Free Lessons of the Heart by Jodie Larson Page B

my parents are waiting for us.
    “You girls are positively stunning,” my mom says, clasping her hands in front of her.
    My dad holds up his camera. “Let’s take a picture by the fireplace before you go.”
    We both groan but comply, knowing that it’s just easier to give in. After several different shots and nearly going blind from the flash, we climb into Penny’s car and head towards the high school.
    “Aren’t you going to be cold standing out there during the football game?” I ask her.
    “Aren’t you?”
    “I have more dress on than you do,” I say. “Besides, there’s no way in hell that I’m standing out there the entire time. I’m only going out at halftime to be introduced and then I’m hightailing it back inside where it’s warm.”
    “And duh, what do you think I’ll be doing?” she says with a laugh.
    “Good point.”
    We walk into the warm comforts of the school, noticing how much the homecoming committee has decorated in the few hours we’ve been gone. Blue and white streamers crisscross above us with several balloons hanging from the endcaps of the lockers. We stash our purses and head to the gym to see if they need any help.

    “And now your Somerset High homecoming royalty,” the announcer screams through the speakers.
    The wind has picked up and I’m desperately trying to keep my dress from flying up Marilyn Monroe-style. I look back at the others around me, ten of us total, as they seem to have the same issue. Well, the guys don’t, obviously. The majority of them are on the football team so they’re in their sweaty, smelly uniforms.
    Unfortunately for me, I end up paired with Chase. I swear someone has it out for me. Either that or Chase bribed someone on the committee to make sure he escorted me onto the field.
    “You look beautiful, Britt,” he whispers in my ear.
    “Thanks.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want to-”
    “Chase?” I say, cutting him off.
    “Yeah?”
    “We’re getting ready to walk out there.”
    His face falls slightly but recovers right away. “Oh, right.”
    They announce our names and we walk on the red carpet to midfield. When we turn to face the crowd, I give them my best pageant wave. Elbow, elbow. Wrist, wrist. With a fake smile plastered on my face, I scan the crowd to look for the familiar faces among them. I find our small group of friends quickly. It’s not difficult when Justice is holding a sign with our names on it and whistling the loudest. I laugh and look around more to find my parents, who are sitting right beside Penny’s.
    But then my eyes find someone else. Someone whose smoldering stare is holding my gaze in place, making me unable to move or focus on anything else.
    James.
    He stands out plain as day to me, even though he’s with the rest of the faculty near the parent section. But he doesn’t blink as we look at each other. We haven’t had another incident like the one at Sammy’s again, and I’m thankful and sad about that. Part of me wants to run to him every time I see him in the halls or pass him in the teacher’s lounge. Another part of me wants to keep him at arm’s length because I know my treacherous body won’t be able to control its desires again.
    And even though we’ve kept it platonic it’s been hard ignoring my feelings toward him. The passing jokes in the hallways, the way he keeps his distance when I’m helping him with a problem on his computer, the stolen glances I take in class when he’s not looking. All of it just keeps me coming back to him. And the more we talk, the more we discover how much we really do have in common with each other. It’s so hard to find someone who loves to watch stupid comedies and really horrible movies from the 80s and 90s. Or will spend hours surfing YouTube because you need to watch one more music video. And he’s completely right when he says that there’s nothing better than listening to a thunderstorm and the relaxing cadence of the rain as it falls. It’s