Me, You, & The Party Rock Crew

“They can change the locks, don’t let them change your mind” – We The Kings, Check Yes Juliet, 2007.

It was now mid-October, days after the homecoming madness that overtook Aspen Brook High. Halloween was on the horizon, and with it, the start of the holiday season, and teachers introducing the concept of midterms and semester exams to the freshman class of 2012. 

Izzie sat in the library with Hattie during lunch, the latter meticulously going over her notes for the biology exam, while Izzie buried her nose in the second installment of the Twilight Saga: New Moon, officially seeing Edward Cullen as public enemy #1 for leaving Bella in the middle of the woods. 

“Great, what’s Mankowski, doing here?” Hattie hissed under her breath. 

“Hm?” Izzie looked up, confused, and froze when she saw him–Simon in his bright green hoodie, heading straight for their table. “Oh shit…” she muttered, lowering her head to hide behind her book. 

It was too late. He had already spotted her. Izzie took a breath trying to steady herself. It was now or never. 

“Hey, Iz,” Simon grinned sheepishly, stepping closer. 

“Simon,” Hattie eyed him coolly over the top of her glasses.  

“Hey…Hattie…” he muttered awkwardly. “Iz, do you have a sec?” 

Izzie exchanged a glance with Hattie, who shot her a warning look. Izzie gave a small nod, and Hattie reluctantly went back to going over her notes. 

“What’s up?” Izzie asked, leading Simon to a quieter corner of the library, settling into a comfy chair. 

Simon shuffled his feet uncomfortably, “I wanted to apologize…for blowing you off at Trey’s party.” His words faltered slightly. “It wasn’t cool of me.” 

Simon wanted to tell the truth, wanted to admit that Lily had caught him staring a little too long at Izzie. The way her navy blue glitter dressed look like stars on her. How her dark hair fell in shoulder-length waves. Yes, Lily was pretty, but Izzie captivated him like she was queen of the stars. 

But Simon kept quiet. 

“I should’ve just said something before. I was kind of caught up in my own head, and I didn’t really think about how it came off.” 

Izzie quirked a curious eyebrow at him, signaling for him to continue.

“Caught up in your head?” she asked. 

Simon ran his hand through his sun-streaked, sandy blonde hair–a nervous habit.  “Yeah, like…I was excited to see you, but you were talking to so many people, and I just figured you were busy, and I didn’t want to, I don’t know…make it awkward or something.” 

Izzie frowned, the hurt from earlier creeping up. “You didn’t want to make it awkward? Si, we’re friends, not strangers. I thought we were way past that by now.” 

Simon winced at her words. “I know, I-I messed up. I should’ve been more upfront with you. I should’ve said, ‘Hey, I’m here, let’s hang out!’, instead of standing off to the side like some idiot.” 

Izzie stayed silent for a moment, processing what he’d said. It was clear that he was trying to make it right, but she could still feel the weight of his absence at the party. 

“I get it,” she said softly. “But I’m not just some rando at a party, Si. I’m your friend. We don’t do this whole ‘avoiding each other’ thing, ‘kay?” 

Simon nodded, looking clearly apologetic. “You’re right. I’ll do better next time. I promise.” 

Izzie’s expression softened a little, she gave him her usual dopey smile, and in turn, he did the same. The two of them exchanged their way overcomplicated handshake. 

Although deep down, Izzie couldn’t help but shake this lingering feeling that something had shifted between them. Something she couldn’t quite place. 

The thought had faded away when he noticed Anna Ellerson–Sammi’s older cousin enter the library. Simon had quickly ducked down behind the books. 

“Oh, shit.” The realization settled in–Anna would definitely snitch. 

“Tell me you didn’t skip gym class to come and talk to me?” Izzie let out an exasperated sigh.

“If I say I did…what happens next?” Simon grinned, sheepish.

Izzie shook her head. “One, you’re an idiot, two, take the back way.” 

His eyebrows furrowed into a line. “What back way?” 

“These bookshelves behind me–there’s another exit. Anna won’t catch you,” she explained. 

“You’re a lifesaver,” he whispered. 

“I know.” She shrugged with a bright smile. 

Just like that, Simon crouched onto the floor and quickly scurried off, Izzie shaking her head with a quiet chuckle to herself. She made her way back over to Hattie, who gave her a suspicious look. 

“What?” Izzie asked. 

“So, what did he have to say for himself?” Hattie set down her notes and crossed her arms. 

“He apologized, said he was in his head during the party and all, you know?” It was the SparkNotes version, but judging by Hattie’s expression, she wasn’t buying it. 

“Huh,” she began, “He didn’t mention anything about Lily?” 

“Uh…no, why?” Izzie asked. 

Then, Hattie let out a soft sigh. 

“Apparently–who knows, maybe Lily was paying too much attention to him. But personally? I think he took the wrong girl to homecoming.”  

She paused, then smirked.

“And Lily’s starting to realize that.” 

“Who do you think he should’ve taken?” Izzie raised a curious eyebrow. 

“Isabella. Look at me. I wasn’t born yesterday. Simon’s got it bad, and if he doesn’t own up to it soon, this is gonna get messy.” 

“Hattie. Harriet. Sanderson. No. Absolutely not. There’s no fuc–” 

“Language,” the librarian called from across the room. 

Izzie groaned. “There’s no freakin way Simon has a crush on me. We’re just friends.” 

“Right. And I was a witch in a past life.” Hattie rolled her eyes, leaning back in her chair with a sigh.

He couldn’t have had a crush on her. Could he?