Zombie Sunrise Confidential

I looked like a zombie. No, literally — dark circles under my eyes, skin practically gray, moving through the hallway like the walking dead. Three hours of sleep will do that to you.

But I had a good excuse. My iphone had been blowing up at 2 AM with notifications from Jake's Instagram. I'd been acting like a total spy, refreshing his stories every thirty seconds, analyzing who he was hanging out with, what cryptic song lyrics he posted, who he'd tagged. Pathetic? Maybe. Necessary? Unfortunately yes.

"You look dead," said Maya, sliding next to me at lunch. "Again."

"Thanks, bestie," I muttered, pulling my baseball hat lower over my eyes. The brim hid more than my face — it hid the embarrassment of being that girl who still hadn't moved on after three months.

Then I saw him. Jake. Walking toward our table. WITH SOMEONE.

My heart did that stupid thing where it forgets how to beat. I grabbed my backpack and bolted. Just started running toward the exit like the zombie apocalypse had finally arrived and I was patient zero. Left my hat on the table. Left my dignity in the cafeteria.

"Hey! WAIT!"

Jake's voice. Behind me. Gaining.

I skidded to a stop by the gym doors. "What?"

He held up my hat. "You forgot this. Also —" He grinned. "I've been trying to talk to you all week. I noticed you always... around. And I wanted to ask if you wanted to—"

"You noticed me?" I interrupted. "Or you noticed me NOTICING you?"

Jake's ears turned pink. "Both?"

And suddenly I wasn't a zombie anymore. I was just a girl who'd been running from the wrong thing. The iphone in my pocket buzzed. Another notification. I ignored it.

"So," Jake said, holding out my hat. "Wanna go to the game Friday? With me?"

I took my hat back. "Spying on me now, huh?"

"Maybe," he said. "Is it working?"

I smiled. "Maybe."