TEENS

Chapter 4

I saw Wren ducking over to drink from the water fountain and I decided that this would be my first and last attempt to get him to talk to me again. It was three days after our awkward conversation and three days after we were assigned our science extra credit project (still no progress then). Wren was wearing a dark green hoodie and baggy jeans, his usual look. I, however, had taken Jemma’s advice and wore a bright pink skirt and a loose white tank top.

Apparently, this makes guys notice you.

Apparently, she was wrong. Wren didn’t even see me as I pretended to walk past him, or if he did, he didn’t show it. I sighed and turned toward the water fountain, planning to take a drink so it didn’t look like I had lingered there for nothing. I wrapped my hair into a quick bun with my left hand and bent down to push the water button with my left. Unfortunately, someone thought it would be funny to drink from the adjacent fountain at the same time and then run off when a cute boy ran by.

Needless to say, I was soaked with water.

A few snickers, some apologies from random people I didn’t know, and then a warm hand on my back. “Alright, that was pretty embarrassing.”

Wren didn’t exactly smile down at me, but he wasn’t frowning either. He pulled off his hoodie. I watched him, unsure of what was happening and not wanting to make assumptions. When I didn’t make any sudden movements, Wren took my hand in his and literally placed the hoodie in my hands.

I just stood and stared. He finally cracked a smile and laughed. “Are you going to put it on?”

“Is there like yucky stuff in here or something?”

“I’m sorry?” Wren said, tilting his head in amusement.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“You just got water all over yourself,” he said. “It was probably humiliating, and you need something to cover it up.”

“So?”

“So I’m giving you my hoodie,”

“But you hate me,”

Wren laughed again, crossing his arms. “I don’t hate you,”

“But…”

“But,” he sighed. “But we can’t do this,”

“This?”

“Us,” he said, poking me in the stomach. “Flirting and laughing.”

“Isn’t that what you’re doing right now?”

He stood up straight. “Yeah, sorry.”

“I don’t get it,” I said. “Why not?”

“It’s complicated,”

“Is it because you’re dating Kari? Because, I mean, that’s a pretty good reason not to flirt with me.”

He laughed. “No, I’m not dating Kari.”

“Then?”

Jemma bounced over and looked between the two of us. “Some serious love bug stuff going on right here, huh?”

“Jemma,” I said through clenched teeth.

“I’m sorry, did I ruin a moment? I can take a hint,” she sashayed over to some other girls and started a conversation with them.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry. She’s…Jemma,”

“I see,” Wren gave me a small smile.

“So,”