“So what are you doing for spring break?” he asks as we set off down the hallway together. “Anything wild and crazy?”
“Wild and crazy,” I say. “That’s me.”
He laughs. “Same here. I’ll be spending most of the week helping my grandma at the soup kitchen.”
“Then I’ll probably see you there,” I tell him, and he brightens.
“You still owe me that cocoa.”
“I do,” I say as we turn a corner, coming face to face with Teddy and Lila so suddenly that we all stop short, staring at each other.
My stomach drops as I notice that Teddy’s arm is around her shoulders, but when he sees my face he quickly lowers it. He’s wearing a new sweater, which is pale blue and clearly expensive, and he looks older in it, self-possessed in a way that goes beyond his usual boyish confidence. There’s a little alligator logo on it—right over his heart—which reminds me of his old nickname for me. Somehow, this makes me feel worse.
“Hey,” he says, avoiding my eyes.
I nod. “Hey.”
Lila smirks at Sawyer, and for a second I can see what she must see: a nerdy junior with too-short corduroys and a too-eager smile. “Who are you?”
“That’s Sawyer,” Teddy supplies, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Nice to see you again, man.”
“You too.” Sawyer clears his throat. “And congratulations. I heard about your…good luck.”
“Thanks,” Teddy says. “I owe it all to Al.”
“Really?” Sawyer asks, looking over at me. He has to be one of the only people in the whole school who doesn’t know this. I’ve spent the past six weeks dodging questions about whether I get part of the money and gritting my teeth when people try to rub my head for good luck.
“It was a birthday gift,” I explain. “The ticket.”
“Hard to live up to that one,” Lila says, arching an eyebrow. “I mean, what are you gonna get him next year?”
“Two lottery tickets?” I suggest, which makes Teddy laugh. Our eyes meet for a second before I look away again.
“So do you guys have class together or something?” Teddy asks, glancing from me to Sawyer, whose gaze travels back in my direction.
“Yeah, we just had art,” he says. He’s answering Teddy but he’s looking at me, his blue eyes shiny with amusement. “Alice and I are big fans of the abstract kind.”
“You could say we’re both aficionados,” I agree, and when I look back at Teddy he’s frowning. There’s nothing mean or malicious about it; he looks more confused than anything, puzzled and a little out of sorts in a way that’s totally foreign to him.
“Actually,” he says, “Al and I have an art project of our own.”
I tilt my head at him. “What’s that?”
“The boat,” he says with a note of impatience.
“I wouldn’t really call that an art project.”
“Well, who says we can’t make it look nice too?”
“We?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.
“Yes, of coursewe,” Teddy says. “You and me.”
“Mine’s already done,” Lila says. “Stef and I finished last week.” When nobody answers, she adds: “It’s pink and green.”
“Does it float?” Sawyer asks politely.
Lila gives him a scathing look. “That’s the whole point.”
