Under His Skin

CHAPTER THREE

Chapter 3

“Hey Nicky,” Pete said. “Still pining away, I see.” He walked over to where I was sitting.

“How’s it going, Petey?” I chuckle. “You ready for the test Monday?”

“You know it’s going to be brutal. Mr. Mitchell said it counts as half of our grade. I’ll be studying all weekend. I’m sure you’ll ace it, though.”

“I don’t think the test will be that bad.”

“Not that bad, says the math genius. Hey, you feel like coming over this weekend for some Nintendo action?”

“Yeah, sure, I’ll swing by and kick your ass in some Zelda.”

We both laughed and continued talking.

I wouldn’t say I was a genius, but I was really into math. I’d also found out recently that I really liked computers. My father had recently purchased one for his home office and he let me use it a few times to type up some papers for school. The speed of that thing amazed me. Soon after, I discovered computer games and was hooked.

Practice was almost over and I knew she would be heading back this way any moment. Petey and I were still talking when I saw her walk around the corner. She looked right at me and smiled. I thought I was going to die of happiness. She finally noticed me, I thought and smiled back. Then I thought that my eyes were deceiving me because she waved. I blinked really hard a few times and she was still smiling right at me. I blinked again and she was walking in my direction; I must have been dreaming. I lifted my arm to wave at her just as she reached me.

“Hi Addie,” I said. She didn’t break her stride as she walked right past me. She didn’t even notice me. I just watched her, pretending to listen to Petey.

“Hey Trish!” She said.

I turned and looked behind me to see Trish Maloney standing there.

“Hey Addie! Are we still on for tonight?”

“The party at Jeff’s? Hell yes, it’s the end of the year and I’m ready to celebrate.”

“Is Chad going too?”

“I don’t know. He said he and the guys from the lacrosse team were going to hang out for a bit and then they might show up. I hope he doesn’t.”

“Why, what’s up with you guys?”

“He’s been flirting with that b***h Shelby. He says it’s all her, but I think he’s a liar.”

“Well Todd told me she had been showing up at practices, but that Chad kinda blew her off.”

“Lisa told me there was blowing going on, but it wasn’t him blowing her off.”

“Seriously? Did you ask him about it?”

“All he said was that she flirts with him but he’s not interested. ‘Baby, you are the hottest girl in school, why would I want anyone else’?”

“Addie he’d be crazy to cheat on you.”

“I don’t even want to think about. I just want to party tonight! I’ll swing by and pick you up about 8.”

“Okay, see you then.”

I continued to watch her walk down the hall toward her locker. I watched until she was out of sight.

“Does that sound cool Nicky?”

“Huh? What?”

“I should have known if Princess Addie was in sight you wouldn’t hear a word I said. I said do you wanna come by for pizza tonight?”

“Petey, it’s our senior year and we only have a few weeks of school left, let’s do something different.”

“What’s that?”

“Let’s go to the party!”

“You mean the one at Jeff’s house?”

People had been talking about this party for weeks. Jeff’s parties had been legendary. A tradition passed down from his older brother Billy. Every year they threw an end of the year bash that people talked about until the next year.

“Yeah, why not?”

“Are you trying to get us gutted and stuffed man?”

“Seriously Petey we’re seniors and from what I hear there are so many people at those parties they’d never notice us. Come on Petey let’s live a little.”

“Aw man, I don’t know.”

“I’m going either way so you might as well come with me.”

If it meant there was a chance to see Addie McDaniels, I would fly to the moon and back.

“Yeah, okay fine! What time do you want to meet?”

“I’ll be by at 8:30.”