I rushed home and back to school. Sweat poured down my back. Even showering and changing clothes hadn’t stopped the pounding in my chest or the sweat jumping from my pores like it was abandoning ship after an iceberg collision.

I sniffed my pits, hopped in my car and drove around to the auditorium doors on the other side of the school.

Knox: Overlook

Me: Not tonight

Knox: Where have you been going?

Me: None of your business

Knox: I tell you everything going on with me

Me: Against my will

Knox: You’re an asshole

Me: I know

There would be droves of people at the Overlook excited to stand on the empty quarry edge singing team fight songs, talking shit about the Bedlam Bowl, and drinking until midnight.

I parked a row back where there was only one other car parked. Nerves ping-ponged inside my chest. Winning a state championship had felt a lot less scary than standing out here.

Hers was the lone bike locked to the rack. I hadn’t missed her.

I leaned against my car with my hands shoved in my pockets, waiting. A wordless song hummed in my chest, washing away some of the jumpy feelings.

The side door flew open and she walked out with a couple other people. She waved to them and headed to the lone bike locked to the bike rack with a lone bike still locked up. Dressed all in black with her hair in two braids, she looked like a badass cat burglar.

I wouldn’t have minded waking up to her climbing in my window.

She unlocked her bike and strapped on her helmet. At someone’s honk, her head popped up and she waved. Her gaze skated across the emptying lot, sweeping over me and back to her bike.

The front wheel thunked as she pushed it out of the rack and she froze.

My smile widened.

Her spin was so fast, she whipped herself in the face with one of her braids.

My smile could’ve been seen from the space shuttle.

“What are you doing here?”

She dropped her bike and unclipped her helmet, dropping it to the ground and rushing over to me.

“This is a nice look.” I toyed with the end of her braid, holding it between two fingers.

Her breath came out in small pants. She stared at me like I’d shown up with a wreath of flowers.

Shit, I should’ve gotten flowers.

Her gaze sparkled with amazement and happiness, and I forgot all about the wilted grocery store flowers I’d thought about giving her.

The same feelings rumbled in my chest. No one was here. In an empty parking lot after winning the Combine to decide my fate, she made me feel like I’d never been luckier, all because she was happy to see me.

She swallowed and placed a hesitant hand on my chest. “How’d your football drill trip go?”

“You didn’t check the score?”

“Two of the stage crew dropped out at the last minute, which meant I had to run the board and move set pieces during the intermission. It’s been a busy night, but I guess the same goes for you, huh?”