Luna

08 | invitation

Rory looked even more dumbfounded.

Right. I'd missed telling her that it was Tyler Gates. Even though Tyler was in the eleventh grade, a year higher, Rory definitely knew who he was. Who wouldn't? Everybody in our school knew Tyler, our football team captain.

"Hi, Rory. It's a pleasure to meet you." Tyler smiled at her, and a blush appeared on Rory's cheeks. "I can steal your best friend after you two are done with the assignment, can't I?" he joked before returning his gaze to me.

I sit up on my bed, my chest heaving up and down, sweat dampening my body. My hand is shaking when I grip the front part of my sleep shirt.

Why did I dream of it? Why did I dream of the moment when I introduced them for the first time?

It only reminds me of how stupid I was. I should have realized it. I should have noticed the way Rory looked at him.

My lips tremble as I realize my mistake over and over again, tears beginning to blur my vision.

I'm such an idiot.

Another day passes. Another lunch break arrives.

Fucking finally. I've never appreciated a lunch break this much, because the longer I sit inside this classroom, the longer I will stare at Luna Klein's damn hair.

That fact irritates me because even though she's an arrogant brat, I can't help but think of how fluffy her hair looks from the back and whether it would feel good to wrap it around my finger.

My finger, not my fist, you kinky brain.

The fact that I can sometimes smell the scent of her shampoo from here doesn't help.

Last night, I was debating with myself whether to call her or not to discuss our English assignment. I cursed when I received her email, in which she attached the final draft of our assignment. The report was quite long, with enough crucial points we'd discussed before, supported by pictures as evidence, and including the conclusion part.

How could I criticize such work?

I have some feedbacks -- I really do -- but...come on. She has worked her ass off to write those pages, and if I'm still not satisfied with that, she might cry herself to sleep.

I can't do that to a kid.

As I stand up, preparing to leave for lunch, one girl from our class approaches me. She flips her long straight brunette hair over her shoulder, her hips swaying as she walks toward me.

I don't remember her name.

"Hi, Max." She smiles, her dark eyes roaming my features. I can tell when a girl is checking me out, and she's doing it now. "I have a birthday party this weekend. Will you come?"

She hands me an invitation card, but as I take it, all I can think about is why she would distribute a physical invitation card for a party. The digital one is much simpler and easier to share on social media.

However, that depends on the exclusivity of the event.

The card isn't bad -- it has all the necessary information about the party, including the venue, time, theme and dress code.

My eyes zoom in on the name of the birthday girl on the card. Rory.

It doesn't hurt to come and make friends -- I'm still new here. Besides, I don't have any agenda for this weekend.

Wait, I've planned to take Mom to the new sushi restaurant in the neighborhood, but I can do it the next day.

"So, are you coming?" Rory asks, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear as she stares at me under her eyelashes.

I smirk, watching as her cheeks turn slightly pink. "Who else is invited?"

Rory smiles again. "I invite the whole class. Other than that, some of my close friends, of course."

The whole class?

My eyes follow Luna, who just left her desk, heading toward the door.

Including her?

"Hey, Luna," I call. I don't know what has gotten into my mind, but my curiosity just kicked in. Will she be at the party too?

Luna stops as she hears me, and I notice that her shoulders tense, her back facing me.

"Are you coming to Rory's birthday party?" I ask.

Slowly, Luna turns around. It's painfully slow, so slow that it doesn't make sense. When she finally faces us, Rory scoffs, and I catch a glimpse of hurt in Luna's eyes.

"I..." Luna falters. "I don't think that I will be there, Max." With that said, Luna continues walking off, making me frown.

I wanted to know whether she still socializes or not, but now, I regret asking her that question, because instead of getting an answer, more questions pop up in my head.

Is she not coming because she doesn't want to? Or is it because she's never invited?

"Max?" Rory's voice echoes in my ears, reminding me that I haven't given her my answer.

But my eyes are still glued to the opened door of our classroom, where Luna has just disappeared.