Chapter 9

The rest of the week passes slowly. I eat lunch with all my friends; Violet, Brighton, Hudson, Elijah, and Pearson. Pearson and I do an excellent job of pretending one another don’t exist. I don’t understand why; it’s not like Pearson and I were dating. We were good friends. And now that I think about, I miss him. I miss his humor and the way he could always turn a situation into something funny. But now there’s a barrier between us, preventing any hope of a normal conversation.

            Violet notices it. I’m not surprised; I’ve always known that she was observant. One night when we’re about to fall asleep, she broaches the topic. “What’s going on with you and Pearson?”

            It’s a good thing the lights are off, or she would see my bright red face. “Nothing. Why?”

            “What do you mean, why? You haven’t said two words to each other this week.”

            I sigh, and the noise is muffled by my thick sheets. We have insulated bedrooms and warm blankets at Valley Academy, because of the cold temperatures outside. Even in my cotton pajamas, I’m shivering. “Brighton asked me on a date. And Pearson heard, and now everything’s weird. I don’t know.”

            “Brighton asked you on a date?” The lights are flung on, and Violet shoves her glasses onto her face. “When? What? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

            “Calm down.” I know I won’t be getting to bed soon, so I sit up and cross my legs over my chest. I tell Violet the whole story, leaving pauses for her various gasps and oh nos.

            “Holly, you don’t understand.” She tells me, once I’ve finished. “Pearson can get very jealous. It’s one of his less-charming features. Last year he dated this tenth-grader in Phillipson, and when she broke up with him? Oh, no. Pearson was plotting revenge fantasies for months.”

            I laugh. “Pearson dated a tenth-grader?”

            Violet nods. “It was bad, one big mess. Trust me; you’re lucky you weren’t here for it.”

            My smile fades. “But Pearson and I weren’t dating! I can like Brighton if I want to. Why would he be jealous of that?”

            Violet shakes her head again. “You don’t understand. Pearson does like you. Isn't it obvious? The way he makes fun of you, always picks you up after class, talks to you nonstop in the common room…” She’s ticking off all the reasons on her fingers, and I feel oblivious that I never caught onto this before.

            “Brighton’s nice,” she says. “Of course he’s nice; he’s great, and I’m happy that you’re together. But you better watch out, Holly, because Pearson is going to be out to get you.”

***

On Saturday morning, I wake up with a jolt. Today is the day of my first date. The thought follows me until twelve o’clock, when we have to board the buses to head into town.

            Violet helps me pick out an outfit. She’s surprisingly fashionable; probably because she reads whatever she can get her hands on. Some of the books in her room are about Victorian fashion; others about modern-day style. We decide on my favorite navy corduroys and a thin white cardigan. I have to wear my big black parka on top of everything, and it makes me feel like a mini-Eskimo.

            “You look great,” Violet tells me, patting me on the shoulder before we take a seat. “Go woo Brighton off his feet. But don’t woo him too much, or else Pearson might kill you. Literally.”

            Her comment makes me feel nauseous.

            The ride into town takes about ten minutes. I admire the scenery; it’s the first time I’ve been off campus since Creepy Driver dropped me off. That seems like a lifetime ago. The sky is clear and blue, the trees are covered in white, glistening snow; and the mountains are capped with a thin blanket and an icy peak. It’s hard to believe there’s a world outside Valley Academy.

            “Alright, everyone, listen up!” Of course Mrs. Reid is the teacher chaperoning my bus. She’s as rigid and intimidating as ever, with her tight grey bun and equally tight grey features. She has enough wrinkles to look like a walnut. “You have exactly four hours before you need to be in your seats again. Don’t do anything stupid. Remember, you’re representing Valley Academy. So behave!”

            She barks out those last two words, and suddenly everyone is swarming towards the exit of the bus. I try and fight against the crowd, using my height as an advantage to climb under people. The crispness of the wind surprises me when I step outside, and I’m tightening my parka when Pearson calls my name.

            Pearson. Of course he picks now to start talking to me again. He’s wearing an adorable red wool hat, with a big pom-pom on the top, and a brown ski jacket with a pair of dark denim jeans. “Holly!” he says. “I was looking for you.”

            “Uh. Hi.” I scan the crowd, hopefully looking subtle, for Brighton, but he’s nowhere to be found.

            “What are you doing today?” He’s smiling so sweetly, I wonder if he’s forgotten about Brighton and my plans. Or maybe he didn’t hear. Or maybe…

            “Um, I’m going out for dinner. With Brighton.”

            That’s when Brighton materializes by my side, and I let out a sigh of relief. “Pearson,” he says, his voice coming out like a warning.

            Pearson scowls at him. “Brighton. I can talk like that too, you know.”

            “I already told you what Holly and I were doing. Go hang out with someone else.”

            Now Pearson is mad. He crosses his arms over his chest and says, “You know what, Bright? You’re right. I should just go away. I might build the world’s largest snowman, I might get a haircut, I might drink some garbage juice…because all of those things would be exponentially cooler than hanging out with you.”

            Pearson storms off. “You’re being really immature!” Brighton calls after him, but it’s no use. Pearson’s slender figure has already disappeared in the crowd.

            “Sorry about him,” Brighton tells me. “He’s just…in a mood. Do you want to go?”

            “Sure,” I say, and before I know what’s happening, Brighton takes my hand.

            It feels strange at first, but then I get used to his palm against mine and our intertwined fingers. Brighton knows his way around the town better than I do, and we end up at an old-fashioned French diner. “This place is great,” he tells me, and I just nod. I’m trying to focus on keeping all my hand-sweat from getting on Brighton’s palm.

            We take a seat at the front, and the waiter hands us two menus. “What’s going on with Pearson?” I ask, because my curiosity, as usual, gets the better of me. I order a ham-and-cheese croissant and a French vanilla, and Brighton, after much deliberation, gets the exact same thing.

            Brighton sighs. “I don’t even know. He’s been mad at me ever since I told him we were going on a date. And he won’t tell me why.”

            I take a sip of my French vanilla. The hot, creamy sauce tastes delicious in my mouth. I want to ask if what Violet said was true, that Pearson likes me. But it seems too crazy. Pearson’s popular, and everyone knows and loves him. Why would he like the new girl, who looks like she should be in third grade? It doesn’t make sense. Violet must have missed the marker on this one.

            I decide to change the subject, and conversation flows easily between us. Brighton is a good friend. But do I want more than that? Do I want to go on dates with him? Be boyfriend and girlfriend, an item, the couple?

            The waiter hands us the bill, and before I can dig out some change Brighton has already paid. He takes my hand again, and I’m too distracted to give the gesture much attention.

            We see a movie, some black-and-white film from the seventies that’s entirely in French. We walk around the town, making small-talk about Madeleine and school. We wind up in front of the bus, half an hour early, and Brighton stops right in front of me.

            “Uh,” he says. Uh seems to be Brighton’s new catch phrase.

            He leans in towards me. Oh, god, I think. I know what’s coming in next. He comes a little closer, a little closer, and then…wham!

            “Ow!” We both clutch our noses simultaneously. It’s like there are fireworks in my nostrils. But I think I got off better than Brighton did, because- oh, no- he’s bleeding, gushing blood all over the snow, oh my god oh my god oh my god-

            Suddenly Pearson is standing next to us, holding a wad of paper towels to Brighton’s face and making reassuring noises. Its okay, Brighton. C’mon, suck it up, Holly’s standing right here.

            “What did you see?” I hiss.

            “Everything,” Pearson tells me. His voice is smug, and when Brighton’s nosebleed ceases, he steps back quickly. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone. It looks like there’s some business that needs to be taken care of.”

            Brighton gives him a weary look as Pearson speed walks away. “Sorry about that,” Brighton tells me. He sounds embarrassed.

            “It’s okay. It was both of our faults.”
            “Mainly mine.” Brighton takes a deep breath. “So, uh, do you want to try that again?”
            “Sure.” The mood is killed- violent nosebleeds tend to do that to people- but I feel bad. Plus, this is my first kiss. I’ve been waiting for it ever since I started reading Judy Blume novels in fourth grade.

            Brighton leans in towards me. I lean in towards Brighton. And then we’re kissing, softly, and in about point five of a second it’s over. Done. Kaput.

            Brighton smiles at me, and I smile back. Today has been a lot of firsts- first dates, first kisses- but I can’t help but think it wasn’t with the right person. My mind keeps on going back to Pearson. 

Author's Note

This chapter introduces a lot of twists. Please tell me what you think! What do you all think of Brighton? Brighton vs Pearson? What would you like to see in future chapters?

As a side note, I'm going on a graduation trip until Thursday so I won't be able to update my writerscafe until then. See you all later this week, and I would love to hear what everyone thinks of this chapter!

Reviews

[BillyGirl]

I knew Pearson was the jealous type! Lol. This was a great read, best chapter so far. Brighton seems very sweet, like the dream boyfriend a parent would wish for their daughter to date instead of the bad boys. Well done ;)

Have fun on your graduation trip!

[T. Logan]

Two in one day! Yes! I can't really decide between Brighton and Pearson, so... I was never good at choosing. The nosebleed was a nice touch. It ruined the moment, which i liked. If this ever gets published, i want a copy.