Free Falling by Design by Valia Lind

signed up." He whoops, sweeping me into a quick hug. When Chance gets excited, he get’s excited. He spins me around a bit, making a big scene, but not that many students stuck around after my conversation with Mr. Blooms didn't provide much gossip material. But Chance doesn't care. His excitement is not for show, but because he's genuinely that kind of a person. He puts me down on the floor, tucking my hand in the crook of his arm as we head to lunch.
    "Can you believe it, Cosmopolitan? It’s the last time we’ll be signing up for something like this while we’re still in high school."
    "What are we talking about?" Dakota asks, materializing out of thin air the way she does. She looks daggers in Chance's direction, then focuses back on me.
    "Volunteering. Mr. B had me sign up for animal shelter with Chance."
    "Of course he did. Not like he had to twist your arm right? Not with those gorgeous baby blues." Dakota nudges me a bit with her elbow as we enter the cafeteria. 
    "What is this I hear?" Chance asks as we pick up our food and settle at a table, "You have a crush on Mr. B?"
    "Who doesn't?" Dakota replies and I have to hide the smile blossoming on my face at Chance's expression. His face is all scrunched up and he throws me a look of desperation. I can read the panic in his eyes. His mind is going over how he’s supposed to compete with a teacher for Dakota's attention. I try to give him my best encouraging smile and he shrugs a bit, before turning to Dakota and announcing, 
    "I don't."
    The amusement is displayed clearly on my face because I receive a mean look from Dakota. She turns a little, blocking Chance out of our conversation. She's done talking to him. He made it all of five minutes with her. Sadly, that's a new record.
    These two have been at each other throats for years. While Grayson and I battled our differences in a full out swords and lasers way, Chance and Dakota actually seem like friends. No matter what one says or does, they always come back to each other. Not that either one would actually admit that out loud, not even Chance. It took me way too long to get any confession out of him, and even then, I cheated. I made him tell me how he felt about Dakota when he was half passed out on my couch during a movie. I found out a few years back that when he’s half asleep, he tells secrets. It's almost like he talks in his sleep, but he's not quite as asleep as he could be. We read up on it afterwards. Needless to say, he wasn't happy with me when he realized I knew his deepest and darkest. However, he appreciated the support when it came to Dakota.
    "I just don't see what all the fuss is about." Chance states after taking a long drink of his lemonade. "The guy is not that impressive."
    "Only a boy would say that," I point my fry at him, before popping it in my mouth.
    "Don't tell me, Brooklynn, his fashion sense makes all your creative parts tingle?"
    "Who's tingling?" And of course, Grayson makes himself present the moment Chance opens his big mouth to embarrass me. It's like the new law of the universe or something. I shoot Chance a look to keep his trap shut, but he ignores me. As usual.
    "Brooklynn. She's got a thing for Mr. B and all his fashion brilliance." I kick Chance under the table, making him jump. I'm going to have to strangle him, no other choice left. I don't know what transpired between Chance and Grayson that day at the diner, but Chance has been giving me weird looks every time Grayson is around. I make a mental note to drag Chance to the side and have a few choice words with him later.
    "Mr. B, huh?" Grayson ask, settling down beside me on the bench. His proximity does something to my insides and I fight the urge to scoot away. I don't exactly have anywhere to go besides falling off the seat. I think Grayson knows this, because he shifts just a bit closer to me.  My cheeks, pink with embarrassment a moment ago, heat up again under his pointed gaze. I steal a look at Dakota and Chance