Her feelings

"What the fuck was that?" Daniel asked after Clay was gone. I was still watch- ing him make his way through the cafeteria, his shoulders slumped and his head down. I had no idea how to answer Daniel's question. Because I didn't know what that was. "Maybe he's just shy," Rachel volunteered.

Daniel snorted. "Or a wack job. He has that whole school-shooter thing going on, you know?" Okay, that made me lose it.

"You don't even know him, Daniel! So stop being so goddamn judgmental! Maybe he was acting strange because you were being an ass! Did you ever think about that?" My voice was loud and I had to struggle to calm myself down.

Daniel looked at me like I had grown a second head. I never yelled at him.

Ever. "What is your problem, Mags?" he asked me.

"Ugh!" I gathered up my trash. "My problem is that Clay is my friend. And you are my friend. So you need to start learning to get along with him. And maybe next time engage in a little conversation. Show people you have the social skills of more than a fucking first grader!"

"Maggie! Chill out!" Rachel urged, trying to smooth over a situation that had started to escalate. I just shook my head and got up to leave. Forgetting that I was really sore, I groaned as I moved too quickly.

Rachel was on her feet and moved to stop me from leaving. "We're sorry, okay? We didn't mean to make him feel uncomfortable. The whole thing just threw us, all right?" She was using the placating tone she usually reserved for Daniel.

What was my problem? Why was I so upset with them? It wasn't like me to fly off the handle like that. I needed to get myself in check.

Sighing, I gave Rachel a quick hug. "I know. Thanks. But I better go catch up with Clay, make sure he's cool." I gave my friends a smile and took off out of the cafeteria.

Looking down the hallway, I saw Clay at the other end. "Clay!" I called out, moving quickly toward him. He didn't turn around. Did he not hear me, or was he ignoring me?

I caught up with him and grabbed his arm to stop him from walking. I felt his muscles tense under my hand. I moved so that I was standing in front of him. His jaw was clenched and he wouldn't look at me. "Why did you leave so quickly?" I asked him. He shrugged (I was starting to really hate it when he did that).

"Didn't really want to hang out with people who didn't want to hang out with me," he said coldly as he stepped around me to move down the hallway.

"Hold on a sec, Clay. You're being ridiculous." I let out an incredulous laugh. Okay, so maybe my friends were less than welcoming at first. But I thought his reaction to the whole thing was a bit over the top.

The look Clay leveled at me froze my blood. Clearly, he didn't think he was being ridiculous. Without saying another word, he left me standing alone in the hallway. This time, I didn't go after him. There was only so much rejection a gal could take.

I stomped back to my locker, throwing the door open so that it bounced off the locker next to mine. "Seeing as you're in a seriously shitty mood, I'm assum- ing Lover Boy was still an ass when you chased him down like a lovesick puppy?" Daniel snarked, leaning on the locker beside mine.

I yanked my books for the afternoon from the top shelf and glared at my friend. "What is your problem with him anyway, Daniel? It's not like you to be such a dick to someone you don't even know." I couldn't help the hurt that bled through my voice. I tried to stay indignant and self-righteous but I could hear the vulnerability in my words.

Daniel softened immediately and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing slightly. "Sorry, Mags. I know you want to be friends with this dude. But there's just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. Though I'll put on the happy face, just for you." I smiled at him and leaned in to give him a hug. Daniel patted my back awkwardly, unaccustomed to such a show of affection from me.

He pulled back and looked at me, a strange look on his face. "What?" I asked him, frowning.

Daniel only shook his head. "You really like this guy? I mean, really?" He seemed to be in a state of disbelief. Why was that such a strange concept for Daniel to get?

"Yeah, Danny. I really, really like him." I couldn't help my dreamy tone and I tried to ignore the eye roll Daniel gave me.

"Why? He has the personality of a rock. I don't get it." Daniel seemed gen- uinely perplexed. And I guess I didn't blame him. It wasn't as if he had seen the same Clay that I had. The Clay that made me forget everyone and everything else.

"No, he doesn't. He's a lot of fun. I can talk to him about stuff that I can't talk about with anyone else. He has this crazy spontaneous side that makes every thing we do so much fun. He's cute and smart and ..." Daniel held up his hand.

"Okay, enough already. I think I vomited in my mouth a little. Whatever. Just be careful. I worry, is all." It was my turn to roll my eyes. How many times had I told him the exact same thing when it came to Kylie or some other girl he was drooling over? I thought, of anyone, he would understand how I was feeling. Maybe not.

"And I'll be nice. For your sake. But that doesn't mean I trust him...or like him." Daniel gave me a hard look and I tried not to yell at him again. I wanted to shake my best friend.

Not wanting to start another argument, I opted to stay silent. I threw a smile in Danny's direction, left him, and headed to class.