"Hey there," the voice behind her said and she turned. "I'm David, hope you're settling in okay here at Fairmont High."
Katie turned and looked up to him, stunned. And confused. She had been here for four years. With him.
"Oh...Katie?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, ha. Um...you look...," his eyes raked over her again, "different. Um."
"Um," she replied as she watched the blush grow on his embarrassed face. David oh my God Palmer, embarrassed by her.
"Um. Yeah, so I thought I would say hi to the new girl, but I guess..."
"Well, that's very nice of you, David."
"Okay, Katie, I...guess I'll see you around." He stepped back and looked her over again. "See you."
Katie shook her head as she watched him depart.
That was weird.
That night, Katie studied herself in the mirror. Did she look different? She looked like she always had, light brown hair, medium chest, healthy curves, maybe more than healthy. Granted she hadn't seen him since last year, but she thought she looked pretty much the same. New hair style, kind of. She shrugged, baffled at the strange interaction with him. Handsome David Palmer, saying hi to her. She had liked him for years, but they didn't move in the same circles. She entertained the idea of being the new girl and having David show her around. Would be nice. She shrugged again and pushed that thought out of her head. Besides, she didn't have time for a boyfriend anyway. Maybe in college.
Senior year was hectic, rushing around, visiting colleges, running the newspaper, keeping the grades up. David was doing great in football. When she got her acceptance at her dream school, it felt like a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. Packing up after AP History, Adam came over.
"Hey," he grinned, running his eyes over her, "Great job on that answer. Looking good!" He gave her a wink and left her staring at his back as he left.
Katie stared at his back in confusion.
Looking good?
Was that supposed to be a pick up line? Adam was F-I-N-E fine, tall, black hair, and broad shoulders. Why did he complement her out of the blue like that? That night, Katie studied herself in the mirror again. She had never considered herself ugly, but also had never thought she was particularly pretty. Looking good?
One Friday, Adam slipped her a note asking her to meet him at the weight room after school. He had been friendly over the past few weeks, and Katie took a moment to freshen up and spray on some perfume, wondering what was going on. She had obviously never been to the weight room, as it was strictly reserved for the athletes. Maybe he had a hot tip for the newspaper. She walked down the deserted back hallways to the room, checking herself one last time in a mirror. Finding the door closed, she took a calming breath and knocked lightly on it. A moment later David opened the door.
"Hey, Katie, glad you could make it," he said as he ushered her in.
"Oh, hey, yeah, I mean...," she smiled, catching sight of Adam in the back room, adjusting a weight bench. She gave him a little wave
"Here, let me help you with that," David continued seamlessly, taking off her backpack and hanging it on the wall.
Katie took a moment to look around, the smell of stale sweat permeating the room. Music played in the back room where Adam was. Weights and equipment were stacked along the walls, benches and racks strategically placed. It was like being in a temple of masculinity and she felt a little out of place.
"I've never been in here...," she started.
"Yeah, well, you know we kinda keep it private for just our little group. We try to keep it up also," he smiled as he motioned her to the display case.
She smiled and nodded in feigned interest as he spoke about some of the trophies in the case, her eyes catching Adam's as he nodded at her, still working with the bench. David led her over to him.
"Hey Katie, welcome to our fun house."
"Thanks, so what's up?"
"Desire."
She paused and stared at him for a moment, his face expressionless. She glanced at David, hoping for a clue and finally his eyes flicked up. She looked at the ceiling, and their in big letters over the bench was the word 'DESIRE'. The guys chuckled and she grinned with them.
"Yeah, I wanted to put up something more like, 'feel the burn, maggot', but..."
"Bro here couldn't figure how to spell 'maggot'."
"Ah. Well," she started. "So, is that what you wanted to show me?"
"No, you asked what was up. So now you know our little inside joke."
"Cute. So why did you ask me to come here, Adam?" she asked, starting to wonder what was going on.
"Why not?" he grinned.
"What guy wouldn't want to spend a little time in the company of cutie?" David added, a sparkle in his blue eyes. Katie couldn't help but blush a little at the compliment.
"So, I heard you got into Boston University?"
"Yeah, looking forward too it. Got a sweet scholarship too."
"Brains, looks, personality, you got it all."
"Thanks. So I heard you got to...," she trailed off, not actually sure where he was going.