A Ripple Between **CURRENTLY EDITING**

9- Flip Turns with Squirrely

*3 Weeks Later*

I walked down the hallway alone, looking on as a bunch of upperclassmen meandered past in the crowded walkway. I tried not to bump into anyone as I made my way back from my last class of the day, eager to get to my locker and go home.

Tonight I had yet another lesson with PJ. In the two lessons following the peanut-butter incident, not much had happened between us. As soon as Claire had found out what Max had done to her Barbie, I had offered to help her clean its hair, killing whatever mood PJ and I had. By the time I got back to the living room, PJ was off doing something else, most likely to get away from all the noise. I couldn't blame him. I'd found him, with Claire's help, in the basement, putting the movies his mom had been holding back on the shelf. My mom had come to pick me up a few minutes after.

It wasn't like we hadn't talked at all since then, but something was different. He was acting a little strange, making me almost jumpy in the process. I couldn't figure out what was going on.

I was still thinking about this when none other than PJ, who'd been walking the opposite direction, turned and grabbed one of the straps on my backpack, startling me into reality.

"Hey!" he said from behind me, leaning over to talk in my ear. "Are we still on for the lesson tonight?" He came around to my side and draped an arm over my shoulder. Lately he'd started doing that, too. Not that I was about to complain. He smelled amazing. Although it was just a little annoying trying to walk down a crowded hallway like that.

"Yeah," I replied. "Flip turns tonight, right?" I looked over at him and caught myself staring into those blue-gray eyes. Alex passed, and a big smile made its way onto her face when she saw us.

"OTP!" she shouted, causing several people to look back at her in annoyance. She didn't seem to care one bit as she came over and shoved me closer to PJ before running down the hallway and disappearing down the stairs. I shook my head and stepped away from him. Glancing over, he didn't seem nearly as uncomfortable with the whole matter as I was. He just continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. It annoyed me a bit, to be honest.

"And then you're pretty much done," he agreed. "Learning, I mean. I still need to practice with you if you want to make the team."

I looked over at him with a shocked expression. "You're serious?" I'd thought he'd just been teaching me so that he didn't have to worry about me anymore. I didn't think I was actually ever going to be good enough to be on the team.

"Why not?" he asked. "You've got great potential. Plus," he leaned in and lowered his voice, "you'd get to see me shirtless way more often." He winked. He was obviously joking, but the way he leaned in and brushed shoulders with me made my heart beat a little faster nonetheless.

"Well, that's a very intriguing offer, PJ. I'll think about it." I smiled before beginning to walk up the stairs. He looked after me as I called back down, "See you tonight!"

"See ya, Ava."

I turned the corner and took my phone from my pocket, texting Alex as I made my way to my locker: I hate you so much

I'm sorry, I had to ;) she replied.

I still hate you.

But you guys are so cute! I'm just trying to get him to see that too!

I laughed before responding, True. If only that was possible. You are forgiven.