Chapter 3
When the final bell rang, my heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.
Coco grabbed my arm and tried to pull me out of my seat, but I yanked her back. "Slow down. I'm not ready yet. "
"Ready for what? Come on," she said, urging me forward.
"Wait, I need to..." I stammered.
I glanced toward the back of the classroom.
Ethan's seat was empty, and his backpack was nowhere to be seen.
Did he already leave?
"Come on, stop staring. He's probably already there." Coco grabbed my arm and dragged me straight out of the classroom building.
The field was tucked away behind the main building. It only had a basketball court and a few sycamore trees.
Hardly anyone ever came here, which made it the perfect spot for a confession.
When I was still about 300 feet away, I could already see a crowd gathered around the field.
It wasn't a couple of people. It was a whole circle with at least twenty.
"Why are there so many people?" Coco was stunned.
My heart sank.
Something was not right.
This was all wrong.
A confession shouldn't draw a crowd like this.
I stood frozen, my feet feeling like they were made of lead.
"Lily!" someone shouted from the crowd.
It was Sophie's voice.
She squeezed through the crowd, beaming as she waved at me. "Come on. You're finally here."
All eyes suddenly locked onto me.
Some people were laughing, others gossiping or whispering behind their hands, and a bunch had their phones out, aiming them right at me.
I dragged myself forward, step by step, feeling my heart sink deeper with every step.
The crowd opened up a path for me.
That was when I spotted Ethan.
He was right in the center, wearing that white T-shirt I always loved on him, his hair tousled by the wind, a familiar half-smile tugging at his lips.
He wasn't holding any flowers. No gifts, either.
His hands were completely empty.
"Hi, you came," he said.
I nodded.
My throat was so tight that I couldn't say a word.
He smiled and walked over slowly.
He stopped right in front of me, leaned down a little, and looked straight into my eyes.
My heart skipped a beat.
He finally spoke up.
He said it loud and clear enough for everyone in the crowd to hear.
"Lily, I like you," he said. "If you want..."
He paused, then turned to the crowd.
"But since it's April Fool's Day, I was kidding," he said, grinning.
The crowd exploded with laughter.
It sounded like firecrackers popping in my ears, loud and relentless.
"I'm laughing my ass off!"
"She really fell for it."
"Look at her face. Oh my god, she's so funny."
"Quick, get this on video."
I stood there, frozen.
Ethan was laughing so hard that he could barely stand, hands on his knees, shoulders shaking. "Lily, you actually fell for it? Sophie told me you'd been crushing on me for three years, but I thought she was joking."
Sophie stepped out of the crowd, hooked her arm through his, and playfully punched him. "Ethan, you're so bad. Look, she's totally stunned."
"Come on, I was going along with your little act," Ethan said, pinching her cheek. "Didn't you want to find out if she really liked me? Well, now you do."
"I was joking. How was I supposed to know you'd actually go through with it?" Sophie buried her face in his chest, pretending to pout. "Ugh, I'm not talking to you anymore."
Another round of laughter erupted from the crowd.
The crowd started chanting, "Kiss! Kiss!"
Ethan grinned and pushed her away, "Come on, knock it off."
Then he lifted his gaze and looked straight at me.
His smile lingered, but his eyes were playful and teasing, with a hint of mockery.
"Lily," he said, "how about you put on a show for us, act like you're totally head over heels? If you do, I'll buy you a drink tonight."
Sophie was laughing so hard that she was nearly doubled over. "Ethan, you're terrible. Lily, don't take him seriously. He loves to joke around."