Being The New Girl

13: A Fanboy, a Matchmaker, and a Princess

The fury refuses to die from Maia's eyes, even after Amelia and Gabe break apart. Gabe grins at Amelia, who sends a shy smile back at him before going to sit next to Jen, giggling quietly.

I kay a hand on Maia's arm. "Hey, are you okay?"

She breaks out of her trance and turns to me. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" she retorts, her anger still strong as she looks back to an oblivious Gabe.

"No reason. You just, uh, zoned out on us for a second." I swallow. "Just checking."

She ignores me, a big sign that she's acting strange. Maia is usually incredibly nice and bubbly with everyone-well, excluding Gabe, of course. If she were fine, she would apologize for getting mad at me, and laugh off my question. Because she really would be okay.

This can only mean one thing.

She likes Gabe.

I've suspected it for some time, because I know that girls tend to be mean to guys when they like them. I know this from real life and all of the romance books I've read.

She likes Gabe.

And Gabe just kissed Amelia back.

This really isn't good.

Sure, I've only known Maia for a few days, but I already know that she becomes impulsive when she's mad. I can only hope she can ignore that urge now, because this is not the time or place to do anything rash.

It's time for Jen's turn. She chooses dare, and everyone spends a few seconds thinking about what to assign her to do. In this time, however, Maia slowly gets to her feet.

With the firelight reflecting in her eyes, she crosses the few feet to Camdyn, pulls him up by his shirt, and kisses him.

The group is silent. No one looks more surprised than Camdyn, though, who doesn't kiss her back until she becomes more insistent. She pulls away just after he gets into it, releasing her hold on him and pivoting on her feet, in the direction of the dock.

"What... what was that for?" Camdyn sputters.

"I dared myself," she calls behind her before passing out of sight.

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know!" she shouts, emotion finally working its way into her voice.

The second she disappears from sight, Gabe leaps to his feet. I catch a glimpse of the anguish on his face as he stomps off in the other direction, into the trees.

"Well," Brayden says, sounding uncomfortable for the first time since I've met him. "Seems like we should be going now. Nice to meet you all." He tips his imaginary hat with an awkward smile before standing up and walking away with Jen and Amelia in tow.

Camdyn lingers a few seconds. "I- um, hopefully I'll see you around, Roxy."

"Hopefully so. Bye, Camdyn." I wave as he jogs on after his friends, his silhouette quickly blending into the trees.

I look back to the fire, watching it crackle and burn and fill the silence of our group. In my peripheral vision, I notice Luke watching me.

"What do you think we should do?" I ask him quietly.

"I think it's about time we get them together."

I study his expression. "You mean this kind of thing has been going on between them for a while now?" He nods. "I figured as much."

It's his turn to observe me now. "I've known them for practically my whole life, and they've always been like this: fighting, joking, skimming the edge of a relationship."