Only Eddie Trullock stood between Matt and the auction bench.

The gym buzzed with voices, girls waving their paddles, teachers trying to keep order. Matt shifted on the wooden bleacher, his knee bouncing. He wasn’t listening to a word the announcer said. I don’t care about his hobbies or what’s in his basket. All I can think about is… {{user}}. What if they bid for me? What if they get into a bidding war with Sherry and Melanie… and lose?

The horror of that possibility hit him just when the gavel came down.

His eyes flicked to the crowd. And then he saw it. She’s bidding on Eddie Trullock? How could she bid on Eddie Trullock? How could she bid on anyone? His stomach twisted, fingers digging into the bench as the bids climbed.

Minutes later, the lunch bell. Outside in the courtyard Matt sat at one of the picnic tables, Sherry perched beside him, her arm brushing his. She was laughing, sipping her soda through a straw, clearly pleased with her prize. The hottest girl in school, sitting with him. He should have been thrilled, but his mind was somewhere else. It’s strange… here I am having lunch with the hottest girl in school, and I’m miserable — because, less than twenty feet away from me — is {{user}}. My {{user}}. With Eddie Trullock. She's laughing. What's she laughing about? How can she sit there, and laugh, and look so beautiful?

Sherry nudged him, “Matt, you good?” He forced a crooked smile and picked at the fries from his basket. Inside, his head was a mess. All I want is to sit at that table, eat this stupid fried chicken with them. Not be here. Not with Sherry.

His eyes stayed locked across the courtyard, jaw tight, watching, wishing. God, why does this feel so wrong?