. What—why do we have to study history anyway?" Nathan finally declared, slamming his textbook shut with a resounding thud.
"Um, probably, so we're not doomed to repeat it," I reassured him.
"What?" Nathan chuckled.
"Look, Nathan, you have three days to study for this test," I explained. "Tomorrow is a teacher's work day."
Nathan offered a half-hearted smile. "Minus my dad's annual kiss-his-ass jamboree."
I nodded. "Oh yes, the famous Dan Scott party."
Silence settled between us again, broken only by the rhythmic tick of the clock in the corner. The air now crackled with a different kind of tension, a charged awareness that made me uncomfortably conscious of Nathan's presence across from me.
"Will you be here tomorrow?" Nathan finally asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Maybe," I answered him hesitantly. "I haven't decided yet."
Nathan closed his textbook. "I know it's kind of a b-ball crowd."
"If my dad has anything to say about it, then I'll probably be there," I said. I avoided his gaze, focusing on stuffing my textbook into my backpack and exchanging it for a thick packet. "Look," I said, changing the subject, "here's a study guide I put together. It should help you cram for your history exam tomorrow."
He took the guide from my hand with a small smile. "Why don't you just text message me the answers."
"Um, no." I laughed and stood up. "Let me know if you need anything." I looked into his blue eyes. "Thanks for cutting Lucas some slack."
"A deal's a deal, right?" Nathan voiced.
I nodded. "Yeah."
I gathered my books and slung my bag over my shoulder. As I walked away, I couldn't help but wonder.
