In Alice’s opinion, the project couldn’t have gone better. Everyone in class seemed pretty bored by it all, but she successfully went through it all without giving anything away. More importantly, [i]Lucas[/i] didn’t tell anyone about her secrets all week. Meeting him had been incredible, she was in the best mood all week. Alice even took some time to hang out with a couple friends on the bleachers while football practice was going on Thursday, so she could relax before the presentation. It made her wonder if Lucas was bummed to not be out on the field…as bummed as the girls were that he wasn’t playing anymore.

“All I’m saying is it’s his senior year and he was always out on the field. Great player,” one girl said. “Right up there with David and Shane, always starting lineup.”

“Oooh, it’s all about how they play, [i]not[/i] how they look in those tight pants,” another chimed in, getting a few giggles around her. Alice only smirked, stretching out with her elbows propping herself up and ankles crossed below. “Don’t lie, you don’t actually watch those games. They’re boring. You’re just upset you won’t see his ass in anything that tight again.”

“I didn’t say that! And where’re your school spirit? Anyway, maybe that is a small perk. We deserve small perks while sitting out in the cold for hours at a time.”

“Yeah, well, school spirit or not you couldn’t pay me to be one of those cheerleaders. Going to all the games rain or shine [i]and[/i] have my back to those boys? No thanks. Anyway, I’m surprised Lucas didn’t try out. I don’t get it.”

“Oh, he wanted to but he was on vacation,” Alice finally chimed in, her eyes still on the field despite everyone looking at her. Eventually she looked up when it got quiet and grinned, shaking her head. “I asked him, we have class together.”

“Look at you! Hanging out again, talking to [i]Lucas Reed[/i]. When did our little girl grow up?” one girl laughed, playfully ruffling her hair. A couple of the girls there already dating athletes, and to them that was something to brag about.

“Hey! I’m older than you, shut up,” she answered, getting to her feet and fixing her hair. “He’s just…not as arrogant as the other idiots out there. I like talking to him.”

“Hun, that’s called a crush. I know you haven’t had one in years, but when [i]you[/i] can stand talking to a boy for more than five minutes I think your next step-“

“Okay, okay, I don’t need you to walk me through this,” Alice groaned, shrugging her bag back over her shoulder. “I gotta do homework. I barely see him outside of class, you know me, so it’s nothing. Kara, we’re riding together tomorrow right?”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re no fun, you know that? All I’m saying is that if you like somebody, you have to do something about it.”

Alice waved with a roll of her eyes before jumping down and heading home for the day. Despite trying to ignore them, she knew they were right. Whether there was something between them [i]that[/i] way or not, this wasn’t something to be ignored. Being around him, even when they weren’t speaking, was calming. Most boys at school were always feeling the most intense emotions, especially ones she wanted to work hard to keep out like lust, anger, over excitement. Girls could be just as bad with their jealousy, of course, but Lucas was someone she could actually sit by and not get distracted. Now whether that was just his personality or his own mental strength she wasn’t sure, but in the end it didn’t matter. By Friday afternoon she was actually catching herself daydreaming about their trip to the forest, which got her thinking…maybe it didn’t have to be a short trip just to see his powers.

******

“Oh, hey.” Alice smiled, glad to see she didn’t have to wait as long for Lucas to show up. She had a stop to make before they headed over to the forest.

[i]“Let’s go quickly,” he told her, beginning to walk to his car. “My asshole friends are probably spying on me.”[/i]

“Spying?” she asked, walking alongside him. By now she could recognize his car and his parking spot. “They don’t have anything better to do?” Alice got into the passenger side just as she had earlier in the week, laying her bag in her lap. She had little homework for the weekend, so it was almost empty. “Hey, I wanted to ask you something, if you don’t have any plans for tonight and tomorrow morning. I have an idea, if you can get one of those [i]asshole[/i] friends of yours to cover for you. Tell your parents you’re spending the night with them. But we have to stop at my house and get a few things before we go. What do you say? Trust me?”