Scared of Falling in Love

Awkward.

"Hey Giselle! Wait up", a few of my friends call out as I walk to the cafeteria for lunch. I'm so hungry that I forgot to wait for them like I usually do. "Sorry", I mumble once they're at my side. "Hey what happened to you earlier? We were supposed to go over my D.Os before second period? Remember", says Allison. Allison is another one of my closest friends, so close in fact that I consider her my sister. We've been friends ever since she moved here last year. "What're D.Os", Damian's nosy self asks. "Oh. D.O stands for-" Allison elbow me hard in the arm before I get the chance to finish my sentence. I let out a loud 'ow' and give her my best evil eye. 

Okay okay. I can take a hint. Especially if that hint is a hard elbow to the arm...."Oh its nothing. Just girl stuff. You know", I say, nailing that save. He looks at me awkwardly and says "No. I don't know. And I don't think I want to." Allison and I laugh at his response.

D.Os stands for Date Options- referring to our first high school homecoming dance of course. So far Allison's been asked to the dance by 10 different guys and she's having a difficult time of choosing that one lucky guy. And since she's going to have a date and Lily's obviously going to have a date, I'll end up being the fifth wheel, which I honestly don't mind at all. Sitting down alone at the table and taking advantage of the free food has always been my specialty anyways.

Allison doesn't want me saying what D.Os means in public, especially not in front of Damian, since he's one of the 10 guys who asked her. He's been completely in love with her since her first day here, but she doesn't feel the same way about him. I feel kind of sorry for him. I can't imagine how much courage he had to build up inside to ask Allison out. He's so fragile. Who knows what rejection will do to him.

As we stand in line in the cafeteria, I make eye contact with Jaden. He gives me a quick, almost fake smile and continues talking to his friends. I don't think too much of it. I shrug it off and grab my lunch. I let Allison choose where to sit and follow her. She chooses the same table where Jaden and his friends are sitting. I greet Jaden hello and he, instead of saying hello, gives me a half nod. Did he just...? Okay....... That's probably just the way he greets everyone..

I am quickly proven wrong when a group of cheerleaders surrounds him as he greets them with a polite "ladies...". The group of drooling girls giggle in response, some of them stroking Jaden's arm and others flirtaciously fluttering their eyes. They finally scurry off out of the cafeteria, continuing to giggle and whisper, looking back at Jaden. I roll my eyes and try not to throw up my lunch.

Jaden and his friends laugh lightly, clearly amused. They shake their heads and continue talking.

Since Im sitting pretty close to them, I overhear their conversation.

"So J", says Tom, stuffing a spoon of mash potatoes into his mouth, "where were you during brunch? You missed our football scrimmage game against the sophomores. We got creamed without you dude", he says with a mixture of concern and edge in his tone. "Oh shoot. Sorry Tom. I totally forgot", Jaden replies, keeping his eyes on his food. "Don't worry 'bout it J. We're having a re-match tomorrow. You in?" Either Tom didn't bother to say anything or he really couldn't tell that that was obviously a lie.

"Wouldn't miss it" , Jaden replies halfheartedly. Tom continues his mini investigation. "So what were you doing during brunch that made you forget about the game? You never forget a game," he says, drawing his eyebrows closer together out of curiosity. Jason pauses for a moment, then finally answers. "Oh you know just wandering around the quad. Nothing worth sharing."

Okay, now I'm a little bothered. 

"Asshole", I say under my breath. I guess it comes out louder than I intended it to because the group of boys whip their heads in my direction, looking for the person who said that. I smile at them and look away continuing to eat my food, looking as innocent as possible. I look back up to see that my little act was enough for them to shrug it off and continue whatever it was they were doing. The only person who was still looking my way was Tom.

Our eyes meet and he gives me a smile that I could see right through.

 Tom is one of those high school clichés. He only pays attention to the good looking girls at this school, and I obviously didn't make the cut. I spend a lot of time digging my face in books, and am not what most would call beautiful, which hurts a little but honestly, there is no one in this school that I'm trying to impress. Tom switches his eyes from me to Allison and gives her one of his flirtatious grins he's perfected with all of his unfortunate prey. Compared to Allison, I'm not even worth giving a second glance. Is that why Jaden didn't want to mention the fact that he talked to me during brunch? Is he embarrassed? He didn't look up from his food until lunch was over. 

So much for earning my trust.