"I'm never doing that again," Luna muttered as she closed her locker. It was the next day, and she found herself mumbling to herself like an idiot. Isaac was oddly nowhere to be found.
Gripping her books in her arms, she walked to class. First period was English Literature, the perfect class to help distract her from the events of last night. Was it her imagination, or did her hair still smell like beer?
She was the first one to enter the classroom like always. The only difference is that she had no Isaac to talk to.
"There you are."
The voice sent shivers down her spine. She sat up as straight as she could and looked straight ahead, not daring to look at the owner of the voice. Trying her best to keep the emotions out of her voice and her tone as cold and distant as possible, she spoke. "Go away."
She heard feet shuffling from the doorway and then quiet. She was about to relax, thinking that he was gone when he let out a sigh. "Sorry." His voice was so low and quiet that she thought that she might have misheard him, but no, she knew she didn't. Knowing better, she turned toward the door to look at him. He was already gone.
"Well, that was weird." She muttered. It didn't matter if he apologized. She would never forgive him.
"What was weird?" Oh, finally.
She turned to tell Isaac what had just transpired but stopped. He was standing in the doorway holding Simon's hand. What the hell happened between those two during that party?
When he saw her staring at their entwined hands, a blush covered his cheeks. He leaned toward Simon and whispered something in his ear before he dropped his hand and walked over to where she sat. Simon waved to them before scurrying away.
She turned to him as hopeful excitement filled her. "Explain."
Isaac flashed a wide grin. "Can you believe it? Simon had a crush on me, that's why he was at the party." That definitely explained it. She was curious as to why Simon was there in the first place. Isaac's explanation answered that, it also explained why Simon kept shooting her envied glances that bordered on hatred.
She grabbed her friend's hand. "I wanna say I'm happy for you, but I'm still not sure if you two are an item or...?" She left the question open, afraid to jinx anything.
He lowered his voice, looking away from her, he answered. "We are."
She reached over and gave him a quick hug. "Then I'm happy for you."
His smile returned. "Good cause I need you to help me not to screw this up."
"I am the last person to help you, and I don't think you'll even need any." She laughed. It wasn't hard to figure out why he was so nervous. It was the first time that he had ever been in a relationship. "So, where's the first date and when?"
"Oh my God, He's taking me out this weekend, and he wants it to be a surprise. I'm so nervous. Are we going to Chucky Cheese, the movies, or a library? He seems like the type to enjoy dates in a library, reading. Oh, God. I don't like libraries."
"Breathe." She couldn't help but laugh. Isaac was at the point of hyperventilating because he was beginning to overreact and imagine the worst. "If you're that worried, then just ask him, but I think it will be fine."
Isaac glared at her. "Wait till you have your first date. You'll be an even worse wreck."
The image of Adam's eyes popped into her mind. What would it be like to go on a date with him? She shook her head, trying to rid herself of that thought. "Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen any time soon." She sighed.
* * *
Isaac slid in beside her and leaned against the locker beside hers. "So, I've been thinking." Luna closed the door to her locker and gave him a pointed look, willing him to finish his statement. "What if you could do that?"
"Do what?" They walked side-by-side down the hallway toward the back of the building where the student parking lot was located.
"If you really could use a potion on Adam. I'm sure that spellbook of yours has a love potion, or maybe even an attraction potion in it."
She laughed at the ridiculous idea of a love potion. "Isaac, there are no such things as love potions. They're not based on science. They don't exist."
"Really?" His head hung low and his voice dripped with disappointment. "I thought I was really onto something."
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and straightened her posture. "You know, I can do this without the help of magic. I mean, it can't be that hard to go up to him and say, 'Hey, I like you. Do you want to go out?' "
"Yo, moon girl, you like someone?"
Luna flinched, and Isaac flashed her an apologetic look. The owner of the voice came to a stop in front of them. Adam flashed his famous, heart-stopping smile. His dirty blonde hair was disheveled and sweat beaded along his hairline.
Her heart was sent aflutter at his appearance. "Di...did you have gym today?" She mentally face-palmed herself for stuttering.
His smile lowered at the corners. That slight movement would have gone unnoticed by anyone else. "Lacrosse practice was canceled." Anytime the lacrosse team couldn't hold practice, they had to participate in gym during their free class. Luna opened her mouth to say something to him. She wasn't sure what though. Knowing her, she probably would have apologized even though she had nothing to do with practice being canceled.
The corner of his lips picked up and he flashed her another smile. Any words that she may have spoken died in her mouth. Her heart raced and the little butterflies in her stomach took flight. "So, who's this guy you're crushing on?" His green eyes sparkled with a sudden realization. He pointed a finger at her and clicked his tongue. "It's Mark. Got to be. That's why you go to all of our practices and games."
White flashed before her eyes and the butterflies died out. Her vision swam and her head suddenly felt heavy. She grabbed ahold of Isaac's shoulder for balance.
"What?" She whispered in disbelief. Did he really just ask that? Did he really believe that she was in love with that jerk? "Kwon?" Her voice rose. The disbelief on the verge of turning into hysteria.
Adam put his hands up in front of him in surrender. His dazzling smile faltered before disappearing. "I didn't mean to startle you." He moved to walk past them. Before retreating down the hall, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I won't tell him. I won't ruin any romantic plans that you may have planned." He whispered in her ear.
If she hadn't been teetering on the edge of rage and hysteria from his ridiculous theory, she would have been over the moon that he was so close. He gave her arm one last pat before heading toward the lockers.
"He is an idiot. No offense." Isaac turned toward her. When she made no move to defend Adam, he waved a hand in front of her face. "Come on, Luna. You don't need to worry. He'll eventually figure it out. Don't let this set you back."
Luna took in a much-needed breath. Slowly, her nerves simmered down and the weird image of her being with Kwon faded away. "I'm not going to." She winced at how rugged her voice sounded.
Straightening her shoulders, she let go of Isaac's arm, no longer needing support. "Kwon? How is it that he thought of him? That's the last person I would have any romantic feelings for."
A loud, angry snort sounded from behind them, making them both jump. "Gee, thanks." The words dripped with sarcasm. Luna saw Isaac flinch from beside her. Turning around, they found Mark standing there. His hands were thrust into the pockets of his black jeans, and a scowl covered his face, pulling his dark eyebrows down low. Without another word, he shoved past them, ripping Isaac away from her in the process.
Isaac rubbed his shoulder and glared at Mark's retreating figure. "Rude."
* * *