No, Subwayboy, I won’t. Because—ack! How did I lose track of time? It had felt like we’d gone back and forth over our personal music taste for ten minutes, but that somehow had morphed into two hours. Two! I hadn’t even realized we’d been chatting for so long, but it’d felt . . . effortless? The opposite of how I feel every time I have to do math in his presence, really. Dare I sayfun?
I had no idea Oliver knew so much about music and chord progressions and random facts about Metallica and the Eagles, and I think I surprised him with how many Led Zeppelin songs I’m familiar with. At one point we’d both even played the air guitar.Together.
Is this the twilight zone?
“It’s embarrassing,” I admit, staring straight ahead. “So, no.”
Oliver lets out an aggravated breath and shoves his hands into his jacket pockets. “Then how am I supposed to help you?”
“Why are you so persistent about this?” I counter. “I never even asked for your help. Besides, it’s not something you can help me out with, exactly.”
“What, you have to find another random stranger to kiss?”
My blush deepens. “Of course not.”
Not a stranger, I think,just your brother.
“There you are!”
Oliver and I swivel around to find Rose jogging over to us.
“I’ve been looking all over for you,” she continues, slightly out of breath. “Why did you guys leave the booth? I need—”
“No, Rose,” I say firmly, finally growing that backbone I needed all along. “I’m not going back to sit in the booth. The festival’s practically over. You said you’d switch with us and you never did.”
“I don’t care about that. Actually, I don’t need you at the booth.” Her eyes land on the massive school lurking behind us. “I need you two to—uh, get more pamphlets from the classroom!”
“What?” I splutter. “Rose, there are zillions at the booth already.”
“Just hurry up,” she orders. “This is the most crucial time of the festival. We have to give them out before everyone goes home.”
Oliver looks to the sky and releases a massive sigh. I don’t blame him. I’m over her too.
“That doesn’t even make any sense, Rose,” I argue.
“Whatever, let’s just go.” Oliver places his hands on my back, moving us away from the festival and heading toward the paved pathway that leads back to the school.
I meet him with resistance. “But—”
“She’s not going to change her mind,” Oliver mutters in my ear as Rose watches us leave, a smug smile toying on her lips. “May as well be quick so we can get back to—whatever you’re doing.”
This is adisaster. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d mess tonight up this badly. I spent exactly zero minutes with Joe during the festival, and now I’m about to lose this bet because I’m on a hunt for stupid pamphlets.
But I allow Oliver to guide me inside, because what else can I do?
It’s quiet once we enter the building. I don’t think I’ve ever been at school this late, and it feels weird, like I’ve stepped into the bathtub with shoes on. Most of the fluorescents are turned off, but we don’t have to worry, because the windows invite in light from the lampposts right outside.
Oliver leads us up the stairs to Mrs. Huber’s classroom. She teaches all the journalism classes and keeps excess materials stored inside. It’s also where Newspaper Club meets.
“I still think this makes zero sense,” I mutter as we climb.
“Rose is gonna do what Rose wants,” Oliver says. “Anyway, maybe if you told me what you have to do, I’d be able to help you.”
“Just forget it. What’s the point?”
Oliver reaches the landing first and waits for me to catch up. Once I do, we start down the hall.
“I can’t do it anymore,” I continue. “There’s no time left. Rose ruined everything, just like Lulu predicted. I didn’t listen to anything she said, and now it’s too late. Besides, I couldn’t go through with it, anyway. It was hard enough with a stranger. Stupid of me to think I’d be brave enough to go for it with someone I have a crush on.”
