Him by Carey Heywood (reading strategies book .txt) 📕

I try in vain to get back into the movie, but I can't. I'm almost hyper aware of Kyle's arm around me, and unlike Will's touch, it just makes me feel weird. Plus, his cologne or body spray is bugging me. I'm thrilled once the end credits start rolling.

Kyle reaches for my hand once we are out of our row. I pretend I have to go to the bathroom to get away. Jessica follows me. Great. At least the bathroom is full, so she won't be able to tell that I don’t actually have to go. I stand in a stall for a bit before flushing and meeting her at the sinks.

"I think Kyle likes you." She smiles at me.

"Really?" I know he put his arm around me, but he doesn’t even know me.

"Yep, and I've heard he's a really good kisser."

My mouth drops. I can't explain it, but even though Kyle seems nice enough, I know in that moment that I have zero interest in kissing him. She must think my expression means the idea excites me because she winks at me and saunters away. I look after her, taking in her perfect hair and clothes. Why do I waste my time pining after Will? I could never compete with her. I can't even imagine how prefect this other girl must be if he's thinking about dumping Jessica for her. I'd like nothing better than to go home and pull my blanket over my head.

Once I make my way over to where they are waiting, Will says the one thing that could make me feel better. "Ice cream?"

I don’t want to hold Kyle's hand, so I pretend to look for something in my purse as a way to keep them occupied while we walk to Will's car. We pile in, and Will drives to our favorite ice cream place. We have been going there forever and always get the same thing. It's a bit out of the way, and I'm surprised when Jessica says she's never been there. I look up and catch Will looking at me in the rearview mirror. I'm secretly happy he's never brought her here, until now. Kyle and Jessica check out the menu while Will orders and pays for my cone. I bump my hip into him. He is such a punk. I know he's only doing it to annoy Kyle. I chat with Jim, who works there, while he waits for Kyle and Jessica to make up their minds.

"You kids are graduating this year, right?" he asks.

I nod, finishing my bite.

"So where are you going to school?"

Will has just taken a bite, so I answer for the both of us. "I'm going to Georgia State, and Will's going to the University of Georgia."

"Why aren’t you going there too? I can't picture you two going different places."

Jessica's head whips towards Jim, and she walks over to Will, putting her arm around his waist and leaning into him. I have a sudden urge to vomit.

"Don’t worry. I'll be there to take care of Will."

I'm already broken up about Will going away to school without me. It is almost too much to think Jessica will be there with him. I'm not the best student, and my parents can't afford to send me away to college. By going to State, I can still live at home and pay for most of it myself from money I have saved up over the years and if I get a part-time job. Also, since I'm a Georgia resident, I qualify for the HOPE scholarship. I just need to save up money before I can think of living anywhere else. Besides, it's only for a couple years. I might have enough saved up by then to transfer to University of Georgia for my junior year. The campus is only an hour and a half away. I'm hoping I'll still get to see him on weekends and stuff.

Will pays for Jessica and Kyle's ice cream, and we all go outside to eat. Jim mouths sorry to me as I walk out the door. He has no idea. Will is done with his ice cream before anyone else and is quieter than normal, just leaning back in his chair and chewing on the side of his bottom lip. Part of me is judging both Jessica and Kyle for getting their ice cream in bowls. Will and I always get waffle cones. We are clearly the superior ice cream connoisseurs.

Once we are all done with our ice cream, we leave. Kyle asks if we want to hang out at his house, but I pretend like I have a headache. Will says that his mom needs him for something, and Jessica doesn’t want to go without Will. Kyle gets dropped off first, and for a brief moment, I wonder if he's going to try and kiss me but instead he gives me a limp hug. My arms stay at my sides as I make no move to hug him back. That doesn’t seem to bother him, though, and he asks if he can call me sometime. I freeze before stammering out my number. He waves bye to Jessica and Will as he walks up his driveway.

"I told you he likes you," Jessica says, looking back at me.

I shrug, kind of wishing I hadn’t given him my number, even more so when I get a text notification. I pull out my phone.

"Oh my gosh, is that from Kyle?" Jessica gushes.

After checking it, I nod. Jessica is grinning until the car stops, and she realizes we're at her house.

"Babe," she whines. "I thought you were going to drop me off last."

Will shrugs. "We were going right by your house."

"I thought you could come in for a minute." She puts her hand on his leg and pouts.

I start to wonder how my waffle cone will feel coming back up.

He pats her hand with one hand and starts hacking like he's about to lose a lung, covering his mouth