149 / 150

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~~~ CHANCÉ~~~

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I’m still mad at him. But not the loud kind of mad. Not the kind where you slam doors or yell. The quiet, painful kind. The kind that sits heavy in my chest and refuses to leave.

I feel sad. I felt hurt when he said the word “As if” to his cousin, Ricky. I know what we do isn’t supposed to be out in the light, but he could have just stayed quiet instead of hurting my feelings like that.

Ricky is really cool. He looks just as bright as Cortney described him when she picked me up earlier. He’s cute, with dirty blonde hair, and his face is structured like that of methodical gods—just perfect. But I won’t lie: River has more than that. And as much as I’m trying so hard to ignore him, this invisible string keeps pulling me back to him.

I keep stealing glances at him while I talk to Ricky. Ricky is fun, and I don’t want to be delusional, but River looks angry. Perhaps really angry that I’m laughing with his cousin.

“Okay, guys,” Cortney says, clapping her hands together to get our attention.

We all turn to look at her.

“Chancé and I are off.” She glances at me, and I look at Ricky.

“It was nice meeting you. I’ll see you around,” I say.

“You’ll see me, alright.” There’s this bright smile on his face. Then he looks at River, who still has his brows furrowed and jaw clenched. “We should get going too, right? Remember, the team’s introduction.”

River doesn’t say anything. He just brushes past us and heads up the stairs. My eyes follow him, then Cortney takes my hand and we both walk out. 

I’m about to climb into her car when we hear, “Wait.” We both turn, and Ricky jogs over to us.

“I’m thinking…” His head turns to me. “I know we just met a few minutes ago.” He throws his head back, laughing like a little kid. “This is going to sound ridiculous, but why not just say it? What’s the worst that can happen, right?”

I stare at him with curiosity. 

He continues, “I can’t just miss the opportunity. It’s either now or never, and I love taking risks. What do you think about riding to school with me?”

My brow rises in surprise.

“I really want to get to know you, Chan.” My stomach flutters at the way he says it. This is the first time anyone has ever said that to me. And only River calls me that. That was our special thing. At least to me it was. “What better way to get to know this special human than starting right now? On our way to my new school? In my fast car?” He points, and my eyes follow, landing on a sleek red sports car.

I’m impressed. That’s a sick car.

I turn to look at Cortney, but she’s smiling with stars in her eyes—like she totally approves of this.

Then she nods. “Go on, Chan.” She’s teasing me. She steps closer, drapes an arm around my shoulder, and says, “I give you my blessing.”

I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how to feel.

“Go on,” she says again. “I’ll meet you at school.” She nudges me forward with a wink.

I think Cort is straight-up trying to set me up with her cousin. He must be one hell of a good guy.

I walk toward his car. Ricky is quick to open the passenger door for me, but I freeze halfway in when I hear River’s voice.

“She won’t be going with you.”

I don’t know when the smile slips onto my face, but I hide it fast before anyone notices. I step back out of the car as River strides over to us.

“And why not?” Cortney asks, defensive.

“How shameful of you to let your best friend ride off with a stranger. I thought you loved her.” 

“What the heck are you yapping about?” Cortney folds her arms. “Ricky is not a stranger. He’s our cousin.”

“Well, not to Chan.”

Something inside me flickers. He’s taking my side. And just like that, all the anger I was holding onto melts away.

“Why the heck do you even care?” Cortney shoots back. “She isn’t complaining.” She turns to me. “Are you complaining?”

I swallow hard when three pairs of eyes lock onto me.

River jumps in before my legs give out. “Ricky is coming with me. Chan can go with you.”

“And why am I coming with you?” Ricky asks.

“Because you’re new, dummy. You need guidance to find your way around school.”

“Chan can do that for me. Show me around.”

“Chan?” River lets out a short laugh. “And why are you calling her that?”

“You call her that.”

For a moment, I feel like I’m in one of those romantic movies I binge-watch. I feel like how Mave felt when she had guys audition for her in high school. She would call this a classic scene. But the painful part is that neither of them is actually in love with me like the guys in those films.

River inhales deeply, snatches the keys from Ricky’s hand, and heads to his car. He starts the engine, then leans out the window. “Coming?”

Ricky doesn’t really have a choice. He needs River more than he needs me right now. He's joining the hockey team too. When he told me earlier, I felt a pang of sadness for River. Ricky is new. He shines even on the brightest days; his aura just pulls people in. I wouldn’t be surprised if he quickly becomes the new favorite.

But where will that leave River? He likes the attention. If Ricky starts getting it too—attention from the hockey team, from everyone—how will River feel?

“Are you coming?”

Cortney’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

I watch as River drives off. Right before he turns the corner, our eyes meet. I can’t read what he’s feeling this time. Anger? But toward who? Ricky, or me for almost leaving with Ricky?

I slide into Cortney’s car. On the way to school, she keeps talking about Ricky. She says he’s a good guy and that she was dead serious when she gave her blessing. I brush it off. She shouldn’t plant those kinds of thoughts in my head.

She tells me what he likes, shares stories from their childhood adventures when he used to visit them as kids—also some of it from four years ago. So much happened before I even knew Cortney. And part of me wants to know more. 

She also talks about how cool his mom is, how she’d definitely love me, how she’s basically a goddess and a total fashion icon. I just nod through it all.

When she parks in the school lot, she turns to me. “Just think about it. Give Ricky a chance. I know he likes you—it’s obvious. You won’t regret it.”

“But I just met him, Cort. It’s been less than an hour.”

She checks her watch, then looks back at me. “Actually, it’s been more than an hour and ten minutes.”

“You know what I mean.” I climb out and shut the door.

She hurries around to my side. “Does it matter? Love can blossom any moment. And Ricky is a good guy. He’s playful, he’s—” She stops, then gently turns my face in his direction.

He’s already made new friends. He’s smiling. He has such a nice smile. He shines, even with that dirty blonde hair. 

“He’s going to be so popular too,” Cortney says, pulling me out of my daze. “And if you don’t take him, all these hungry girls will.”

I shake my head to clear her words from my mind. My eyes catch River as he walks through a different entrance. His back looks… sad.

Then I finally notice the atmosphere around us as we head toward the main doors.

“I think people are staring at you, Cort.” Their laughter grows louder, more obvious.

Cortney glances around. She feels it too. Then she looks at me. “I think they’re staring at you, Chancé.”

“But why? Do I have something on my face? Is my hair a mess? Is my skirt torn?”

“No. You look presentable. You always do.”

“Then why are they staring?”

“I don’t know. It’s weird. Come on, don’t pay it any mind. It’ll pass.”

I nod. She loops her arm around me as we walk in. But our steps slow when we see a crowd gathered around the bulletin board.

“I hate this school,” Cortney mutters, rolling her eyes.

I sigh. “I hate it more.”

We’re about to keep walking when I hear someone say, “She made the list. How sad?”

Another voice chimes in, “Plain Jane.”

“What is this list about?” I stop Cortney, my voice low.

She shrugs. “I don’t know. Wanna check it out?”

It won’t hurt. Maybe it’ll finally explain why everyone’s staring and laughing at me.

We push forward. The crowd parts almost instantly when they see Cortney coming through. My eyes scan the top of the paper pinned to the board, and my stomach drops when I read the title in bold, ugly marker:

Boys’ Official Rankings: Girls We’d Smash vs. Girls We Wouldn’t Touch

Below it, two columns. One labeled “Smash,” the other “Won’t Smash.”

“Hey,” I say, spotting her name first. “You’re number 25 on the Smash list. They gave you an 8 out of 10.”

She scoffs, crossing her arms. “That’s definitely just because I’m River’s twin sister.”

“Right. But you are really hot, Cortney.”

“You think?”

I nod.

We keep scanning. Then Cortney’s hand freezes mid-air. She slowly turns to look at me. 

I know that look. “What number is it?” I ask.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a stupid list.”

“Cort.”

“It’s a stupid list, Chancé.” She tries to step in front of it, blocking my view, but I grab her wrist and pull her hand away.

My heart slams into my throat.

There it is.

Won’t Smash – #149 / 150

Chancé Rhodes.