Free (in)visible by Talie D. Hawkins Page A

“Can I get in my locker?” He moved to the side just a fraction.
    “So, you and Jake are kind of official now?”
    I took a frustrated breath and turned to face him. “Seriously? Yeah, I guess we are. Does that bother you?”
    “Kinda.”
    I slammed my locker shut. “Logan, I have no clue of why you even care, but if you have something to say, just say it already. I don’t take well to passive- aggressive behavior.”
    “You think I’m being passive-aggressive?” He rolled his eyes at me as he asked it.
    “Whatever. I don’t have time for this,” I said, leaving him and his weird mood behind.
     
    Blaine watched me like a hawk in my next class. Every time I looked up I caught her eyeing me. I quietly moved to the empty seat next to her and leaned over to whisper. “Something you want?” She looked a little surprised at my confrontation.
    “What did you do to Logan?” she asked in an angry whisper.
    “I didn’t do anything to him,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “You two clearly have a few things to work out and you need to leave me out of it. I have nothing to do with whatever is going on with you guys.” I was politely shushed by the teacher and reminded that I was in class. I had said what I needed to say so I turned my focus back on my work.
    Logan didn’t really acknowledge my existence for the rest of the day, but Blaine managed to shoot me as many dirty looks as possible. I had no idea there could be so many varieties.
    Jake joined me for lunch under my tree where we both froze, but no one bothered us. We forced ourselves to concentrate in English class, but it was hard not to glance at him from time to time, and he was usually glancing back which made both of us grin like idiots.
    The whole week was much of the same, and I was actually looking forward to my weekend so we could spend time together, but he made sure to visit me at work, and Mark and Betsy loved grilling him while he was there. Betsy’s approval of Jake meant a lot to me. She encouraged me to take long breaks during my short shifts so Jake and I could hang out together and I thought about the day I would get a real boss, and not know what to do with that.
    I was antsy when Friday rolled around. Just one more day and we’d spend all of Saturday together. We had decided in the middle of the week that we’d do usual couple stuff. Neither of us had ever done anything like that. We planned on dinner and a movie, but he warned me that he’d probably show up at my house right after he woke up. I told him I’d probably be wide awake and waiting.
    As I searched in my closet for what to wear, I thought about how I had never paid attention to my clothes before- but I had never really had a reason to care. I made a mental note that I would have to do some serious shopping soon. I grabbed a black and white striped tee shirt and some faded skinny jeans and got myself dressed. It was still freezing out, so there was no point in trying to make my hair cute. It would be hidden under my slouchy beanie. I gave myself two braids, pulled on my red converse, and then I was on my way.
    Jake had been driving me most days, but today I told him I’d meet him at school. Mark and Betsy needed me at the shop right after, and I didn’t want him to feel like he had to drive me around everywhere.
    When I pulled into the school parking lot I spotted Logan near the entrance. I was pretty early so not many people were around yet. I looked around for another entrance, but I knew the main doors would be the only ones open this early. I tried not to make eye contact as I walked by, but it didn’t stop him from acknowledging me.
    “Eggy, why are you in such a rush?” He didn’t sound right and I knew exactly why.
    “Are you seriously drinking before school?”
    “Yep. Gotta do something to take the edge off.”
    “What edge? What’s so terrible that you have to do that?” I asked, pointing to a flask he wasn’t hiding very well.
    “I told you already.