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A smirk finally returns to Samara’s face. “You make it sound like that’s so easy.”

I kick at her foot with my own. “It is. Most of the time, at least. Some people make it harder,” I tease.

“I’m sorry. I honestly can’t promise I’ll get any better, but I can try.”

“That’s all I ask. Just like Coach.”

Samara cackles now. “Yeah, right. Mr. We-Won-By-Twenty-But-I’m-Still-Going-To-Make-You-Run-Until-You-Puke.”

“Yeah, that sucked, right?”

“Royally.”

This launches us into a conversation about things we like and don’t like about Coach and eventually leads to an array of other topics. The time goes by quickly and before I know it, Samara is saying goodbye so I can meet up with Eli and Payton.

Much to my surprise, she wraps me in a tight hug. “I really am sorry,” she says when she pulls away. “It probably doesn’t seem like it at all, but I never meant to make you feel like anything less than amazing.”

Before I can respond, she walks away, and as I watch her leave, I can’t help but wonder what the hell that was all about.

I don’t have much time to think about it because my phone rings with a call from Payton.

“Hey! Are you guys here?” I ask when I pick up.

“Yeah. Well, I am. Eli bailed on us.”

I can’t be sure, but I’m almost positive she sounds annoyed about that. I’m not sure if that’s because she really wanted Eli here or because she didn’t want to be stuck alone with me. For some reason, the thought of it being the second one, makes me extremely sad.

“We can still have fun though, right?” I hope my voice doesn’t sound too desperate.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely. For sure. No doubt.”

“No doubt,” I tease. I can’t stop the smile that comes to my face. Has Payton always been this awkwardly cute? I realize I haven’t said anything in at least thirty seconds, so I clear my throat to make sure she knows I’m still here. “So, where should we meet?”

“By Santa Claus?”

“Sounds good. I’ll be right there.”

As I walk up to the area where Santa Claus is sitting, I see Payton already standing there. She’s wearing dark jeans and a bright green Griffin Hill hoodie. I can’t say I’m a fan of the hoodie, but I have to admit it looks really nice on her. I’ve always liked how she looks in her Fairfield Family Freeze polo, but she looks even better in jeans and a sweatshirt.

I don’t think she notices me so I shout her name and wave my hand in the air. When she looks over at me, a shy smile parts her lips. I walk over and awkwardly put my hands into my pockets because I’m not sure what to do. I always greet my close friends with a hug, but I’m not that close to Payton. Or am I? She knows something about me no one else does.

“So, hi,” I say as I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet. Why am I acting like this?

“Hello.” Payton waves her hand at me and looks just as awkward, which is oddly comforting.

“We’re being really weird, aren’t we?” I ask with a laugh.

Payton smiles, her face turning the slightest bit red. “Sorry. I don’t hang out with many people outside of school and work, so this is different for me.”

“You’re fine. It’s not only you. I'm just trying to figure out what’s wrong with me right now. I don’t normally get shy around pretty girls.” Shit. Way to make things even more weird, Marjorie.

“Oh. That’s really nice of you to say.” Now, her face turns even more red and I worry I made her uncomfortable.

“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not hitting on you or anything. I think… Ah, I think I’m just being weird because you know this one part of me that no one else knows. It’s just a strange feeling, if that makes any sense.”

Payton shakes her head. “Yeah. Of course. It makes perfect sense.”

I bite my bottom lip and chuckle. “Are you sure? Because your words and that head shake are saying two different things.”