I wasn’t amused.
“Well, shut up,Patrick!” I tossed back, then whirled on my heel and headed home. I heard him laughing as I rounded the corner.
But then he started sitting across from me at lunch. He wouldn’t even say hi—just plop his lunch tray down and start rambling about science homework or the weather or the best place to eat hot pot like we’d already been in the middle of a conversation. That’s how I discovered he liked karaoke and soccer and stand-up comedy. I also learned he had a younger sister named Pearl, who went to the middle school that was my former school’s biggest rival. Patrick had gone there, too, which is why I hadn’t met him before.
After a few weeks, my guard lowered. Our friendship blossomed. I started looking forward to him joining me for lunch and for our walk home after school. Since he lived two streets down from me, we began making the journey together. One of us would always wait for the other to emerge from the building, and then we’d set off.
Soon enough, we were inseparable. I helped him with his English essays, tweaking his vocabulary and syntax, and he helped walk me through balancing chemical equations. We did everything together—school projects and marathoning our favorite shows and wandering around town when we were bored. Maybe I’d started liking him as more than a friend because we’d grown so close over the years. I’d been pretty heartbroken when he’d turned me down, but at least that hadn’t affected our friendship.
“Well, good,” Dad says, wiping his moustache with his napkin. “Don’t need boys distracting you this year.”
I shovel the rest of my toast into my mouth to avoid answering. Note to self: Do not bring up New Boy Joe around Dad. Ever.
“Okay.” I spring to my feet. “I’m leaving for school.”
“Tell Bon Bon I say hi.”
I clear my plate at the sink and turn back to the table. “Oh my god, Dad. You’re ridiculous.”
I grab my bag and head for the door, swinging it open just as Subwayboy emerges from his apartment. I gasp and slam the door so fast you’d think I was preventing a swarm of hornets from invading our home.
Dad swivels around. “Forget something?”
“Um—no, I—” I panic. “I forgot to tell you to have a good day!”
“Oh, okay.” He levels his gaze. “Have a good day. Don’t forget to focus in calculus.”
“Yep.” I wonder if enough time has passed. Is he still out there? “Absolutely.”
I don’t move.
Dad raises his brows. “Are you sure everything’s—?”
Faintly, I hear the elevator doors close.
My hand flies to the doorknob. “Everything’s dandy!” I chirp, even though this is the furthest thing from the truth. Oh no, is this going to become my new routine? Waiting until the coast is clear? “Just super! Love you. Bye!”
TWELVE
Sara
“‘The seemingly interminable war was won,’” I read, eyes trained on my paper. “‘The prodigiously prolonged battle had finally permanently ended. At last, what they’d waited for all along, from the very beginning, had taken place. But all of this monumental effort, at what cost?’”
The class bursts into applause. I blush. I’d put a ton of effort into my history essay, making sure I accurately answered the prompt while sprucing up my sentences with a little flair.
Joe locks eyes with me, clapping louder than everyone else. My stomach flips. Most people only pretend to pay attention during presentations, but it seems like he actually listened. Did I impress him? Gah, I hope I did.
“Nice vocabulary, Sara,” Mr. Day says.
I’ll take the compliment.
As I sink back into my seat, Joe turns around and gives me a thumbs-up, grinning. My heart flutters. When I glance back to see if Patrick noticed, I find him glowering at the back of Joe’s head, shoulders slumped.
Uh, okay. What’s his deal?
“Mr. Day?” Rose stands, clasping her hands. “I have an announcement.”
Mr. Day checks the clock that hangs over the door. “We’ve only got five minutes left. The rest of you will read your essays next class.” He nods. “Go ahead, Rose.”
