Ethan and I, although on better terms, still didn’t talk much. In fact, I nearly jumped out of my skin on Friday during our last class. “We’re still on tonight,” he said, out of the blue. I’d rashly asked him to hang out with me and my friends tonight. He’d accepted. The two other girls at our table looked up, no doubt soaking up the gossip. News of me dating Josh was big business. Overhearing what they heard would be a worthy rumor. “Yeah, we all are still getting together. Josh won’t be able to come, seeing he has a game tonight,” I said, poignantly. Ethan smiled, knowing what I was doing. Rumors would still come, they always did. I could only hope I minimized the damage. After school, I spent an hour gathering snacks and setting up the living room like I hadn’t done in the past. When Madison and Bradley showed up, they were more than amused. “Are you sure he’s just a friend?” Bradley teased. Rolling my eyes, I didn’t bother to answer him. “Leave her alone, babe,”
