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one.
    “I’ll see you later.”
    And she’s gone.
    I crawl in the backseat and curl up, letting my styled hair fall over my face. The smell of the dye mixed with the fruity shampoo fills my nostrils, and I almost get high off it.
    You know what sucks? I want to talk to Zak. I want to start spewing some nerdy crap and laugh and stuff. Hope is good to chill with but she’s not who I need to feel better right now.
    Maybe I can ask him. I mean, it would make my parents happy. And Hope saw how I initially reacted so I could come up with some excuse if she found out.
    I sit up and look at his house, stomach knotting with the idea of going over there. Do I really want to risk it? I could ask around school to see if anyone higher on the social ladder is available to teach me.
    But do I really want that?
    No.
    I want him.
    Sexy nerdboy.
    My breath fogs up the car window as I huff. Why are stupid decisions like this hard?
    I huff again.
    Because I make them that way.

Chapter 5
    Being smooth is not my thing.
    If I blow any more air into my cheeks, they may pop. I can’t believe I’m actually going to do this. If anyone catches me driving Zak around, the rumors will zoom through the air about me hooking up with King of the Dorks. But I’ve got it all planned out.
    Excuse number one, my parents are making me.
    Excuse number two, I’m grounded from all my friends, so this was the only way I can learn.
    Excuse number three, I’m sleep walking.
    Now that I’ve got my social butt covered, I just gotta ask him. And this is what’s making my cheeks sore.
    I’ve never asked Zak for anything before. Even when we were besties. He always offered so I never had to. And after I totally ditched him and treated him like he has a good case of dragonpox, I’m scared out of my mind.
    What if he says no?
    I let all the air out, my bangs fluttering across my forehead. Zoe, just get this over with!
    Another pumpkin imitation later, and I’m knocking on his door. I want to beeline for the bushes, but my legs feel like gummy worms.
    The lock clicks and there he stands in his holey jeans and holding an Xbox controller, with a look that says I stunned the crap out of him.
    “Uh, hey.” Smooth, Zoe, real smooth.
    He doesn’t say anything. His mouth is doing that opening and closing thing like the clowns on a miniature golf course. He looks over my head and out to the street.
    What do I do? Just walk away? Wave my hand in front of his face? Crap myself?
    “What… what are you doing here?” His ears go red and the controller slips from his hand.
    I hear a car go by behind me and BAM! All my insecurities rush into my thoughts. Even though Zak looks freaking amazing in his Yoshi shirt, I can’t be seen at his house.
    Oh gosh.
    “Can I come in?” The words are out so fast, and I don’t even wait for an answer. I squeeze past him and shut the door behind me.
    He chuckles. “Yeah, I guess you can.”
    I laugh a huge dorky and nervous laugh as I look around his house. Not much has changed since last time I was here. Well, physically. It wasn’t this awkward between me and him, but that’s totally my fault.
    “So, uh…” he stutters as he picks up the controller he dropped. “You need something?”
    “Yes, I…” I kink my neck to look behind him. “You stuck?”
    “Huh?”
    I point to the TV screen. “Minas Tirith. That’s a tough level, and it looks like you’re out of ammo.”
    He smirks, and scratches the back of his neck with the controller before tossing it on the couch. “It’s been a while since I played it, and I can’t remember the code for infinite missiles. I was gonna go Google the code for it—”
    “X, X, down, B.” Holy Hulk! I totally said that out loud.
    Zak’s mouth pops open and his ears go red again. “I-I think you’re right.”
    He picks the controller back up and enters in the code. The small shink sound lets him know he now has unlimited firepower.
    “Nice!” He throws me that really sexy smile and