Researching With the Jock {BWWM High School Romance}

Partners in Life... and Health Class

Vivian

I'm sitting with Diane, Carolyn, Lisa, and Luna in the bustling cafeteria. Fifth period lunch is always loud, but we've found our little corner near the windows, where we can chat and mess around without too many prying ears. It's a cloudy September afternoon, but inside, the chatter and clattering of trays make it feel like it's buzzing with energy.

Diane is tearing open a bag of potato chips, her wild curls bouncing as she laughs at Carolyn's latest crush confession. "Okay, okay, so spill it. Who do you think is the hottest guy in school?" Diane asks, munching away.

Carolyn rolls her eyes but can't help smiling. "You're all going to think I'm predictable, but I'm kind of into Kevin. You know, the one with the blond hair?"

Lisa nearly chokes on her soda. "Kevin? You mean bleach-blond Kevin from band class?" She laughs. "He's got nothing on Ricky. He's got those dimples and that smile..." She trails off, a dreamy look taking over her face.

"Yeah, but Kevin's got muscles," Carolyn retorts, flexing her skinny arms and making all of us burst out laughing. Diane smacks the table and chips fly everywhere.

"I still don't get it, Lis," Luna chimes in, leaning forward with a smirk. "What's with you and Ricky? It's like, every time he walks by, you go all 'doe eyes.'"

Lisa swats at Luna, but she's blushing. "Shut up! He's... cute, okay? And he's Greg's friend, so, you know, maybe if I hang around, he'll notice me or something."

At the mention of Greg, I feel Luna's eyes on me. "Speaking of which... Vivian," she says, a knowing edge to her voice, "I think your boy Greg was checking you out earlier. I caught him giving you one of those wink-and-smile combos."

My eyebrows shoot up. "Really?" I say, laying the sarcasm on thick. "Well, that's just fantastic. Didn't you know? We're practically partners in life. Or at least in health class."

Lisa gasps, while Carolyn and Diane looks up from her chips, suddenly interested. "Wait, you and Greg are partners? Since when?"

I wave my hand, brushing it off. "Yeah, sure, we're partners. It's not a big deal." It's a small lie, but it's better than explaining to my sisters that I'm stuck with Greg in Mrs. Cruz's Sex Education class for two semesters. Dad would lose his mind if he knew. Not to mention, what would they think if they knew I've actually been spending more time with Greg outside of class, working on our project? It's not like we're best friends or anything, but he's different when it's just the two of us—more real, less of the jock everyone sees in the hallways. But they don't need to know that.

"Sounds romantic," Carolyn nudges me with her elbow. "You and Greg, all close and personal. And he's always been kind of hot, you know?"

I roll my eyes so hard they might fall out of my head. "Please, Carolyn. It's just health. It's not like we're slow-dancing in the gym or something."

Luna shoots me a look, her eyebrows raised. I know she doesn't totally buy it, but she keeps quiet, letting the conversation shift back to Lisa's hopeless crush on Ricky. I can feel myself relax, knowing I've dodged that bullet for now.

**********

By ninth period, I'm in Mr. Carrington's Fine Arts class with Lisa. It's my favorite part of the day—partly because it's not filled with boring lectures, but mostly because it's where I can really let loose. Mr. Carrington is cool with us bringing our own music as long as we keep it school-appropriate. Today, I brought my mix-tape, and I'm ready to teach Lisa some of the moves I showed her last weekend when we were both working the Saturday shift at McDonald's.

Lisa is standing beside me, looking nervous as I cue up "Girl's Got It Goin' On" by Michael Cooper. "Okay, Lis, just follow my lead," I say and I start moving my feet to the beat, adding a little shoulder pop. Lisa tries to mimic my steps, her face scrunched in concentration. She's not bad, but she's stiff, like she's thinking too much.

"Loosen up, girl!" I laugh, grabbing her hands and spinning her. She stumbles, but we're both cracking up by the time she finds her rhythm. "You got this. Just feel the beat, don't fight it."

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Greg leaning against the door-frame. He's supposed to be on his way to the gym for practice, but he's standing there, arms crossed, watching me dance. He gives me this lopsided grin, one side of his mouth quirking up as he nods along to the music. His eyes follow my movements, and I can't help but feel... well, noticed. It's weird. It makes me dance harder, sharper, like I'm trying to impress him. Which, obviously, I'm not.

When the song ends, Lisa is panting, and I'm a little out of breath too. "See? I told you, you just gotta let go!" I say, ignoring Greg's lingering gaze. He finally peels himself away from the doorway, giving me one last look before heading to the gym.

Lisa glances between me and the empty doorway, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "Uh-huh. Sure, Vivian, nothing going on there at all."

"Can we please focus on dancing?" I retort, but I know I'm blushing. Lisa's snicker tells me she sees right through me. As much as I try to brush it off, I can't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, she's not entirely wrong.

**********

After school, we all head back to the McKeaver house—me, Diane, Carolyn, Lisa, and Luna. Our living room is cramped, but it's ours, and it's where we hang out most days after school. The TV is on, but none of us are really paying attention until the promo for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 flashes across the screen. We all freeze, and I can feel the energy shift in the room.

"Y'all, shush! It's the Janet Jackson promo!" I shout, leaping onto the couch to get a better view. Carolyn claps her hands, her eyes wide.

The promo is short, but it's electric, showing flashes of Janet in her black military-style jacket, moving with her dancers like she's commanding an army. The beat is hard, intense, and the choreography is sharp. I feel my pulse quicken, and I'm not the only one.

"Oh my goodness, I'm not ready," Lisa breathes, clutching a pillow to her chest. "She's about to change the whole game."

Luna nods, eyes glued to the screen. "We're gonna have to practice those moves, Vivian. Like, right now."

I can't help but grin. "We've got four days to get ready for that premiere. Saturday night, we're all meeting here and watching it together. No excuses."

Diane hops down from the couch, still buzzing with energy. "And we'll make it a party! Snacks, soda, the whole thing."

Carolyn nods enthusiastically. "And maybe we'll all learn the routine and become backup dancers."

Lisa throws a look at me, winking. "Yeah, Viv, maybe you can show Greg those moves too."

I throw a pillow at her. "Oh, shut up, Lis. You're just hoping Ricky shows up so you can show him your moves."

She catches the pillow and hugs it. "Hey, a girl can dream, right?"

As we laugh and start debating the best dance moves to learn, I feel a sense of ease settle over me. For a moment, there's no pressure from school, no secrets I have to keep, no Greg glancing my way with that half-smile. It's just us—friends, sisters, and a little bit of music to keep us going. And right now, that feels like enough. Even if my mind keeps drifting back to my project with Greg, wondering what he'll say the next time we meet up after school, just the two of us.