No Aliens Allowed

- Eighteen -

Two more dates and a lot more making out with Penn. That's all it took for me to slip up in History and call him my boyfriend.

The girl I was talking to, Izzy, was going on about how hot she thought Penn was and blah blah blah. All I knew was that it was making me mad and jealous.

Yes. Jealous. Shut up.

So I kind of blurted it out, and watched with half-satisfaction, half-horror as surprise and embarrassment spread across Izzy's face.

"Um," she said, clearly stumbling for words. She smoothed the front of her shirt. "I...I mean, I heard the rumors," she said, peeking at my face to see if I was going to explode. "You know. The ones about you dating? But I didn't think, not really..."

I rolled my eyes, and patted her on the shoulder before finding my seat. She let out a breath when I walked away and I snickered. I wasn't that terrifying, honestly, but I had the tallest girl in school and her boyfriend, who was class president, a heartbreaker, the football team's quarterback, and the notorious bad boy on my side. So maybe while I didn't come on strong, you didn't mess with me. Or my friends.

I slid behind my desk, immediately bombed by crumpled up paper from all sides. The teacher, Mrs. Remmy, took all of our phones at the beginning of the class, so everyone was stuck with passing notes.

Not to mention, I shared this class with Catelin, Eason, and Penn. In other words, I payed no attention because I was too busy trying to look like I was listening and writing notes at the same time while not being caught.

I opened the first note, loopy handwriting filling the top of the page. It was from Catelin.

YOU JUST SAID HE WAS YOUR BOYFRIEND HOW COME I DON'T KNOW THIS

I grimaced. Fuck. What had I gotten myself into?

I opened the one from Penn next as Mrs. Remmy called the class's fractured attention.

I thought relationships were supposed to be a mutual thing but hey I like when a girl takes charge

also fuck you for saying that

I scribbled a reply.

I'm so sorry please don't be mad at me

I drew a tiny heart at the end of the sentence and kicked the paper ball behind me, where I knew Penn was sitting.

Eason's came next.

CONGRATS HONEY!!!!! It read enthusiastically.

Ugh that was a mistake, I wrote back to him, and asked a drowsy kid names Kirk who was permanently stuck with passing notes between me and Eason. Kirk took it and handed it to Eason, who sent me a thumbs up.

To Catelin, I wrote something slightly more explanatory.

It slipped out. I didn't mean to say it, as much as I'd like it to be true. Penn's not one for relationships, you know?

It was handed forward two times, from me to Alyssa Kinley to Neveah Goddard to Catelin. I watched her open it, absentmindedly scribbling down what had appeared on the white board.

I got a response from Penn. It was short, as usual.

We'll talk after.

Eason's was conclusive as well.

Well, together or not, congratulations. You guys can't keep your hands off each other and it'll happen eventually.

I stuck those notes into my binder and opened Catelin's which was dropped onto my desk by Alyssa.