Honestly, I thought.

There’s absolutely no way, I thought.

I didn’t tell Russell this, of course. Didn’t want to hurt his feelings; he’d picked her, after all.

Across the cafeteria, kind of slim, average height, dark brown hair. The hair was nice, but the face…mmm, well, whatever. I didn’t know what was wrong with her, really, but maybe I was just trying to justify why I didn’t automatically latch onto the idea.

The dance, he had said. Don’t forget about the dance.

The dances aren’t even worth anything, I thought. I told Russell, and he shrugged. Hope I didn’t hurt his feelings.

You sure? he said.

Mhm, I said.

Okay, whatever, he said.

Well…

Maybe…

Possibly, even…?

And suddenly, she had appeared not two tables away, walking swiftly past me. She made eye contact with me. Oh no.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey,” I said.

New girls. Sigh.