There was a smell of wet dirt and school lunches persisting in the air. She was sitting beside the window, as always. You sat on the side of the aisle. It meant that the brown birthmark below her left eye was invisible until she turned her face towards you.

[…]

And when she asked if you liked the boy who lived down the road you said “No.” because it was the truth.

“Who do you like?” Her ponytail flicked at the sharp turn of her head.

“Someone.” Heartbeats had never felt like this before.

Wei crossed his arms over his bare chest. “Have you ever been stung by a wasp?”

“No,” Tate admitted, frowning in a way that made him seem more attractive.

“You wouldn’t understand,” Wei whispered.

Tate slid his pale hand around the skin of Wei’s waist. “I didn’t disagree with you, it was just unexpected.”

I felt my fingers thrum. It could have been the alcohol, the pounding music, or the way she smiled at me. 

When my want for her took over me, I pushed through the crowd. Pounding music echoed in the club bathroom. Our eyes met as someone pushed past, eager to reach a mirror. 

She was inviting, with dark eyes and a wicked smile, lipstick smeared at the edges of her mouth.

I reached out.