Crushing On The Geek (Crushing On You) (3 page)

      “No, but I know a crush when I see one.”

      “Says the girl who claims to have done a spell and had it backfire in a good way!”

      “It really did happen!”

      “Whatever,” Tamara said, turning her body slightly so that Hayden was once again in her line of sight.

      “Ooh! Tamara has a crush!”

      “Shut up!”

      “Ooh! Should I go tell him?”

      “You wouldn't dare!”

      “Oh, yes I would!”

      The chiming of the first bell sent both girls scrambling to shove their books into the lockers and sprint to class. Tamara's feet knew the halls leaving her mind free to wander.

      “Watch it!” Tamara crashed into someone.

      “Sorry, Tamara,” Hayden hurried past her, shoving books into his bag.

      “Do you need directions or something?”

      Hayden didn't answer or slow down. Tamara watched him until he was out of site. She wasn't the only one running late. Tamara sprinted through the last few corridors between her and her first period English class. The bell echoed through the empty halls just as she slid into her desk.

      Although Tamara watched for him in the halls she didn't see Hayden again until lunch. She watched him join Greg and the others from chess club. Why? Why couldn't he play basketball or something? Hot and lame, were just two things that didn't go well together.

      “Oooh!” Amber said, sliding into her usual seat at their table and pointing at Hayden.

      “Shut up,” Tamara shoved her hand down, smashing it into the table.

      “Ouch!” Amber shook her hand free of Tamara's and cuddled it protectively against her body, “Don't be such a bully.”

      “Are you coming with us to the mall today?” Josh asked appearing on the other side of Amber.

      “Can't.”

      “What?” Amber asked.

      “Yeah, remember Mondays and Fridays I have to go to chess practice now?”

      “Oh, yeah.”

      “Yeah.”

      “At least you get to see your hottie!”

      “He's not
my
hottie.”

      “Not yet.”

      “Tamara and Hayden,” Amber sang.

      “Hayden and Tamara,” Josh joined in.

      “Shut up! Both of you!” Tamara tossed a fry at them.

      “Hey, Tamara,” Hayden said, taking the seat next to her.

      Amber and Josh fell quiet and walked away, leaving Tamara to explain their behavior. She opened her mouth to tell Hayden that they were just giving her a hard time, but he spoke first.

      “Are you coming to chess today?”

      “Yeah, I sort of have to, don't I?”

      “I guess. See you there.”

      By three-thirty Tamara still wasn't sure what Hayden had wanted at lunch. She also still didn't know if he had heard Amber and Josh singing.

      “Sure you don't want to skip?” Amber asked.

      “Positive.”

      “I'll think of you while I'm sipping my coffee and buying some cute new earrings.”

      “And I'll remember you while I sit across from the hottie.”

      “That's okay, I have my own,” Amber wrapped her arm around Josh's waist.

      “Have fun guys!”

      “You too.”

      Tamara was later than she had been on Friday. The stairs were still crowded with students trying to escape their daytime prison. Greg and Cindy were ahead of her.

      “Glad you decided to come back,” Greg said.

      Tamara shoved her hand in her purse, pretending to be looking for something.

      “Don't worry about her,” Cindy said leaning her head on Greg's shoulder, “She's embarrassed to be seen with us.”

      Tamara rolled her eyes.

      “Hey,” Hayden said, appearing beside of her.

      “Hi.”

      “Rough day?”

      “It's Monday.”

      “Fair enough.”

      “Oh!” Greg turned back to Hayden, “Did you hear there's going to be another Darkness Lies movie?”

      “What? Are you serious?”

      “Yeah!”

      Hayden pushed past Tamara and the others so he could talk to Greg without shouting over everyone's head. She frowned and shook her head. What the hell was she doing with these people? That's right, her mother was making every attempt to ruin her life.

      Monday's practice was nearly as enjoyable as Friday's had been. Mrs. Kelly was back and she insisted on working with Tamara herself.

      “You used to play with your grandfather, didn't you, Tamara?”

      “I don't really remember much about my granddad. He died when I was little.”

      “He taught you, though. I remember he always brought you to our lessons.”

      “I don't remember.”

      “Selective memory!” someone called out from the group.

      “I hope I still have it,” Tamara rolled her eyes, “because I want to forget that I'm part of this club.”

      “Manners, children,” Mrs. Kelly said, “All of you.”

      “Sorry,” Tamara mumbled.

      “I think that will be enough for today,” Mrs. Kelly said, “You guys are free to stay and finish your current matches if you like.”

      Tamara glanced around the room looking for Hayden. He was playing with his back towards her. The pieces on the board looked like they had barely been moved at all.

      “Oh, that other book I loaned you; it's movie comes out next month,” Greg bounced on his chair.

      “There's already a movie for it?”

      “Well, not until next month, but then yes. Although, movies are really for people too lazy to read the book, but it gives us something to make fun of and rant about. Some of the books to movies turn out okay though.”

      “Most of them suck though. Isn't it like the first in a series of four?”

      “Yeah, I have the first three, but the I haven't been able to pick up the forth one yet.”

      This wasn't much different than listening to Amber ramble on about books. Tamara wondered if she could catch up with the others at the mall? She decided against it, because she didn't want to be the third wheel. Tamara glanced at Hayden again and almost grinned. How could anyone be that excited over a movie? She wasn't sure, but Hayden wore it well.

      “Have you got your ticket yet?” Hayden asked.

      “Of course! I always buy them three months in advance. The first night is sold out all ready!” Greg nodded.

      “That so totally sucks!”

      “Do you want to finish this?”

      “Not really,” Hayden shook his head, “We didn't really get it started.”

      Greg packed away the board and pieces and Hayden's eyes did a quick sweep of the room. Tamara pretended to be putting away the board she and Mrs. Kelly used.

      “What are you doing this evening?” Hayden asked her.

      “I have homework.”

      “What about tomorrow?”

      “Homework.”

      “You're really serious about this scholarship stuff, aren't you?”

      “Yeah, totally,” Tamara lied.

      “Have you read the newest Darkness Lies book?”

      “Umm. No. I don't really have time to read.”

      “Even if you never pick up another novel, you have got to read Darkness Lies.”

      “No, thank you!” Tamara rolled her eyes and slung her bag over her shoulder.

      “Do you need a ride home today?”

      “No, I'll be okay.”

      Ten steps out of the room and Tamara was already feeling guilty.

      “Hey,” she stuck her head back in the room, “If you want to hang out some time, talk to me at lunch tomorrow and we'll figure something out.”

      “Okay,” Hayden grinned, “I'll see you then.”

      “She totally digs you, man,” Tamara heard Greg say as she walked down the steps.

      Later that night Tamara paced her bedroom floor, stopping every now and then to crinkle the shag carpet between her toes like she had done a million times before. Just a month ago Doug had ditched her at a school dance. That same night she had paced the same path she retraced tonight. Then her pride was wounded, but rejection. Tonight she had a different problem.

      “Amber?” she said desperately into the phone for the third time this evening.

      “She's still not home, kiddo,” Amber's dad said, “Is everything all right? Is there anything I can help you with?”

      “No, not really. Just tell her to call me when she gets home. Oh, and tell her to charge her cellphone. There's no point in having one if you never charge it.”

      “I've told her that before.”

      “You and me both.”

      “I'll tell her you called, Tamara.”

      “Thanks.”

      “Not a problem, kiddo.”

      Tamara ended the call and it vibrated against her palm.

      “Amber?” she answered immediately.

      “Sorry, no,” said the guy on the other end of the line.

      “Who is this?”

      “Is this Tamara?”

      “Yes, now who the hell is this? Doug, if it's you again I swear I'm going to kick you in the...”

      “Whoa, whoa, not to so fast, it's me, Hayden. You know, Hayden, from chess club,” Hayden said, “Who's Doug?”

      “No one important. Do you need something? Because I'm waiting on a very important call. How did you get my number?”

      “You're listed in the school's directory,” Hayden said, “it wasn't hard to find. I thought I'd give you a call just to see what you were up to. You said you were waiting on a call, is everything all right?”

      “Yeah,” Tamara lied, “Everything's fine. I'm just waiting on my friend Amber to call me. She's like having a fight with her boyfriend or something.”

      “Oh, that sucks! I was hoping you would have time to hang out tonight. A bunch of us are going up to Founder's Hill to test out Cindy's new telescope.”

      “I'm going to have to pass,” Tamara bit her lip. Why couldn't he ask her out on a real date? Was that what geeks did for fun? Tamara could look at the stars just fine from her own front yard.

      “Yeah, I figured with your friend having relationship issues and all that. Maybe, next time then?”

      “We'll see. I have to go now.”

      “I'll see you tomorrow at lunch, then.”

      “Okay.”

      “Good night, Tamara.”

      Tamara ended the call and tried Amber's house again.

      “Hang on a minute, kiddo, she's just coming through the door.”

      “Thanks,”

      “It's about time, eh?”

      “Sure the heck is,” Tamara laughed.

      “Hey, what's up?” Amber said coming on the line, “Dad said you like called a million times.”

      “Tell me I'm not crushing on Hayden Bradley.”

      “Okay, you're not crushing on Hayden Bradley, but that's a lie. Just so you know.”

      “Ooooh! You are so not helping!”

      “If you think you like him go for it. Sure, he's not Doug, but that's a good thing. Remember, Doug's a VIP member of the House of Jerks.”

      “Yeah, I know. It's just...”

      “Just what?”

      “Either you like him or you don't, Tam. I just have one question is it because he's hot, which he is very much so, or is it more?”

      “I don't know, Amber! I just don't know what the girls from the team going to say?”

      “Nothing, if they know what's good for them. Tam, don't worry about it, okay? I love you to pieces, but I'm exhausted I've got to get some sleep or I'm totally going to flunk out on O'Bannon's test tomorrow.”

      “Good night, Amber.”

      “Night,Tam.”

      Tamara tired to take Amber's advice to heart, but it wasn't as easy as Amber made it sound. Mrs. Bailey’s leg wasn't going to be broken forever and next year the team would resume. If she was dating Hayden what would the girls say? Oh! Why did she have to go and like Hayden Bradley? Sure, she wanted a guy with some brains, but not one who obsessed over books, movies, and chess. Why couldn't she find an athlete who wanted to discuss the repercussions of the recent partial shutdown of the government? Was that too much to ask for?

      Tamara's hands wiped her clammy palms on the legs of her jeans before opening her sweet tea. Wednesday morning has trickled by like a clock with broken hands. Her stomach was growling, but Tamara pushed the food on her plate around in circles. Hayden was going to talk to her today. What was she going to tell him?

      “Hey,” he slid into the seat next to her, one arm resting on the back of the chair and the other on the table, “Did you get all of the…girl problems solved?”

      “What? Oh, yeah. Everything's fine now. It was all along. It was just a big misunderstanding.”

      “So what are you doing today after school?”

      “Hanging out with Amber.”

      “We can reschedule if you're too busy, Tam,” Amber said when she arrived. Her eyes were wide and her gaze aimed directly at Tamara.

      “No, I want to hang out with you tonight.”

      “Are you sure? I don't mind. Really I don't,” Amber leaned her head to the side and opened her eyes widely.

      “No, I haven't gotten to hang out with you in weeks.”

      “Go hang out with him,” Amber said, pointedly.

      “Hey, I like her,” Hayden grinned.

      “So do I,” Josh said sitting down next to her.

      “That's good because I'm your girlfriend and you're stuck with me,” Amber said, sticking out her tongue, “but no, Tamara, go have fun!”

      Hayden looked at her. She studied his brown eyes and arched eyebrows. He was waiting for an answer. Why the heck did Amber have to do this to her? She didn't like to be put on the spot like this.

      “Are you sure?” Tamara asked Amber.

      “Yeah, I can hang out with Josh instead.”

      “No, you can't, babe. I have to work today, remember?”

      “Oh yeah, I'll be okay though. I'll probably just go to the library.”

      Tamara's phone vibrated.

      “It's my mom, I got to take this,” she said and stepped away from the table, “What do you want?”

      “You have to babysit Tina and Tally tonight.”