Researching With the Jock {BWWM High School Romance}

When Boundaries Meet Banter

Greg

I'm fumbling with my house keys, still thinking about the helpful amount of information Mr. Marone crammed into my head during after-school help. 

I finally unlock the front door and step inside when I hear it. The rumble of an engine outside. A very specific rumble. 

"Greg!" Claudine's voice rings from somewhere in the house. "Vivian's here. Don't embarrass us, okay?"

Like that's possible. Claudine and I may be twins, but she got all the social grace genes while I got the... well, I know that I got the good looks, but it's definitely not grace. I look through the window, and sure enough, there's Vivian pulling up in her car. A 1988 cherry red Toyota Corolla Wagon. The kind of car that screams "I have my life together," unlike my ride in the bus, which says, "I'm barely making it through high school."

I manage to get to the front yard before Vivian hops out. She spots me, eyeglasses still on, and gives me a small wave. I don't know what it is, but the combination of the glasses, the car, and the fact that she's a straight-A student with a brain like a supercomputer makes me feel like I'm in the presence of some sort of teenage royalty.

"Nice car," I blurt out. "Didn't you get that 1988 Toyota Corolla Wagon for your birthday last year? You know, with your sisters?"

"1986," she corrects, flipping her glasses up onto her head, revealing those deep brown eyes and for the first time, I notice how deep and warm they are, like smooth, dark chocolate, almost inviting me to fall into their quiet intensity. But then I catch it—a subtle misalignment in one eye, just barely askew, adding an unexpected vulnerability to her gaze. It's a tiny imperfection that makes her somehow even more captivating, a detail I hadn't expected. "Mom and Dad went all out for me, Diane, and Carolyn's sweet sixteen. They still act like I owe them for it though since I'm one out of three to get my license before Carolyn and Diane."

I can't help but smile. "Well, it beats the bus. You've seen it. It's like riding around in a large French fry on wheels with additional windows."

She laughs, and I'm weirdly proud of myself for getting that out of her.

"I like French fries," she shoots back, a smirk forming on her face. "They're comforting."

I chuckle, mostly to hide the fact that my brain is short-circuiting from her wit. "Glad to know the bus is somewhat comforting."

Before I can say anything else remotely dumb, Claudine and Lucy come barreling down the stairs inside the house, and I turn to give them a warning look. Claudine, as usual, ignores it.

"Vivian!" Claudine's got her peppy cheerleader persona on full blast. "Hi! It's been forever!"

Lucy's right behind her, trying to play it cool, but you can tell she's excited to have Vivian at the house.

"Hey, Claudine. Lucy," Vivian says, throwing her arms around Claudine and Lucy one at a time. "How's it going?"

"Good! You're here to work on the project with Greg?" Claudine asks, and I know what she's thinking. She's got that look on her face that screams, Why would anyone want to work with Greg?

"Yeah," Vivian says, totally unfazed. "We've got a riveting presentation on healthy relationships and consent to put together."

I can feel Claudine and Lucy trying to hold back their laughter. I swear, riveting is not the word anyone would use for this project. It's awkward enough just to say the word consent in front of my sisters.

"Well, we'll leave you two to it!" Claudine says with a wink, then practically drags Lucy back inside before they can start interrogating Vivian.

Vivian raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're not the embarrassing twin?"