Cate's heart started pounding when she pulled up to Westmonte. She didn't know what to expect.
The dance had been beyond perfect. But she hadn't seen Baze since then and he hadn't called.
When she'd picked Lux up from the Bazile's on Sunday, Baze was still asleep. She'd felt just the slightest tinge of disappointment.
When she'd dropped Lux off this morning before school, he'd already left. Cate was beginning to wonder if he was avoiding her. Maybe he regretted taking her to the dance and didn't want to see her.
Don't be ridiculous, Cate told herself as she drove to school. Surely he wasn't avoiding her. He couldn't avoid her even if he wanted to. Lux made their lives intertwined forever.
It was just a coincidence that Cate had been to his house two times since the dance and hadn't run into him. Coincidences happen.
Then why was her stomach churning? She felt like she was going to be sick as she entered the building. She couldn't help but remember the Monday after last year's Winter Formal.
She'd been so stupid. How could she have ever believed that the most popular guy in school liked her?
Cate had been so excited when she saw him standing in the hall with all of his friends. She'd wondered what he'd say when he saw her, how he'd introduce her. Would he call her his girlfriend? Would he hug her?
Then she'd heard them talking. She could remember their words as though it was yesterday. And they still made her want to cry.
"There's a rumor you hooked up with Cate Cassidy?"
Cate had stopped in her tracks. She'd been torn between feeling embarrassed that the whole school new she'd had sex and excited that everyone already knew she was with the popular quarterback. She'd listened, eager to hear Baze's response.
"Cate Cassidy? You mean, the one that has the head gear like a radio transmitter? Dude, the only way I would ever hook up with her is if she had a bag over her head and tape over her mouth so I didn't have to listen to her!"
Baze's voice had been so cold and then they'd all started laughing. At her.
Cate had backed away slowly. She felt tears rolling down her hot face and dashed to the bathroom, not wanting anyone to see her crying. Especially not Baze. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd hurt her.
It didn't matter that everything was different now. The entire school now knew that Baze had slept with her on the night of Winter Formal. They also all knew about Lux. Abby had made sure of that. And it had been a long time since Baze acted like he didn't even know her. They'd been on good terms even before the dance. Friendly.
None of that mattered because Cate had allowed herself to get her hopes up again. She knew if Baze rejected her today, she'd be crushed all over again. It wouldn't be any easier.
Cate took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, before entering her first period class. Baze was already in his usual seat in the back of the room. He grinned when he saw her. "Hey."
Cate smiled slightly, but didn't want to look to excited. "Hey."
Baze didn't say anything else. Cate shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what else to say. She couldn't gauge his mood. She decided to sit in the front with Alice.
Cate tried to act normal even though all of her worst fears were swimming to the surface. Maybe he wasn't pretending he didn't know her this time. That ship had sailed. But he wasn't acting like anything had happened, like anything was different either.
Had going to the dance with him been a mistake? Would things be awkward now? They would have to see each other because of Lux. Cate sighed.
Mrs. Greene cleared her throat to get their attention. "You've all been reading Romeo and Juliet for homework. Today we're going to break into pairs and read the next act."
"Cate, do you want to work together?"
Cate looked up. Dewey Johnson was looking at her hopefully.
"Yeah," Cate replied quickly, grateful he'd asked. She didn't want to put herself out there by asking Baze or waiting for him to ask her if he had no intention of working together.
Dewey grinned crookedly and scooted his desk beside Cate's. Cate was dying to know who Baze was working with, but she didn't dare look. She didn't want him to see her looking. She wasn't going to be the desperate girl chasing after Baze. Not this time.
When Mrs. Greene told them to break into pairs, Baze got up and headed toward the front. Toward Cate. He stopped, frowning, when Dewey Johnson scooted his desk beside hers.
"Baze, I'll be your Juliet."
Baze looked at Jenna, the pretty blonde cheerleader who'd spoken, and nodded. She smiled seductively and patted the desk beside hers.
Baze slipped into the seat. Jenna started reading, but Baze wasn't listening. He was watching Cate and Dewey. They were talking and laughing. They looked so comfortable together. Baze strained his ears to hear their conversation, but the classroom was too loud.
"Baze?" Jenna looked at him expectantly.
"What?" Baze asked, reluctantly turning his attention back to Jenna.
"It's your turn," Jenna pointed out. She looked annoyed.
Baze mumbled Romeo's lines obligingly, but his gaze remained fixed on Cate and Dewey.
As the class got to the part where Romeo kissed Juliet, kids started laughing awkwardly or blushing slightly. A few brazen guys actually kissed their partners.
Baze watched Cate intently. Surely Dewey wouldn't kiss her. The kid didn't have the balls to make a move. And she'd gone to the dance with him, not Dewey, Baze reminded himself.
Would Cate have gone with Dewey if she'd had a babysitter, Baze couldn't help but wonder. He knew they had history together. Probably a better history than he and Cate had together. Baze couldn't imagine a worse history. He hated how he'd treated Cate a year ago.
Baze breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Dewey blush and shut his book. Jenna giggled slightly. Baze could tell by the look on her face she wouldn't mind if he kissed her. He was surprised that the prospect held little appeal.
He'd always been a player. Even when he'd been dating the most beautiful girl in school, he hadn't wanted to commit. He'd wanted to keep his options open and just have fun. Now he didn't want to kiss anyone but Cate.
Baze had never felt like this before. The feeling was foreign and he didn't understand it. Jenna was gorgeous. Any guy in the room would trade places with him, Baze knew. If that was true, why did this feel so wrong? Why the hell did he, Nate Bazile, want to trade places with the dorky school mascot of all people?
"Cate, Baze is staring at you," Alice whispered.
Cate smiled slightly. "Really?" She asked hopefully.
"Oh yeah," Alice replied.
"Who is he working with?" Cate asked, biting her lip.
"Jenna Brown," Alice said quietly.
Cate frowned. Jenna was really pretty and popular. "Did he kiss her?"
"No, but she looks like she wanted him to." Alice smirked.
Cate smiled slightly.
Baze lingered in the hallway, waiting for Cate after class. He fell into step beside her. "I, uh, thought we'd work together," he said tentatively.
Why was he nervous? He didn't get nervous about talking to girls. He'd never gotten nervous about talking to girls! Girls always liked him. It's just how it always happened. So why did Cate Cassidy make him doubt himself?
Cate tried not to smile. She shrugged. "Dewey asked me first."
"He likes you," Baze said, his tone accusatory.
"We're friends," Cate said.
Baze raked a hand through his perfect brown hair. "He likes you. As more than a friend."
"You think?" Cate said.
"Does he know we, uh…" Baze trailed off, unsure what to say.
Cate stopped and turned to face Baze. "We what?" She looked puzzled.
She could tell he was jealous and she was enjoying it. A little too much, she knew. But he deserved it after how he'd acted last year. She was just giving him a taste of his own medicine, Cate reasoned.
Baze stared at Cate, shifting uncomfortably. "We, uh, went to the dance together," he said, looking down.
Cate frowned slightly. She'd wanted him to admit he wanted to be with her. Why was that so damn difficult for him?
"I don't know. I don't think I saw him at the dance," Cate said. "I gotta go to class. See you later."
Cate took off before Baze could see anything else. He sighed as he watched her walk away. She drove him crazy sometimes. She was the only girl who had that effect on him and he didn't know what to do about it. About her.