I have my own house on Staten Island. It’s fine for now. Everything is brand new, including my state-of-the-art kitchen. It has three bedrooms, two of which are empty. I don’t normally have overnight guests. If P crashes here, he just sleeps on the sofa. Women, well… Megan was the only one to stay overnight, but she just slept with me. I need to erase that bitch out of my head.

The doorbell rings. This is kind of awkward. Normally I would take her out to dinner, but I want to get to know her in a different setting. In a restaurant, you tend to feel rushed; it’s loud and you can’t really get to know a person. I told her to dress very casually for the dinner. I just have on jeans, a Polo sweater, and my UGG man slippers. I lit some candles throughout the house. I hope she doesn’t think I’m trying to seduce her. Well…

I answer the door. Hailey looks so cute all bundled up. To say she gets more beautiful every time I see her is an understatement.

The temperatures are frigid, and we are expecting snow. This is New Yawk… it happens. We go on with our lives.

“You made it. Hurry up and get inside, it’s freezing out,” I say, ushering her into the house.

“I can’t believe how fast the temperatures dropped from yesterday,” she says, shivering. I just want to grab her and make her warm.

“It’s March. Such an unpredictable month. Let me take your coat.”

“Thank you,” she says, smiling. “Your house is really nice.”

“Thanks.” I place her coat on the hook behind the door. “I have some appetizers set out in the kitchen, and I chose a white wine for you.”

“Oooh, sounds good… Such a thoughtful host.”

Is she flirting with me? Interesting.

I pull out the chair for her and notice her tight jeans as she sits down. I wish I could make her mine right now, but that will have to wait.

I pour her a glass of wine as she reaches in to grab a mini quiche.

“This is all really nice of you,” she says, taking a bite.

“Don’t even mention it. I wanted to do something nice for you.”

Seeing her sitting at the table makes me think back to high school…

***

It was January 2005. The principle’s voice blared over the loud speaker. “Please be sure to pick up your raffle tickets in the cafeteria during your lunch periods.”

I was screwed, because I had lacrosse practice during my lunch that day. On the days I had practice, I usually bulked up on breakfast and then ate a healthy protein bar for lunch. My lunch period was during third, so I had to figure out a way to sneak down to the cafeteria during another period. It would probably have to be fifth; I had a really cool teacher during that period.

My fifth-period English class was with P. As I walked into the classroom, he was talking to some girl, Erica.

“Hey dude, what’s up?” I asked.

“Nothing much,” he replied.

“I need to go to the caf to get my raffle tickets. I’m gonna ask Mr. Thompkins if I can.”

“I’ll go, too, because I didn’t pick mine up either,” he said while flirting with Erica.

Mr. Thompkins was a cool teacher. He wanted to be liked and had a very laid-back attitude.

We were working on individual assignments while he sat behind his desk, so I decided to ask, “Mr. Thompkins, Parker and I need to go to the cafeteria to pick up our tickets. Is it okay?”

“Yeah, here’s the hall pass. Hurry back.”

Carrie had fifth-period lunch. It sucked that we had different lunch times that year. The only time we really got to see each other was after school if I didn’t have practice, in between classes, and on weekends when I didn’t have practice or games.

I spotted her at her normal lunch table with her usual cheerleading clique. I was debating whether or not to stop and see her. I needed to get back to English class.

“P, you want to stop and see the girls for a minute?”

“Laney is over there.” He scrunched his nose up in her direction.

“And…”

“You know how I feel about her.”

“Just don’t make eye contact with her,” I suggested.

“She’s a stalker.”

“She is not.”

“Whatever.”

Carrie hadn’t spotted me yet. As I was walking toward her table, I saw her making fun of Hailey, who was sitting by herself. I heard Carrie say out loud, “Why do you even come to the cafeteria to sit by yourself. Oh I know, so you can eat all the food they serve.” She laughed out loud and all of her followers laughed along with her. I could tell Hailey was embarrassed but was holding it in. I couldn’t understand why Carrie was so obsessed with making fun of Hailey. I’m sure she had a complex due to the teasing.

I walked up to the table. All the girls said in unison, “Hi Chase.”

Carrie gave them a dirty look. She got up and gave me a hug. “Hi, baby,” she squealed.

“Hi,” I replied. “Come here a minute.” I pulled her to the side. I know P heard her, too—we both looked at each other when we heard her tormenting Hailey.

“Were you making fun of Hailey again?” I asked.

“Seriously? You’re questioning me?”

“Yeah, we heard you when we walked up.”

“Why are you always defending her?” Carrie snapped.

“Because it’s not right.”

“Do you want her or something?”

“Come on, Car. You think I want everyone and they want me.”

“Well, you’re always sticking up for her.”

I looked over at Hailey sitting at the table, picking at her lunch. She was probably nervous about eating in front of the popular girls. Our eyes met. We’d had some sort of unspoken friendship since I ran out after her during gym class when Carrie was tormenting her a few months ago.

“Can you just leave her alone? What you do reflects on me, because you’re my girlfriend.”

“Whatever, Chase. I’ll do what I want,” she said with attitude.

“Fine, don’t come over after school today,” I said, knowing that would piss her off.

“You’re breaking up with me over her?”

“No. I just don’t like your attitude today.”

“Come on, baby, don’t be mad.”

“I’ll see you later,” I said.

“No, don’t go,” she whined.

“I have class. Mr. Thompkins is going to have an army out looking for me.”

“I don’t want the other girls seeing us fight. Make it like we’re happy. Kiss me goodbye.”

“You have issues.” I kissed her cheek.

“I love you,” she said, smiling.

“I love you, too,” I replied out of habit, but I truly did love Carrie. She was my first love. We had been together for so long that we’d started to get on each other’s nerves. Carrie kissed my cheek back. Hailey looked over at us.

“Why don’t you invite Hailey to the party Friday night?”

“Does the coach have you on drugs?”

“You can be a nice person. I know the real you.”

“Chase, it’s never going to happen.”

“Well then, I’ll do it.”

“Don’t you dare. I’ll be the laughing stock of the school.”

I ignored her and walked over to Hailey’s table. She had a book in her hand. “That’s a pretty good book you’re reading,” I said, trying to get her attention.

“You’ve read it?”

“Yes. Listen, do you want to go to a party with all of us on Friday night?”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched the interaction between me and Hailey. They were waiting for her answer. Her facial expression changed. She was angry and she stood up. “If you think it’s a joke, it’s not funny. You’re just like the rest of them. I wouldn’t go to a party with you or your friends for a million dollars.” She picked up her book and backpack and then stormed away.