Always Upbeat / All That by Stephanie Perry Moore

might wanna sit somewhere else,” I warned him.
    â€œI think you know me well enough by now to know that I don’t care what people think or say. You shouldn’t either. Not looking as good as you do, anyway,” Brenton said, stepping up his game.
    I knew he liked me. I was not dumb. He had been flirting for the last couple of months. But to pull out my chair, give me a compliment any girl would blush over, and stare me down … what was up? What was his angle? With all I was dealing with, I did not even have time to figure it out, so I just started eating. Brenton kept staring.
    â€œ What ?” I said.
    â€œIs something wrong?” he asked, taking a bite of his sandwich.
    Lots of giggling filled the air. I looked over and felt like I had been kicked in the gut again. Blake walked into the cafeteria; my depression went up a notch.
    â€œThat can’t have you hung up,” he said, as he motioned his head in the direction of Blake.
    Seething, I said, “He’s a trip. Isn’t he supposed to be going out with Jackie? What’s up with the short skirt he’s talking to now? So tacky.”
    â€œYeah, you still talking like you care. Want me to go get him for you?” Brenton said with a little attitude, clearly upset that I still had feelings for Blake.
    I didn’t tell him not to get Blake, and I didn’t tell him to get him either. Then he put down his food, turned my chair toward his, and said, “Why don’t you get it? He’s moved on. You’re gorgeous. You’re smart. And you deserve more.”
    â€œYeah, whatever, says the boy who has no girlfriend,” I uttered.
    â€œIt’s not like I can’t get one but whatever,” he said, even more frustrated with me than I was with Blake.
    As he was about to get up, I placed my hand on his wrist. “I’m sorry. I was completely out of line. I didn’t mean that at all.”
    Brenton was coming at me hard. I simply wanted to come back at him harder, but he was coming at me because he cared. I needed to show him I appreciated that.
    Trying to get Brenton to understand, I said, “It’s my fault with Blake … that’s all. It’s hard for me to get over him … knowing I’m the reason he’s gone.”
    â€œAre you kidding?” he said. “He’s my cousin, but he had a wandering eye way before you didn’t answer some call. He should’ve appreciated that he had a girl with a life. He’s not the only one who can have it going on. The thing I really dig about you … yeah, you’re fine. You’re fly. You’re fearless. All that’s cool, and I mean … no brother wants to have an ugly girl … I’m just saying.”
    I smiled.
    â€œNo, seriously, what I admire … what I like … what I really dig about you is that you always got something going on. If it’s not you studying or thinking about the next level, you’re trying to take your team all the way to the state cheer deal, or you’re going to volunteer somewhere. You’re always on the move, and Blake was a little jealous of you, frankly. You need a man who’s confident enough in his own game … that can be proud enough of his girl doing her own thing too.”
    â€œAnd what? You wanna be that guy?” Getting closer, he whispered, “You know I do.” I was really uncomfortable because I felt lost … because that always upbeat girl that he was talking about was gone. I did not know her anymore. So I looked down, embarrassed, but he took his masculine hand and placed it under my chin and pulled my face upward toward him.
    In a smoother tone than Brenton had ever used, he said, “You have no reason to walk around here feeling down. Get the Charli Black we both know back. And if you can’t find her, let me bring her out.”
    Then he leaned over and kissed me. It was like the cafeteria stood still and so did