Super Awkward (25 page)

Despite
the worry of the looming Zac encounter, the morning went better than expected. First I had my second MIAGTM sighting of the week, then prom hope took a step forward as Rachel got extra Lutas credit for helping out with his lunchtime art club, and Tegan got full marks in her German test. Partei, partei, partei (as Tegan put it). And I managed the biggest thing of all. Not doing anything disastrous. Although when Rachel whispered ‘hello, father-in-law' when Mr Lutas walked into assembly, I kicked her so hard she trod on a Year 7. Tegan said I'd laugh about it one day. But that could only be true if it was the same day I discovered Zac had been born via sperm donation.

Despite lots of whispers and giggles in my direction after Luke made it his life work to make sure everyone knew about my confession, I felt better that I didn't have to worry about him grilling Zac any more. Knowing that after all the drama I'd caused Zac, I'd actually managed to stop some for once, created some sort of positive-vibe superhero cape that helped bounce off all the sly comments from Lou and Luke's mates, who were all desperate to impress them by reminding me how tragic I was.

And
there were more good things too. Not worrying about what Luke would say to Zac freed up the worrying bit of my brain to concentrate on what
I
was going to say to him. I'd even ironed my uniform so I seemed a bit more together (well, got Jo to do it, as the only time I'd tried I ended up dropping the iron on the carpet and permanently melting half of one of Mum's slippers into it).

But despite trying to channel Tegan's strength, and Rach's optimism, by the time detention ticked around, I was a total wobbling blancmange of nerves. Rachel had to physically push me through the art room door. But the combination of stumbling over my feet, and stumbling over the sight of Zac, made me do a weird yelp, like a tiny dog that had trodden on a thistle. Everyone, including Zac, turned round. I panic-gestured at my shoe as if that's what had made the squeak. Mr Lutas gave me an entirely unconvinced and alarmingly sympathetic smile. It was very unnerving. Especially as above the alarming smile was an even more alarming nose – an exact replica of the nose I once thought was cute on Zac. And it had been staring me in the face, literally, on Mr Lutas this whole time. How had I never noticed?

Tegan headed straight to the far end of the room
where
Zac was helping lift her heavy sewing equipment down from the shelves. It was so hard to make my eyes do anything other than just stare at him, even if it was just his back. I couldn't believe Tegan was so calm standing next to such hotness, but as usual, she was focused on her job. Art is one of the few things she's not amazing at, so she'd played to her strengths and cut and stitched two massive fabric banners – one for the main school entrance, and one for the hall, each with the school name, the year and ‘Year 10 Prom' on. She'd stayed late yesterday and come in early today to work on them with the sewing machine she'd borrowed. With Zac's help she proudly unravelled one, and held it up for us to see, totally covering the two of them with her giant creation. Half of the letters were already in place and it looked so A-mazing that an impromptu cheer went up. I crossed my fingers Zac would stay helping her all lesson.

But my fingers clearly need to work on their mind control, as moments later Mr Lutas told Zac to come and lend a hand with my props. Zac didn't show any emotion as he headed over. I brain-shouted at every face muscle I had to behave and not move. Turns out there is nothing funny about making giant eyebrow props when you're having to do it in awkward silence. The giant love heart was even more tricky.

Mr
Lutas walked by and smiled approvingly at our work. But I had a feeling it was something else that had put him in this abnormally good mood. And I was right. He clapped his hands, asked us to stop what we were doing and head to the storeroom.

“I wanted to show you something that I think we can all be very prrroud of. Yes, it's a team effort, but someone here has really pulled out all the stops.”

Tegan raised an eyebrow – had Mr Lutas been
that
impressed with her early morning stint?

Mr Lutas opened the door to the storeroom. I couldn't help but gasp at what I saw. An amazing 3D wooden photo frame, almost as tall as the ceiling, with the school crest carved into it alongside the date of the prom. Next to it was a giant pile of signs, rough around the edges, but all taking shape. ARGH! Luke must have worked overnight to do all of this! This was the opposite of making a mess of it – he'd made a total tidy of it. How dare he!

Luke looked as pleased with himself as I felt un-pleased. Mr Lutas was positively beaming. He patted Luke on the back.

“Prrrretty impressive stuff, I think you'll agree?”

Zac nodded. But I struggled to be even fake-enthusiastic for Luke.
We
were meant to be getting the glory, not golden-frame, golden-boy douche-boy.

Mr
Lutas cleared his throat deliberately dramatically.

“So . . . I think it's to fair to say Luke's earned his place back at prrrom.”

Oh double great. Great threepled. Tripled. Whatever. Thanks, Mr Lutas, for playing rrright into his hands. If I knew a bit of after-school woodwork was all it took to win you back round, I could have bought that cheeseboard in that I made (well, Jo did, but I watched).

Eurgh
.

Luke hit peak smug-face.

I turned so I couldn't see it and tried to focus on the positive. We had proof prom
was
possible. And I could tell by Rachel and Tegan's faces they were thinking the same. All I could tell from Mikey's face was that he really needed to work on not looking lovingly at Tegan whenever she was in a room. Eager to crack on, everyone headed out. I turned to do the same, but the door swung shut.

Luke stepped into my way.

“Seeing as I'm off to prom, thought we'd better clear the air.”

I sighed. Not this again.

“C'mon, you have to stop slamming doors in my face. It's not a thing.”

But
a third voice spoke up.

“Guys, can we just get back to it?”

I span round. Zac was in here too?! I'd been so busy trying not to look at him, that I'd forgotten to look at him! Well done, eyes.

Luke smirked.

“Don't worry, it'll only take a sec. It was you, Zac, I was after really.”

Luke being ‘after' Zac was about as reassuring as being told a giant comet ‘might' not be about to hit the earth. I looked around desperately. Could I stick two paintbrushes in Zac's ears and block out whatever Luke was about to say!? Hadn't I already given him what he wanted?!

Luke held out his fist as if he wanted Zac to fist-bump it. Zac did not fist-bump it. He just looked annoyed.

“What is it, then?”

Luke scrunched his face as if it was hard for him to say, even though it was obvious he was loving every second.

“Just thought you should know that Bella – this is Bella,” he gestured at me, “I think you met her under a table – has spent the whole of this term banging on about an imaginary boy that she allegedly ‘had the best snog of her life with'. And, get this, she tried to make
out
it was YOU. She even told everyone you were going to be her prom date.” Luke laughed to himself. “How pathetic, huh? She can't even get herself to prom, let alone get a date to it?!!”

I wanted to purée myself and drain away down the sink. Why did Luke have to humiliate me like this?!

What must Zac think of me?!

I could see in the mirror propped against the wall that I'd gone redder than the paint bottle I was standing next to, which was labelled ‘100% Maximum Red'.

Zac looked disgusted. So much for me making it up to him at prom/ever.

“Is that all, Luke?” Zac sounded pissed off. Luke replied with a cheery ‘uh-huh', not able to hide how happy he was at making me squirm so hard. A prom ticket AND embarrassing me. He really was having the best day.

“I'll leave Bella to give you the full deets. Enjoy!”

Luke gave me a final wink and shut the door.

My heart was racing so fast that the glue-blob on my jumper that looked annoyingly like a nipple, was flapping up and down at an alarming rate. Deep breath, Bella. Focus on trying to explain yourself.

But my mouth wouldn't make words. And I couldn't
make
any noise other than small whimpers which wasn't going to resolve much.

Zac lent back against the counter and pushed himself up on to it. I looked awkwardly at my fingernails, but sadly they didn't have conversation starters written on them.

Zac broke the silence.

“So . . . I don't know if you've heard, but I started at that new college?”

HA WHATTING HA.

I put my hands over my face, and managed to say a distorted, “Yes, I am aware,” that due to the hand muffling sounded a bit like I said I was a bear.

Not a great start. Deep breath. Take your time.

“To be clear, I am NOT a bear. But I AM sorry. I can't believe what an idiot I've been.” I was so panicked everything was splurting out like a yoghurt when you open the lid weirdly. “And that artwork wasn't about you. It was about Zac. Efron? And I don't normally throw food. I mean, why throw it when you can eat it? And my name isn't Bellerina. Although I do think it's a nice gnome. Name! And I didn't tell everyone I snogged you. Or semi-snogged you actually. Well I kind of did, but that was before you were
here
. I swear I haven't said a word to anyone ever since you asked me not to.
Well
I've said words, obvs, but not ones about you. I promise! How's Keith the dog? And please tell me you don't like Lou.”

Zac said nothing.

I said nothing.

We said nothing.

Nothing was said.

What was he thinking?!

But then something unthinkable happened.

Zac smiled. And he put his hand on my arm. And it made me buzz on the inside just like old times.

He noticed me smile, and quickly took it back, remembering that wasn't what supervisors did.

“Seriously, Bella, have you been bottling up a week's worth of conversation or what?”

“Oh, that's only a
day's
worth. Really.” It was actually only an hour's worth. Nipple-blob-glue flapped a little slower. But why was Zac being so nice after what Luke just told him? Wasn't he raging about me putting his Italy trip in danger?

Zac carried on, unphased.

“I seeee. So, where should I begin? Keith's good. Missing me, I hope. But good. And I like the name Bellerina too. But I don't like Lou. Not in that way. She's terrifying.”

He
smiled, his fit, inappropriate-to-fancy smile. Which only made it even fitter. Wow. This was going so much better than I thought. But why?! I had to find out.

“But . . . but what about Luke?”

“What
about
Luke? Between me and you – I think he's a grade A idiot. I mean, he sounded like enough of one when you told me about him at Black Bay.”

Oh man. Why hadn't I had the foresight to predict Zac was going to turn up at my school and change the names of the people in my stories even though I'd only just met him?

“But what about what he just said?”

“Well, there's only one thing I can say really. . .”

I auto-paused myself, waiting to find out what.

“. . . and that's thank you. For having my back and making out it wasn't true.” What the what? “Don't look so freaked out?! Lou spent her entire morning shouting to anyone in earshot about the convo you had with Luke. It's hardly a surprise I got to hear about it.”

IN YOUR FACE, LUKE AND LOU, and your lame attempts at causing trouble. Turns out you both did me a favour.

If I wasn't in a confined space with Zac, I'd
totally
do
a victory dance right now. And then collapse with relief that he wasn't mad.

“Anyway, I know I said let's wait till prom to chat, but seeing as we're in a store cupboard, I guess now is as good a time as any for me to explain myself?”

I shook my head confused. As if
he
had any explaining to do?!

“So, my mum got temporarily relocated to Sweden with her work. Did I mention she was Swedish?”

He hadn't, but maybe that would explain why he was so hot. I mean, being Swedish sounded really hot, and I'd only ever met him from Sweden, and he was hot, so therefore they must all be really hot.

“Earth to Bella?” I snapped out of Sweden perving and instead made a mental note to visit there one day. Zac carried on.

“So, I needed to finish my A-levels somewhere, and had arranged to stay with a friend in Birmingham. But then Dad, sorry, Mr Lutas, got involved and at the last minute sorted this placement out instead, so I could stay with him.” Zac looked a bit awkward. “Funny thing is, I'd even checked out the names of the sixth formers here, hoping one of them might be you.”

He didn't need to say what he was thinking. ‘BUT
TURNS
OUT YOU HAVEN'T EVEN DONE YOUR GCSES, SO THAT WAS A WASTE OF TIME.'

I couldn't hold in a cringe wince. Zac saw, and shuffled alongside me, so we were now leaning side-by-side. He gave me a full body nudge.

“Oi, don't be like that. What's done is done. And . . . and, I need to come clean about something too. You know that Italy course?”

Oh, here comes the bollocking.

“As if I could forget? Helping your chances was the one thing that made telling Luke I was a compulsive liar the tiniest bit bearable?!”

Remember – I tried!

“Ah, yeah. . .” Zac looked more sheepish than an actual sheep. “Well . . . I've kind of already won the place on it. I found out the morning I started here.”

NOS. TRIL. FLARE.

HE WHAT??? He'd told me the exact opposite when he'd messaged me.