Page 26 of Okay, Cupid

“Thanks.” Huy grabs his own backpack, slipping the shirt in. “I was surprised to see you yesterday.”

“I try not to make a habit of going outside,” I tell him. “Defeats the whole ‘we operate in the shadows’ idea.” I give him a smile so he knows that I’m just messing with him.

It takes Huy a moment, but he grins right back. “Your, uh …” He pauses for a moment. “Your friend Cal seemed nice.”

“Yeah, he really is.”

“Are you two … close?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Nice.”

“Is it?”

“Hey, um … are you doing anything Saturday?” He breezes past my question as if I didn’t ask it.

“I have plans. Why?”

“Oh, my friends and I are playing soccer again. Thought you might want to watch?”

“Just watch? You mean you don’t trust my soccer-playing abilities?”

He chuckles. “I wasn’t going to say anything. But you were wheezing after one lap yesterday.”

“It’s a big gym!” I argue. “But I can’t on Saturday, I’m already hanging out with Alice, actually.”

“I saw you two at lunch yesterday.”

“When you threw a Cheez-It at me?”

He smiles softly. “Right, sorry about that.”

I smile back at him. “I forgive you.”

“You know, Cheez-It injuries aren’t something to joke about. Did you see a doctor?”

“I did, actually. The doctor said there was some damage, but I should heal fine. So long as I don’t take any more Cheez-Its to the head.”

Huy laughs at that, an excited sound, like everything he hears might be the funniest thing he’s ever been told. I like it. I like people with good laughs. The bell rings, and Mr. Benson wastes no time in getting the classroom door shut, telling us to grab our copies of The Crucible.

“Maybe next Saturday? You can come watch us play.”

“Yeah, sounds like fun.”

Huy steals one last look at me before he turns in his seat, digging around for his paperback. My eyes find the back of his head again. I feel like this is going to become a familiar sight.

And you know what?

As far as views go, it’s not half bad.

• • •

I’m learning the ins and outs of navigating Hearst, and the studying I did on how to read sheet music is paying off already. Alice still doesn’t seem pleased, but I’d rather have a neutral Alice than an upset one.

“All right, everyone, sounding good. We’re getting where we need to be for the showcase,” Mr. Lawson says as he leans against his desk.

“Showcase?” I whisper to Alice.