Later that day, Cade offered to give me a lift home.
I didn't argue. My legs were tired from walking around the apartment all day and my feet were hurting from wearing sandals that weren't meant for long distances. Plus, I still had his hoodie on and I didn't want to walk home in it looking like I just rolled out of bed.
We walked out to his car. He opened the door for me like he always did and I got in. The drive was short. About ten minutes. We talked about nothing important. He told me about a game he wanted to buy. I told him about how my parents were still not back. He said I could crash at his place anytime.
I pretended not to think too much about that.
He pulled up in front of my house and parked. We sat there for a moment, just talking. I was laughing at something he said—I don't even remember what it was—when I noticed him looking at me with that smile he had.
"You should smile more," he said. "It looks good on you."
I rolled my eyes. "You're so cheesy."
"Cheesy but cute, right?"
"Debatable."
He laughed and I laughed too. We were still laughing when I saw movement from the corner of my eye.
Luke was outside. He was throwing out the trash, holding a black bag in his hand. When he saw us, he stopped. His eyes moved from the car to me, then to Cade. And then they landed on the hoodie I was wearing.
His face changed. Like, visibly changed. He looked uncomfortable. Like he had just swallowed something bad.
I felt my stomach twist a little. I didn't know why. I wasn't doing anything wrong. But the way he was looking at me made me feel guilty anyway.
I waved at him.
He waved back. Slowly.
Then he started walking toward us. His steps were slow and careful. Like he was trying to figure out what to say before he got there.
Cade noticed him too. He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. He didn't say anything. He just watched Luke approach with that calm look he always had.
Luke stopped by my window. He looked at me first. Then at Cade. Then back at me.
"Hey," Luke said.
"Hey," I said.
He glanced at the hoodie again. I resisted the urge to pull it down further.
"Didn't see you in school today," he said.
I shrugged. "I was busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Just... stuff."
He looked at Cade. Cade looked back. They didn't say anything to each other. They just stared. Like two guys who didn't like each other but were too polite to say it out loud.
After a moment, Cade turned to me. "Text me later, okay?"
I nodded. "Okay."
He winked at me. Then he drove off.
Luke watched the car disappear before turning back to me. He was quiet for a second.
"Was that a good idea?" he asked.
"What?"
"Hanging out with him."
I frowned. "Why wouldn't it be?"
He didn't answer right away. He just looked at me. Then he said, "Never mind. It's fine."
"Luke."
"I said it's fine."
I sighed. "Look, I know you don't like him. But he's been nice to me. That's all."
Luke nodded slowly. "Okay."
There was an awkward pause. Then he asked, "Have you heard from Betty?"
"No. She's still gone with Mom and Dad."
He nodded again. "Right."
He looked like he wanted to say something else. But he didn't.
"I'm going to go rest," I said. "I'm tired."
"Yeah. Sure."
I walked toward my house. When I got to the door, I turned around. Luke was still standing there, watching me.
"Hey," I said.
"Yeah?"
"You should come over tomorrow. If you want."
He smiled a little. "Yeah. Maybe."
I nodded and walked inside.
***
The next morning, the school was buzzing.
The basketball tournament was starting. Like, officially starting. There were banners hanging in the hallways. The team had practice after school. Everyone was talking about it.
Charlotte found me at my locker before first period. She was practically bouncing.
"Okay, okay, okay," she said, grabbing my arms. "I need you to come to cheer practice with me today."
I blinked. "What? No."
"Yes. I need more people. The team is too small."
"I can't cheer, Charlotte. I'll fall."
"I'll teach you."
"You said that last time."
"And I meant it. Come on. It'll be fun."
I groaned. "Fine. But I'm not wearing anything weird."
She grinned. "Deal."
We walked to class together. On the way, we passed by the hallway where the cheer team usually practiced. There was a girl standing there. She had long brown hair and big eyes. She was looking at the practice room like she wanted to go in.
Charlotte noticed her and stopped.
"Hey," Charlotte said. "Are you looking for something?"
The girl turned. She smiled. "Oh, I was just looking at the cheer room. I was thinking about joining."
Charlotte's eyes lit up. "Really? Do you have any experience?"
"A little. I did cheer at my old school."
"That's perfect! What's your name?"
"Danielle. But everyone calls me Dani."
Charlotte looked at me. I shrugged.
"Okay, Dani," Charlotte said. "You're on the team now. Practice is today after school."
Dani's smile widened. "Really?"
"Really."
"Thank you! I'll be there."
She walked away, looking happy. Charlotte turned to me.
"She seems nice," I said.
"She seems like she'll be good at this. And we need all the help we can get."
I sighed. "Great. Another person to watch me fall on my face."
Charlotte laughed. "Don't worry. I'll catch you."
I checked my phone later in the day.
Aiden hadn't texted me back.
I stared at the message I sent him. The one where I asked if he was okay. He read it. But he didn't reply.
I frowned. I wanted to text him again. But I didn't want to seem annoying.
So I just put my phone away.
At cheer practice, I was terrible.
Like, really terrible.
I kept tripping over my own feet. I couldn't get the timing right. Charlotte tried to help me but I was hopeless.
Dani, on the other hand, was amazing. She picked up everything fast. She was flexible and strong and she had a smile that made everyone around her feel good.
By the end of practice, I was sitting on the floor, exhausted.
"I told you," I said to Charlotte. "I'm terrible."
"You're not terrible. You're just... new."
"That's the same thing."
Dani sat down next to me. "Don't worry. I was terrible too when I started."
I looked at her. "Really?"
"Really. My first year, I fell during a routine in front of the whole school. It was so embarrassing."
I laughed. "That makes me feel better."
She smiled. "See? We all start somewhere."
I liked her. She was easy to talk to. And she didn't treat me like I was weird or different. She just treated me like a normal person.
Maybe this cheer thing wouldn't be so bad after all.
After practice, I walked home alone.
I thought about Aiden. About the message he sent me. About how he canceled and never explained why.
I wanted to ask him. But I also didn't want to push him.
So I just decided to wait.
He would tell me when he was ready.
At least, I hoped he would.