Chapter 3

Mandy smiled back. Luke's hand slowly found hers and they glided smoothly together. Mandy gave Luke's hand a reassuring squeeze as they headed back to the lunchroom. Luke really liked Mandy, and he didn't want her to feel like since she was new, she wasn't welcome. That's how he had felt last year.

"Are you sure you are ok, Mandy?" Luke looked concerned.

"I'm fine. Thanks Luke." Mandy smiled, and gave Luke a hug as they turned the corner to the hallway leading to the lunchroom. Luke put his arm around her shoulder as she hugged him. They walked like that for a while, but as they entered the lunchroom, Mandy released the embrace. Chase called Mandy over, and Luke watched jealously as Mandy pranced over, to the table and giggled at something Chase said.

Laura pulled Mandy away from the group.

"So?" Laura asked.

"So what?" Mandy asked confused.

"So, what happened?" Laura raised her eyebrows.

"What?" Mandy looked very confused.

"With Luke and you. What happened?" Laura smiled.

"Nothing happened!" Mandy tried to keep from smiling.

"Oh yes! Something did happen! Now spill!" Laura was always nosy like this.

"The only thing to spill was that I got hugged." Mandy smiled proudly.

"Aw! That's so cute!" Laura whispered.

"Yea. I really like him. I mean really like him." Mandy beamed.

"Sorry for being so nosy." Laura smiled shyly.

"That's alright. I would have wanted to know too." Mandy shrugged it off. Chase came over and smiled.

"Hey… Mandy…" Chase grasped his own hands and looked a bit nervous.

"Mandy. I was invited, along with the rest of the table, to this party." Chase motioned to the rest of the table.

"They said that we could bring another person with us." Chase continued. Mandy nodded.

"Well, it's this Saturday from six to ten… at night of course." Chase was looking all over nervously.

"And I was wondering if you would like to go with me." Chase finally asked. Mandy looked over to Luke, wishing he had asked her first.

"Like as a date?" Mandy looked at Chase.

"Well… I don't know. If you want it to be a date. Or we could go as friends. I don't know whatever you want." Chase babbled. Mandy nodded.

"Do you want it to be a date?" Chased asked, hoping with everything he was worth that she would say yes.

"I guess. Sure." Mandy shrugged. If Luke hadn't asked her, then maybe he didn't feel the same way about her as she did for him. Chase smiled the biggest smile anyone had ever seen.

"Great! I could come pick you up around… five-thirty?" Chase questioned.

"That's fine." Mandy forced a smile. The bell rang and Mandy gathered her things.

"So I'll see you Saturday?" Chase called after her.

"You'll see me Saturday!" Mandy yelled over her shoulder. Mandy felt like crying. Chase was nice, but she liked Luke. Luke walked next to Mandy.

"Are you going to the party?" Luke asked.

"Are you?" Mandy asked. If the party was a snoozer, then she could always talk to Luke.

"Yea. I think I might." Luke shrugged.

"Yea. I'm going." Mandy said, staring strait ahead.

"With Chase, right?" Luke asked. Mandy nodded.

"Do you… like, Chase?" Luke looked at her.

"He's a really good… friend." Mandy finally offered after some time thinking.

"Oh." Luke said, sounding hopeful for some reason.

"I would have asked you." Luke put it plainly in front of her. Her hopes soared and she smiled, looking down.

"That doesn't mean we can't talk to each other during the party." Mandy said. They entered the classroom and the bell rang only seconds later. Mandy picked a seat in the back and Luke followed. They sat down and listened to the teacher lecture about what was expected of in the classroom and what they would be doing throughout the quarter.

Mandy felt something touch her hand. Did she imagine it? No, there it was again. She looked down to see Luke's hand holding a note. She snatched it quickly and then slowly opened it, cringing with every crinkle the paper made. She read the note:

"Hey. So, are you sure that you are going to the party?

Mandy scribbled down quickly:

Why do you keep bringing up the party?

Mandy and Luke kept passing the note, back and forth until the end result looked like this:

Hey. So, are you sure that you are going to the party?

Why do you keep bringing up the party?

What do you mean "keep bringing it up"?

I mean, it seems like you just keep bringing it up.

I don't keep bringing it up.

DO 2!

Do not!

Yes! I'm going to the party! Why?

Just wondering.

Didn't we already have this same exact conversation?

Yea.

Then why do you keep bringing it up.

I don't know.

Don't worry! I'll be there. Chase will make sure of that.

Lol!

Ha ha! Very funny!

You like him don't you?

We already had this conversation. I like him as a friend.

Yea, well just making sure.

What?

Teacher's looking over here. Got to go. Bye."

Mandy was confused! What was that all about? She felt something brush her hand once more. She looked down. It was Luke's hand once more. He slid his hand into her hand and squeezed it appreciatively. Mandy smiled, but inside, she frowned. This Saturday was going to be complicated.