I need to talk to Daniel after class.
He gave me a single nod, knowing it was the right thing to do. Daniel and I’d been study partners forever and prom dates. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t just ignore him.
And you should talk to Blair,I added.
Tag’s face twisted at the note, and he opened his mouth to say something before realizing he couldn’t. We were in class. Instead he dashed off another missive.
WHY SHOULD I TALK TO BLAIR?
Because she asked you to prom, I said.
Tag’s reply was swift:THAT DOESN’T MEAN I SAID YES.
My heart lurched, and my handwriting became illegible.You didn’t?
“No,” Tag murmured softly, shaking his head. “You assumed.”
A lump formed in my throat. Yes, Ihadassumed. Last night Tag insisted that he and Blair weren’t back together, but she’d still proposed they go to prom…and I hadn’t even given him the opportunity to answer. “Oh,” I’d said before sweeping the subject under the metaphorical rug, embarrassed that I hadn’t heard it from my friends and evenmoreembarrassed that I hoped our borrowed time at the boathouse meant something.
I didn’t realize Tag had written another note until he tappedhis notebook with his pencil.I DON’T NEED TO TALK TO BLAIR, HOPS, BUT I DO NEED TO TALK TO YOU AND YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME. OKAY?
My eyes welled up without my permission. He was right; wedidneed to talk.Reallytalk. All the half-told secrets and unfinished truths weren’t enough to piece together what had happened between us, and if I wanted anything before graduation, it was closure.
It was clear Tag felt the same way.
We’ll talk, I wrote, words inked in fountain pen.I promise.
Tag and I did not leave Latin together. When Bunker’s clock chimed, he casually packed up his things while I zipped my backpack in record time. “Daniel…” I started to say, but Bunker waved me over before I could get Daniel’s attention.
I went to the blackboard as my classmates retrieved their phones from the cigar box. “Yes, Mr. Hill?”
Bunker gave me a look that said,You need not call me “Mr. Hill.”
“Yes, Bunker?” I tried again.
“I’m sorry to hear about your disciplinary hearing,” he said. “From your mother’s text, it seems Penny was quite rough on you.”
I sighed. “But at least I didn’t get a strike.”
“No, although I believe a strike would’ve been less of a punishment,” he mused. “Instead, she has stolen all theend-of-year joys you deserve to experience.”
“Don’t you meandeserved?” I asked. “Tag and I didn’t follow your advice; I didn’t go home last night. We don’tdeserveanything.”
Bunker chuckled. “Oh, my dear Lily,” he said, “even though you and Taggart discarded my suggestion yesterday and didn’t pay a cent of attention to my lecture, you both deserve each and every joy life has to offer.” He smiled knowingly. “I suspect one of them was last night.”
“Daniel!” I shouted, leaping off Bunker’s porch like a flying squirrel. “Hey, Daniel!”
Halfway to the hill’s staircase, Daniel turned and paused to wait for me. “Hi, Lily,” he said, tucking his hands in his pockets as I sucked in a deep breath to collect myself. “Class was really interesting today, wasn’t it?”
My cheeks warmed. His curt tone suggested Bunker wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Tag and I were in our own orbit.
Douche canoe, I almost wanted to say.
“I’m sorry,” I said instead. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you earlier. This morning was extremely overwhelming, and I thought it would be better if we talked in person…”
“Okay.” Daniel shrugged when I trailed off. “We’re in person now.”
“Right.” I nodded. “Right.”
