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God. I know! You would be perfect for Stacey.”
    Lindsey walked closer to me, running her fingers over my face and hair, looking me over like a show horse. Between her scrutiny and her closeness, I was incredibly uncomfortable. “You are absolutely adorable. A bit too clean-cut, but I have no doubt that you’re perfect for her.”
    I looked over at Jax, wondering how to handle this. I hadn’t met any of Lindsey’s friends, and Jax had warned me to stay away from them. I knew I shouldn’t show interest, but I didn’t know what to do.
    “Give him a break. It’s his first day. Let him get through a couple classes before you play matchmaker,” Jax said, smirking.
    “Don’t ruin my fun.”
    “I’m not. I’m only saying that you are clearly making him uncomfortable.” Jax chuckled.
    “Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sulked back over to Jax, who swung his arm over her shoulders and headed toward the building. I hurried to catch up.
    “What homeroom are you in?” Jax asked.
    Pulling my schedule out, I looked to see where I needed to head first. “Looks like I have English with Miss Hofft.”
    “I’m in that class,” Lindsey said. “So is Stacey.” A smirk curled her lips.
    “Linds, drop it.” Jax squeezed her tighter to him.
    “I didn’t say anything.”
    “You didn’t have to. You’ve got that grin on your face that means you will clearly start something.”
    “I’m not starting anything. I can introduce them and see what happens from there.”
    Jax chuckled again and shook his head. He escorted Lindsey and me to class, then went to his own class.
    The classroom looked like a sea of desks, most of which were already occupied. Lindsey grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the back of the room where a few empty desks remained. “Sit next to me. I have a few friends in this class. They’ll sit around us,” she said, smiling. She took her seat and pulled a notebook and pen from her book bag.
    Two of Lindsey’s friends walked in after we were seated. Lindsey immediately leapt out of her seat and ran squealing toward them, wrapping them in hugs. The girls talked excitedly amongst themselves. I wondered if Lindsey squealed when she greeted everyone as I picked at a loose thread at the hem of my shirt, feeling awkward.
    Looking around the classroom, I realized how out of place I was in my khakis and polo shirt. My mom wouldn’t let me wear anything other than khakis or black dress pants, saying jeans promoted bad behavior. All of my shirts were polos or dress shirts. My mom said I always had to be dressed nicely, nothing casual when outside of the house. She was very concerned with me appearing respectful and modest. Sitting in this classroom, I felt like a guppy in a sea of sharks. Everyone in the classroom was in shorts, skirts, or jeans and casual T-shirts. I should have taken Aunt Liv’s advice and gone shopping.
    Lindsey walked back over with her friends. “This is Will Mathers. He moved in next to Jax. Will, these are my besties, Stacey and Emily.” The three of them had the same blonde hair and the same shirts on. They must have coordinated their first-day outfits. The only difference between them was their height and their eye color.
    “Hey,” I said, feeling extremely awkward.
    The girls looked over me like I was an outfit they were checking out at the mall. I hated the way they scrutinized me.
    “He’s adorable. I just want to squeeze him,” Emily remarked.
    Lindsey elbowed the blue-eyed girl. “I think you two would be perfect together.”
    “I’m not really into the whole good boy thing, Linds,” she said. “I need a man, not a little boy. I’d probably make his virgin ears bleed.”
    “I can see what you mean,” Lindsey said, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes at me. I felt like a piece of meat and wondered if they’d forgotten I was sitting right in front of them. Or that I was a person. The awkwardness I felt was quickly being replaced by annoyance