It's Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morrill

Author:Lauren Morrill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Over the break I worked two more shifts at Hot ’N Crusty: Friday and a Saturday double. Twelve hours, and I only saw Tristan twice. Neither time did he do more than give me a brief nod of greeting. Man, between Mac and this, my romance radar is seriously misfiring.

I guess I really was imagining it all.

Back at school on Monday, it’s like nothing has changed. Tristan disappears out the back door of the cafeteria, chips and milk in hand. Julianne is reading in the corner. And I’m back at our round table, two from the middle, sitting next to Natalie while Colin regales us with his wakeboarding adventures and Tamsin flips through pictures of the hot lifeguard she’s stalking.

“Did you do anything fun over the break, Beck?” Cora asks when it’s clear we’re all tapped out on ski stories.

“I just worked. Binged stuff with my parents,” I say with a shrug. “Nothing special.” And for the first time I’m keeping Hot ’N Crusty to myself not because I’m embarrassed, but because I just don’t want to share it. I don’t want to see Tamsin wrinkle her nose at the mention of Julianne or hear the boys say something rude about Frank, Jason, or Greg. And I don’t want to avoid Mac’s gaze when I bring up Tristan or worry that he’s going to bring up the kiss he saw. I’d rather geek out on Apex Galaxy spoilers at our lunch table, and that’s saying something.

The conversation continues around the table, but I’m not listening. Instead I stare down at my lunch, a fluffernutter sandwich my mom made, along with some pretzels and an apple. Yes, my mom still makes my lunch sometimes. And yes, I love it. Even the note she always writes me on my napkin. Today it’s a Dr. Seuss quote: Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind! Oof, easier said than done, Mom.

“I missed you over break,” Natalie says, leaning in so the conversation is just between the two of us.

“I could tell,” I reply. I must still be lost in my own thoughts, because the response flies out before I can stop it. At the last minute I try to mask the tone with a mischievous smirk, but it doesn’t fly with Natalie. She knows me too well.

“What does that mean?” she asks.

I shrug. “I didn’t know you guys were doing a s’mores night over at Tamsin’s.” And as I say it, I realize how hurt I am. Even though I had a moment with Tristan and I definitely became friends with everyone else. Even though I actually don’t wish I’d missed the drive-in or geek night to make s’mores and pose for filtered pictures. Even then, it still hurts to know that my friends had no problem ignoring me, or worse, simply forgetting me.

“I texted you,” Natalie says.

“No, you didn’t.”

“I did!” Natalie reaches in her bag and pulls out her phone, glancing around the cafeteria to make sure Mr.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.