Free Cross My Heart by Katie Klein

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    “Honestly , Jaden,” Ashley begins , “I don’t know how you drink water with pizza.”
    “Wa ter is good for you,” I remind her. “You don’t wanna know how many empty calories are in your soda.”
    “Good. Because it’s the weekend, and tonight I’m indulging.”
    “Girl, when are you not indulging?” Tony asks Ashley. She thro w s him a dirty look.
    “Jaden has attitu de about sodas,” Blake explains , to no one in particular.
    “Water is the better choice. And forgive me if I believe that artificially-colo red, fizzy drinks aren’t good for your body ,” I tell them , pulling the paper away from my straw and sticking it into my cup.
    “Bu t they’re good to my body ,” Tony says .
    I roll my eyes. “They can take ru st off a car battery. That can’t be a good thing. B esides, you’re supposed to be athletes.”
    “Th at’s just an urban legend,” says Blake.
    “What? That you guy s are athletes?” Ashley asks innocently .
    A chorus of “ooh’s” eru pt. I laugh, and high-five Ashley across the table.
    Blake sha k es his head. “You know, that doesn’t make me feel bad, because this is the best season we’ ve ever had. ”
    “That doesn’t m ake you any good,” Ashley teases .
    “ All right, you guys. Blake? Tony? You ’ re awesome. Headed straight for Regionals . Maybe even State, ” I sa y , dis rupting their little battle. “Anyway. You will be thrilled to know we’ve raised five hundred dollars with our raffle so far.”
    “Th at’s awesome, Jaden, ” Blake says . His knee knocks against mine beneath the table.
    “I know! I was think ing maybe we could set up at your last home basketball game. . . . You know. Get some of the parents involved.”
    “Are you sure you don’t have some outstanding arrang ement with Parker Whalen?” Tony asks .
    My cheeks fill with heat . Why did he even go there? I pinch my face, tr ying to act repulsed . “ No. ”
    “So , what’s he like?” Ashley ask s .
    “What?”
    “Parker . I mean, is he as strange in person as he seems from a distance? Because you know, I don’t th ink I’ve ever heard the boy speak , and we had like , two classes together last semester .”
    “I bet he stutters,” Savannah says .
    “No . . . I mean, he’s nice,” I stammer . “Minus the whole not wanting to be my partner thing. And he doesn’t stutter. ”
    “ Well, h e better not cause any problems,” Blake mutters , ha lf under his breath , as he reache s for his soda.
    My shoulders square , blood running cold . “What’s that supposed to mean?” I c hallenge .
    “You’re just working on this En glish project, right?”
    “Yes ,” I reply .
    “Good.”
    “I’m not following,” I say , after a moment of heavy quiet .
    “What I’m saying is if the boy tries anything st upid he’s mine,” Blake explains .
    I can’t quite put my finger on it—what’s wrong with h is smile. It’s not right : it’s harsh, and it makes my skin prickle.
    “Half the school would have your back, man,” says Tony .
    Blake snickers , running his finger around the edge of his glass, wiping away the condensation . “What are you talking about? I won’t need half the school. The gu y is a pansy. ”
    I glower between them , grappling for some kind of understanding . “Why would you need anyone to back you up? Parker h asn’t done anything,” I remind him.
    “It’s the reputation th at precedes him,” Tony clarifies .
    My h eart squeezes out an extra beat, temper sparking. I flash a scowl in his direction . “What do you kno w about his reputation?” I ask , voice escalating . “You don’t know anything about him.”
    Tony leans back in his seat , casual, collected , eyes trained on mine. “I know what I’ve heard, and that’s eno ugh for me to stay away .”
    My pulse quickens , fury coursing through my veins . “Unless what? You’re jumping him?”
    He shrugs . “Not a fight I’d want to miss.”
    “Well, it’s not like that,” I