Julia followed him. “I’m not going to keep little kids off the swings,” she said quietly, “but it’s not like teenagers aren’tallowedto swing ...”
“Teenagers aren’t welcome anywhere in public,” Wyatt said matter-of-factly. “It’s why we’re depressed—we don’t have any ‘third spaces.’ I gave a whole speech about it in forensics.”
“You should have given that lady your speech.”
He was rubbing the back of his neck again. “You’d be surprised how rarely people want to listen to speeches.”
Both the picnic tables were full of middle-schoolers. Julia looked out at the cars. “Guess I’ll head back to the passion pit.”
“Yeah ...” Wyatt was looking over at her. “You could come sit with us, if you want.”
With his friends from school. Who woulddefinitelyrecognize her. Julia had known Coty Christensen since kindergarten. (If none of them recognized her, this would allfeel like a nightmare. Proof that no one around Juliaeverlooked at her twice.)
“Or ...” Wyatt pointed up toward the front of the lot. “There are some benches up there. They’re more like logs. We could go see if they’re free?” He looked at her—then laughed, like he was embarrassed. “You’re making a face. It’s okay. We don’t have to.”
Julia was making a face because she couldn’t believe he was trying to prolong his time with her. (Could a haircut really be this powerful? Was Chloerightabout lip tint?) Julia herself wasn’t brave or bold enough to keep this encounter going.
But Wyatt Hardy wasn’t askingJulia...
“That sounds good,” Not-Julia said. (The mysterious girl with the curly hair and raspberry-pink lips said.) “Let’s do that.”
Wyatt grinned. “Yeah. Let’s do that. Follow me.”
They walked to the edge of the parking area, then up toward the front. The drive-in was fenced in on one side, and there was a soybean field on the other. They were walking on the gravel driveway between the cars and the soybeans. It was getting darker as they walked.
“The benches are just up here,” Wyatt said. “At least theywere...”
Julia stumbled over a railroad tie set in the gravel. Wyatt grabbed her elbow. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” she said.
“Let me take that popcorn.” He took her drink, too.
Julia felt like she was walking fully into the dark. She couldn’t see as well with her contacts as she could with her glasses.
“Here they are,” Wyatt said. “You see them?”
There were a few long benches sitting in the weeds next to the field. They were made out of split logs and sat low to the ground. “I see them.”
Wyatt waited for her to sit down. “You good?”
“Yeah,” she said.
He sat down next to her. (Right next to her. Not even a foot away.)
“It’s actually a pretty good view,” Julia said, smoothing down the back of her hair. They were a little far to one side, but she could still see the whole movie screen.
Wyatt laughed. “Oh my god, we can’t hear it. I didn’t even think about that.”
Julia hadn’t noticed—and it didn’t matter to her even a little bit. “You cansort ofhear ...” she said. If they were quiet, the dialogue sounded like it was coming from the next room.
“Sort of,” Wyatt agreed.
“I think it’s okay.Jurassic Parkworks as a silent movie.”
Wyatt looked thoughtful. “I think you’re right.” He relaxed a little. “I wish I would have taken my share of the popcorn when I stomped away from my friends.”
“You can have the rest of mine,” Julia said. “Oh, and I have candy.”
