Moonglass

that let her know I’d been there too.
    That I was back there, in a way. But I didn’t. Instead I cleared my mind of everything except the rhythm of our feet in the dirt, my breaths, and the quiet understanding I felt growing between us as we matched strides.

CHAPTER 15
    Friday came more quickly than I’d expected. I’d spent the week waking up looking forward to first period, where Tyler and I snuck friendly banter back and forth when Mr. Strickland wasn’t looking. My lunches were spent listening to Ashley and the two girls she’d befriended in dance class chatter about everyone in school, from who they were dating to who they were wearing. I got myself transferred to a different English class so I wouldn’t have to face Joy again. And Jillian and I had just taken first and second in the opening meet, helping earn a win for our team. And now it was Friday.
    We walked out to the parking lot, still in our uniforms, and she stopped when we got to her car. “Wanna go to the party at Celine’s tonight? It’s tradition after the first race …” She threw her bag into the trunk. I was about to take her up on the offer, but we both turned at the voice that came from across the lot.
    “Hey! Louanna!”
    Jillian raised an eyebrow. “Or maybe you have other plans?”
    I tried to tone down the immediate giddiness that spread out from my stomach. “No. Not yet…. Maybe?” I could always hope.
    “Let’s leave it open, then.” She got into her car. “Call me if you decide you want to come, and I’ll pick you up.” Before I had a chance to answer, she winked, shut the door, and was backing out.
    Tyler jogged up behind me. “Hey, I was trying to call you.” I could hear the grin in his voice and I paused before turning, mostly to compose myself.
    “Funny. I could have sworn you heard me tell Mr. Strickland that I go by ‘Anna.’”
    “I heard you and Jillian killed it in your race today. Anna. Nicely done.” He smiled his golden-boy smile at me, and that, in combination with his hair all wet and sticking up in every direction, was enough to make me—well, I didn’t even know.
    He smelled like chlorine, but I liked it on him. “Did you guys have a game today?” I grinned inwardly at a brief flash in my mind of him in a Speedo and the funny little water polo cap.
    “No. First one’s next week.”
    “Oh.” For lack of a better response, I took a step toward my car.
    Tyler went with me. “So, I didn’t ever get to ask you—how was your dad about the whole party thing? I figure I don’t have a job next summer, after that.” I kicked a rock across a few empty parking spaces. “He was pretty pissed, but I think he’ll let it go. He’s done a few things that he owes me an apology for, so I’m gonna say we’re even.”
    “What, like naming you Louanna?”
    I gave him a look. “That was my mom’s fault, actually. It was after her grandmother or something like that.”
    “If it makes you feel any better, my real first name is Frank. Tyler is my middle name. But same thing. I’m named after the grandpa I never met.” I stopped at the back of my bus. “This is me.”
    “Yeah?” He eyed the surf racks on top of the bus.
    “Yep.” I opened the back window and threw my backpack in, then turned back to him and tried to think of something else to say.
    “The classic surf mobile.” He smiled wide. “It suits you.”
    I smiled back. I had always loved the bus. “Yeah, we’ve been a lot of places in that thing. I’m not sure that it fits in here, though.” I looked across the half-empty parking lot that held a mix of BMWs, Mercedes, and Range Rovers.
    He waved his hand dismissively. “Cars like that are a waste. They’ve never been down a dirt road in Mexico that ended at the perfect surf spot.” He patted the back window. “This one, though … I bet it’s seen some pretty cool places.”
    We were quiet a moment, and I looked at the ground. “I should get going,” I managed, sounding as awkward as I felt. I didn’t mention the party. Just in case he was about to invite me somewhere. I pinched my running jersey between my two fingers. “Gotta get out of this thing.” Lovely. Remind him how gross and stinky you are right at this moment .
    Tyler didn’t seem to notice. “Yeah, I should get going too. My dad has some big business meeting late, and I promised my mom I’d go to dinner with her
    …” He trailed off, and we both stood, unmoving. I was about to break the long