Startled, I freeze, my thumb stuck between the hard paperboard cover of the book and the first page. “Sorry I— Uh…” but I can’t think of anything to say. I don’t’ think I’ve ever heard Cai shout at anyone before.

Cai attempts to yank the sketchbook out of my grasp. With the motion, he unintentionally pulls the cover open. Distinct graphite and ink marks catch my eye, and my grip tightens around the spiral binding of the sketchbook as I study one of the pages. It’s covered in sketches of small figures in action stances. I turn the page to find a number of renditions of similar characters.

“You drew these?” I ask, in awe.

He attempts to snatch the book out of my hands again, but I turn my body slightly to evade him. “Yeah, I mean, no, I mean can you just forget you saw those?”

I glance over at him, and he appears totally embarrassed. This is a new look for Cai. I shake my head and check out some of the other pages. “These are really good,” I say. “Why are you hiding them?”

“It’s just a hobby.” Cai sighs. “Don’t you have hobbies?”

I wish I did. “Not really.” I suppose my action figure collection could count as a hobby, but I get most of my figures as gifts from my relatives. Working every hour of the day doesn’t exactly give me a whole lot of free time. “I don’t have time for any real kind of hobby, nothing like this at least…. You, you could be a professional.”

Cai scoffs. “Okay, now I know you’re full of it. Is this payback for catching you at work? Or the spacesuit? You win.” He reaches for the sketchbook, and this time I allow him to take it. He tosses it in the backseat. “So where are we going?” he asks, changing the subject.

“Uh, actually I’m supposed to be at your mom’s office,” I say, somewhat embarrassed. “I guess me being late is becoming the norm.”

“You wanna know why my dad bought this car?” Cai asks, eyes lighting up.

Jolted by his sudden topic change, I say, “I don’t know, ’cause it’s totally awesome?”

Cai smirks deviously at me, any trace of embarrassment from a moment ago completely wiped from his face. “Because it goes from zero to sixty in four seconds flat.” His foot lays on the accelerator and we speed down the road.

***

My entire torso is plastered against the luxury leather seat as we pull into traffic. Cai had rolled the top down at a light, insisting it’s the only way to really experience the car. His shiny raven hair is rippling gracefully in the breeze. There must be some kind of uneven distribution of airflow because mine is whipping around in all directions. Cai looks like a celebrity; I’m sure I look like a poodle that just stuck his head out the window.

My thoughts travel to my car, left for dead in the school parking lot. I knead at the leather seat beneath me, and I can’t help but think about what different worlds we live in despite being from the same town, attending the same school. This car could probably pay for my college tuition.

After a few more slick maneuvers—some of which Cai looks to be having way too much fun doing, while I edge toward a panic attack—we arrive at WMC. My heart is still beating out of my chest when Cai pushes his sunglasses up over his hair and flashes me a smile. My heart murmurs. “How’d you like the ride?”

“I’ll be sure to rate you five stars,” I offer, but it sounds more awkward than I was aiming for. He chuckles. “Seriously, thanks, you saved me.”

“No problem, I kind of owed you. Sorry again for this morning,” he says. “If it makes you feel any better, I plan to torch that costume in my dad’s fire pit as soon as I get home.”

I snort. “Be sure to send me pictures.”

“Definitely.” He smiles, clearly happy to have been forgiven.

“Okay, but seriously don’t do that it’s a vintage costume,” my nerd cred rears its ugly head yet again, but it’s worth it because Cai’s smile widens.

“Hah, I knew you’d say that!”

“I’ll also tell your mom you said hello,” I offer. I start to get out of the car, but he grabs my arm in a vice-like grip.

His humorous expression has dropped, and he looks conflicted. “Wait—you have to promise not to mention anything about those sketches you saw to my mom, okay?”

I chuckle awkwardly. “Yeah, I’ll make sure not to mention the nudes,” I joke.

His face remains deadly serious. “She just, she thinks they’re a waste of time… She’s probably right.” He shakes his head and looks out the windshield. “So please, don’t say anything.”

I’m about to agree when a thought crosses my mind. Or rather, an opportunity. “Okay,” I say, calculatingly. “If I don’t say anything, then we’re even. I’ll keep your secret. I won’t tell your mom that you’re some kind of closeted Jack Kirby.” Cai looks at me and nods. “And you keep my secret. No one finds out about Blazer Tag. Got it?”

“Okay,” he agrees. “But you still have to be my partner for the rest of Spirit Week. I was kinda having fun.”

“Yeah,” I admit. “Me too.”

I hold out my hand to shake on it and his grips mine tightly. A sense of relief washes over me for the first time in days.

***

Since I arrived a few minutes early for the student council meeting, I decided to tackle my English Lit homework and study for the upcoming written exam. The sun is still low in the sky, and it filters in through the tinted windows on the north wall. Westview is actually pretty peaceful when nobody’s around. I sigh, and this time it’s not out of frustration.

“You can’t seem to take a break, can you?” Cai’s voice floats right beside my ear.

I let out what I am sure is a very unmanly, startled gasp, and turn to find him leaning against the desk next to me, arms crossed as he studies me. “I didn’t hear you come in,” I say weakly.

“Seriously, do you ever do anything besides study?”

“Aren’t we here to attend a council meeting?” I ask, closing my book between my palms and sitting straighter in my chair. Why does he always have to give me such a hard time about my study habits? Doesn’t he study? Probably not, I grumble internally. He probably gets straight A’s without even trying.

“But that’s not fun, and SC is a school sanctioned activity. Doesn’t count,” Cai says.

“Don’t you enjoy it?” I ask softly, a flame threatening to catch in my chest, irritation simmering.

“It’ll look good on my college apps—that’s what my mom says, anyways,” Cai says flippantly, shrugging.

“Do you even want to be president?” My voice doesn’t fail to carry my resentment as my irritation comes to a full-on boil.

“I don’t know. I guess.”

“Are you being serious?” I’m beyond playing it cool.

Cai looks at me in shock. “Why are you getting so upset?”

I slam my book down and stand, turning to him. “Cai, do you know why you became class president?” I ask. And then without waiting for him to answer, I say, “Let me fill you in. It’s not because you wanted it, clearly. It’s not because you’re even qualified. It’s because you’re the guy everyone votes for.” I take a step forward bravely, getting in his face. “Meanwhile, me, who is overqualified, who wanted the position, lands just enough votes to become vice freakin’ president to a guy who seemingly hates the job.”

“You’re pretty passionate about this,” he says in a calmer response than I’m sure I deserve.

He’s staring into me, just like when he was leaning against my car. I can only imagine the unhinged look my eyes must possess. His, however, hold something unfamiliar. I huff angrily, about to storm away when Cai snatches my hand. “You know, it’s one of the things I like about you,” he whispers huskily before grabs my face and presses his lips to mine.