Cooper’s eyes fall on Jake; then he turns and runs, Slug following slowly behind them, his pumpkin in tow.
As Jake tugs me toward his car, I look back one last time. But Cooper’s already halfway across the lawn with Chloe, his hand in hers, his back to me.
It shouldn’t bother me. It’s not like I’m trying to date anyone. And even if I were, it’s not like IlikeCooper.
So why do I care so much that I’m not waiting out the storm with him?
Chapter Fourteen
When Mom gets home from work that evening, I’ve taken the hottest shower of my life, put on sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt, and buried myself beneath five heavy blankets in the attic. I’m rewatchingPractical Magicfor the third time while sketching a dress design inspired by the perfection that is the nineties styling in this movie—long and black with a cowl neckline, a low scoop back, and lace straps—when I hear her come up the steps.
“Hey, how was the pumpkin carving party?” she asks when she appears wearing her art-store uniform—black slacks and a yellow polo shirt that readsART ATTACKin block letters.
I sat in Jake’s car for thirty minutes before we checked the radar and decided we were wasting our time. After braving the storm to grab our pumpkins, he asked if I wanted to go to the movies with him, but I was soaked and cold. All I wanted was my bed.
“It was fun before it got rained out.”
“I saw your pumpkin downstairs.” She sits on the edge of mybed. “That tree is incredible. I think it might be your best one yet.”
“Thanks.” Slug took his pumpkin home, but still, my lips tilt upward at the thought of Cooper cry-laughing at our little inside joke.Thatpumpkin will forever go down in history as my best one yet as far as I’m concerned.
Mom peers at my sketchbook, but I snap it closed. I’m not ready to show anyone the stuff I’ve been coming up with. I’m too afraid that any negativity will burst this bubble of creativity that’s been swirling around since we got here.
She smiles at me and says, “I’m really glad to see you sketching again.”
Designing and sewing clothes was always my escape from the weight of everyday life, but I stopped having time to escape. And even if I found time, Dad reminded me that fashion was a waste of it. But I shrug like it’s trivial and nod at the TV. “I guess I’ve just had some good inspiration lately.”
Mom turns to the screen. “Practical Magic? You know, those sisters always reminded me of Naomi and me.”
“Yeah? Which one were you?”
She gives me a sad attempt at a smile. “I’ll let you figure that out.” She stands. “Night, honey.”
Her footsteps fade as she goes downstairs. Before she even reaches the bottom, I know exactly which sister she sees herself in: the one who left town and fell in love with the wrong guy.
When I walk into calc on Tuesday, there’s a cookie on the desk where I normally sit. Figuring someone else has claimed my seat, I settle into the desk behind it. But as I’m getting my notebookout, I realize the clear cookie wrapper has a sticker on it.Ellisis scrawled across it. I scan the room as I slowly move back to my usual desk. Cooper is sitting sideways in his seat, his focus solely on Chloe’s animated storytelling.
Ms. Hanby walks in the room, and as she’s getting her things prepped for class, I tear off a small piece of the yellow cookie and shove it in my mouth.Lemon.I grin to myself.
I glance back at Cooper. He’s laughing and saying something to his friends, completely oblivious to me discovering the cookie.
But this has to be from him.
So, what does it mean that he keeps bringing me cookies? Nothing? Do Iwantit to mean something? Does it mean something tome? Am I overthinking it? Maybe a cookie is just a cookie.
“Ellis?” Ms. Hanby says.
My attention snaps to her. “Yes?”
She smiles at me. “I asked if you’d want to come up and solve this for us.”
Heat rushes to my face. “Oh. Sure.”
I shake off my thoughts. And my feelings.
Because, clearly, cookies are a distraction.
Sloane has drama club after school, so I wrap my cardigan around me and head out of the front double doors. The brighter the foliage gets, the more I find myself wanting to be outside. The sun is shining bright today, but the air is cool. I’m sitting against the wide trunk of a tree, sketching, when a shadow falls over me. I cup my hand over my eyes and peer up to find Cooper hovering.
