Chasing Butterflies by Terri E. Laine

toward her.
    “Debbie, you have to believe in yourself and not let some guy place value over you.”
    These were some of the things my parents had told me until Dad’s job had become more important than my self-worth. So why was I even repeating their words when they didn’t truly believe it themselves?
    The next day I swallowed my pride and approached Kelley after school. He was saying something to the girl flattened against the locker as he leaned in. She giggled, and I saw red. I had to breathe through the insane thoughts I had. I was with Ox, not Kelley, I repeated in my head.
    He hadn’t seemed excited to see me, but somehow I convinced him of my sincerity. After an awkward start, we actually laughed during dinner. When I mentioned Mr. Dunnon’s unibrow, he nearly spat out his drink.
    “I didn’t think you had it in you to go there, princess.”
    I shrugged and ignored the princess comment. “It’s not like it’s a fact. It all moves as one.”
    He laughed so hard. And boy when he smiled, he was even more gorgeous. When the check came, I saw the number the waitress had left for him. She’d graduated from school a few years ago when I’d been a freshman. The fact that she worked there and gave her number to him was sad, but pissed me off. Did she assume there was no way I was his girlfriend? Had to be. Otherwise, why had she blatantly done it?
    I’d snatched the check, which he’d thought was hilarious. I’d said half-truths to hide my jealousy, but bought him dinner as I promised. I’d seen the pride in his eyes and was sure he would pay, so I hurried to do it first.
    He’d walked me back to school where Mom was waiting. I had an urge to hug him then lift on my toes and kiss him. Only he waved and was gone, moving fast down the sidewalk.
    “Who was that?” Mom asked once we were off. “I’ve been waiting fifteen minutes.”
    “Just a guy I’m tutoring.”
    Her next words shocked me. “What does Ox think about you tutoring a boy? And you didn’t come from school.”
    I glared at her. “We went and had burgers. He’s new, and Ox doesn’t own me. I can have friends, even ones that are boys.”
    She clammed up, and I felt more like the parent. I popped ear buds in my ears to drown out any further conversation.
    The next day Kelley showed up to tutoring with books in his hand. Carl got up without being asked to. When Kelley plopped down in the chair next to me, I wanted to roll my eyes but managed not to.
    “You should really put the guy out of his misery and kiss him,” he said.
    “What?”
    He shrugged. “He’s what you girls call hopelessly in love with you.”
    “He is not.”
    “Believe what you want. But if your fiancé finds out, he and the rest of the football team will fold him in a locker and leave him to starve to death.”
    “Boyfriend, not fiancé.”
    “Interesting you didn’t say your boyfriend wasn’t a bully.”
    I couldn’t. He was and he was right. If Ox thought Carl liked me one bit, he’d shove him in a locker just like Kelley said.
    “You’re too good for him.”
    His statement was flat and said without any emotion.
    “And you?” I breathed, because I held my breath after.
    “You couldn’t handle me, princess.” We stared at each other for a while and my heart raced. I wanted to challenge his statement, but who was I fooling. He was beautiful in a way no boy should be. On top of that, I liked our conversation, which turned into sparing matches. I liked him. Before I could put voice to any of it, he opened his math book. “Show me.”
    His words were simple, but I wasn’t sure what he was asking. His bi-colored eyes held mine in challenge. I licked my lips before I took the easy way out. I started tutoring him. Well, that was a stretch. He was smart and caught on quick. The ease at which he grasped everything I showed him made me lose myself in time.
    “You’ve got this. You don’t really need my help,” I said. “You’ll get in whatever college you