Leslie's Journal

Four

Today is Friday. At lunch I go into the cafeteria, and I see Katie and Ashley A-hole with a bunch of other girls in a clump by the window. Katie and I used to have lunch alone, only now her table has turned into Girl Central. They're always in a group, pointing and whispering and generally being embarrassing. At the moment, they're looking out at the track.

"So what's the big deal?" I say.

"Leslie, look. By the goalposts," squeals Katie. "He's just transferred and his name is Jason McCready and he's a senior and he has a motorcycle and ohmigod!" She sighs and does this fake fainting routine like I'm supposed to be impressed she's got hormones.

When I look out, I see it's him, the guy from the office. And come to think of it, he is pretty cute, slouched all alone against the goalpost, one knee slightly bent, hands in his back pockets, head back to catch some rays. He looks like an underwear model with clothes on.

Naturally I play it cool. "Oh, him," I say, stuffing my face with tuna sandwich. "We've already met."

"No way"

"Not my type," I yawn, and I turn away like he's the last thing on my mind.

"Liar," Ashley sneers. "I'll bet you've never seen him before."

"Oh, no? Well, I've not only seen him before, I've given him the finger."

Katie gasps. "What did he do?" Her eyes are like pies.

"Nothing. He just smiled."

Katie is an awe. "Smiled? You mean he likes you?"

The idea hadn't crossed my mind, but I'm not going to say no and look stupid in front of Ashley. So instead, I check my nails. "Some of us have what it takes."

"Liar," Ashley snaps again. "If you and Jason are such good friends, let's see you go out and talk to him. He'll tell you to get lost."

I'm trapped. But I'm not going to let Ashley show me up.

"Candy from a baby," I laugh and I head out to the track, praying by the time I get there he'll be gone.

He isn't. When I get within ten feet of him, I slow down. I stop. I can tell he knows someone's there, but he keeps his eyes closed and lets the breeze play through his curly brown hair. His shirt's hanging out and open, and under it he's got on this incredibly tight T-shirt. Can I breathe?

I can feel the girls staring at me. There's no turning back. "Hi you must be Jason."

A pause. "If you say so." His eyes are still closed.

"We, uh, we met in the office."

He opens his eyes. They are so blue. "Oh. So you must be the principal."

For a second, I don't get it. "Uh..." I want to run. I want to cry. But I'm frozen.

"Are those your friends?" He nods towards the cafeteria.

The girls have their faces squashed against the window like they're in kindergarten. They look demento, especially Katie, who is waving her hand so fast I'm surprised it doesn't fall off.

"Friends? I've never seen them before."

He smiles. His teeth are very white. "Come here."

I take two baby steps, then toss my head and walk right up to him. All of a sudden, he puts his arm around me and gives me a kiss. He actually slips me the tongue!

He smiles again. "Gotta fly," he says.

"Okay," I say back. I feel sort of absent-minded, like an amnesia patient on some Movie of the Week. My knees are wobbly. I try not to fall down.

"By the way, my name is Leslie," I call after him.

"Right," he says. He waves, real casual and slow, and keeps on walking. I turn to the cafeteria window and curtsy.  Katie's eyes are out of their sockets. Ashley looks as if she's just had a heart attack.

And me? I'm in love!