All Chapters of One Accidental Text: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

EmeryThere were four minutes until the first bell, and I was standing at my locker pretending I needed something out of it.I didn’t.My government book was already in my backpack, my homework was in the front pocket, and I’d checked twice before leaving home to make sure I had everything. I was keeping my locker open because standing there looking busy felt less pathetic than standing there looking like I had nobody to talk to.Everyone else at Northbridge High seemed to know exactly where they belonged.Sienna Blake and Bree Dalton were by the trophy case with a couple of cheerleaders, laughing over something on Bree’s phone. Knox Bennett was nearby with some of the football players, and Rhett Callahan stood in the middle of them like he always did.People naturally made room for Rhett.I wondered what that felt like.Not the football-player part. I’d probably need medical attention halfway through warm-ups. I meant walking into school and knowing people wanted you there. Never won

RhettBy the time practice ended, I was starving, sweaty, and seriously considering whether passing government was necessary for a successful adult life.I was leaning toward no.“Sixty-three,” Knox said from the locker beside mine.I threw my practice shirt at him.He caught it against his chest and immediately dropped it. “Jesus Christ. That’s disgusting.”“Then stop talking about my grade.”“You’re the one who got a sixty-three.”“And somehow you’ve made it your personal tragedy.”Knox kicked my shirt back toward me. “I’m trying to understand how somebody who can memorize an entire playbook can’t remember there are three branches of government.”“There are too many branches.”“There are three.”“Exactly.”Parker laughed from across the locker room.I pulled on a clean T-shirt and checked my phone. Two texts from Dad, one from Coach even though I’d spent the last two hours with him, and enough other notifications that I didn’t bother opening them.Dad’s were probably about the grade

RhettI stared at her question longer than I should have.Have you ever felt like you’re just not good enough?That wasn’t where I thought this conversation was going.Twenty minutes ago we’d been screwing around about dresses and shoes. Now some girl whose name I didn’t even know had apparently decided we were getting serious.I typed No.Deleted it.Then typed the truth.ME: Yeah.Nothing came back immediately.I tossed my phone onto my bed, grabbed a clean shirt, and pulled it over my head. By the time I looked again, she’d answered.UNKNOWN GIRL: Really?ME: You sound surprised.UNKNOWN GIRL: You seem confident.I laughed once.She’d figured that out from a few texts?ME: You don’t know me.Her answer came fast.UNKNOWN GIRL: You used that against me earlier.ME: I’m stealing it back.UNKNOWN GIRL: Rude.ME: You’ll survive.There she was.For some reason, I liked that she could go from asking something serious to giving me shit thirty seconds later.Then another message appeared.

EmeryI had imagined sitting at the popular table more times than I would ever admit, and apparently my imagination had gotten one important detail wrong.It was louder.Everyone talked over everyone else. Parker was complaining about a teacher. Knox was arguing with Sienna about Friday’s party. Bree was scrolling through pictures on her phone while half listening to both conversations, and Rhett sat across from me with his government worksheet between us.I was actually here.Not walking past.Not looking for an empty table with Piper.Here.“Your hair looks cute today,” Bree said suddenly.I touched my ponytail.It was the same ponytail I wore at least twice a week.“Thanks.”“You should wear it down sometime.”My heart did something embarrassingly happy.“I do sometimes.”“Really?”Bree looked genuinely surprised.Then she smiled. “You should do it more.”“Okay.”I immediately wondered if I should wear it down tomorrow.Across the table, Sienna glanced up.“Bree, are you still comi

EmeryBy lunch, I had decided the cookies were one of the best decisions I’d ever made.That probably sounded pathetic.I didn’t care.Bree had eaten three. Parker had declared them better than his mother’s, then immediately made me swear never to repeat that because apparently Mrs. Parker took baked goods personally. Even Sienna had eaten one and admitted they were “actually really good,” which coming from Sienna felt dangerously close to a five-star review.And Rhett had liked them.He’d eaten two.Not that I’d counted.I had absolutely counted.“Are you making those again?” Bree asked as I slid into the seat beside her.“I can.”“You should bring them Friday.”My stomach fluttered. “Friday?”“The party.”“Oh. Right.”Bree smiled. “You are coming, aren’t you?”There it was again.That little rush.Like somebody had opened a door I’d spent years standing outside.“Yeah. I think so.”“Good.”Sienna barely looked up from her phone. “Just don’t bring your entire closet. It’s not that ki