Chapter 9
Caller ID
“H
ey,if it isn't Miss B-ball,” Seth said when Gemma walked into bio class.
Gemma dropped onto the lab stool next to him.
“What's with the long face?” Seth asked. “You look like somebody kicked LeBron.”
Gemma swiveled in her seat to look at him. “How did you know my dog's name?”
“You told me. I'm not like other guys, remember? I actually listen.”
“What's my middle name?” Gemma quizzed.
“Nicole.”
“How tall am I?”
“Five feet seven inches.”
“What grade did I get in bio class?”
“A-plus.”
“Ha!” Gemma exclaimed. “Wrong. I got a B-plus.”
“So sue me. I got one wrong.” He leaned into her and nudged her with his shoulder. “So spill. What's bugging you?”
Gemma took a deep breath. “Short version. Do guys ever think about anything besides sex? Don't they realize how hard it is for a girl to hook up with a guy who has been with one of the most experienced girls in the school?”
“Whoa! Where did that come from?”
“I'm just speaking hypothetically,” she told him.
Seth smirked. “Yeah, right. Okay, we'll go with that cover story.”
Gemma slumped in her chair. Her cover was blown.
“First of all,” Seth said, “guys don't think of nothing but sex.
Most
of the time, yes, but not
all
the time. And second.” He held up two fingers. “Stop comparing yourself to another girl. You're unique and that's why the guy likes you in the first place.”
“Thanks, Oprah,” Gemma joked.
“Hey, don't knock my girl. She knows what's up. You see she keeps Stedman in line.”
The bell rang and another long bio class began.
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“Don't look now but Ethan's coming down the hall,” Maria said. “He's making a beeline toward us.”
Gemma reached into her locker, pretending not to notice, but her hands were trembling.
“Tell me what happens,” Maria said.
“Don't leave meâ”
Before Gemma could finish her sentence, Maria had disappeared down the hall.
“Hey, Gemma,” Ethan greeted her.
Gemma continued rummaging in her locker. “Hey,” she said, not even glancing in his direction.
“You okay?” he asked.
Gemma, head still in her locker, said, “I'm fine. And you?”
“I'm good.”
There was a moment of silence, and Gemma stopped pretending to be searching for something in the locker. She shut it and faced him. “Well,” she said, a fake smile plastered on her face. “Gotta get to class!”
“I can't figure you out, Gemma,” Ethan said, shaking his head. “It's like one minute you're interested and into me and then the next you tell me you want to go home.”
“Me? Want to go home? You practically shoved me out the door last night.”
“No, I didn't,” Ethan protested. “I thought you were telling me that you weren't interested. I'm not interested in playing games. I like you a lot but I can't force you to like me back.”
Gemma gaped at him. “I
do
like you. I only hesitated because you have so much more experience than me, especially with going out with Angela and all.” She hadn't planned on saying anything about Angela; it made Gemma seem so insecure. But the truth just blurted itself out. She stared down at her feet. “How am I to measure up with that?”
Ethan lifted her chin with a finger. His expression was concerned. “I'm not comparing you to Angela. I know you're nothing like her. If I still wanted that, I'd be with her but I'm not. I'm with you.”
Just then, Angela rounded the corner. Gemma's stomach twisted. Every time Angela appeared she spoiled whatever was going on between Gemma and Ethan. Was that going to happen now? She and Ethan were finally getting somewhereâand here was Angela the spoiler.
Angela strode right up to them. Completely ignoring Gemma, she looked at Ethan. “I need to talk to you.”
Gemma shook her head and resisted the urge to smack the girl. But Angela was Ethan's problem. If Angela was going to make Ethan jump every time she appeared, Gemma didn't think he was worth the catfight.
“Look, Angela. Can't you see I'm talking to Gemma?” Ethan said.
Angela's jaw set and her eyes narrowed. “You can talk to your friend later.” The way Angela said “friend” made it sound as if the word left a bad taste in her mouth.
“Actually, no,” Ethan said. “If there's something you want to say to me, you're the one who can wait.”
Gemma stood up a little straighter. Ethan was standing up to Angela.
“Oh, and Angela, I've been meaning to ask you,” Ethan continued. “What were you doing answering my cell? How'd you even get your hands on it?”
Angela tossed her head. “I don't know what you're talking about.”
“The night of the charity auction.” Ethan looked at Angela, waiting for a response. None came. Then his face brightened. He snapped his fingers. “When I left my jacket on the table. The cell was still in my pocket. That must have been when you grabbed it.”
“Maybe,” Angela said in a huff. “I can't be expected to remember every little thing I do.”
“Answering my phone isn't little,” Ethan said. “And you won't be doing it ever again. You hear me?”
Gemma watched as Angela tried to regain her haughty composure. It wasn't working.
“Listen, I just neededâ” Angela began before Ethan cut her off again.
“Whatever you need doesn't come from me anymore. That's for your new man. Whoever he may be.” He took Gemma's hand and pulled her to his side. “I only cater to Gemma's needs now.”
Gemma wanted to do a backflip right there in the hall.
“Fine. Whatever,” Angela said, and stormed off.
“Now do you believe me when I tell you I like you?” Ethan asked Gemma, his hand cupping her face. “That I'm not looking for an Angela clone?”
“I don't know if I believe you just yet,” she teased. “You may have to prove it to me some more.”
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The End
So you think Gemma should ditch Ethan? Read on to find out what happens.
Chapter 8
Practice Makes Perfect
“S
o what do you want to do?” Gemma asked Maria. Maria was sitting on Gemma's bed playing with LeBron. “I refuse to sit here all night.”
Maria threw one of LeBron's toys across the room. LeBron jumped off the bed and took off after it. “Uh, well, if you went out with Ethan, you wouldn't have to sit here all night.”
Gemma rolled her eyes. “I told you I'm not going to get all up in that mess. If he wants to hang out with Angela at charity auctionsâif I even believe thatâthen he's free to. I could not care less.”
“But he said he tried to call but his cell wasn't working,” Maria argued.
“Ohhh, so it just happened to be working when Angela picked it up?” Gemma said. “I don't think so.”
Giving up, Maria sighed. “So what are we going to do?”
Gemma thought a moment. “Did you eat?”
“No.”
“Then let's go. I'm starving.”
A little later, Gemma and Maria were pigging out on chicken fingers and fries smothered in ketchup and pepper.
“Order a beer,” Maria told Gemma. “They don't check ID.”
Gemma gaped at her. “No way. You.”
“Chicken,” Maria teased, glancing around the crowded restaurant. When she spotted the waitress she called, “Excuse me, waitress?”
“No way! Are you really going to do it?” Gemma asked as the waitress made her way over to them.
“Yup.”
When the waitress stood over their table, Maria looked up at her, lowered her voice and asked, “Could you please get us some more honey mustard when you have time?” The waitress nodded and hurried away.
“Now who's chicken?” Gemma asked, laughing. “I knew you weren't going to do it.”
Gemma loved it when she and her best friend got the chance to hang out together. Since Manny came into the picture, their outings had become less frequent. Spending time with Maria tonight made it a little easier to avoid thinking about Ethan.
“Hold on a sec,” Maria said. “My cell is going off.” She pulled the phone from her purse. “Hello?” By the way her face immediately lit up, Gemma knew it was Manny.
“Can't you two ever get enough of one another?” Gemma joked. She took a bite of her chicken finger, watching her friend squeal and giggle with delight. Maria had exactly what Gemma was looking forâa guy who really understood her, someone she looked forward to seeing, to talking to, to just spending time with, whether it was a real date or just hanging out watching bad television.
Maria held up her finger, indicating just one more minute, and made an apologetic face. Gemma didn't mind. She thought Maria's giggly response to Manny was cute.
“Uh-huh,” Maria said into her cell, now keeping her eyes on Gemma. “When did you find this out?”
There were a few more
ums
and
okays
until finally Maria told Manny bye and hung up. She grabbed her Diet Pepsi and took a huge gulp.
“See, now why can't I have that?” Gemma complained. “I'm not asking for the world. I just want a guy who makes me light up just because he callsâno matter how many times I've already spoken to him that day.”
“Yeah, I hear you,” Maria said, downing the soda as if she had just come in from the desert. “Manny is great.”
Gemma realized Maria was avoiding her gaze. What was going on?
When she finished the soda, Maria finally looked up. “So you're definitely over this whole Ethan thing?”
“Of course. He's gotta be some kind of player if he's trying to string me along while he's still got Angela going on.” Gemma snorted. “Why should I care about a guy like him?”
“You sure?”
“I'm positive.”
“Good for you,” Maria commented.
Gemma detected something odd in Maria's voice, but decided not to press. Maria would tell her if something was wrong when she was ready. She glanced around the restaurant for their waitress. She was dying for another Diet Pepsi. “Is it just me or has this place become even more packed in the last fifteen minutes?”
“So what's the final verdict on the beach party?” Maria asked. “Time is winding down.”
“Please don't remind me,” Gemma responded. “Can you believe there was actually a brief moment I thought maybe Ethan and I could go together. Now I'm back to square one.”
“You mean square none.”
Gemma threw a fry across the table. “Kick a girl when she's down why don't you.”
“I only kid you because I know you'll find a guy,” Maria said. “In fact, don't look now but there's one scoping you out now.”
Gemma craned her neck to get a glimpse of the guy Maria was pointing out. “The guy sitting by himself?”
“Yup. By the pillar.”
“He's cute,” Gemma said. “But I have shoes older than him.”
“What? Dude is not that young.”
As Gemma turned back around, an older lady sat down at the table with the guy. She handed him a textbookâfor sixth grade algebra.
“Yeah? Tell that to his momma,” Gemma said, stuffing another fry into her mouth. “She'll have me arrested for robbing the cradle.”
“He didn't look all that young,” Maria protested.
“Let's face it. I do not and will not have a date for the spring beach party,” Gemma said. “My mother will never let me live it down. Or worseâshe'll try to set me up with some dorky son of one of her crazy friends.” She smiled at Maria. “But be a pal and take plenty of pictures for me. At least then I'll have memories of the biggest school event that I never attended.”
Maria looked down and started fidgeting with her plate. “I guess now is not a good time to tell you then.”
“Tell me what?” Gemma asked cautiously.
“Manny heard that Ethan asked Angela to the spring beach party.”
Gemma's stomach flip-flopped. Apparently she must have been the only one feeling the chemistry that night at the bowling alley. Feigning indifference, Gemma shrugged. “That's his prerogative. He's nothing to me.”
If only she really felt that way.
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After the pig-out, Gemma decided she needed to get some late night practice in. So while Maria went to hunt Manny and his boys down, Gemma headed off to the Y. By the fifth brick, she realized her mind was not really on her game.
So Ethan had used her to get Angela back? Well, it worked. They could now live happily ever after. They deserve each other.
Gemma tried to channel her energy into her dunk. She had come close a few times but still fell short.
“You should push off more with your right foot,” a male voice said, behind her. “That will give you the leverage you need to get up to the net.”
Gemma looked toward the gymnasium door. Ethan was standing there with his gym bag slung over his shoulder.
“What are
you
doing here?” she asked, taking another shot. A brick.
How embarrassing!
“I called your house and your dad said you were either here or signing up for the NBA draft.”
Gemma wanted to laugh at her father's comment but didn't want Ethan to mistake her laughter to mean that everything was okay between them. It most definitely wasn't. She was still angry, especially after learning that he was taking Angela to the beach party.
“So do you plan on practicing all night or do you want to go out and maybe get something to eat?” he asked.
“Ate already.” She threw the ball. This time it went in.
Ethan crossed to her court, a confused expression on his handsome face. “Are you all right?”
All right? Was he kidding? Either he dumped her because she wouldn't give it up on their second date, or she had just been used so he could hook back up with his ex. No, she wasn't all right
.
She made one more shot and then turned to Ethan. “I'd like to stay and chat but I have things to do.”
“Okay,” Ethan said slowly, still studying her face. “But can I call you later?”
What was with this guy? Didn't he get the hint?
“I don't think that's such a good idea,” Gemma said. “Angela might not like that.” She turned and left the court, never once looking back.
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Early Saturday morning, after wolfing down breakfast and taking LeBron for a walk, Gemma met up with Maria at the mall. “Please explain to me why we're here again?” Gemma asked.
Maria grabbed Gemma's elbow. “I told you. Manny is taking me out for our anniversary and I want to look good. I need your help.”
“You have a million things in your closet that you've never worn,” Gemma complained.
“This, coming from the queen of shopping,” Maria said. “Your closet is so full of unworn stuff you could clothe a small country.”
“Whatever,” Gemma said. “Let's just get this over with.” Gemma realized she was being obnoxious. Even though she was happy for Maria and Manny, their happiness only shone a spotlight on the fact that not only did she not have a man, she had no prospects either.
The first store they ventured into, Maria searched through the racks but found nothing to her liking. Ditto for the next five stores, and by the sixth, Gemma thought she was going to collapse right there on the floor.
“I'm going to find a place to sit,” she told Maria, who was poring over jewelry choices. “I'll go wait for you in the shoe department.”
“Okay,” Maria said, slipping a bracelet onto her wrist.
Gemma was passing through the junior dresses department when she heard someone call out her name. She turned and saw Seth Cole, her lab partner, standing by the dressing rooms. And he had a purse in his hands!
“Hey, Seth,” Gemma said, eyeing the small black and silver Hermes bag in his hands. “Doing a little shopping today?”
Seth nodded, his cheeks coloring a bit. “Yeah. Forced to.”
Even Seth had a girlfriend, she realized. Gemma was probably the only loser in school who couldn't find a date for the beach party.
A red-haired girl emerged from the dressing room in a silky summer dress. “How does this look?” she asked Seth.
“Fine,” Seth said. “But so did the last five.”
The girl looked at Gemma and then at Seth. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Hi, I'm Jessica, the sister of the guy with no manners.”
“I'm Gemma.” Now she saw the resemblance. The red hair, the freckles.
“Whatever, Jessica,” Seth said. “Just hurry up so we can go.”
“What do you think of the dress?” Jessica asked Gemma.
“What's the occasion?” Gemma asked.
“The beach party. I'm going to be a freshman at J. Marshall next year, and so my friend Marina invited me,” she explained. “She figured it would give me a head start socially. You know, meeting some of the students.”
Gemma nodded. Did she have to be reminded of that stupid party? “That dress will be perfect. Just make sure to bring a sweater or something. It can get pretty chilly at night.”
“Thanks!” Jessica smiled. She punched Seth's shoulder. “You never would have even thought to warn me about that.”
Seth shrugged. “I'm a guy. Why would I?”
“So I'll see you there?” Jessica asked Gemma.
Gemma felt her face grow warm. “Uhm, well, I'm not so sure ...”
“Oh?” Jessica looked puzzled, then sympathetic. “Ohhhhh. Sorry. Well, I better get changed.”
Jessica disappeared into the dressing room.
“So, I guess this means you still don't have a date for the party?” Seth asked.
“You guess right,” Gemma admitted.
“I could take you, if you want,” Seth offered.
Did she hear correctly? Did Seth Cole just ask her to the spring beach party? Well, duh. After her never-ending complaining to him about guys, he was coming to her rescue.
“It would get your mom off your case,” he added. “I don't mind.”
This just got worse and worse. Seth was being really sweet, but she didn't want a pity date. She wanted a real date.
“Thanks, Seth but I'm a big girl. You don't have to look out for me.” Then she added, “But I do appreciate it.”