“She only said ‘hey’,” I persisted. “She doesn’t even know me.”

“It was a sexy ‘hey.’ You’ve gotta learn to tell the difference between ‘hey’ and ‘pick me up after school.’”

“Seriously, Russell, sometimes I wonder why I even know you.”

“Third grade.”

Sigh. “Don’t remind me.”

“Oh – here she comes. Down the hall, ‘leven o’clock. Work your magic.”

“Magic? Wha – ” I asked right before he all but shoved me into her. Books and binders went flying. I flushed as I bent down to help her get them, stuttering an apology. She looked up.

Maybe her face wasn’t too bad.

“Um…sorry,” she murmured shyly and raced away.

“Smooth,” Russell said, gliding over.

“Why are we even doing this?” I hissed through clenched teeth.

“You wanted a dance partner.”

“Stop putting words into my mouth! I said I was bored with the dances!”

“And now you won’t be,” he smiled, ever the angelic matchmaker.

The late bell rang. Grr…