“Yeah,” she says. “I told her this morning.”
“Well, how do you feel?” I’m not sure what to say. I figuredwhen the time came, I’d know more about the whole sex issue. Wrong again.
Olivia shrugs. “Not much different, I guess.”
“Yeah.”
“You know what, though?” she says, her voice bulking up a little. “I really liked it.”
“Well, that’s good, right? That’s sorta the point?”
“No, notthat. That’s not what I mean.” She frowns and crosses her arms. “I mean, I really liked being that close to someone. I really liked being that close tohim.”
I know we give Olivia a hard time about being silly and careless, but I think deep down she has some fears too. That she takes some things seriously. I know she wanted this, and in a way, I think, I’m kind of proud of her for going for it. And making the decision on her own.
“Anyway,” she says, “back to Len. I’m just saying I support it. That’s all.”
“Well, I appreciate your vote,” I say. “Thanks.”
Charlie is waiting in upper for us, leaning against Big Red. She’s got her sunglasses on, and her hair is picking up the sunlight so it looks like an impossible color of orange. Translucent, somehow. Like a butterfly’s wings. “We need to talk,” she says when she sees us. “Cal Block?”
“Actually,” Olivia says, “I think I’m gonna go have a hot datewith your brother.” She winks at me and climbs into her car.
“I knew they were doing it,” Charlie says, staring after her. “She’s been unnaturally happy.”
We climb inside. “How about you?” she asks. “Ben told me a little bit about the fight, but I need more details. And you heard about the suicide story?”
“I have a study session with Len,” I say. “Assuming he shows, I have to be home.”
Charlie eyes me as we pull out of the parking lot and onto the highway. “What’s going on there, anyway?”
“Where?”
“Come on. Don’t play coy with me. Two guys break into a fistfight at school, and you want to tell me Rob wasn’t jealous?”
“Jealous? Even if Len and I were dating, which we’re not, Rob has no reason to care. Need I remind you, he has agirlfriend?”
“Something’s up,” Charlie says, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Things just feel weird.”
“That’s because thingsareweird. Rob’s turned all green hornet, and Juliet’s suicidal, apparently, and I’ve just found out we’re some scandal of a political family.”
“Explain, please,” Charlie says, sliding her sunglasses down her nose.
I tell Charlie about my discovery today, with Len.
“Well, it sort of makes sense,” she says. “Why she has it out for you.”
“I guess. I still can’t understand really why she would hate me like that. And I just can’t believe my dad would hurt his brother for no reason, you know? It’s so out of character.”
Charlie shrugs. “Maybe Rob’s dad really was the better candidate. I mean, your parents were always close with Rob’s parents. Maybe it was just politics, not personal.”
Charlie pulls into my driveway, and Rob’s mom’s car is parked next to my mom’s. Usually she just walks over, but I guess she was coming from somewhere. She has theSAN BELLARO SOCIAL CHAIRbumper sticker on the back window that Rob and I had made for her birthday two years ago.
I heave my book bag out of the car.
“Good luck with…” Charlie waves her hand around in the air like she’s looking for a word.
“Len,” I say.
