Enough for sympathy

"Liam ..." I clenched my jaw, hearing the weakness in my voice. "He, uh, heard us."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry - it was just a bit of fun, I didn't think -" Chrissie cut herself off after a moment and wrapped her arms around me. "I'm so sorry."

"It's ok," I said, hiding my eyes in her shoulder. When I came away, I noticed that her shirt was wet where my face had been. "Sorry, you're a bit wet."

"I'm always wet around you," she smirked.

Yeah, school was awkward. I had to avoid Liam and Nick, and I wasn't exactly in the mood to see Freddie either, but I managed to make it to lunch without anything happening. "Hey," Chrissie asked as we sat down at a table with our food. "Do you know that guy?" she nodded at something behind me.

"Who?" I asked.

"Frecks and specs, black hair," she said.

I looked around, and saw him: greasy, medium-length hair and a thin face. He looked up at me and saw me looking, and his face went the same shade as his freckles as he quickly looked back down at his lunch. I was pretty sure he was in the year below, since he was sitting next to someone I knew from drama, but I'd never spoken to him. "No, why?"

Chrissie kept one eye on him as she spoke. "I dunno - he was staring at you. Like, stalker-vibe staring."

I shrugged. At this point I didn't give two shits if some nerdy kid thought I was hot.

"Heya!"

I jumped slightly as Jasmine slid into the chair next to me.

"Jeez, chill," Chrissie said, laughing. "What's up with you?"

Jasmine gave us a conspiratorial grin. "I've got a date!"

I rolled my eyes. "Who'd you bully into asking you out this time?"

"Hey!" she laughed. "I don't 'bully' anyone into anything." I exchanged a look with Chrissie, who chuckled to herself. "Besides, he just came up to me - I didn't have to do anything. Except, of course, looking stunning," Jasmine smirked, flicking her hair extravagantly.

Chrissie burst out laughing, and I cracked a smile. "Come on then," Chrissie said. "Who is it?"

Tapping her nose, Jasmine winked. "He said he wanted to keep it a secret."

"Boring!" I said.

"Alright, fine," Jasmine held up her hands in mock surrender, but I could tell she was dying to say. "Ryan," she whispered.

I raised my eyebrows; I'd had a short run with Ryan the previous year, and it didn't end very well. We didn't go very far (only to second base), mainly because I caught him fucking some girl from the year below behind the gym. Jasmine knew all of this, of course, but ...

"Why are you-" I started.

"Hey, I know, I know," Jasmine said. "I think he might've changed, but I'll be careful, ok?"