“Li.” She’s speaking so quickly I can barely understand her. “Take a breath. You don’t have to search for him with me if you don’t want to.”
“Thank you. I know I’m being delusional. He’s a sophomore and so cute and popular—there’s no way.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling too widely. Felix is a nice guy as far as I can tell, but the way she’s talking about him isn’t exactly based in reality. Max invited him to play with us because he was having a hard time making friends with the rest of the band. As far as I’m concerned, he’s lucky to be friends with Li, let alone anything else.
“I won’t claim to know what’s going on in Felix’s brain, but it seems like you both have some things in common. Maybe you should try spending more time with him?”
“The idea totally freaks me out…but I also keep fantasizing about it.” She giggles. “In fact, I had this ridiculous idea that maybe if I wandered around the fairgrounds enough, we’d run into each other and he’d ask me to hangout.”
Omigod, she’s so adorable I want to squeeze her.
“Okay, well, we cou—” I glance over her shoulder and freeze. “Stay cool when I say this…but I’m going to need to steal your manifestation skills for our next band competition because Felix is actually walking up to us right now.” I smile and wave to him like we’re having the most casual of chats. “You’ve got this,” I whisper.
A second later Felix steps to Li’s side, looking way happier than I normally see him. He’s generally a guy of few words and fewer facial expressions, but he’s practically beaming.
“I didn’t expect to find you two in the 4-H building of all places.”
“I was just about to go looking for you,” I say. “I was apologizing to Li about how the D&D game has been going lately. And that apology extends to you too. I promise I’m going to try to bring Elrid and Ellywich into the game more.”
If Felix is taken aback, he hides it quickly. “Huh. Thanks, Hazel. That’s really cool of you. And, just so you know, I had nothing to do with that stunt Brody pulled last night. I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad we ran into you.” I eye him in mock suspicion. “Though why areyouhanging out in the 4-H building?”
Felix shrugs. “My two younger brothers are in it, so I came to see their stuff.”
“My mom advises the club my sister is in,” I reply and glance around. “I should probably see the exhibit while I’m here or they’re going to kill me. You guys want to come too?”
Each 4-H club in the county has a large display space to show off the various projects that members have been working on. A lot of people show animals in the fair, but others like Kelsey complete projects on sewing, computer science, cooking, and photography. We walk up and down the displays until I finally find the “Blue Ribbon Bandits,” the group Mom supervises. Of course, even in 4-H, the focus would be on winning every competition.
“Mom’s done it again,” I mutter as I take it in.
Compared with the other displays, which look cluttered, bare, or haphazard, Mom’s club’s looks like a professional showpiece. The walls artfully display the different photographs and drawings that members turned in to the fair, while the base of the display has arrangements of handmade clothes, robots, and baked goods. And, unsurprisingly, there are more blue ribbons on these projects than any other color. Kelsey got two this year alone. I sigh, knowing Mom will expect me to perform at the same level. The best auxiliary award at our upcoming competition, Superior ratings at state, another Most Valuable Member award. Lots of opportunities to let her down.
“Your mom advises the Blue Ribbon Bandits?” Felix asks, and I nod. “Ah. That figures.”
I frown. “Why would you say that?”
“Everyone knows that group. They’re big on winning. And it’s obvious how competitive you are.”
“Oh.” I don’t love that, but it’s the truth. I’m my mother’s daughter, whether I like it or not.
“It’s not a bad thing,” he reassures me with a small smile.“It’s the reason the color guard is better this year. Well, that and Li.”
Li looks at the ground and smiles.
I glance between them. Li isn’t wrong, thereissomething here, but they’re both so shy that it might not become more without a little push. I know I told Max I wasn’t going to get involved, but I just can’t help it.
I pull out my phone and make a big show of frowning at what I see. “Argh, I’m so sorry, but I promised I’d meet my parents soon and walk around with them.” I take a step back. “You two are welcome to tag along, but I think you’ll have more fun by yourselves. Li, weren’t you saying you wanted to get an elephant ear?”
Her eyes go wide, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Unless you don’t want to, Felix?”
“As if I’d ever turn down fair food. They’re selling them at the midway. Do you want to go look?”
Li’s practically skipping as she and Felix leave the barn, and I’m tempted to run up behind them and pinch their cheeks like I’m their grandma. I’m just about to text Nova and Max when Li comes flying back into the barn alone. Her arms are around me before I have time to worry.
“Thank you!” she whispers in my ear. “You’re seriously like the best big sister!”
Then she’s running back in Felix’s direction without a backward glance. If I’m not careful, I might cry.
