“It’s entirely your fault, Nan. I went to deliver the stupid packet because you wouldn’t do it. And after totally embarrassing myself in front of Mrs. Carmichael, who had no clue why I was there, Brody drove up and ran over my bike.”

“O-M-G!” Nan spelled aloud. “What did you do?”

“I was so embarrassed, I ran.”

“You WHAT?” Nan jumped back and slapped the table.

“Exactly. And when I got home my mom had gone on a packing binge and was ready to move us to Alaska.”

“But how does that lead to this morning?”

“He stalked me! He got an employee to find out where I lived and then drove up and down my streets like a stalker. Supposedly he wanted to give me a ride, because he felt bad for crushing my bike.

“Um, Mina,” Nan spoke softly.

Mina ignored her, peeling her orange with vengeance. “Yeah, and then he had the gall to tell me he wanted to apologize before we got to school, because he knew he wouldn’t once we were in school. Geeze is SO stuck up.”

“Mina,” Nan tried to interrupt her friend, as she attacked her helpless fruit.

“I’m telling you, Nan, he is afraid to be seen in public with me. Even after I saved his life and all.” Mina shoved an orange slice into her mouth and bit down.

“Mina, I think someone wants to talk to you,” Nan smirked.

“MFFWHA?” Mina said with a mouth stuffed with orange. She looked around the cafeteria and saw that his usual spot with the polo team was empty. He was, in fact, standing behind her, tray in hand, looking perhaps more embarrassed than she was.

“Hi Mina,” he smiled. “Is this seat taken?”

Brody dropped his tray on the table without waiting for her to answer. How much had he heard? Once she had stopped coughing she turned on him. “What are you doing?” she whispered looking around the room. People were staring at them.

“I know you thought our conversation was over, but it’s not,” Brody said, his blue eyes twinkling with challenge.

“Alright you’ve proven your point; you’re not embarrassed to be seen with me in public. So you can go now.” Mina made shooing motions with her hands as if shooing away a fly, but Brody just grinned at her.

“You see, what you said in the car made me angry. Until I realized that it’s not true.” Brody leaned over to get closer to Mina’s ear. “I’m not embarrassed to be seen with you in public. You are. You don’t want to be seen with me.” His breath tickled her ear, making her melt until she’d processed the words he spoke.

“That’s not true,” she replied.

“Then prove it,” he said. His eyes darkened with meaning. “Prove to me you’re not ashamed of me.”

Mina looked at Brody fearfully and then over at Nan, who had wisely kept her mouth shut. Nan nodded her head encouragingly at her. Mina hung her head in shame. It wasn’t Brody she was embarrassed about, it was herself. She was a walking, talking embarrassment; and why in the world would Brody want to hang out with her?

“Why Brody? Why do this?” Mina asked, looking up at him. “I don’t understand. We have nothing in common. I’ve saved your life, but that’s as far as this friendship needs to go…really.”

Brody looked hurt. Mina wished she could take back the words as soon as they left her mouth, but she was only trying to protect herself. He had to be playing with her.

Brody stared at his tray of food for a minute and then looked up at her. His eyes bored into hers. “Mina you did more than save my life, and I’m trying to show you. But you have to meet me halfway.” He picked up his tray and walked away from their table, dumping the uneaten contents in the trash. Students turned to watch him walk out and they kept turning until they were looking toward Mina’s table.

One student in particular couldn’t tear her eyes away from Mina. Her eyes flared angrily when Mina caught them on the way up from her phone’s screen, and she did not look away. Mina looked at Nan with wide eyes, hoping she’d just imagined what she’d seen; Savannah White, the most popular girl in school, mouthing the words, “You’re dead.”

***

The rest of the day dragged on. Mina never got to speak with Nan about the Grimm family curse, and nothing interesting appeared or followed her around school, so Mina hoped the Story had forgotten about her. Mina was so preoccupied with the Grimm curse, Savannah, and Brody that she was pretty sure she flunked her history test. She felt numb as she handed an almost blank test to her teacher.

When the final 3:30 bell rang, Mina breathed in relief. She could now go to the public library and try and research more about her family’s history. Walking to her locker, Mina was surprised to see the number of students surrounding it. She decided to hang back and wait until the crowd dissipated so she could grab the rest of her books and leave, but the number didn’t budge. Putting her head down to enter the mob, Mina clumsily maneuvered to her locker, stepping on toes, saying, "Excuse me," bumping elbows. It wasn’t until someone grabbed her elbow to steady her that she saw the reason for the crowd of students. Brody was leaning against her locker; and he was holding her elbow.

“See you guys later!” Brody ordered the crowd. Unbelievably, the group of students left until it was just the two of them.

“How do you get used to it?” Mina asked.

“I’ve dealt with it all my life, so I learn to tune it out.” Brody looked sad until he turned to Mina and his face lit up with delight. “You ready?” he asked.

“For what?” Mina looked around confused.

“To go home.”

“Of course,” she answered, reaching behind him to open her locker. She grabbed her backpack, embarrassed by its pathetic state. Dropping it in her hand she tried to move away from him, but he snatched the backpack and hoisted it on his shoulder.

“Hey, give that back! I can carry my own backpack,” she said, putting her hands on her hips.

“I know, but this way I guarantee that you will follow me.”

“Don’t count on it,” Mina grumbled stopping in the hallway, refusing to budge. When she saw that Brody just kept walking, even turning the corner with her backpack still in hand, she had no choice but to follow meekly behind.

Once she caught up, Brody turned around and started walking backward. “See, I know you.”

“No you don’t. You just met me,” Mina countered.

“But I would like to get to know you,” Brody said, smiling. “If you would let me.”

Brody walked them out to his car, and once again he opened the door for her. Once Mina was safely inside with her seatbelt buckled, Brody started the car.

“Where to?”

“I thought you knew everything about me. So you should know where I live.”

“Uh, not really. My father’s friend had problems pinpointing the exact address. He only knew the area. Why is that?” he asked. “Are you hiding from the mob or something?”

“Or something,” she answered. “Can you take me to the library?”

“The library! My, aren’t we studious.” Mina rolled her eyes and went for the door, but Brody stopped her again. “Hey, I’m kidding around. The library it is.” He turned the key in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot, putting on their local pop music station for their drive. The silence seemed to draw a wedge between them, but Mina wasn’t going to be the first one to speak. A few exits later, they pulled into the parking lot of the town’s small white library.