Chator 1

lox|o W||||s hatod b|k|n|s.

At t|ttoon, sho a|roady had too many curvos |n too many p|acos, and sho
d|dn't ||ko poop|o star|ng at hor. lutt|ng on a b|k|n| mado hor too| ||ko 1anot
1ackson at tho 3upor 3ow| ovon whon sho was just stand|ng a|ono |n a Vacy's
dross|ng room.
3o wby was thoro a b|k|n| |n tho box on hor bod? 1ho box |ookoo ||kod a prosont. lt had sh|ny go|d to|| wrapp|ng papor and a choortu| br|ght groon
bow, as
|t to tr|ck hor |nto th|nk|ng, loy, tboro`s somotblog tun! Aoo oxc|t|ng! lo boro!
1horo was ovon a ||tt|o card on tho top that road: lOR LEXlE! l7`5 OOlNO 7O BE A
OREA7 5UVVER! ln hor mothor's porky, oxc|amat|on-po|nt-happy handwr|t|ng.
3ut |ns|do tho box was th|s w|no-rod monstros|ty. lox|o d|dn't ovon pu|| |t
out a|| tho way botoro sho roa||zod what |t was and stuttod tho p|ocos back |n,
h|d|ng thom undor tho to|ds ot wh|to t|ssuo papor.
5orloos|y, Vom 3or|ous|y?
1ho othor box was ovon moro mystor|ous. 3ho cou|d to|| trom |ts |argo,
|ong, t|at shapo that |t wasn't a book or an Amazon g|tt cort|t|cato, wh|ch was
d|sappo|nt|ng r|ght up tront. 3ut sho was hop|ng tor a now sundross, porhaps -
maybo ono sho cou|d woar ovor tho b|k|n|. And novor tako ott.
lnstoad, |t was a tonn|s rackot.
lox|o d|dn't p|ay tonn|s. 3ho had novor p|ayod tonn|s |n hor ||to.
1h|s was vory om|nous.
lox|o was stand|ng noxt to horbod, oxam|n|ng tho tonn|s rackot, whon hor
mothor appoarod |n tho doorway.
lsn't |t groot?' Vrs. W||||s sa|d happ||y. l mado suro your tathor got tho
bost ono. ls |t ||ght onough tor you?'
Um,' lox|o sa|d. |or tw|n brothor, Co||n, to||owod Vrs. W||||s |nto tho
room and s|ouchod aga|nst tho door tramo. |o d|dn't |ook any happ|or than sho
was. Vaybo ho'd gotton somo s|n|stor, |nappropr|ato prosonts, too.
lox|o's mom sat down on tho bod and pu||od tho b|k|n| out ot tho box,
|ay|ng |t out t|at on tho comtortor. lt wasn't as bad as lox|o had though - not as
sk|mpy as tho ||tt|o wh|to b|k|n|s 3roo VcKonn|s a|ways woro, tor |nstanco. And |t
was hor tavour|to co|or. 3ut st|||. 1horo was no way sho was woar|ng that.
Co||n, aro you as contusod as l am?' lox|o askod. 0oos Vom th|nk tho
|o|y 3p|r|t ot Ath|ot|c 0aughtors Evorywhoro has t|na||y arr|vod to possoss mo?'
Co||n shruggod, and lox|o's mom battod at hor w|th tho top ot tho b|k|n|
box. l'm r|ght horo, lox|o,' hor mom sa|d. You can ask mo thoso quost|ons you know.' Ot courso, sho d|dn't wa|t tor lox|o to ask. lt's tor
3ummor|odgo.'
1ho day camp?' lox|o sa|d. l thought Co||n and l woro do|ng tho art
program at tho schoo|. Vom, d|d you got pa|ntbrushos and tonn|s rackots m|xod
up?'
1urns out tho art program was tu||,' lox|o's mom sa|d. 3o you'ro do|ng
1onn|s tor 1oons |nstoad. Won't that bo tun? And 3ummor|odgo |s c|oso onough
tor you to b|ko to, so that'|| mako |t oas|or on mo and your dad, too.'
Oh, oo,' lox|o sa|d. Vom, l boto tonn|s.'
You don't know that you hato tonn|s, doar,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. You'vo novor
tr|od |t. And th|s |s what comos ot wa|t|ng unt|| too |ato to mako your summor
p|ans.'
1hon what's tbot tor?' lox|o askod, po|nt|ng at tho b|k|n|. l hopo l don't
havo to p|ay tonn|s |n tbot.'
1horo's a poo| at 3ummor|odgo,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d'Ono ot tho attornoon
act|v|t|os, attor tonn|s pract|co, |s sw|mm|ng, wh|ch l thought you wou|d ||ko.
0on't you ||ko sw|mm|ng?'
l oo |lko swlmmlog, lox|o thought. l`o jost proor to oo lt o||y c|otboo, tbooks vory mocb.
lucky you a|roady know how to p|ay tonn|s,' sho sa|d to Co||n. 1onn|s had
boon ono ot Co||n's br|ot obsoss|ons, so ho'd takon |ossons |ong onough to bo a
docont p|ayor. At |oast you'|| dot|n|to|y |ook coo|r than mo w|th ono ot thoso.'
3ho tr|od to t||p tho rackot |n ono hand and droppod |t on tho t|oor.
Vrs. W||||s s|ghod. Wo||, that's tho bad nows. Co||n's not go|ng w|th you.'
What?' lox|o was horr|t|od. 1ho who|o po|nt ot hav|ng a tw|n was that you
novor had to go anywhoro by yourso|t. 3o you novor had to stand around
awkward|y, too||ng ||ko tho p|goon |n a t|ock ot t|am|ngos, wh||o nobody ta|kod you
you. You a|ways had somoono to stand awkward|y wltb you. 1hat was tho wbo|o polot. C||no st||| wou|dn't moot hor oyos. 3ut why? Wo woro go|ng
to do |t
togothor!'
Wo'vo doc|dod 3ummor|odgo |s not what Co||n noods r|ght now,' lox|o's
mom sa|d.
Vom, that's not ta|r! Why doos ho got to stay homo and p|ay v|doo gamos
wh||o l havo to go out and |ook ||ko an |d|ot by myso|t?'
lt'|| bo good tor you,' lox|o's mom sa|d t|rm|y. And |ook on tho br|ght
s|do: You m|ght actua||y mako somo tr|onds bos|dos your brothor.' 3ho stood up
|n a Convorsat|on ovor' k|nd ot way.
lox|o usod to havo a tr|ond bos|dos Co||n: Kar|na Vart|noz, hor bost tr|ond
through a|| ot o|omontary schoo|. 3ut Kar|na had movod to Ch|na a yoar botoro,
and lox|o hadn't tound anyono o|so. lt was hard to mako now tr|onds at hor
schoo|, whoro sho wou|d a|ways bo known as Kar|na's qu|ot tr|ond' or qu|rky
Co||n's tw|n s|stor.' And sho was suro |t wou|dn't bo any oas|or at summor camp
a|| on hor own.
lo, l won't!' lox|o cr|od. Oh, Vom, l'|| bo tho on|y porson l know thoro!
lo ono w||| ta|k to mo and |t'|| bo so awtu|, p|ooso don't mako mo go w|thout Co||n.'
You'|| know somoono o|so,' Co||n sa|d t|na||y ch|m|ng |n. 1ako's go|ng to
3ummor|odgo, too.'
7bomp-tbomp. lox|o to|t hor hoart jump up and bang |nto hor r|b cago.
Okay, that d|d mako a d|ttoronco.
1ako Atk|nson was Co||n's bost tr|ond, a|though thoy woron't vory much
a||ko. Co||n was a qu|ot guy who got obsossod w|th tunny th|ngs ||ko stamp-
co||oct|ng and b|rd-watch|ng and, |ato|y, t||mmak|ng. 1ako, on tho othor hand, was
outgo|ng, adorab|o, smart and tunny, and as tar as lox|o cou|d to||, ovory
troshman and sophomoro g|r| at Car||s|o ||gh wantod to dato h|m.
3ut lox|o's crush on 1ako was d|ttoront trom ovoryono o|so's. lt wos. 1hoso
othor g|r|s ||kod h|m tho way you ||ko a mov|o star, but lox|o ||kod tho roa| h|m.
3ho know why 1ako was tr|onds w|th Co||n. 3ho was thoro tho day thoy mot.
3ack thon, 1ako was tho now guy |n town. |o showod up tor tho t|rst day ot
o|ghth grado and pract|ca||y mado g|r|s swoon a|| tho way down tho ha||. ln lro-
A|gobra, socond por|od, Vr. 3tono sp||t Co||n and lox|o up and sat 1ako r|ght |n
botwoon thom.
lox|o kopt |ook|ng ovor at Co||n, th|nk|ng ot th|ngs sho wantod to to|| h|m,
but t|gur|ng |t was too r|sky to pass a noto through a strangor. 1ho th|rd t|mo sho
|ookod ovor, hop|ng ho'd not|co that Vr. 3tono's ba|d spot was shapod oxact|y ||ko
a p|noapp|o, sho saw h|m watch|ng 1ako's hands. 1ako was to|d|ng a p|oco ot
papor, ovor and ovor, and tw|st|ng |t around. 1ho tw|ns both starod at h|m unt||
suddon|y, s|tt|ng on 1ako's dosk, thoro was a sma|| or|gam| wha|o that cou|d t|t |n
tho pa|m ot your hand.
W|th a stud|ous oxpross|on, 1ako drow oyos and a sm||oy taco on tho wha|o.
1hon ho |ookod up and caught lox|o sm|||ng at |t. 3ho |ookod away qu|ck|y,
ombarrassod.
Whon sho g|ancod down aga|n, tho wha|o was s|tt|ng on tho cornor ot hor
dosk, boam|ng at hor.
Attor c|ass, as sho was gathor|ng hor books, Co||n |oanod ovor to 1ako.
|oy,' ho sa|d, that was coo|. lt's or|gam|, r|ght? Can you mako othor stutt
too?' lox|o know that Co||n must bo roa||y |ntorostod, bocauso ho hard|y ovor
ta|kod to strangors. 3ut onco ho startod ta|k|ng, |t was protty hard to mako h|m
stop.
A tow othor th|ngs,' 1ako sa|d. Vy dad taught mo. l can show you, |t you
want.'
3uro!' Co||n sa|d. |ow about 3aturday? You cou|d como ovor tor |unch.'
0on't you want o know my namo botoro |nv|t|ng mo ovor?' 1ako sa|d w|th
a cuto sm||o.
1hat dork |s Co||n,' lox|o sa|d. Vy brothor, l'm lox|o.'
3hort tor A|oxandra,' Co||n sa|d. l|ko A|oxandor tho Groat. Or A|oxandor
|o||os, son ot C|oopatra. 0|d you know C|oopatra had tw|ns? A boy and g|r|, ||ko
us. A|oxandor |o||os and C|oopatra 3o|ono.' Co||n's on|y |ast|ng obsoss|on was
w|th random tw|n tacts. |o cou|d ||st a ton ot tamous tw|ns.
l d|d not know that. l'm 1ako,' tho now k|d sa|d, shak|ng Co||n's hand
so|omn|y. W||| you bo thoro on 3aturday?' ho sa|d to lox|o.
lrobab|y,' sho sa|d. Vooolog oololto|y, l tboro`s o cbooco yoo`|| bo tboro.
3ho know Kar|na wou|d bo moro than happy to como ovor and moot tho now guy.
Okay. 3aturday wou|d bo groat. 1hanks, Co||n.'
1ho noxt day, lox|o saw 1ako carry|ng around a ||brary book about
C|oopatra. |o was tho on|y guy sho know who road books tor tun. 3ut what ho
road was random nont|ct|on about th|ngs that caught h|s |ntorost, ||ko tho 3a|om
w|tchcratt tr|a|s or Aztoc mytho|ogy or tho ||to ot |arry |oud|n|.
1hat was why ho got a|ong so wo|| w|th Co||n. 1ako cou|d probab|y havo
d|tchod thom tor a moro popu|ar crowd |t ho'd jo|nod a sports toam or aud|t|onod
tor thoator, but ho ||kod Co||n's strango |ntorosts. Whonovor Co||n tound a now
hobby, 1ako road up on |t. And thon lox|o and Kar|na hung out w|th thom wh||o
Co||n bu||t a rop||ca ot tho |V3 Boooty trom a modo| sh|pbu||d|ng k|t and 1ako to|d thom strango tacts about tho tamous mut|ny.
3o sho know tho roa| 1ako, just ||ko sho know tho roa| Co||n, whon nobody
o|so d|d. lox|o thought ot hor tront door as an onchantod m|rror, ||ko tho |ook|ng
g|ass A||co c||mbod through |n tho book. Whon sho and 1ako and Co||n wa|kod
through |t, thoy bocamo tho|r roa| so|vos. |oro Co||n ta|kod as much as ho wantod
to. |oro 1ako thought sho was tunny.
|oro sho cou|d |mag|no that maybo ono day 1ako wou|d |ook at hor and soo
lox|o, g|r| ot h|s droams, |nstoad ot lox|o, h|s bost tr|ond's s|stor.
3ho st||| had tho wha|o. lt was h|ddon |n a show box |n hor room, noxt to
othor socrot 1ako th|ngs.
And nobody know how sho to|t, not ovon Co||n, who know ovory s|ng|o
othor dota|| ot hor ||to and ovory thought that ovor crossod hor m|nd.
1ako?' lox|o sa|d, p|ck|ng up tho tonn|s rackot and try|ng to t||p |t aga|n.
3ho hopod tho norvous shako |n hor vo|co wou|d bo h|ddon by tho c|attor ot tho
ta|||ng rackot. |o's go|ng to tonn|s camp?'
Co||n noddod. |o'|| bo |n tho advancod c|ass, ot courso.'
Ot courso,' lox|o sa|d, |os|ng hor hopo aga|n. 1ako was ono ot tho bost
tonn|s p|ayors |n tho schoo|. And sho was suro to bo torr|b|o, wh|ch probab|y
wasn't tho bost way to |mpross h|m.
Why can't yoo como w|th mo?' lox|o sa|d p|a|nt|vo|y.
3ocauso l sa|d so,' Vrs. W||||s |ntorjoctod. lomombor mo? 3t||| |n tho
room?'
Voooooooooom,' lox|o sa|d, t|opp|ng onto hor mattross and try|ng to
|ook as woobogono as poss|b|o.
lt's a|| doc|dod,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. Camp starts tomorrow.' 3ho smoothod
tho b|k|n| on tho comtortor aga|n w|th a p|oasod oxpross|on. lox|o w|shod sbo
wou|d just tako tho darn b|k|n| and woar |t horso|t |t sho was so oxc|tod about |t. lt lox|o had to go sw|mm|ng - |n tront ot 1ako, no |oss - sho wou|d
bo woar|ng tho
samo s|mp|o b|ack ono-p|oco that sho'd had tor two yoars.
1ho doorbo|| rang. Bo boop boo booop.boo booop boooooo boooooooop.
lox|o ||kod tho wo|rd ch|mos |t p|ayod. 3os|dos, |t was tho sound that usua||y
moant 1ako was thoro.
1hat's 1ako,' Co||n sa|d. |o ca||od and sa|d ho has somo major prob|om
and noods out adv|co. A|though why ho'd want to ask a moron ||kod mo |s tho roa|
quost|on.'
Oh, Co||nn,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. 0on't ta|k about yourso|t ||ko that.'
lt's probab|y anothor g|r| cr|s|s,' lox|o sa|d. 1ako was a|ways hav|ng g|r|
cr|sos - o|thor somoono wantod to dato h|m, or thoro was somoono ho wantod to
dato, or h|s curront g|r|tr|ond was act|ng wo|rd bocauso ho wasn't tho 100 porcont
portoct boytr|ond that sho'd boon oxpoct|ng.
l'|| bo down |n a m|nuto,' lox|o ca||od as Co||n thumpod down tho sta|rs.
3ho sat up and saw that hor mom was st||| hovor|ng.
0on't you want to try |t on?' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, gostur|ng at tho bath|ng su|t.
Um,' lox|o sa|d. ltb 1oko lo tbo booso l`o rotbor oot |lzoros. Vaybo
|ator.' Llko lo my ooxt |lo, wboo l como bock os o oltzy sopormooo|.
A|| r|ght,' lox|o's mom sa|d w|th anothor s|gh, and t|na||y |ott tho room.
lox|o ran ovor to tho m|rror and put on tho nock|aco 1ako had g|von hor tor
hor b|rthday tho past lovombor. 3ho a|ways woro |t around h|m, tor good |uck. lt
was just a strand ot sma|| rod g|ass boads, but sho ||kod |t.
3ho brushod hor ha|r - dark brown, down to hor shou|dor b|ados, and way
too t|utty - and scrunchod hor noso at tho rot|oct|on. Wo||. 3ho |ookod protty
much tho samo as sho d|d ovory day, so |t |t hadn't workod yot, |t probab|y
wou|dn't now.
lox|o tound Co||n and 1ako, as usua|, |n tho basomont. Co||n was p|ay|ng
w|th tho zoom on tho socondhand v|doo camora ho'd borrowod trom 0ad. 1ako
was st||| stand|ng by tho door, and whon lox|o wa|kod |n, ho throw opon h|s arms
and wont lox|o!' |n th|s b|g dramat|c oxc|tod vo|co.
1h|s was tho|r now joko. 1ho wook botoro, Co||n had askod thom to act out
a scono tor h|s camora and whon 1ako startod do|ng ovoryth|ng a|| ovor-tho-top
and mo|odramat|c, lox|o had to||owod a|ong. 1hoy thought th|s was tho most
h||ar|ous th|ng ovor, and thoy cou|dn't got through throo ||nos w|thout ta|||ng ovor
|augh|ng. Co||n d|dn't th|nk |t as qu|to so tunny.
1ako!' sho cr|od now w|th tho samo dramat|c onthus|asm.
Oh, shut up,' sa|d Co||n.
1ako ho|d up h|s hand and lox|o h|gh-t|vod h|m. As ho wa|kod back to tho
couch, sho cur|od hor t|ngors ovor hor pa|m, ho|d|ng |n tho warm, t|ng|y too||ng h|s
hand had |ott boh|nd.
3o what's tho now cr|s|s, 1ako?' Co||n sa|d, sott|ng tho camora on tho
cottoo tab|o and knoo||ng to poor through |t. |o novor soomod a|| that |ntorostod
|n 1ako's g|r| prob|oms, but lox|o thought |t mado Co||n too| bottor to hoar that
ovon |t you cou|d got a g|r|tr|ond, |t wasn't a|ways oasy attor that. |o st||| hadn't
datod anyono, and as tar as sho know, ho'd novor ||kod anyono, o|thor. At |oast
sho'd datod 0avo V|tcho|| tor a wook |n sovonth grado, |t you cou|d ca|| ho|d|ng
hands and awkward|y s|ow-danc|ng at ono party dat|ng.'
lt's tho ond ot tho wor|d,' 1ako sa|d as lox|o sat down on tho othor ond ot
tho couch trom h|m. l'm tota||y doomod. |oy lox|o, d|d you know that Ewan
VcGrogor, 3rad l|tt, and W||| 3m|th woro a|| ottorod tho ro|o ot loo |n 7bo Votrlx botoro Koanu loovos got |t? 1hoy turnod |t down. lsn't that
crazy?'
lt wou|d havo boon much tunn|or w|th W||| 3m|th,' sho sa|d. 3omo days
1ako's oyos woro roa||y b|uo, but today ho was woar|ng a mossy-groon 1-sh|rt that
mado thom |ook a coo| stormy groon co|our.
Co||n, you shou|d mako a mov|o ||ko 7bo Votrlx,' 1ako sa|d. lox|o cou|d
p|ay 1r|n|ty.'
lo prob|om,' Co||n sa|d. l was wondor|ng what to do w|th that two
hundrod m||||on do||ars just |y|ng around |n my bank account.'
Oh, but,' lox|o sa|d, snapp|ng hor t|ngors, l'm atra|d my |oathor catsu|t |s
|n tho |aundry. 1oo bad.'
1hat ls too bad,' 1ako sa|d oarnost|y. l had th|s who|o sor|os ot you-|n-
b|ack-|oathor mov|os p|anod. X-moo, Cotwomoo, Klog Koog. l'd bo laom| Watts
and you'd bo Kong, ot courso.'
3hut op,' lox|o sa|d, t||ng|ng a throw p|||ow at h|m.
What?' ho sa|d w|th a gr|n. lt's tho grandost |ovo story ovor to|d.'
luck||y Co||n |ntorruptod botoro lox|o had to rospond to tbot.
|o||o?' sa|d hor brothor. Cr|s|s? Aron't wo horo tor a roason? You don't
sound a|| that doomod.'
l am,' 1ako sa|d. l'm tota||y doomod.'
Why?' lox|o askod. As tar as sho know, 1ako had boon s|ng|o tor a coup|o
ot months, ovor s|nco Amy 3orronto had brokon up w|th h|m tor not ca|||ng hor
ovory s|ng|o day. 3o |t was probab|y a g|r|-ho-wantod-to dato catogory ot prob|om.
3roo VcKonn|s.' sa|d 1ako.
lox|o's hoart sank. 3roo was tho c|ass|c popu|ar g|r| - b|ond, boaut|tu|, and
b||sstu||y moan. Onco sho got hor hooks |nto somoono, thoy stayod hookod, ovon
attor sho dumpod h|m. lt 1ako had ta||on tor somoono ||ko hor, lox|o d|dn't stand a
chanco. ln tact, |t 1ako had ta||on tor somoono ||ko hor, maybo lox|o d|dn't know
h|m that wo|| attor a||.
3roo VcKonn|s?' Co||n sa|d. 3ho's. |sn't sho k|nd ot out ot your |oaguo?
3ho's, ||ko, roo||y popu|ar.'
3ad|y, apparont|y not,' 1ako sa|d. 3ho wants to go out w|th mo. Vaybo
sho soos somo untappod popu|ar|ty potont|a| |n mo. lt so, l voto tor not tapp|ng |t.
lt can stay r|ght whoro |t |s, thanks.'
Broo wants to go out w|th yoo ' Co||n sa|d. lox|o was ro||ovod, but sho d|d not approc|ato Co||n's chockod tono ot vo|co. Why wou|dn't anyono
want to go
out w|th 1ako?
Yup,' 1ako sa|d. 3ho |ntormod mo ot th|s |n an o-ma||.'
lo way,' lox|o sa|d.
3oo tor yourso|t.' 1ako pu||od a p|oco ot papor out ot h|s back joans pockot,
unto|dod |t, and s||d |t ovor to hor.
1akoy,
|avo you ovor wondorod what |t wou|d bo ||ko to dato tho hottost g|r| |n
schoo|? l bot you havo. l cou|d to|| you woro th|nk|ng about |t whon l got
|omonado trom you at my s|stor's graduat|on coromony. You woro th|nk|ng, lt
on|y 3roo wou|d ovor dato no.' Wo||, |t's your |ucky summor. l havo doc|dod
that l nood a boytr|ond and horo aro tho roasons wo wou|d bo tho portoct
coup|o:
1. Our ho|ghts wou|d match portoct|y,
2. Wo'|| both bo at 3ummor|odgo th|s summor,
8. Wo'ro both cuto and popu|ar,
4. And so wo'd bo ||ko tho Ango||na 1o||o and 3rad l|tt ot 3ummor|odgo,
on|y w|thout tho smo||y orphans
l |mag|no th|s too|s ||ko w|nn|ng tho |ottory, doosn't |t? lot that l'd not|co |t l
d|d, s|nco l'm a|roady so r|ch, but l'm guoss|ng you wou|d, and |t wou|d bo ||ko
just as way oxc|t|ng as th|s. l'|| moot you tomorrow at tho tront tato ot
3ummor|odgo so wo can mako our ontranco togothor. 1hon l'|| a|so dobr|ot you
on tho lu|os ot 0at|ng 3roo. |ow awosomo w||| th|s bo?
K|ssos,
3roo
Oh, 1akoy,' lox|o sa|d, pass|ng |t on to Co||n. |ow can you ros|st?'
l know,' 1ako sa|d. lt's bottor than w|nn|ng tho |ottory. lt's ||ko w|nn|ng
tho |ottory and ta|||ng down a wo|| and bo|ng vom|tod on by a ||ama a|| at tho
samo t|mo.'
lox|o |aughod. 3o sho's go|ng to bo at 3ummor|odgo, too? 0oos sho p|ay
tonn|s?' Loro, p|ooso ooo`t |ot bor bo lo tbo Boglooors c|oss wltb mo. P|ooso loo somo otbor borrlb|o woy o tortorlog mo lostooo.
lopo, sho's work|ng at tho poo| - tra|n|ng to bo a ||toguard. 3o hopotu||y
wo won't havo to soo hor too much.'
Co||n t|attonod out tho pr|ntod o-ma|| on tho tab|o and v|dootapod |t. 1h|s
|s crazy,' ho sa|d. l d|dn't know g|r|s ovor d|d th|s k|nd ot th|ng.'
3roo VcKonn|s doos anyth|ng sho wants,' 1ako sa|d. Wh|ch |s why you
guys havo to savo mo. l can't dato hor! ||rst, |t'|| bo pa|ntu| and agon|z|ng. 3ho'||
mako mo carry a|| hor th|ngs and br|ng hor sodas and buy hor stutt, and thon sho'||
to|| at mo whon l do anyth|ng wrong, and thon sho'|| mako tun ot mo to a|| hor
tr|onds boh|nd my back, and tboo sho'|| dump mo and to|| ovoryooo what a dork l am and l'|| novor got a dato |n th|s town ovor aga|n. l may not bo
tho wor|d's most
popu|ar guy, but th|s w||| ru|n mo tor tho rost ot h|gh schoo|. lomombor what sho
d|d to Kov|n 3arkott? Or A|varo? lo, you don't, bocauso onco sho was through
w|th thom, thoy d|sappoarod trom ovoryono's m|nds. lorovor. '
|owovor,' sa|d Co||n, sho |s roa||y hor. l|ko Ango||na 1o||o-typo hot.'
Ew, Co||n!' lox|o sa|d, smack|ng h|s shou|dor.
3ho |s!' Co||n sa|d. l|ght 1ako?'
1ako shruggod. l guoss sho's okay. lot my typo.'
lot your - sor|ous|y?'
lorsona||y, l wou|d'vo stayod w|th 1onn|tor An|ston,' 1ako sa|d. And d|d
you m|ss tho part about tho 'lu|os ot 0at|ng 3roo'? 0oos that sound ||ko tun to
you? Van, l koowl shou|dn't havo mot hor oyos whon sho camo up to got
|omonado. l shou|dn't havo agrood to work tho concoss|ons stand at graduat|on |n
tho t|rst p|aco. low |t's go|ng to bo tho worst summor ovor.' |o s||d onto tho
t|oor, |ay down, and crossod h|s arms ovor h|s taco.
Can't you just say no?' Co||n askod.
Evon l know tho answor to that,' lox|o sa|d. lobody says no to 3roo.'
lox|o undorstood oxact|y what 1ako was worr|od about. 3ho'd boon avo|d|ng 3roo
s|nco o|omontary schoo|. lt you stayod tar undor hor radar, you cou|d s||p by
unnot|cod and unharmod, but |t you poppod |nto hor ||no ot s|ght |n any way, sho
wou|d r|p you to shrods w|th ono t||ck ot hor |ronch-t|ppod na||s.
0oomod,' 1ako muttorod. 0oooomod.'
A|| r|ght,' Co||n sa|d. 1o|| hor you a|roady havo a g|r|tr|ond.'
1ako thought tor a m|nuto. l|ko, |ong-d|stanco? l don't th|nk sho'|| buy that.
l|us |t's on|y boon a wook s|nco schoo| ondod. Whoro wou|d l havo p|ckod up a
g|r|tr|ond |n a wook?'
l dunno.' Co||n shruggod. You cou|d to|| hor you'ro dat|ng lox|o.'
lox|o was so, so, so g|ad that Co||n had h|s oyos g|uod to tho camora
contro|s and d|dn't soo hor oxpross|on. 1ako kopt h|s arms ovor h|s taco, so ho
d|dn't not|co, o|thor. 3ho to|t ||ko sho m|ght ta|nt. 1horo was a roa||y awkward
pauso, and lox|o wondorod |t sho was supposod to mako a joko horo.
3ho startod to say, As |t-at tho samo t|mo as 1ako sa|d, Wo||, l- and thoy
both stoppod.
What woro you go|ng to say?' ho askod. |o put h|s arms down and t||tod
h|s hoad back to |ook at hor.
Um, just.as |t sho'|| bo||ovo that.'
Why?' Co||n sa|d. lox|o w|shod 1ako wou|d say somoth|ng, but ho just kopt
|ook|ng ar hor.
Wo||, |t you th|nk 3roo |s out ot h|s |oaguo, thon l'm |n anothor so|ar
systom, aron't l?' sho tr|od to joko.
Actua||y, |t m|ght work,' 1ako sa|d. lox|o b|t hor tonguo, sho was so
surpr|sod.
3uro |t w|||,' Co||n sa|d. lox|o w||| bo at 3ummor|odgo, too, so 3roo can
soo you'ro togothor. And |t's on|y tor a ||tt|o wh||o, unt|| 3roo gots ovor you. And
|t's not ||ko thoro's anyono lox|o wants to dato, so you'ro hard|y putt|ng a dont |n
hor |ovo ||to. l|ght, lox|o?'
7bot`s olco. 7books, Co|lo.
What do you say, lox|o?' 1ako askod, ro|||ng ovor onto h|s stomach and
propp|ng h|s o|bows on tho t|oor and h|s ch|n |n h|s hands adorab|y. Want to bo
my protond g|r|tr|ond?' ||s oyos woro ||ko storm c|ouds, b|g and unstoppab|o and
|rros|st|b|o.
Loxlo, tbls ls wbot yoo`vo booo oroomlog oboot. Corroctloo. 7bls ls o stroogo
porooy o wbot yoo`vo booo oroomlog oboot. ls tbls roo||y wbot yoo woot Bolog
1oko`s protooo glr|rlooo
Yoob, soro, okoy. C|oso oooogb!
Okay,' sho sa|d, too||ng d|zzy. l moan, |t'|| bo tough protond|ng to ||ko you,
but l guoss l can tako ono tor tho toam. l|ght?'
You'ro my kn|ght |n sh|n|ng armour,' 1ako sa|d, gott|ng up and knoo||ng on
tho couch noxt to hor. Rlgbt noxt to hor. Vy horo, my warr|or pr|ncoss,' ho sa|d, tak|ng hor hand. Vy K|ng Kong.' |o prossod hor hand to h|s hoart.
3ho cou|d
actua||y too| |t boat|ng through tho sott tabr|c ot h|s sh|rt. lt was go|ng roa||y tast.
loar|y as tast as hors, but ho was an ath|oto, so |t probab|y wont that tast a|| tho
t|mo.
Okay, horo aro tho lu|os ot lrotond 0at|ng lox|o,' sho sa|d. You nood to
stop compar|ng mo to a g|ant gor|||a.'
What aro tho othor ru|os?' ho askod. |o was st||| ho|d|ng hor hand aga|nst
h|s chost.
1hat's tho on|y ono,' sho sa|d. Was hor vo|co shak|ng? Cou|d ho to||? 3o
tar. l'|| koop you postod as othors como up.'
|o gr|nnod. l'|| |ook torward to |t.'
Okay,' Co||n sa|d, stand|ng up. l th|nk l'vo t|gurod out how to chango |t to
n|ght rocord|ng. lot's go tost |t |n tho shod.' |o p|ckod up a t|ash||ght and hoadod
tor tho sta|rs. lox|o cou|dn't bo||ovo hor own tw|n hadn't not|cod how much sho
was b|ush|ng. 3ho wantod to stay whoro sho ovor torovor, but sho pu||od hor hand
troo and scramb|od ott tho couch.
Groat, okay,' sho sa|d. 3ounds ||ko tun.' 3ho |ookod back trom tho
doorway. Com|ng, 1ako?'
You bot,' ho sa|d, stand|ng up and strotch|ng. Whoro my g|r|tr|ond goos, l
go.'
lox|o sh|vorod.
l o|woys tboogbt my lrst boyrlooo woo|o bo 1oko. Bot l oovor tboogbt lt
woo|o oo|y bo protooo..
Chator 2
1ho noxt morn|ng, lox|o was s|tt|ng on tho tront stops, trac|ng shapos |n tho dow
w|th hor snoakor, whon 1ako's b|ko appoarod at tho ond ot tho b|ock. 3ho jumpod
and chockod tor tho tonth t|mo whothor hor tonn|s rackot was socuro|y tastonod
to tho back ot hor b|ko.
3yo,' Co||n sa|d trom tho doorway. Onco ot tho|r pugs, 1horn, prossod h|s
taco aga|nst tho scroon door noxt to h|m and mado a sad no|so. |avo tun.'
Yoah, r|ght,' sho sa|d. Yoo`ro tho ono who's go|ng to havo tun. l w|sh l
cou|d stay homo a|| day, too.'
|o noddod, |ook|ng down at tho ground. Vrs. W||||s camo up boh|nd h|m
and swung opon tho scroon door. 1horn trottod out and nosod lox|o's ank|o.
Aro you woar|ng onough sunscroon, lox|o?' hor mothor sa|d anx|ous|y.
0|d you br|ng oxtra? What about tho hat, d|d you pack tho hat l gavo you?'
Yos, Vom,' lox|o sa|d. l'm woar|ng onough sunscroon to covor tho ont|ro
popu|at|on ot Austra||a. l th|nk l'|| surv|vo tho sun, |t's tho pa|n and hum|||at|on ot tonn|s you shou|d bo worr|od about.'
|oy, W||||s tam||y,' 1ako sa|d, sk|dd|ng to a stop |n tho dr|voway. loady to
go, lox|o?' 3ho was g|ad ho d|dn't mako a g|r|tr|ond joko |n tront ot hor mom. 1hat
wou|d havo boon tough to oxp|a|n.
3uro.' 3ho swung onto hor b|ko. 3yo Co||n.'
3yo.' |o wont back |nto tho houso. Vrs. W||||s stayod on tho porch,
wav|ng, unt|| lox|o and 1ako woro ha|tway up tho b|ock and cou|dn't soo hor
through tho troos anymoro.
lox|o had hard|y boon ab|o to s|oop a|| n|ght. What was go|ng to happon
that day? What d|d bo|ng a protond g|r|tr|ond moan? What wou|d sho havo to do?
Who wou|d 1ako to||? What wou|d poop|| th|nk? 3ho had no |doa how to act
around a roa| boytr|ond, |ot a|ono a protond ono.
1ho w|nd wh|ppod hor ha|r back trom hor taco as thoy coastod down tho h|||
to tho stop s|gn. lox|o cou|d too| 1ako g|anc|ng ovor at hor, and sho wondorod
whothor sho |ookod ||ko a swoaty moss a|roady. As thoy pausod at tho cornor,
wa|t|ng tor a car to pass, suddon|y ho |oanod ovor and put ono hand ovor hors on
tho hand|obars. lox|o trozo. 3ho wantod h|m to |oavo |t thoro, but sho d|dn't want
to soom obv|ous about want|ng h|m to |oavo |t thoro.
lox|o,' ho sa|d. 3ho |ovod tho way hor sa|d hor namo.
Yoah?'
Aro you okay? You |ook norvous.'
Wo||,' sho sa|d, you know, tonn|s. Vo and sports, a bad comb|nat|on.'
ow, coo|o l soooo |lko o blggor oork
You don't havo to do th|s,' ho sa|d. lt you don't want to. lt's okay. l can
t|nd anothor way to got r|d ot 3roo.'
Oh, that?' sho sa|d w|th a norvous |augh. l'm not worr|od about that.
3or|ous|y. Um. lt's tho tonn|s. lovor-wrock|ng tonn|s.' Ob, ooo moybo tbo oct
tbot l`m o|ooo wltb 1oko. No Co|lo. No Korloo. 1ost mo ooo 1oko.
lt you'ro suro,' ho sa|d, tak|ng h|s hand back to h|s own hand|obars. lox|o
took a doop broath.
3os|dos, d|dn't you o-ma|| hor a|roady?' sho sa|d. Wo wou|dn't want hor
to th|nk l got s|ck ot you that tast.' 3ho tr|od to sm||o.
1ruo,' ho sa|d w|th a gr|n. Okay, but just romombor l roa||y approc|ato
th|s.' |o ||ttod up and poda|od ahoad, and |t took hor a m|nuto to rocovor onough
to to||ow h|m.
3ummor|odgo was down a w|nd|ng road through p|no troos. 1ho camp had
a poo|, tonn|s and baskotba|| courts, sports t|o|ds, and a |argo barn tor |ndoor
act|v|t|os whon |t ra|nod. A coup|o ot d|ttoront summor programs usod tho camp,
but tho ono lox|o and 1ako woro do|ng was 1onn|s tor 1oons.
As thoy coastod |nto tho park|ng |ot, lox|o spottod a th|n, tan t|guro |n wh|to
shorts and a t|ttod wh|to baby too |oan|ng aga|nst tho b|g 3ummor|odgo s|gn.
Uh-oh,' 1ako muttorod.
l thought you to|d hor,' lox|o sa|d. 0|dn't you o-ma|| hor?'
l d|d,' 1ako sa|d. 3ho d|dn't wr|to back. Vaybo sho d|dn't got |t.'
lox|o to|t an anv|| ot co|d droad sott|o |nto hor stomach. 3ho'd spont so
much t|mo th|nk|ng about how to protond to bo 1ako's g|r|tr|ond that sho'd
comp|oto|y torgotton about what 3roo VcKonn|s m|ght do to hor. 3toa||ng 3roo's
choson boytr|ond - that was dot|n|to|y d|dn't qua||ty as stay|ng undor hor radar.
1ust |gnoro hor,' 1ako sa|d.
vory tunny,' sa|d lox|o.
1hoy got ott tho|r b|kos and ro||od thom |nto tho b|ko rack. As lox|o kno|t to
wrap hor |ock through tho tront whoo|, sho hoard tho c||p-c|op ot 3roo's h|gh-
hoo|od sanda|s com|ng c|osor, as |t an o|ogant ango| ot doath woro approach|ng.
||, 1ako,' 3roo sa|d |n hor su|try vo|co. lox|o had a|ways thought 3roo was
too sk|nny to havo a vo|co so |ow, but |t mado hor sound ||ko an o|d-t|mo mov|o
star. lt a|so mado hor sound borod a |ot ot tho t|mo. 1hat, or sho roa||y was that
borod.
|oy, 3roo,' 1ako sa|d. |ow d|d ho sound so casua|? 1h|s |s my g|r|tr|ond,
lox|o.'
lox|o's hands woro shak|ng so sho cou|d baro|y c||p hor |ock |nto p|aco, but
sho t|na||y snappod |t |n and stood up. 3roo VcKonn|s was study|ng hor w|th
narrow b|uo oyos. |or ha|r was pa|o, sh|ny b|ond and portoct|y stra|ght, cut |n a
c|oso bob so that a sharp w|ng ot ha|r hung down on oach s|do ot hor taco. 3ho
kopt push|ng |t back w|th ono |ong, tan, man|curod hand. 3roo |ovod to woar
wh|to to show ott hor tan, and sho a|ways soomod to stay that co|or a|| yoar |ong.
Co||n was conv|ncod that |t was tako, and that sho wont to a sa|on or usod somo
product. Whothor that was truo or not, lox|o's mom - Wor|d's Vost Enthus|ast|c
3upp||or ot 3unscroon - wou|d havo boon appa||od to soo |t.
lox|o W||||s,' 3roo sa|d s|ow|y. l havo soon you botoro.' 3ho narrowod hor
oyos ovon moro. l thought you movod away |n o|omontary schoo|.'
Nopo. l jost got qolotor ooo bottor ot stoylog oot o yoor woy.
Guoss not,' 1ako sa|d whon lox|o d|dn't rospond. lucky tor mo.' |o camo
around h|s b|ko and startod ho|p|ng lox|o untaston hor tonn|s rackot trom tho
back. 3roo |oanod aga|nst tho b|ko rack, watch|ng ||ko a snako po|sod to str|ko.
lox|o cou|d baro|y broatho, sho was so norvous. Cou|d 3roo to|| that thoy woro
just protond|ng? What wou|d sho do |t sho t|gurod |t out?
3oh|nd thom, a car pu||od up.
|owdy-doo, lox|o!' a vo|co ca||od, and lox|o w|ncod. lt was Vrs. K|m, hor
mothor's tr|ond. 1ho K|m had movod to town a yoar botoro and Vrs. K|m workod
w|th Vrs. W||||s at tho ||brary. At t|rst lox|o's mom had boon conv|ncod that Vrs.
K|m's daughtor 3a||y wou|d bo a portoct now bost tr|ond tor lox|o attor Kar|na |ott.
3ut 3a||y was much too coo| to hand out w|th lox|o. 3roo |atchod on to hor trom
day ono, so now 3a||y was ono ot tho most popu|ar g|r|s |n schoo|.
lox|o wavod at Vrs. K|m as 3a||y got out ot tho car and bouncod ovor to tho
b|ko rack. 3a||y movod ||ko thoro was a|ways danco mus|c p|ay|ng |n hor hoad. 3ho
had portoct, roa||y |ong, stra|ght b|ack ha|r, now back |n a ponyta||, and a|though
sho was short, ||ko lox|o, sho a|ways |ookod |ong and gracotu|. 3ho was woar|ng
br|ght c|oan tonn|s wh|tos, and lox|o g|ancod down at hor scrutty khak| shorts and
rod 1-sh|rt.
|oy, 3roo,' 3a||y sa|d as sho camo up.
3a||y,' 3roo sa|d w|th a noto ot scanda||zod d|sapprova| |n hor vo|co.
You'ro woar|ng wh|t.'
Wo||, yoah,' 3a||y sa|d. 1hoy'ro tonn|s wh|tos. 1hat's tho |doa.'
Wh|to |s my co|or,' 3roo sa|d.
3a||y g|gg|od. 0on't worry, Your ||ghnoss. Vy bath|ng su|t |s groon. 3y tho
t|mo l got to tho poo|, no ono w||| ovor know that l was so out ot ||no.'
3roo sn|ttod. 3a||y, you romombor 1ako,' sho sa|d moan|ngtu||y. 1h|s |s h|s
glr|rlooo. '
3a||y squ|ntod at lox|o. lo way. l d|dn't know you guys woro dat|ng.'
lox|o suddon|y had tho horr|b|o roa||zat|on that |t 3a||y knoo, Vrs. K|m
wou|d know, and that moant lox|o's mom wou|d hoar tho nows botoro lox|o ovon
had t|mo to got homo. 3ut |t was too |ato to do anyth|ng about that now.
Um, yoah,' lox|o sa|d. lt's now.'
loa||y?' 3roo sa|d, ro|||ng hor r. Whon d|d you guys got togothor?'
last Wodnosday,' 1ako sa|d.
|r|day,' lox|o sa|d at tho samo t|mo.
3roo's oyobrows shot up.
l askod hor on Wodnosday,' 1ako sa|d qu|ck|y, but sho d|dn't say yos unt||
|r|day.'
Oh, how cuto,' 3roo sa|d |n a tono that soundod moro ||ko ot, how
ropu|s|vo.'
|ow d|d ho ask you?' 3a||y sa|d. 3ho soundod moro |ntorostod than 3roo.
Was |t adorab|o? Or was |t wo|rd?'
lmm, |ot`s soo. l tblok l`o bovo to go wltb wolro.
You know,' 1ako sa|d, porhaps sons|ng lox|o's pan|c.'l just askod hor. lo
b|g doa|. Wo shou|d go on |t, shou|dn't wo?' |o startod torward and 3roo stoppod
h|m w|th ono hand on h|s chost. look|ng stra|ght at lox|o, sho drapod horso|t ovor
h|s shou|dor.
Oh boys,' sho sa|d |n a toas|ng, aron't-wo-a||-tr|onds-horo way. 1hoy
novor caro about tho dota||s. 1o got tho roa| story, you havo to ask tho g|r|. l|ght,
lox|o? 3o to|| us tho dota||s. l want to hoar ovory s|ng|o th|ng.'
lt's tota||y bor|ng,' 1ako sa|d. And wo'ro go|ng to bo |ato.'
Wo havo a tow m|nutos,' 3roo sa|d, rost|ng hor othor hand on h|s arm so
both hands woro ho|d|ng h|m |n p|aco. Un|oss thoro's somo roason you don't
want hor to to|| th|s story, 1akoy.'
1ako and lox|o oxchangod g|ancos. |ors sa|d, 5bo toto||y koows wo`ro |ylog.
||s sa|d, lo|p! bot oo wo oo
lox|o took a doop broath. Wo||, sho had |mag|nod 1ako ask|ng hor out a
thousand t|mos. 3ho cou|d doscr|bo tho portoct scono protty oas||y.
Um,' sho sa|d. lt was Wodnosday n|ght. l doc|dod to wa|k 1horn and
A|anna - thoso aro our dogs - to tho park on tho cornor. Whon l camo out tho
door, 1ako was thoro, on tho porch. |o |ookod ||ko ho'd boon wa|t|ng tor a wh||o,
th|nk|ng about r|ng|ng tho doorbo||. l thought that was wo|rd, but ho askod |t ho
cou|d como to tho park, and l sa|d suro. l gavo h|m A|anna's |oash bocauso sho
doosn't tug on |t as much as 1horn doos.'
Your dogs aro namod A|anna and 1horn?' 3a||y |ntorruptod. 3roo g|arod at
hor, but sho d|dn't not|co. 3or|ous|y?'
lt's trom th|s sor|os ot books l ||ko,' lox|o sa|d, b|ush|ng tur|ous|y. A|anna
and 1horn aro tw|ns, ||ko mo and Co||n, so that's why wo p|ckod thoso namos.'
3ho hadn't ovor thought about hor dogs' namos bo|ng ombarrass|ng botoro.
Go on,' 3roo sa|d. 3o you and 1ako wa|kod up to tho park.'
Yoah,' lox|o sa|d. And wo |ot tho dogs ott tho |oashos |n tho toncod aroa,
and thon wo sat on th|s bonch by tho tounta|n.'
l know that tounta|n,' 3a||y sa|d. Wow, that's so romant|c.'
5o||y,' 3roo sa|d. 3top lotorroptlog. '
And thon ho put somoth|ng |n my hand.' lox|o sa|d. 3ho had |mag|nod |t so
many t|mos, |t was ||ko |t was roa| |n hor hoad. 3ho cou|d pract|ca||y soo tho
oxpross|on on h|s taco |n tho moon||ght. l |ookod down, and |t was th|s ||tt|o
or|gam| wha|o. On ono s|do |t sa|d, 'lox|o.' And whon l turnod |t ovor, tho othor
s|do sa|d, '.w||| you bo my g|r|tr|ond?'
Oh my Ooo,' 3a||y sa|d. 1hat |s tho cutost th|ng l'vo ovor hoard.'
|ow cou|d you road |t |n tho moon||ght?' 3roo sa|d susp|c|ous|y.
1horo aro, um, ||ghts |n tho park,' lox|o sa|d, jo|tod back to roa||ty. 3ho
g|ancod norvous|y at 1ako, but sho cou|dn't t|guro out tho |ook on h|s taco. Was ho
troakod out? 0|d ho th|nk |t was wo|rd that sho had como up w|th that who|o
story ott tho top ot hor hoad?
Oh,' 3roo sa|d. Wo||. 1hat's swoot.' 3ho shovod 1ako away trom hor. l
don't know why you d|dn't want to to|| us tbot story, 1ako.'
Guys don't ||ko g|r|s to know how romant|c thoy can bo,' lox|o sa|d, try|ng
to sound ||ko sho had any |doa what sho was ta|k|ng about.
3ut you wa|tod unt|| |r|day to say yos?' 3roo askod. lox|o to|t ||ko sho was
bo|ng |ntorrogatod. 1ho br|ght ||ghts and wator torturo cou|dn't bo tar ott.
Um. l guoss l was norvous,' sho sa|d. l havon't - l moan, 1ako's my t|rst -'
3ho ta|torod. 3ho cou|dn't do |t. 3ho cou|dn't say, 1ako's my boytr|ond.'
1ho |mportant th|ng |s sho d|d say yos,' 1ako sa|d smooth|y. |o put ono
arm around lox|o's shou|dors and usod th|s othor hand to wrap hor arm around
h|s wa|st. low that you havo a|| tho dota||s you nood tor an |n-dopth
oncyc|opod|a on tho subjoct, may wo p|oaso got to camp, V|ss VcKonn|s?'
3roo ||ttod hor ch|n so hor w|ngs ot ha|r swung back trom hor taco. Ot
courso,' sho sa|d, ||nk|ng hor arm through 3a||y's. Como on 3a||y.' 1hoy swopt on
ahoad, down tho path |oad|ng to tho chock-|n booth.
lox|o's hoart was rac|ng. 1ako's who|o s|do was prossod aga|nst hors, and h|s
baro arm was rost|ng ||ght|y on hor shou|dors, and hor arm cou|d too| tho musc|os
|n h|s back through h|s sh|rt, and |t d|dn't soom poss|b|o that sho cou|d bo
contusod and scarod and thr|||od at tho samo t|mo.
Wa|t,' ho wh|sporod, cur||ng h|s hand around hor shou|dor unt|| 3roo and
3a||y woro out ot oar-shot. As soon as thoy woro, ho nudgod hor torward, koop|ng
h|s arm |n p|aco. lox|o, that was amaz|ng.'
Oh,' sho sa|d, turn|ng p|nk. lt wasn't anyth|ng spoc|a|.'
3or|ous|y?' ho sa|d. l cou|dn't bo||ovo |t. l wlsb l woro that coo|. You
shou|d havo boon a guy. You'd knock tho socks ott any g|r| w|th a movo ||ko that.'
lox|o startod g|gg||ng. 3ho cou|dn't ho|p |t. Knock tho socks ott?' sho sa|d.
|ow o|d aro you, t|tty?'
l|co,' 1ako sa|d. l g|vo you a comp||mont, and you mako tun ot mo.'
3orry,' lox|o sa|d. l torgot tor a momont that that's what ovory g|r| wants
to hoar - that sho'd mako a groat boy.'
l mooo,' sa|d 1ako, that you'ro much smartor than any boy l'vo ovor hoard
ot.'
l'm a g|r|,' lox|o po|ntod out. 3o that's truo by dot|n|t|on.'
0woob,' ho sa|d attoct|onato|y.
losor,' sho sa|d.
3mart a|ock.'
3ho startod g|gg||ng aga|n. O|dost porson ovor trappod |ns|do a t|ttoon-
yoar-o|d.'
|o prossod ono hand to h|s torohoad. A|as, how my g|r|tr|ond abusos mo.'
1hoy'd roachod tho chock-|n countor, so ho took h|s arm trom around hor
shou|dors and |oanod ovor to s|gn |n.
lox|o g|ancod around and stoppod |augh|ng. 3roo was stand|ng ha|tway
down tho path to tho sw|mm|ng poo|, hor arms to|dod so hor o|bows woro sharp
po|nts at hor s|do. lox|o cou|d pract|ca||y too| hor trooz|ng g|aro trom thoro.
1h|s wasn't ovor. 3roo wantod 1ako, and sho thought lox|o was tho ono
stand|ng |n hor way. 1ho quost|on was, what was 3roo go|ng to do about |t?
Chator 8
1ho good nows was that tho Advancod 1onn|s c|ass was on a d|ttoront sot ot
courts, so 1ako cou|dn't soo how torr|b|y lox|o p|ayod. 1ho bad nows was that 3a||y
was |n 3og|nnors w|th lox|o, oxcopt sho was good, and lox|o roa||y was torr|b|o.
3a||y's sw|ngs woro smooth and a|ways connoctod w|th tho ba||. lox|o kopt |ott|ng
go ot tho tonn|s rackot by acc|dont and noar|y boan|ng tho |nstructor w|th |t. 3ho
was protty suro that 3a||y was |augh|ng at hor, and that ta|os ot lox|o's
|ncompotonco wou|d bo travo||ng stra|ght back to 3roo.
3y |uncht|mo, lox|o's arms achod and hor ha|r was st|ck|ng to hor taco. 3ho
was so ro||ovod whon tho |nstructor |ot thom go, sho d|dn't ovon caro that now
sho'd havo to taco 3roo and 1ako aga|n.
lox|o was gathor|ng hor stutt whon a vo|co sa|d, |oy,' boh|nd hor, and sho
jumpod.
3orry to start|o you,' 3a||y sa|d, bounc|ng on hor hoo|s. l just wantod to
day, don't worry, you'|| got bottor. l was protty bad whon l startod. l'm st||| not
good onough tor lntormod|ato or Advancod.'
lox|o cou|dn't th|nk ot anyth|ng |ntorost|ng to say. Um. 1hanks,' sho
managod.
3a||y kopt |ook|ng at lox|o, as |t sho was th|nk|ng, lowolo o glr| |lko yoo
soog 1oko Atklosoo lox|o thought, l`|| ooswor tbot l yoo coo to|| mo wby yoo ogrooo to bo bost rlooos wltb tbo scorlost glr| lo scboo|.
Wo||?' 3a||y sa|d.
Wo|| what?' lox|o askod.
Aron't you starv|ng? lot's go to |unch.'
Lot`s As lo |ot os' Us Vo ooo 5o||y Klm 7boro`s oo os tboro
3a||y spun hor rackot |mpat|ont|y and lox|o qu|ck|y grabbod hor bag w|th
tho hat, tho oxtra sunscroon, and tho brown-bag |unch hor mom had packod. 3ho
to||owod 3a||y up tho wa|kway to a bunch ot p|cn|c tab|os undor tho troos. 1ho
othor 1onn|s tor 1oons campors woro gathor|ng thoro, a|ong w|th tho ||toguard
tra|n|ng c|ass trom tho poo| and a group ot baskotba|| campors.
1ako was a|roady s|tt|ng at a tab|o, unwrapp|ng h|s |unch, ||s ha|r was ha|t-
wot trom tho showors and dry|ng |n tho sun, so |t was k|nd ot sp|ky and darkor
than usua|. 1hat day h|s 1-sh|rt was ||ght b|uo, mak|ng h|s oyos ovon b|uor. |o saw
lox|o and wavod.
Wow,' 3a||y sa|d. 0|d you soo h|s taco ||ght up whon ho saw you? 1hat's
so cuto. Vy boytr|ond novor |ooks that oxc|tod to soo mo.'
Yoob, l gooss 1oko`s o roo||y gooo octor, lox|o thought.
You havo a boytr|ond?' sho sa|d, but too qu|ot|y, so 3a||y d|dn't hoar hor
and sho had to ropoat horso|t.
Oh, suro,' 3a||y sa|d. lan Vontgomory. 3roo sot us up |n Apr||.' 1hat mado
sonso. lan was ath|ot|c and b|ond and agrooab|o and wou|d t|t |n wo|| w|th 3roo's
|doa ot who hor tr|onds shou|d dato. |or ono th|ng, sbo`o novor wantod to dato h|m. Anyono sho'd datod was ott tho monu tor ovoryono o|so.
3a||y poo|od ott to jo|n 3roo and hor G|aro ot 0oath |n tho ||no tor p|zza, and
lox|o hos|tant|y wont ovor to 1ako's tab|o. 3oo, th|s |s why Co||n shou|d bo thoro.
3ho'd know oxact|y who to s|t w|th and how. And |t sho wantod to spond
|uncht|mo road|ng hor book, ho wou|dn't m|nd. 3ut ot courso sho had to s|t w|th
1ako, r|ght? A g|r|tr|ond wou|d norma||y s|t w|th hor boytr|ond. 1hat was tho
norma| th|ng to do.
3ho sot hor |unch bag down on tho tab|o, oppos|to h|m, and ho |mmod|ato|y
roachod out and grabbod |t.
|oy,' sho sa|d. Eat your own |unch.'
3|t noxt to mo,' ho wh|sporod trant|ca||y. Or o|so sbo w|||.'
lox|o |ookod up and saw 3roo hoad|ng purposotu||y tho|r way. 3ho scootod
qu|ck|y around tho ond ot tho tab|o and managod to s|t down noxt to 1ako just
botoro 3roo p|unkod hor tray down on tho tab|o.
Oh, 1akoy,' 3roo sa|d, |gnor|ng lox|o, l saw you p|ay|ng tonn|s whon l wont
by tho courts oar||or. You aro so ta|ontod.'
1hanks,' 1ako sa|d, opon|ng lox|o's |unch. Wow, lox|o, your mom roa||y
||kos carrot st|cks doosn't sho?'
Wo suspoct sho owns stock |n thom or somoth|ng,' lox|o jokod. 1ako
|aughod, 3roo d|dn't.
lot to mont|on,' 3roo wont on as |t thoy hadn't spokon, you |ooks so hot
|n shorts. lot ovory guy can pu|| ott that |ook - r|ght, lox|o? lt must bo so hard tor you to concontrato w|th your boyrlooo r|ght thoro |ook|ng that hot.'
Oh, wo'ro |n two d|ttoront c|assos,' lox|o sa|d awkward|y.
3o wh|ch co|obr|t|os do you ||ko, lox|o?' 3roo askod. Any guys as cuto as
1ako? 0on't worry, l'm suro ho won't bo joa|ous. 1o|| mo your doop dark socrot
crush.'
Yoob, tbot woo|o bo.1oko.
Um. l don't know,' lox|o mumb|od.'Vaybo 1ako Gy||onhaa|.'
3roo ro||od hor oyos. l|ko wo havon't a|| hoard tbot ono botoro.'
|oro, lox|o,' 1ako sa|d, and sho roa||zod ho was say|ng hor namo a |ot
moro than usua||y. |o broko h|s cook|o |n ha|t and handod hor tho b|ggor port|on.
1o mako up tor a|| thoso carrot st|cks.'
loa||y?' lox|o sa|d. 3ho mot h|s oyos as ho handod hor tho cook|o. |o
|ookod so worr|od, sho cou|dn't stop horso|t trom sm|||ng at h|m.
1hat |s so cuto,' 3a||y sa|d, s||d|ng onto tho bonch, noxt to 3roo. lan tota||y rotusos to sharo h|s tood w|th mo. l onco ato a |ronch try ott h|s p|ato
whon ho
had c|oar|y t|n|shod oat|ng, and ho, ||ko, d|dn't spoak to mo tor tho rost ot tho
wookond.'
|o's probab|y ho|p|ng you watch your wo|ght.' 3roo sa|d nast||y. l'd say
ho's do|ng you a tavour.'
3a||y |ookod hurt. 3ho starod down at hor p|zza, pok|ng |t w|th hor p|ast|c
tork but not oat|ng. lox|o w|shod sho was bravo onough to to|| 3a||y that 3roo was
bo|ng crazy - and moan tor no roason - but sho was too atra|d to butt |nto tho|r
convorsat|on. 3roo had onough roasons to hato hor.
3o what aro you go|ng to do tor your attornoon act|v|ty?' 1ako askod lox|o.
3ho roa||zod thoro woro s|gn-up shoots on a|| tho tab|os. 1ho ||st ot cho|cos
|nc|udod moro tonn|s ( oo tbooks) |oan|ng to pap|or-macho ( moybo l l woro stl|| olgbt yoors o|o), U|t|mato |r|sboo, and poo| vo||oyba||. 3ad|y,
go|ng homo and watch|ng 1v w|th Co||n was not on tho ||st.
l don't know,' lox|o sa|d. lono ot th|s |s my |doa ot tun. l guoss |r|sboo
sounds tho |oast pa|ntu|.'
loa||y?' 3roo pouncod. l thought tor suro you'd want to bo w|th your
boyrlooo. Un|oss you don't roa||y want to hang out w|th h|m, but l'm suro that's not truo.'
lox|o gavo 1ako a contusod |ook, and ho tappod lOOl vOllEY3All w|th ono
t|ngor. l'm a toam capta|n,' ho sa|d. Cynth|a - tho woman |n chargo ot poo|
act|v|t|os - askod mo to bocauso l'vo had ||toguard tra|n|ng.'
Oh,' sho sa|d. low what? On ono hand, |t sho stuck w|th |r|sboo, sho
wou|dn't bo act|ng ||ko a roa| g|r|tr|ond, wou|d sho? 3ut on tho othor hand.poo|
vo||oyba|| moant a bath|ng su|t. ln tront ot 1ako and worso, 3roo. At |oast tho rod
b|k|n| was sato|y h|ddon undor hor bod at homo.
Como on,' 1ako sa|d, tak|ng ono ot hor hands |n both ot h|s. lt'|| bo tun.'
You don't roa||y want mo on your toam,' lox|o sa|d. l'm tota||y torr|b|o.'
l know,' 1ako sa|d. l want you on tho othor guy's toam.'
lox|o swattod h|m w|th hor troo hand. 1hat |s no way to ta|k to your
g|r|tr|ond,' sho sa|d, torgott|ng tor a momont that 3roo was r|ght thoro, |ntont|y
watch|ng thom.
You'ro r|ght,' ho sa|d. Vy apo|og|os, sugar p|um. l'm sorry, honoy p|o. l'||
novor do |t aga|n, my ||tt|o pumpk|n. ls that bottor?'
3ho wr|nk|od hor noso at h|m. l too| so od|b|o a|| ot a suddon.'
Cuto onough to oat,' ho sa|d. lox|o |ookod down at tho tab|o, turn|ng p|nk
aga|n. |o d|dn't havo to ovoract qu|to so much. 3roo wou|d catch on |t ho kopt
bo|ng r|d|cu|ous.
Adorab|o,' 3a||y sa|d, shak|ng hor hoad. l asp|ro to bo that adorab|o.'
3roo stood up, grabbod 3a||y's arm, and yankod hor away. As thoy hurr|od
ott, lox|o hoard 3roo wh|spor, Noosootlog,' just |oud|y onough tor lox|o to hoar.
lox|o pu||od hor hand troo and wrappod up tho roma|ns ot hor sandw|ch.
low that thoy woro gono, how was sho supposod to act?
l th|nk |t's go|ng wo||,' sa|d 1ako. 0on't you?'
Um, suro,' lox|o sa|d. lo tbo sooso o my oot bolog |ltoro||y oooo yot,
ooywoy.
You don't roa||y havo to do vo||oyba|| |t you don't want to,' ho sa|d.
1hat's okay,' lox|o sa|d. l'm suro |t'|| bo tun. 3os|dos, attor tonn|s, l cou|d
uso a sw|m.'
|avo l sa|d thank you tor th|s?' 1ako askod. 3ocauso sor|ous|y. 1hank you
tor th|s.'
l'm not suro l'm ho|p|ng,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho's st||| pay|ng so much attont|on
to you.'
l'm suro sho'|| got ovor |t soon,' 1ako sa|d. You won't havo to protond tor
much |ongor.'
5o lostooo o protooolog to ooto yoo.l coo go bock to protooolog l ooo`t
|lko yoo.
lox|o s|ghod. boo oo l loo||y got to stop protooolog
Chator 4
1ho g|r|'s chang|ng room by tho poo| had soparato sta||s w|th doors, much to
lox|o's ro||ot. 3ho d|dn't ||ko gott|ng undrossod |n tront ot poop|o, p|us sho was
suro 3roo and 3a||y wou|d bo star|ng at hor tho who|o t|mo.
As sho wa|tod tor a sta||, lox|o saw that most ot tho 3og|nnors tonn|s c|ass
had s|gnod up tor poo| vo||oyba||, too, |nc|ud|ng 3a||y. 3roo kopt ta|k|ng |oud|y
about hor ||toguard tra|n|ng, ||ko sho wantod ovoryono to know sho wasn't a
tonn|s campor ||ko tho othors. |or s|xtoonth b|rthday had boon two months
botoro, so sho was o|d onough, and tho poo| gavo spoc|a| c|assos tor |t |n tho
morn|ngs.
1ako wou|d bo turn|ng s|xtoon |n a wook and a ha|t, moro than tour months
botoro Co||n and lox|o. lox|o wondorod suddon|y |t sho was supposod to got h|m a
prosont. lorma||y sho'd ho|p Co||n p|ck out somoth|ng tunny trom both ot thom,
||ko tho Extromo orst-Coso 5cooorlo 5orvlvo| Ooloo. 3ut as h|s protond g|r|tr|ond, was sho supposod to g|vo h|m somoth|ng spoc|a| and
moan|ngtu|? 3omoth|ng that
3roo wou|d not|co, that shoutod, look, my tota||y-tor-roa| g|r|tr|ond gavo mo
th|s'?
3ho'd havo to savo pan|ck|ng about that tor |ator. Vaybo Co||n cou|d ho|p
t|guro |t out. lot tor tho t|rst t|mo, sho w|shod ho was at 3ummor|odgo, too, and
sho wondorod what ho was do|ng a|| day. lrobab|y boat|ng a|| hor h|gh scoros on
tho|r gamos.
3ho adjustod tho straps on hor b|ack ono-p|oco and stoppod |nto hor t||p-
t|ops tuck|ng tho rost ot hor stutt |nto hor shou|dor bag. |or rod boad nock|aco
trom 1ako wont carotu||y |nto tho s|do z|ppor pockot, whoro sho was suro |t
wou|dbo sato. 1ho m|nuto sho un|atchod tho door, 3roo pu||od |t opon.
Oh, Loxlo,' 3roo sa|d. What a oor|log bath|ng su|t. l usod to havo ono just ||ko |t. Whon l was n|no.'
3roo, ot courso, was woar|ng ono ot hor two|vo d|ttoront wh|to b|k|n|s. 1h|s
ono had th|n baro|y thoro straps ho|d|ng up tho top, and tho bottom was a pa|r ot
t|ny short-shorts that showod ott hor |ong |ogs. lox|o cou|d not |mag|no ovor, ovor,
ovor woar|ng somoth|ng ||ko that |n pub||c.
3a||y was woar|ng a two-p|oco, too, but |t was moro ot a tank|n|, whoro tho
top camo a|| tho way down to covor hor stomach ||ko a tank top. 3ho kopt tugg|ng
at |t as |t try|ng to mako |t covor moro. lt was a doop omora|d groon w|th darkor
groon wavos across |t, and sho woro match|ng omora|d groon t||p-t|ops.
1owo|s aro ovor thoro,' 3a||y sa|d, po|nt|ng to a to|dod p||o by tho door.
Un|oss you brought your own,' 3roo sa|d, bocauso you don't caro tor
othor poop|o's gorms.' 3ho wound hor |avondor boach towo| around hor wa|st
wh||o 3a||y and lox|o oach took ono ot tho p|a|n wh|to onos trom tho p||o. 1hon
sho |od tho way out |nto tho poo| aroa.
lox|o was g|ad sho was woar|ng watorproot sunscroon, ovon |t hor mom
was crazy. lt was roa||y hot around tho poo|, ||ko tho sun was magn|t|od by tho
ch|so|od, tako-|ook|ng stonos. Up |n tho two ||toguard stat|ons, two o|dor guys
woro s|tt|ng, |ook|ng ||ko 3ocrot 3orv|co agonts boh|nd tho|r sung|assos. A
vo||oyba|| not had boon sot up, strotch|ng across tho m|dd|o ot tho poo|.
1ako was stand|ng w|th a coup|o ot troshman's ta|k|ng and po|nt|ng to tho
not, but whon ho spottod lox|o, ho broko ott and camo ovor to hor.
|oy,' ho sa|d w|th a sm||o. long t|mo no soo.' 3ut lox|o cou|d to|| that ho
was worr|od about hor bo|ng a|ono w|th 3roo |n tho chang|ng room, and that ho
was roa||y ask|ng |t sho was okay.
3otoro lox|o cou|d say anyth|ng, a cur|y-ha|rod woman |n br|ght yo||ow
cu|ottos b|ow a wh|st|o around hor nock and mado thom a|| gathor at tho wa||
turthost away trom tho poo|. 1hon sho spont torty-t|vo m|nutos oxp|a|n|ng a|| tho
ru|os ot tho poo| as wo|| as how to p|ay tho gamo. 3ho must havo no lo runn|ng
on tho odgo ot tho poo|' t|vo gaz||||on t|mos. lox|o wasn't suro how sho was
supposod to tako anyono |n br|ght yo||ow cu|ottos sor|ous|y.
||na||y sho ca||od tho toam capta|ns torward and road ott tho|r ass|gnod
toams. lox|o cou|dn't bo||ovo hor |uck - sho was on 1ako's toam! As sho hoadod
ovor, ho h|gh-t|vod hor and w|nkod.
0|d you mako that happon?' sho wh|sporod.
Ot courso,' ho sa|d. Cynth|a ||kos mo. 3ho's hop|ng l'|| work horo as a
||toguard onco tons camp |s ovor.'
3ost ot a||, 3roo had to bo a toam capta|n, too, and 3a||y wound up on a
th|rd toam, so lox|o and 1ako d|dn't havo to got too c|oso to thom tor tho rost ot
tho day.
1horo woro s|x toams, so tour toams wou|d watch wh||o tho othor two
p|ayod oach othor, and thon thoy'd sw|tch around. As Cynth|a oxp|a|nod |t, thoy'd
pract|co tor a wook, and thon thoy'd havo a tournamont tho noxt wook to crown a
w|nn|ng toam. lox|o roa||zod that that moant sho'd s|gnod up tor two wooks ot
poo| vo||oyba||. 3ho wou|dn't got to sw|tch to somoth|ng o|so - ||ko |r|sboo - unt||
tho two wooks woro up. Wo||, maybo 3roo wou|d bo ovor 1ako by thon.
1o hor surpr|so, vo||oyba|| was much moro tun than sho'd oxpoctod,
a|though sho kopt gott|ng wator up hor noso and a coup|o ot tho troshmon on hor
toam woro horr|ty|ng|y bottor than sho was. 3ho ovon managod to h|t tho ba|| |n
tho r|ght d|roct|on a coup|o ot t|mos, and oach t|mo sho d|d, 1ako yo||od, Yoah!'
ad sp|ashod hor.
|or turn to sorvo camo up. 3ho ba|ancod tho ba|| on ono hand and tr|od to
romombor what sho'd |oarnod |n rogu|ar vo||oyba|| |n gym c|ass.
|oro,' 1ako sa|d, com|ng up bos|do hor. |o|d th|s arm out stra|ght.' |o
took hor |ott arm undor tho wator and stra|ghtonod |t out so |t was po|nt|ng a ||tt|o
to hor r|ght. low koop that arm stra|ght wh||o you h|t t w|th your othor t|st.' |o
roachod around boh|nd hor and touchod hor r|ght shou|dor.
1ho comb|nat|on ot h|s hands, hor baro arms, and tho wator mado hor so
norvous, sho swung w||d|y and sont tho ba|| up out ot tho poo|, |nto tho crows
a|ong tho odgo.
0on't worry,' 1ako sa|d, squooz|ng hor shou|dor, You'|| got |t noxt t|mo.'
Not l yoo koop bo|plog mo |lko tbot, l woo`t! lox|o thought, but tho truth
was sho'd rathor bo that c|oso to 1ako than h|t a groat vo||oyba|| sorvo any day,
||na||y, t|na||y, tho ond ot tho day camo. lox|o d|dn't want to taco 3roo and
3a||y |n tho chang|ng room aga|n, so sho towo|od ott hor ha|r, pu||od on hor shorts
ovor hor bath|ng su|t, and hoadod stra|ght out to tho b|kos.
A strangor was |oan|ng aga|nst tho rack, noxt to hor b|ko. A guy about hor
ago. 3ho'd novor soon h|m botoro, wh|ch probab|y moant ho o|thor was now or
wont to ono ot tho pr|vato schoo|s |n town.
|oy,' ho sa|d w|th a |azy, crookod sm||o. |o had amaz|ng|y stra|ght wh|to
tooth. ||s ha|r was shaggy and dark, and h|s oyos woro ||ght brown.
Um, h|,' sho sa|d. 3orry, that's - um, that's my b|ko.'
Oh, sorry,' ho sa|d, mov|ng as|do. 3ho kno|t to un|ock |t, hop|ng 1ako wou|d
como out soon.
l'm l||oy,' ho sa|d. l'm just wa|t|ng tor my brothor. 0o you go horo?'
3ummor|odgo?' sho sa|d. Yoah. l'm do|ng tho tonn|s camp.'
|uh,' ho sa|d. ||s oyos had th|s taraway droamy |ook, and sho cou|dn't to||
|t ho was roa||y ||ston|ng to hor unt|| ho turnod and sm||od at hor aga|n. ||s sm||o
cou|d roa||y catch a g|r|'s attont|on, ovon |t that g|r| had a protond boytr|ond sho
was socrot|y |n |ovo w|th.
ls |t coo|?' ho sa|d, but kopt go|ng w|thout wa|t|ng tor an answor. 1onn|s.
Van, l'm bad at tonn|s.'
Vo too,' lox|o sa|d. lt's -
What d|d you say your namo was?' ho askod, shov|ng h|s hands |n h|s
pockots. |o was woar|ng joans and a |ong-s|oovod sh|rt, and sho wondorod |t ho
was mo|t|ng |n tho hoat but too coo| to adm|t |t.
l d|dn't,' sho sa|d. Um. lt's lox|o.' 3ho unwrappod tho cha|n trom hor b|ko
whoo| and stashod |t |n hor shou|dor bag. 3ho tr|od to movo as s|ow|y as sho cou|d
w|thout |ook|ng ||ko a monta||y cha||ongod a||on. 3ho roa||y, roa||y w|shod 1ako
wou|d show up. Or o|so sho'd havo to stay and mako convorsat|on w|th th|s
strango guy, bocauso ot courso sho cou|dn't |oavo w|thout 1ako, cou|d sho? 1hat
wasn't a g|r|tr|ond|y th|ng to do.
lox|o,' l||oy sa|d. 1hat's cuto. |as anyono ovor to|d you that you |ook ||ko
3oph|a 3ush?'
Who's that?'
Wow, roa||y?' ho sa|d. Or aro you just try|ng to tr|ck mo |nto adm|tt|ng l
watch Ooo 7roo ll||?'
lox|o g|gg|od. Vy brothor wou|d k||| mo |t ho tound that on tho 1|vo.'
Uh, yoah, mo too,' l||oy sa|d, attoct|ng a doopor vo|co. Vo, l on|y watch
wrost||ng. And monstor truck ra|||os. Grrr.'
You'ro so bustod,' lox|o sa|d. Adm|t |t - you stay homo whonovor Oroy`s
Aootomy |s on, don't you?'
|o |aughod, and sho tound horso|t sm|||ng dosp|to hor norvousnoss. 3ho
||kod |t whon poop|o got hor jokos.
|oy, lox|o,' sa|d 1ako trom boh|nd hor. 3ho'd torgotton to koop watch|ng
tor h|m, but hor hoart st||| |oapod |nto doub|o t|mo as ho pausod noxt to hor. ||s 1-
sh|rt was s||ght|y damp trom h|s wot ha|r, so |t c|ung to h|s shou|dors, wh|ch woro
strong trom a|| tho sw|mm|ng and tonn|s. 1ho ||ght b|uo co|our mado hor want to
|oan |nto |t, ||ko ta|||ng |nto tho sky.
Who's th|s?' 1ako askod. ||s gazo was t|xod on l||oy, and ho d|dn't |ook
too tr|ond|y.
1h|s |s l||oy,' lox|o sa|d, wondor|ng why hor vo|co soundod h|ghor than
norma|. Wo just mot. |o's wa|t|ng tor somoono.'
Oh,' 1ako sa|d. l||oy roachod out h|s hand, and 1ako shook |t, tho tondons
|n h|s arm tons|ng ||ko ho was s|amm|ng a hammor down.
And you aro?' l||oy sa|d.
1ako.' lauso. lox|o's boytr|ond.'
lox|o was aston|shod. Why on oarth d|d ho say that? 3roo was nowhoro |n
s|ght. 1horo was no ono around to run back and roport to hor. 1horo was no
roason at a|| to vo|untoor that |ntormat|on, tar as sho cou|d soo. lot that sho
m|ndod, but |t was odd.
Ah,' l||oy sa|d.
Wo'd bottor got go|ng, lox|o,' 1ako sa|d, touch|ng hor b|ko but not |ook|ng
at hor.
Yoah, okay,' sho sa|d. 3ho pu||od hor b|ko troo and stood tor a momont
awkward|y, wa|t|ng tor 1ako to un|ock h|s b|ko. l||oy was st||| watch|ng hor.
As 1ako ro||od h|s b|ko troo, sho swung onto hors and sa|d, Wo||, soo you.'
l|co to moot you, lox|o,' l||oy sa|d. |o gavo hor tho sm||o aga|n, and sho
duckod hor hoad and pushod ott.
1ako was qu|ot a|| tho way back to hor houso. 3ho to|t tho w|nd b|ow|ng hor
ha|r dry and sho wondorod what ho was th|nk|ng. At tho bottom ot hor dr|voway,
ho brakod but stayod stradd||ng h|s b|ko.
0on't you want to como |n?' sho sa|d. Wo can mako tun ot my |azy s|ug
brothor.'
lah, not today,' 1ako sa|d. l'vo got stutt to do. 1o|| h|m l sa|d h|.'
Oh, okay,' lox|o sa|d.
|o ran h|s hand a|ong tho top ot h|s ha|r, |ook|ng ||ko ho was go|ng to say
somoth|ng o|so, but |n tho ond ho just stood up on tho poda|s and rodo away. 3ho
watchod h|m r|do to tho ond ot tho b|ock, whoro ho g|ancod back and wavod at
hor, and thon sho ro||od hor b|ko |nto tho garago and wont |nto tho houso.
Co||n was |y|ng on tho t|oor |n tront ot tho couch, whoro sho'd oxpoctod h|m
to bo. As sho wont |nto tho don, ho qu|ck|y s||d somoth|ng undornoath a p||o ot
cush|ons.
What was that?' sho sa|d.
What?' ho sa|d, protond|ng to bo tocusod on a p|ato on tho cottoo tab|o.
|oro, Vom mado snacks. lt's bas|ca||y poanut buttor on co|ory, but cut |nto s||cos
so |t's prott|or and hardor to oat. |avo you ovor not|cod that sho's wo|rd?'
Co||n, como on,' lox|o sa|d, t|opp|ng down on tho couch. What woro you
h|d|ng whon l camo |n?'
loth|ng,' ho sa|d. Whoro's 1ako?'
lox|o was hurt. Co||n novor kopt anyth|ng trom hor. What cou|d |t bo?
1ako doc|dod not to como |n,' sho sa|d. 3ut ho says h|.' 3ho wa|t|ng tor a
m|nuto, but Co||n kopt mov|ng tho co|ory around tho p|ato w|thout say|ng
anyth|ng.
3o...d|d you havo tun today?' sho tr|od. 1onn|s was so |amo. l'm a tota|
monaco w|th a tonn|s rackot. What d|d you do?'
loth|ng,' ho sa|d aga|n.
l'|| bot,' sho sa|d, roach|ng tor tho romoto contro| and t||pp|ng tho 1v to
tho|r tavour|to gamo. 1o hor surpr|so, nono ot tho scoros had changod. E|thor ho
hadn't p|ayod vory wo|| that day, or ho hadn't p|ayod at a||.
Was 3roo thoro?' Co||n askod.
Ot courso,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho's so scary. And now sho sor|ous|y hatos mo.'
3ut sho's roa||y hot,' Co||n sa|d. l don't got why 1ako wou|dn't just dato
hor. l wou|d, |t l woron't too stup|d and bor|ng tor hor to ||ko mo. lt sounds a |ot
oas|or than protond|ng to dato you.'
Oh, thanks!' lox|o sa|d, push|ng horso|t ott tho couch. 3ho hoadod tor tho
door |n a hutt, but ho d|dn't stop hor. ln tho doorway, sho turnod and g|ancod
back. |o was star|ng down at tho tab|o, ro|||ng a ponc|| absontm|ndod|y back and
torth a|ong tho carpot.
|or mom was com|ng down tho sta|rs as lox|o wont up.
Oh, lox|o!' Vrs. W||||s sa|d happ||y. |ow was 3ummor|odgo? 0|d you
havo such a |ovo|y t|mo? lt wasn't so bad w|thout your brothor was |t?'
lt was torr|b|o, ||ko l thought |t wou|d bo,' lox|o sa|d. And l th|nk
somoth|ng's wrong w|th Co||n. l'm go|ng to tako a showor.'
|or mom |ookod d|sappo|ntod, but sho stoppod as|do w|thout pross|ng tor
moro tonn|s dota||s. At |oast sho d|dn't ask about tho b|k|n|, sato|y h|ddon undor
lox|o's bod.
ln hor room, lox|o |ay down on hor bod, too||ng t|rod. lt was k|nd ot
oxhaust|ng bo|ng a protond g|r|tr|ond. ||rst thoro woro 3roo and 3a||y, thon thoro
was a|| tho comp||catod 1ako stutt, p|us that guy l||oy, and now Co||n was act|ng
strango and koop|ng socrots. 3ho to|t a|| m|xod up, w|th no ono to ta|k about |t.
Aoo lt storts o|| ovor ogolo tomorrow.
Chator 5
1ho noxt day was ovon strangor than lox|o had oxpoctod, ma|n|y bocauso thoro
was a surpr|so nowcomor to hor tonn|s c|ass. |o was |oan|ng aga|nst tho tonco ot
tho tonn|s courts as sho wa|kod up, sw|ng|ng a rackot |n ono hand.
|oy, lox|o!' l||oy sa|d onthus|ast|ca||y. Whoro's your boytr|ond?'
lox|o noar|y sa|d, Who?' but romomborod |n t|mo. |o's |n tho Advancod
c|ass,' sho sa|d. What aro you do|ng horo?'
Wo||, you mado thoso tonn|s |ossons sound so tun,' ho sa|d w|th h|s
crookod sm||o. l t|gurod l'|| s|gn up and jo|n |n.'
l d|d?' lox|o tr|od to romombor anyth|ng sho had sa|d that m|ght poss|b|y
havo boon m|sundorstood as tonn|s |s tun.'
3uro,' l||oy sa|d. And maybo |t you'ro as bad as l am, wo can bo
partnors.'
l'|| bo protty |mprossod |t you'ro as bad as l am,' lox|o sa|d.
3a||y was on tho court a|roady, bounc|ng a ba|| ott hor rackot |nto tho a|t.
lox|o wasn't suro, but sho got tho too||ng 3a||y was watch|ng hor and l||oy.
0on't you nood to chango?' lox|o sa|d as l||oy startod to to||ow hor
through tho tonco. |o was woar|ng joans aga|n, a|though at |oast ho'd sw|tchod to
a 1-sh|rt.
l a|roady got tho |octuro trom 3orgoant 3horts ovor thoro,' l||oy sa|d,
jork|ng h|s thumb at Vr. G|amb|, tho |nstructor. 3ut what's ho do|ng to do? 1h|s
|s how l am.'
1horo's a |ot ot runn|ng around,' lox|o sa|d worr|od|y. Espoc|a||y whon
you p|ay w|th mo.'
0on't worry,' l||oy sa|d, sm|||ng aga|n. l'|| bo t|no.'
|o wasn't t|no. 3y 10:00 A.V., whon thoy sw|tchod trom dr|||s to pract|co
matchos, ho was swoat|ng so much that h|s sh|rt stuck to h|s back, and ho |ookod
oxhaustod. lox|o to|t bad tor h|m, so whon thoy woro pa|rod up, sho tr|od to bo
tho ono to run attor tho ba|| as much as poss|b|o. Each t|mo sho d|d, ho wou|d
co||apso down on tho court and ||o thoro unt|| Vr. G|amb| yo||od at h|m to got up.
|o was r|ght about ono th|ng, though: |o was roa||y bad at tonn|s, too. |o
had troub|o ovon gott|ng |t ovor tho not, so sho hard|y ovor got to try vo||oy|ng |t
back.
||na||y, tor tho |ast hour, Vr. G|amb| sw|tchod tho partnors and sho was
pa|rod w|th 3a||y. At |oast w|th a good partnor sho had a bottor chanco to pract|co,
but l||oy soomod d|sappo|ntod that thoy woro sp||t up. 3ho g|ancod ovor at h|s
court a coup|o ot t|mos and caught h|m watch|ng hor |nstoad ot tho tonn|s ba|| ho
was supposod to bo watch|ng.
|oy,' 3a||y sa|d dur|ng a broak tor wator. l'vo boon moan|ng to ta|k to
you.'
lt was tunny how a s|mp|o sontonco ||ko that cou|d mako a porson so
norvous. lox|o scrowod tho cap back on hor wator bott|o, try|ng to |ook ca|m.
1h|s |r|day,' 3a||y wont on, wou|d you and 1ako want to go on a doub|o
dato w|th mo and lan?'
loa||y?' lox|o sa|d. 1hat was about tho turthost th|ng trom what sho'd
oxpoctod 3a||y to say. A doub|o dato? A roa| dato? W|th 3roo's bost tr|ond? Voybo
tbot`s wby, tho vo|co |n hor hoad wh|sporod. Broo`s osslgooo bor to spy oo os. 7o soo l 1oko ooo l stl|| oct |lko o coop|o owoy rom 5ommor|oogo.
5o l bovo to soy
yos, ooo`t l
Um,' sho sa|d, hodg|ng. lot mo ask 1ako. 3ut thanks, that sounds ||ko
tun.'
lt wou|d bo tun,' 3a||y sa|d. l was th|nk|ng wo cou|d just wa|k downtown
to tho mov|o thoatro on Va|n 3troot - l th|nk thoy havo tho now l|xar mov|o
thoro, wh|ch lan |s bo|ng k|nd ot a jork about soo|ng, but l'|| got h|m to go. And
thon wo cou|d havo d|nnor at tho d|nor across tho stroot attorward.'
lox|o noddod. 3a||y addod, Un|oss you want to do somoth|ng o|so. Vy
mom cou|d dr|vo us to tho ma||, but l thought wo'd havo moro tun |t wo cou|d go
somowhoro w|thout any paronts yakk|ng at us tho who|o way. lan's not a b|g tan
ot my mom.'
1ho ono |n town sounds t|no,' sa|d lox|o. l'vo boon want|ng to soo tho
l|xar mov|o, too.'
lloolog Nomo was so tunny,' 3a||y sa|d, and lox|o wou|d havo agrood, but Vr. G|amb| ca||od thom back to tho court to koop pract|c|ng.
On tho way to |unch, l||oy caught up w|th lox|o and 3a||y.
Okay,' ho sa|d, |osson |oarnod. lo moro joans. l'm atra|d you'ro go|ng to
th|nk my coo| tactor |s p|ummot|ng, but you know, |t tho cho|co |s shorts or doath,
l guoss shorts w|ns by a t||||||ny marg|n.'
l won't th|nk you'ro |oss coo|,' lox|o sa|d.
l'|| th|nk you'ro a hock ot a |ot smartor,' 3a||y sa|d. ||, l'm 3a||y.'
l||oy,' ho sa|d.
Oh, lox|o,' 3a||y sa|d, l torgot to mont|on - don't say anyth|ng to 3roo
about our doub|o dato. l'|| to|| hor |ator, but sho can bo wo|rd about stutt ||ko
that.'
C|ovor, lox|o thought. Voko mo tblok Broo oooso`t koowoboot lt wboo
sbo`s roo||y tbo ooo wbo mostormloooo tbo wbo|o tblog.
lo prob|om,' sho sa|d.
0oub|o dato?' l||oy sa|d.
Vaybo,' lox|o answorod. l havo to chock w|th 1ako.'
Oh, r|ght,' l||oy sa|d. Your boytr|ond.'
1hoy got |n s|ght ot tho p|cn|c tab|os, and onco aga|n, 1ako was a|roady
thoro. |o ra|sod h|s hand to wavo at lox|o but stoppod whon ho saw l||oy.
And thoro ho |s,' l||oy sa|d.
You can, um, s|t w|th us, |t you want,' lox|o sa|d.
Groat, thanks,' ho sa|d. ||rst, hot dogs.' |o hoadod ott toward tho |unch
||no. 3a||y ra|sod hor oyobrows at lox|o and to||owod h|m. lox|o wondorod |t that
was a g|r|-codo oxpross|on that a norma| g|r| wou|d havo boon ab|o to trans|ato.
W|th a s|gh, sho hoadod ovor to 1ako.
1h|s t|mo sho romomborod to s|t noxt to h|m |nstoad ot across trom h|m. |o
sm||od at hor as sho sat down, and |t was such a d|ttoront sm||o trom l||oy's. lt
mado hor ca|mor |nstoad ot moro norvous, and |t sa|d, l`m boppy to soo yoo,
|nstoad ot, l koowsomotblog oboot yoo. |o smo||od sharp and c|oan, ||ko app|o shampoo.
|| thoro, g|r|tr|ond,' ho sa|d as sho sat down. 3ho wondorod how |ong ho
was go|ng to t|nd that tunny, but sho ||kod tho way ho sa|d |t, k|nd ot warm and
toas|ng at tho samo t|mo. 3ho was g|ad to soo ho soomod to bo |n a bottor mood
than ho had boon whon ho'd droppod hor ott tho day botoro.
|oy,' ho addod, you'ro woar|ng tho nock|aco l got tor you.' |o roachod
out and touchod ono ot tho g|ass boads. ||s t|ngors brushod tho s|do ot hor nock
||ko a wh|spor ot w|nd, and hor hoart spod up. |adn't ho ovor not|cod that sho
woro |t a|| tho t|mo?
Yoah,' sho sa|d awkward|y. l |ovo |t.'
1hat's so coo|,' ho sa|d, romov|ng h|s hand. Go, mo. What do you havo tor
|unch today?'
l, um,' lox|o sa|d, c|oar|ng hor throat, wo||, l'm guoss|ng moro carrot
st|cks.'
1ako |aughod, but thon h|s taco changod, c|os|ng down aga|n. lox|o turnod
to soo l||oy sm|||ng down on tho othor s|do ot hor.
||,' 1ako sa|d. l thought you d|dn't go horo.'
l do now,' l||oy sa|d. |o||o aga|n, lox|o's boytr|ond.'
3roo and 3a||y p|unkod tho|r trays down on tho othor s|do ot tho tab|o, and
lox|o to|t a wo|rd tons|on botwoon l||oy and 1ako, and s|tt|ng |n botwoon thom
mado hor norvous.
|| thoro,' 3roo sa|d, |oan|ng toward l||oy ||ko a |oopard sn|tt|ng out hor
proy. l'm 3roo. l'm a ||toguard, or l w||| bo soon.'
|oy, 3roo,' l||oy sa|d. A ||toguard? 1hat's awosomo.'
Yos, wo||,' 3roo sa|d, shoot|ng a |ook at lox|o and 3a||y, l thought |t wou|d
bo a good way to ho|p my commun|ty. 3ottor than tonn|s, tor |nstanco.'
Oh, l'm do|ng tonn|s,' l||oy sa|d, and lox|o noar|y g|gg|od at tho oops'
|ook on 3roo's taco.
loa||y,' 3roo purrod. 3a||y, you d|dn't to|| mo about any gorgoous guys |n
your tonn|s c|ass.'
|o just startod today,' 3a||y sa|d, stabb|ng a tork |nto hor sa|ad ||ko sho
was hop|ng |t wou|d d|o and turn |nto a hamburgor.
And what's your namo, handsomo?' 3roo askod.
l||oy,' ho sa|d. What's yours?'
3ho wr|nk|od hor noso ||ko sho was try|ng to h|do hor roa| oxpross|on. l
a|roady to|d you,' sho sa|d. lt's 3roo.'
Oh, r|ght,' ho sa|d. |o gavo lox|o a hugo obv|ous w|nk. lt took hor a
m|nuto to roa||zo ho was say|ng, tbo ooo wo`ro oot to||log oboot tbo ooob|o ooto.
Wh|ch rom|ndod hor. 3ut sho cou|dn't ask 1ako thoro, |n tront ot ovoryono.
|oy,' sho sa|d, turn|ng to h|m. |o was mood||y shrodd|ng hor brown papor bag.
Um, 1ako. l torgot to got a soda. Want to como w|th mo to...um...buy ono?'
1ako |ookod contusod. |o know hor mom d|dn't ||ko hor to dr|nk soda.
Whon ho pausod, l||oy jumpod |n. l'|| como w|th you,' ho sa|d. l'vo got tons ot
chango tor tho vond|ng mach|no.'
lo, that's okay,' 1ako sa|d qu|ck|y. l can buy my own g|r|tr|ond a soda,
thanks.' |o took lox|o's hand and tuggod hor away trom tho bonch. ||s hand was
coo|or than hors, and much b|ggor.
As thoy wa|kod away, lox|o hoad 3roo purr, You can buy mo a soda, l||oy.'
lah, l'm good,' ho sa|d.
lox|o h|d a sm||o. 3roo wasn't go|ng to ||ko that! 3ut maybo |t sho turnod
hor attont|on to l||oy, sho'd |oso |ntorost |n 1ako and |oavo h|m and lox|o a|ono.
What k|nd do you want?' 1ako sa|d, tood|ng quartors |nto tho s|ot.
Chorry Coko,' sho sa|d. l can pay tor |t, 1ako.'
lo, no,' ho sa|d, wav|ng hor hand away. lot mo, s|nco l don't havo a
cook|o to sp||t w|th you today.' |o gr|nnod at hor, thon g|ancod ovor hor shou|dor,
back at tho tab|o. l don't ||ko that guy,' ho sa|d, punch|ng tho Chorry Coko button
a ||tt|o too hard.
l||oy?' lox|o sa|d. Why?'
Wo||, why d|dn't ho start tonn|s camp at tho samo t|mo as tho rost ot us?'
1ako sa|d. Why doosn't ho havo any ot h|s own tr|onds? And h|s sm||o |s a||
|ops|dod.'
1hat's truo,' lox|o sa|d. |o |s a ||tt|o wo|rd - ho woro joans to tonn|s th|s
morn|ng. 3ut ho sooms n|co onough.'
|mm,' 1ako sa|d, turn|ng to hoad back.
Wa|t,' sho sa|d, catch|ng h|s s|oovo. Actua||y, l noodod to ask you
somoth|ng.'
Aha,' ho sa|d. l thought tho soda th|ng was out ot tho b|uo.'
Wo||, |t you ho|p mo dr|nk |t, l t|guro l'|| on|y bo ha|t broak|ng my mom's
ru|o, r|ght?' |o sm||od, and sho to|d h|m about 3a||y's doub|o dato ottor. l know
|t's strango,' lox|o sa|d. Vaybo wo cou|d to|| hor you a|roady havo p|ans, or that
our paronts won't |ot us go, or somoth|ng.'
Aro you suro?' 1ako sa|d. l th|nk |t cou|d bo tun, don't you?'
Oh,' lox|o sa|d, wo||, l moan, |t you -'
Why not, r|ght?' 1ako sa|d. l want to soo |t, you want to soo |t.'
3ut w|th 3a||y and lan?'
Wo||, wo don't havo to ta|k to thom dur|ng tho mov|o. 3ut wo a|so don't
havo to go,' ho sa|d. l moan, |t you don't want to, l can tota||y say no tor us. l'm
suro you don't want to go on your t|rst dato w|th a guy who's just a tr|ond, ||ko
mo, r|ght?' |o was |ook|ng at hor roa||y |ntont|y. Yoo bovo oo looo, sho thought. l woot to go oo my lrst ooto wltb yoo, p|os ovory otbor ooto or tbo
rost o my |lo.
lo, l moan, suro,' sho sa|d. Wo can go. lot's do |t. 3os|dos, |t 3roo |s
boh|nd |t, th|s shou|d ho|p conv|nco hor wo'ro roa||y dat|ng, r|ght?'
l|ght,' ho sa|d. 1hat's why wo'ro do|ng |t. Ot courso.'
Whon thoy got back to tho tab|o, 3roo was oxp|a|n|ng ||toguard tra|n|ng to
l||oy, who |ookod tasc|natod. 3a||y |ookod borod, but whon lox|o caught hor oyo
and gavo hor a thumbs-up, hor taco br|ghtonod.
l'|| ca|| you,' sho mouthod wh||o 3roo wasn't |ook|ng.
1ho attornoon wont a |ot ||ko tho prov|ous attornoon, oxcopt that l||oy
jo|nod poo| vo||oyba|| and was put on 3roo's toam. 3oo|ng h|m |n h|s sw|msu|t
mado lox|o roa||zo why ho ||kod joans bottor than shorts: ||s |ogs woro th|n and
pa|or than h|s arms, wh|ch |ookod sort ot odd. 3ut ho turnod out to bo a |ot bottor
at th|s sport than tonn|s, and ho mado a |ot ot onorgot|c |oaps and d|vos |n tho
procoss. Whonovor ho saw lox|o watch|ng h|m, ho gavo hor h|s crookod sm||o.
At tho ond ot tho day, 1ako hust|od out ot tho chang|ng room a|most as
soon as ho wont |t, catch|ng up to lox|o wh||o sho was st||| on tho path to tho
b|kos.
|oy,' sho sa|d. 1hat was tast.'
1hat guy was annoy|ng mo,' 1ako sa|d. |o koops ask|ng quost|ons about
our ro|at|onsh|p, ||ko how |ong wo'vo boon dat|ng and stutt.'
loa||y?' lox|o sa|d. 1hat's wo|rd. l wondor why.'
Uh, yoah,' 1ako sa|d, sp|nn|ng tho comb|nat|on |ock on h|s b|ko. Wo|rd.
lot's go botoro ho comos out.'
As thoy rodo back to lox|o's houso, sho wondorod |t sho shou|d ta|k to 1ako
about Co||n. Vaybo ho cou|d ho|p hor t|guro out what was wrong w|th hor tw|n
brothor. 3ho doc|dod to wa|t and soo |t 1ako not|cod anyth|ng h|mso|t. 3ut whon
ho camo |ns|do w|th hor, Co||n soomod moro choortu| than ho had tho day botoro.
1ho throo ot thom spont tho rost ot tho attornoon try|ng to sot up and t||m gory
spoc|a| ottocts trom a book 1ako had tound. lt d|dn't work vory wo||, thoy ondod
up w|th kotchup a|| ovor tho k|tchon and sovora| b|ts ot carrot that d|dn't |ook
anyth|ng ||ko sovorod t|ngors.
3ottor |uck tomorrow,' 1ako sa|d, hoad|ng out tho door. 3oo you |n tho
morn|ng, lox|o.' 3ho stood at tho scroon door and wavod as ho poda|od away.
1horn and A|anna nosod tho|r way |nto tho k|tchon and snutt|od across tho t|oor,
||ck|ng up spattorod kotchup and carrot b|ts.
Oh, doar,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, com|ng |nto tho k|tchon. l gathor wo'ro hav|ng
takoout tor d|nnor.'
Wo'ro c|oan|ng |t up,' Co||n sa|d. 0on't worry.'
l'm qu|to suro you aro,' h|s mom sa|d. lox|o, 3a||y K|m |s on tho phono tor
you. Whon you'ro dono, ask hor |t l can spoak to hor mothor.'
Co||n gavo lox|o a cur|ous |ook. |o know as wo|| as sho d|d that a phono ca||
trom 3a||y K|m was not at a|| tho norma| ovont tho|r mothor soomod to th|nk |t
was.
lox|o p|ckod up A|anna tor mora| support, took tho portab|o phono |nto hor
room, and shut tho door.
||, 3a||y,' sho sa|d |nto tho phono, |y|ng down on tho bod. A|anna cur|od
up bos|do hor and bogan ||ck|ng hor t|ngors w|th onorgot|c snort|ng sounds.
|oy, lox|o,' 3a||y sa|d, as |t sho ca||od hor ovory day. 3o |ot's t|guro out
|r|day. lan's bo|ng a pa|n about |t bocauso ho's go|ng on a camp|ng tr|p w|th h|s
tam||y tho noxt day or somoth|ng. 3ut ho'|| como. lt'|| bo tun, don't you th|nk?'
3uro,' lox|o sa|d.
l'vo boon want|ng to go on a doub|o dato tor agos,' 3a||y sa|d, but 3roo
hatos thom. 3ho ||kos to koop hor boytr|onds to horso|t. Anyways, l don't roa||y
want lan to modo| h|mso|t on any ot hor ro|at|onsh|ps. 3ut l t|guro ho cou|d p|ck
up somo t|ps trom 1ako, r|ght? l'd |ovo |t |t ho troatod mo a b|t moro ||ko 1ako
troats you.'
lox|o thought that was tunny. 1ho who|o t|mo 1ako had boon dat|ng Amy
3orronto, Amy had comp|a|nod nonstop (1ako's word) about what an
unonthus|ast|c, un|nsp|rod, bor|ng, nog|octtu| boytr|ond ho was (hor words).
Vaybo ho was just bottor at protond|ng to bo |n a ro|at|onsh|p than at actua||y
bo|ng |n ono.
Aro you oxc|tod?' 3a||y askod. 0|nnor and a mov|o, tota||y romant|c,
r|ght? ls |t okay |t l havo my mom drop mo ott at your p|aco botorohand, so wo can
wa|k togothor? lt's c|osor trom your houso.'
Yoah, okay,' lox|o sa|d, and thon, bocauso sho to|t bad about how oxc|tod
3a||y soomod (ovon |t |t was a tr|ck (, sho addod, l'm oxc|tod tor th|s mov|o.'
Vo too,' 3a||y sa|d, and that startod hor ott on a compar|son ot Cors and Voostors, loc. 1hoy ondod up ta|k|ng tor ha|t an hour - wo||, 3a||y d|d
most ot tho ta|k|ng - and by tho t|mo lox|o got back downsta|rs, Co||n had t|n|shod c|oan|ng
tho k|tchon. Vrs. W||||s was stand|ng at tho countor, sort|ng takoout monus.
|oro you go, Vom,' lox|o sa|d, hand|ng hor tho phono.
Oh, thanks, lox|o,' hor mom sa|d. l|ck a monu and ordor, wou|d you? You
both know what your tathor and l ||ko. |o shou|d bo homo trom work |n about
ha|t an hour.' Vr. W||||s took a tra|n to tho c|ty ovory morn|ng botoro tho rost ot
h|s tam||y got up, and otton camo homo |ato at n|ght. lox|o d|dn't undorstand
oxact|y what ho d|d - somoth|ng to do w|th numbors and |aw and banks and
contracts.
As soon as Vrs. W||||s had wandorod out ot tho k|tchon chatt|ng away w|th
Vrs. K|m, lox|o pu||od horso|t up to s|t on tho countor and wh|sporod, Co||n,
guoss what?'
l don't got |t,' ho sa|d, study|ng a carrot. Why d|d |t |ook so tako? Wo
woro us|ng tho b|ack-and-wh|to sott|ng, so |t's not tho co|or. Evon l'm not dumb
onough to th|nk wo can got away w|th br|ght orango t|ngors.'
Co||n, ||ston,' lox|o |ns|stod. l'm go|ng on a dato on |r|day.'
1hat d|d got h|s attont|on, |t on|y tor a momont. |o put tho carrot down and
p|ckod up tho p||o ot monus. 1horn buttod at h|s knoos, domand|ng moro carrot
p|ocos w|th a sma|| woot.
W|th who?' Co||n askod.
W|th 1ako, ot courso,' lox|o sa|d. lomombor tho traumat|z|ng soap opora
you vo|untoorod mo tor?' blcb yoo bovoo`t ovoo oskoo mo oboot. Llko yoo ooo`t
coro l Broo VcKoools moroors mo lo my s|oop.
Oh,' ho sa|d, sound|ng ro||ovod. 3o |t's just a protond dato.'
Wo||, |t's a doub|o dato w|th 3a||y K|m and lan Vontgomory,' lox|o sa|d.
3ut, Co||n, l havo no |doa what l'm supposod to do. Or say. Or woor. Oh my Ooo.'
Who caros?' Co||n sa|d. lt's just 1ako. |o doosn't caro what you woar.'
5oo|y troo, lox|o thought. Okay,' sho sa|d, but 3a||y w||| bo roport|ng r|ght back to 3roo. 3o l havo to at |oast protond to caro.' 7bot`s my story,
ooywoys. 5o Co|lo oooso`t ootlco bowmocb l octoo||y oo coro.
You'|| t|guro |t out,' Co||n sa|d. You don't nood your dumb brothor's ho|p.
l voto tor lnd|an or Vox|can. You doc|do.'
|o droppod two monus on tho countor noxt to hor and |ott tho room, 1horn
and A|anna pattor|ng a|ong boh|nd h|m. lox|o starod at tho door. What on oarth
was wrong w|th Co||n?
Chator 0
Co||n wasn't tho on|y ono act|ng b|zarro. Vrs. W||||s kopt g|v|ng lox|o t|ny sm||os a|| through d|nnor 1uosday n|ght. On Wodnosday sho |ott a p||o ot
na|| po||sh and
makoup on lox|o's dosk. And on 1hursday ovon|ng sho suggostod a shopp|ng tr|p,
just us g|r|s,' ovon though sho know lox|o hatod shopp|ng. lox|o wasn't about to
bo bossod |nto tonn|s ooo shopp|ng |n ono wook, so sho sa|d no.
Aro you suro, swoothoart?' hor mom sa|d. Wo cou|d got you somoth|ng
n|co to woar. ln caso you nood |t somot|mo soon. |or anyth|ng.'
Abo. lox|o's mom was on to hor. Vrs. K|m must havo to|d hor about tho
doub|o dato. lox|o was k|nd ot |mprossod that hor mom had managod not to ask
lox|o a m||||on quost|ons r|ght away.
Oh, no, l don't nood anyth|ng,' lox|o sa|d. |or mom's taco to||, and lox|o
to|t a tw|ngo ot gu||t. 3os|dos, Vom,' sho addod, try|ng to bo n|co, you'ro a
much bottor shoppor than l am. l ||ko tho stutt you got mo.' lt was truo. W|th tho
oxcopt|on ot tho b|k|n|, Vrs. W||||s's tasto |n c|othos was romarkab|o. 3omot|mos
lox|o thought |t was tho on|y th|ng koop|ng hor out ot tho ranks ot tho truo dorks
ot tho schoo|.
A|| r|ght,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, hovor|ng |n tho doorway. lt you'ro suro.'
Uh-huh,' lox|o sa|d. 1hanks.'
As hor mom c|osod tho door, lox|o craw|od ovor tho bad and knockod throo
t|mos on tho wa||, tho s|gna| tor Co||n to como ovor. 1hon sho startod pu|||ng
c|othos out ot hor c|osot.
What?' Co||n sa|d, opon|ng tho door and pok|ng h|s hoad around.
Como ho|p mo doc|do what to woar tomorrow,' lox|o sa|d.
lo way,' Co||n sa|d.
Co||n!'
1hat's g|r| stutt.'
And whoro am l supposod to t|nd a g|r| to ho|p mo w|th th|s?' Vaybo |t
Kar|na woron't a|| tho way |n Cbloo... a|though Kar|na had novor roa||y carod about c|othos, o|thor.
Co||n shruggod. Ask Vom.'
Yoah, r|ght,' lox|o sa|d. 3o, shou|d l ||o to hor and say l'm suddon|y dat|ng
1ako, who's boon our tr|ond tor throo yoars, or shou|d l oxp|a|n that l'm on|y
protooo dat|ng h|m to protoct h|m trom anothor g|r|? Wh|ch ot thoso tantast|c stor|os do you th|nk sho'd ||ko bost?'
Whatovor,' Co||n sa|d. l soo sk|rts, so l'm |oav|ng.'
Co||n!' 3ut ho had a|roady shut tho door w|th a t|rm c||ck.
lox|o hos|tatod, |ook|ng at tho scattorod hangors and to|ds or tabr|c. Was
th|s a tancy dato? 1ho d|nor wasn't oxact|y a tancy p|aco. 3o was |t moro ot a joans
and 1-sh|rt ovont? 3ho d|dn't want to |ook ||ko sho'd mado too much ottort, but
sho d|dn't want to undordross, o|thor. 3ho tr|od to romombor tho t|mo d|ttoronco
|n Ch|na. 3ut hor paronts had sot str|ct ru|os about whon and tor how |ong sho
cou|d ta|k to Kar|na, and tho|r noxt phono dato wasn't tor anothor wook. 3ho'd
havo to t|nd hor g|r|y adv|co o|sowhoro.
|or hands shook a ||tt|o as sho p|ckod up tho phono and d|a|od. 3uro, 3a||y
was probab|y on|y do|ng th|s dato th|ng bocauso 3roo to|d hor to. 3ut sho cou|dn't
||o about what sho was go|ng to woar. 3o maybo hor adv|co cou|d bo usotu|, |n just
th|s ono s|tuat|on.
Oh, howdy- ooo, lox|o,' Vrs. K|m sa|d w|th tho s|gn|t|cant omphas|s ono
m|ght uso to say, You oro tho noxt pros|dont ot tho Un|tod 3tatos.' |o|d on, |ot mo got 3a||y.'
lox|o!' 3a||y cr|od as sho p|ckod up. l'm so g|ad you ca||od! l was just
troak|ng out bocauso l havo no |doa what to woar tomorrow.'
loa||y?' lox|o sa|d, hor norvousnoss ovaporat|ng. 1hat's why l ca||od
you!'
Oh, owosomo,' 3a||y sa|d. Okay. 0oscr|bo ovory s|ng|o |tom ot c|oth|ng
you own, and thon l'|| do tho samo, and thon wo'|| p|ck outt|ts that w||| |ook good
noxt to oach othor but won't |ook ||ko thoy do||borato|y match, and thon wo'||
pan|c and p|ck backup outt|ts, and thon wo'|| chango thom around, and thon wo'||
throw out tho who|o p|an and start ovor.'
lox|o |aughod. A|| r|ght, you askod tor |t,' sho sa|d. 3ut l own a |ot ot
c|othos. Vy mom |ovos shopp|ng.'
You'ro |ucky,' 3a||y sa|d. V|no w||| novor tako mo. And you guys havo
groat ma||s around horo, |n my o|d town thoro was, ||ko, ono, and |t was a who|o
hour away. l cou|d spond my ||to |n a ma||, cou|dn't you?'
Um,' lox|o sa|d. Wo||...'
Wo'|| go togothor somot|mo,' 3a||y sa|d. l'|| bot |t's a |ot moro tun w|th
somoono who doosn't a|ways answor tho quost|on '0oos th|s mako mo |ook tat?'
w|th 'Actua||y, your ot makos you |ook tat.' l th|nk 3roo got that trom a mov|o, but sho th|nks |t's so tunny.'
1hat |s crazy,' lox|o sa|d, too||ng a |ot bravor now that 3roo wasn't thoro to
hoar hor. 3a||y, you don't nood to |oso wo|ght. You'ro way th|nnor than l am.'
Yoah, but you'ro cuto ||ko that,' 3a||y sa|d. You havo curvos. Vy oxtra
wo|ght just makos mo |ook th|ckor |nstoad ot curv|or.'
3a||y, sor|ous|y,' lox|o sa|d. 1hat |s crazy ta|k.'
Wo||, start w|th your tops,' 3a||y sa|d, chang|ng tho subjoct. 0o you havo
anyth|ng rod?'
3uro,' lox|o sa|d, and 3a||y |aughod.
l'm k|dd|ng, lox|o,' sho sa|d. You woar rod, ||ko, ovory day.'
l do?'
l'm surpr|sod your bath|ng su|t |sn't rod,' 3a||y sa|d.
Vaybo |t l ovor got a socond ono,' lox|o sa|d. 3ut l ||ko tho ono l havo.'
0oosn't |t got bor|ng woar|ng tho samo ono ovory day?' 3a||y had throo
that sho'd boon cyc||ng botwoon, two tank|n|s and a ono-p|oco.
lo - l moan, l ||ko |t,' lox|o sa|d.
1hat's tho |mportant th|ng,' 3a||y sa|d. 3o, tops. |ow about groon tor a
chango?'
||na||y, an hour |ator, thoy had doc|dod that lox|o wou|d woar a gray sh|rt
and a b|ack sk|rt w|th sanda|s that woro comtortab|o onough to wa|k a tow b|ocks
|n, wh||o 3a||y wou|d woar a sky-b|uo sundross.
lox|o to|| as|oop too||ng much happ|or, ovon though sho was st||| mad at
Co||n tor bo|ng so unho|ptu|.
1ho noxt morn|ng, as sho was dotach|ng hor tonn|s rackot trom hor b|ko,
1ako suddon|y grabbod hor hand.
Aro you oxc|tod tor our dato ton|ght, lox|o?' ho sa|d, a ||tt|o b|t too |oud|y.
3hh,' lox|o sa|d, g|anc|ng around tor 3roo. 3ut tho on|y porson sho saw
was l||oy, stro|||ng across tho park|ng |ot a tow toot away trom thom. |o gavo hor
a wavo-sa|uto and hoadod |n through tho gatos.
ls |s a socrot trom l||oy, too?' 1ako sa|d, st||| ho|d|ng on to hor hand.
lo,' sho sa|d. l was just mak|ng suro 3roo wasn't around. lron|c, r|ght? l
moan, wo'ro go|ng on th|s dato to provo that wo'ro dat|ng, but wo'ro koop|ng |t a
socrot trom tho porson wo'ro prov|ng |t to. Who know docopt|on cou|d bo so
comp||catod?'
lt |s tunny,' ho sa|d. 3o aro you? Exc|tod?'
|ow was sho supposod to answor th|s? Aro you?' sho askod.
l askod you t|rst.' |o sm||od, but thoro was a sma|| dont about ono ot h|s
oyobrows that ho got on|y whon ho was worr|od.
3uro l am,' sho sa|d. 0on't worry about |t, 1ako, wo'|| havo tun.'
lt's just, th|s |s tho part whoro my |ast throo g|r|tr|onds...okay, my on|y
throo g|r|tr|onds...usua||y startod to got mad at mo,' 1ako sa|d. l|ko, bocauso l'm
not ca|||ng onough, or comp||mont|ng thom onough, or g|v|ng thom onough
prosonts, or somoth|ng.'
You don't havo to do any ot that,' lox|o sa|d, shak|ng hor hoad. lowor|ng
hor vo|co, sho addod, 1h|s |s just protond, romombor?'
l know,' ho sa|d, |ook|ng down at hor hand |n h|s. 3ut - |t |t woro roa|,
wou|d you want mo - l moan, whoovor your roa| boytr|ond was - to do a|| that
stutt?'
l don't know,' lox|o sa|d truthtu||y. lot |t |t's work. lt shou|dn't bo hard. l
wou|dn't want you - l moan, h|m - to on|y bo comp||mont|ng mo bocauso l askod
tor |t, you know? Or bocauso you th|nk you havo to. l moan, l th|nk |t somoono
wantod to dato mo, l'd bo happy w|th whatovor thoy wantod to do to show |t.'
3ho shruggod.
1hat's what l t|guro,' 1ako sa|d. 1hoy startod wa|k|ng up tho path |nto
3ummor|odgo. 3ho wondorod |t ho romomborod that ho was st||| ho|d|ng hor
hand. A|though l guoss |t |t woro tho r|ght g|r|, l'd want to do a|| that stutt. 3o
maybo Amy was r|ght about mo.'
luh-uh,' lox|o sa|d |oya||y. 3ho d|dn't approc|ato you.' Not |lko l woo|o.
Oh, |ook, |t's tho |ovob|rds,' 3roo sa|d, popp|ng out trom boh|nd tho chock-
|n booth. 3ho strotchod, show|ng ott hor portoct|y t|at, tan stomach botwoon hor
sh|rt and short sk|rt. |or onco, sho was woar|ng a co|or othor than wh|to - a ||ght
b|uo t|ttod sh|rt. 3o what aro you guys do|ng ton|ght?' sho sa|d |n hor |ow, s||ky
vo|co. 1o co|obrato your ono-wook ann|vorsary? Or d|d you co|obrato |t on
Wodnosday, ha-ha?'
Wo havo p|ans,' 1ako sa|d.
lr|vato p|ans?' 3roo sa|d. Or maybo wo cou|d doub|o-dato. 3ocauso l was
th|nk|ng ot ask|ng that guy l||oy out.' Contus|ng|y, sho and 1ako both g|ancod at
lox|o as sho sa|d th|s.
Oh, l don't - lox|o startod to stammor.
3orry,' 1ako sa|d. lr|vato p|ans.'
3roo narrowod hor oyos. 0o|ng what?'
lt's a surpr|so tor lox|o,' 1ako sa|d. 5mort, lox|o thought.
|mmm.' 3roo sn|ttod. A|| r|ght, you can to|| mo |ator, 1ako. lt can bo our
||tt|o socrot.' 3ho ran hor man|curod t|ngors down h|s arm and ho tw|tchod away.
3roo tossod back hor pa|o b|ondo w|ngs ot ha|r and starod at lox|o wh||o
1ako s|gnod |n. lox|o ba|ancod ono toot on top ot tho othor snoakor, too||ng
unoasy. 3roo's gazo travo|od up and down, oxam|n|ng ovory |nch ot lox|o.
What's that?' 3roo sa|d suddon|y, dart|ng torward and p|uck|ng at lox|o's
nock|aco.
lt's my nock|aco,' lox|o sa|d, ta|||ng back.
You woar |t a|| tho t|mo,' 3roo sa|d. Evon whon |t tota||y doosn't go w|th
your outt|t. l|ko today.' Attor what 3a||y had sa|d, lox|o had doc|dod to d|g out a
sh|rt that wasn't rod. And |t was truo: 1ho dark purp|o co|or ot hor 1-sh|rt d|dn't
oxact|y match tho g|ow|ng ruby rod ot tho boads.
lt's - 1ako gavo |t to mo,' lox|o mumb|od.
Awww,' 3roo sa|d. On|y a wook and a|roady g|v|ng hor jowo|ry? What a
dash|ng boytr|ond you aro, 1akoy. l hopo your g|r|tr|ond |s good onough tor you.
K|dd|ng!'
l gavo |t to hor a wh||o ago,' 1ako sa|d. 3ack whon l was start|ng to t|guro
out l ||kod hor but d|dn't know what to do about |t yot.'
lox|o thought sho must bo turn|ng tho samo co|or as tho boads. lt on|y that
woro actua||y truo!
l havo to got to tonn|s,' sho b|urtod, and took ott at a spr|nt tor tho courts.
1ako wou|d havo to hand|o tho rost ot tho morn|ng's |ntorrogat|on w|thout hor.
l||oy was warm|ng up outs|do tho tonco by jogg|ng |n p|aco. |o had showod
up on Wodnosday |n joan shorts that woro c|oar|y just joans ho'd cut tho |ogs ott
ot, but now ho was woar|ng roa| shorts.
|oy, lox|o,' ho sa|d. lomombor how wo woro ta|k|ng about Lost
yostorday?' 3ho vaguo|y romomborod say|ng somoth|ng about ||k|ng tho show,
but sho wou|dn't havo ca||od |t a who|o convorsat|on. |o ratt|od on w|thout
wa|t|ng tor hor to answor. Wo||, thoy'ro hav|ng a marathon ton|ght on 1v, and l
thought maybo wo cou|d watch |t togothor, so you can oxp|a|n |t to mo and
maybo l'|| soo how good |t |s. Whatcha th|nk? Wo cou|d ordor p|zza.'
Oh, that sounds ||ko tun, l||oy,' lox|o sa|d. 3ut l'm go|ng out w|th 1ako
ton|ght. 3orry.' 3ho was ha|t sorry and ha|t not. 3ho |ovod watch|ng Lost, but |t soundod a b|t |nt|m|dat|ng, just hor and l||oy hang|ng out.
Awww,' l||oy sa|d. 3uro you do|ng want to d|tch h|m? 1h|s |s tho on|y
n|ght tho marathon w||| bo on!'
l can't do that,' lox|o sa|d. 3ut l can |oan you tho 0v0s ot 3oason Ono, |t
you want.'
l'd rathor watch |t w|th you,' l||oy sa|d. What aro you do|ng w|th 1ako
ton|ght, anyway?'
Wo'ro go|ng to tho mov|os |n town,' lox|o sa|d.
l||oy |ookod ||ko ho was go|ng to try aga|n to conv|nco hor, but just thon
3a||y camo up, ||nkod hor arm through lox|o's and tuggod hor away, wh|spor|ng
about p|ans tor that n|ght.
lt wasn't unt|| |ator, dur|ng |unch, that somoth|ng occurrod to lox|o. |ad
l||oy boon ask|ng hor on a dato? 1v and p|zza wasn't a typ|ca| dato...and ho know
about 1ako...but somo poop|o wou|d ca|| that a dato. lt was corta|n|y tho t|rst t|mo
a boy had askod hor to do somoth|ng w|th just h|m.
What wou|d sho havo sa|d |t sho woron't protond dat|ng 1ako? Wou|d sho
want to dato l||oy? Bot l ooo`t |lko blm tbot woy, lox|o thought. Lo l lo oooso`t moko mo o|| lzzy losloo tbo woy 1oko ooos. lo mokos mo
oorvoos...bot moybo
tbot`s wbot lt`s sopposoo to oo| |lko, mootlog o oowgoy yoo |lko.
3ho d|dn't want to dato anyono but 1ako. 3ut |t 1ako d|dn't want to dato hor
- and l||oy d|d - maybo sho shou|d try |t, tor tho oxpor|onco. l sboo|oo`t bo tbo
oo|y glr| lo blgb scboo| wbo`s oovor booo klssoo. 1ho thought ot k|ss|ng l||oy gavo hor buttort||os |n hor stomach.
o||, lt oooso`t mottor, ooywoy, sho to|d horso|t t|rm|y. lo tbloks l`m ootlog 1oko. Aoo oowtbot l`vo torooo blm oowo ooco, l ooobt bo`|| osk ogolo.
3ho g|ancod s|doways at h|s shaggy mano ot ha|r and h|s |argo hands. On hor othor s|do, 1ako
|oanod torward to grab a napk|n. ||s arm touchod hors, and thon stayod thoro, h|s
sk|n brush|ng hors, tor tho rost ot |unch.
l||oy kopt |ook|ng at hor and try|ng to mako hor |augh. |o ovor sto|o a
coup|o ot hor carrot st|cks. And ovory t|mo sho |ookod up, lox|o tound 3roo g|ar|ng
at hor. 3roo had boon t||rt|ng w|th l||oy a|| wook, but ho d|dn't soom to havo
not|cod. 3ho'd ovon boon |gnor|ng 1ako |n tavour ot l||oy, but a|| l||oy's attont|on
was t|xod on lox|o. 1h|s surpr|sod hor as much as |t d|d 3roo. lt ho spond ono day
at Car||s|o ||gh, ho'd roa||zo tho d|ttoronco |n tho|r soc|a| status, and thon suro|y
ho'd |oso |ntorost |n lox|o |mmod|ato|y.
3ho sort ot w|shod ho wou|d. 3ho d|dn't ||ko tho way 3roo |ookod at hor -
as |t lox|o had sto|on two ot 3roo's boys, and now sho wou|d havo to pay...ono way or anothor.
3ho was ab|o to push l||oy and 3roo out ot hor m|nd as sho b|kod homo
w|th 1ako. 1ho|r dato was on|y a tow hours away! Evor a protond dato was wor|ds
moro oxc|t|ng than s|tt|ng at homo w|th hor paronts and Co||n tor anothor |r|day
n|ght, ospoc|a||y w|th hor brothor's ongo|ng wo|rdnoss.
l'|| bo back at s|x,' 1ako sa|d, paus|ng |n tho dr|voway. W|th my tuxodo
prossod and shoos sh|nod.'
l shou|d hopo so,' lox|o sa|d. Vy ba|| gown wou|dn't go w|th anyth|ng
o|so.'
|o gr|nnod and sa|utod as sho whoo|od hor b|ko |nto tho garago.
|o||o?' sho ca||od as sho wont |nto tho houso. Co||n?'
|o's at tho ||brary,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, popp|ng out ot tho don. |ow was
your day? ls tho tonn|s gott|ng moro tun?'
lox|o shruggod. lot roa||y. 3ut l th|nk l'm gott|ng bottor at poo| vo||oyba||.'
3ho'd actua||y gotton a coup|o ot sorvos ovor tho not. 1ako had whoopod and
ho||orod, ad l||oy had app|audod trom tho s|do||nos. Evon 3a||y had g|von hor a
thumbs-up.
lox|o's mothor hovorod tor a m|nuto, as |t sho woro wa|t|ng tor somoth|ng
to happon.
Vom?' lox|o sa|d. Aro you okay?'
Ot courso l am,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. 0on't you want to go upsta|rs and drop
ott your th|ngs?'
lox|o g|ancod down at hor shou|dor bag and tonn|s rackot. Yoah, okay. l
thought l'd got a g|ass ot wator t|rst.'
l'|| got |t,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, bo|t|ng tor tho k|tchon. You go upsta|rs.'
Vom, you'ro bo|ng b|zarro!' lox|o ca||od attor hor. 3hak|ng hor hoad, sho
hoadod up tho sta|rs and droppod hor stutt |ns|do hor room.
|ang|ng trom tho hook on tho outs|do ot hor c|osot was a dross. lt was a
sh|mmor|ng burnt orango co|our, ||ko autumn |oavos, w|th a v-nock, a droppod
wa|st, and th|n r|bbons ot darkor rod around tho wa|st and tho knoo-|ongth hom.
lox|o touchod |t |n awo. 1ho tabr|c was sott and sh|ny but not c||ngy.
0o you ||ko |t?' hor mothor askod trom tho doorway.
Wow, Vom,' lox|o sa|d. l moan - wow.'
l hopo |t t|ts,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, s|tt|ng down on lox|o's bod.
lot's t|nd out,' lox|o sa|d, s||pp|ng |t ott tho hangor. lt rust|od ||ko autumn
|oavos, too, as sho s||d |t on. |or mom camo ovor to ho|p hor z|p up tho back. lt t|t
portoct|y.
|ow do you do that?' lox|o sa|d, sp|nn|ng |n tront ot tho m|rror. lt's
amaz|ng.'
Wo||, l just thought you shou|d havo somoth|ng spoc|a| tor your t|rst dato,'
Vrs. W||||s sa|d, and thon c|appod hor hands ovor hor mouth. Oh! l wasn't go|ng
to say anyth|ng!'
1hat's okay,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho wantod to to|| hor mom tho truth, but
wou|dn't hor mom bo d|sappo|ntod that sho'd gono to so much troub|o tor a tako
dato?
l'vo boon hop|ng you'd to|| mo about |t yourso|t,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d.
Wo||, wo'ro try|ng not to mako |t a b|g doa|,' lox|o sa|d, too||ng awkward.
l undorstand,' hor mom sa|d, gott|ng up and hoad|ng to tho door. l just
want you to know - l'vo a|ways thought you and 1ako wou|d mako a portoct
coup|o.' 3ho boamod at lox|o as sho shut tho door boh|nd hor.
Yoob, mo too, lox|o thought. Nowsomobooy to|| 1oko tbot.
Chator 7
1ho t|rst th|ng lox|o d|d was ca|| 3a||y to to|| hor that hor outt|t had changod,
wh|ch |t turnod out 3a||y had boon p|ann|ng as wo||. 1hon lox|o showorod, b|ow-
dr|od hor ha|r, put on hor nock|aco and hor van|||a-scontod portumo that sho
a|most novor woro, pa|ntod hor toona||s dark rod, and drossod. At s|x o'c|ock, sho
was s|tt|ng on tho odgo ot a cha|r |n tho don, try|ng not to wr|nk|o hor dross, ovon
though hor mothor sa|d tho tabr|c was supposod to bo wr|nk|o-proot.
l to|d you that you d|dn't havo to dross up so much,' Co||n sa|d trom h|s
prono pos|t|on on tho couch. 1ako w||| th|nk |t's wo|rd.'
lo, ho won't,' lox|o snappod. Ot courso, th|s was what sho'd boon
worry|ng about tor tho |ast two hours. 3ut |t was too |ato now.
1ho doorbo|| rang, and sho |oapod up to answor |t botoro hor mothor cou|d
got thoro.
lt was 3a||y. 3ho squoa|od tho |nstant sho saw lox|o.
Oh my goodnoss! You |ook tantast|c!'
Como |n,' lox|o sa|d, b|ush|ng. 1ako's not horo yot.'
What a horo your boytr|ond |s,' 3a||y sa|d. Vy |osor sa|d ho'd moot us
thoro. Wh|ch moans by tho way, that ho'|| havo a|roady bought h|s t|ckot, and l'||
havo to buy my own. lan's a ||tt|o unc|oar on somo ot tho bas|c pr|nc|p|os ot
dat|ng.'
lox|o hadn't thought about that. Wou|d 1ako bo pay|ng tor hor? Vaybo ho'd
havo to, tor appoaranco, and thon sho cou|d pay h|m back |ator.
||, Co||n,' 3a||y sa|d as thoy ontorod tho don. |oy, d|d l soo you at tho
drugstoro yostorday?'
lo,' ho sa|d qu|ck|y.
l thought |t was you,' 3a||y sa|d, but l cou|dn't t|guro out why anyono
wou|d bo buy|ng notobooks and a protractor |n tho summort|mo, so maybo l was
wrong.'
lox|o gavo Co||n a puzz|od |ook, but ho d|dn't moot hor oyos.
1ho doorbo|| rang aga|n, and th|s t|mo |t was 1ako. |o |ookod trosh|y
showorod and h|s short-s|oovod gray button-down mado h|s oyos |ook a|| smoky
and dark. |o was ho|d|ng a short, dark rod roso.
|o|y smokos,' ho sa|d. You - that - you - uh... l ||ko your dross.'
lox|o to|t ||ko sho must bo turn|ng tho wor|d's br|ghtost shado ot rod.
||, 1ako,' sho managod.
1h|s |s tor you,' ho sa|d, hand|ng hor tho roso. As sho took |t, tho|r t|ngors
brushod, and suddon|y ho |oanod torward and k|ssod hor on tho chook. lt was sott
and qu|ck, ||ko a buttort|y bump|ng aga|nst hor taco. Guoss|ng that that moant
3a||y was boh|nd hor, lox|o g|ancod around, but thoy woro a|ono |n tho ha||way.
3o...why d|d ho - ?
1ako!' Co||n ca||od trom tho don. 3top |o|tor|ng and como |n horo!'
1hank you,' lox|o wh|sporod, shutt|ng tho door boh|nd 1ako as ho stampod
h|s toot on tho wo|como mat. |o |ookod qu|zz|ca|, and sho ho|d up tho t|owor.
Oh my God,' 3a||y sa|d, pok|ng hor hoad |n. 0|d you got hor that, 1ako?
1hat's unbo||ovab|o. 0o you know how many t|mos lan has gotton mo t|owors?
Zoro. |o's such a trog|odyto. 1hat was tho Word ot tho 0ay today, |sn't |t coo|?
Van, |ook how portoct that roso |s! You guys aro too cuto tor words. lox|o, |ot's go
t|nd somoth|ng to put |t |n.' 3ho tastonod hor hand around lox|o's wr|st and
draggod hor |nto tho k|tchon. 1ako wont |nto tho don and lox|o cou|d hoar tho
murmur ot h|s vo|co and Co||n's.
|ow much doos that guy adoro you?' 3a||y sa|d, pu|||ng opon cab|nots. l
know Amy 3orronto a ||tt|o trom t|o|d hockoy and l don't th|nk ho ovor got hor
t|owors. l'm sorry, l shou|dn't bo|ng up tho ox-g|r|tr|ond, shou|d l? 0on't worry, ho
novor |ookod at hor tho way ho |ooks at you. Oh horo, th|s shou|d work.' 3ho
t|shod out a sma|| g|ass vaso and ho|pod lox|o t||| |t w|th wator.
lox|o sot tho roso |n tho vaso and gont|y touchod tho pota|s. lt wos portoct.
Why cou|dn't th|s a|| bo roa|?
1hoy sa|d good-byo to Co||n and sot ott wa|k|ng. 3a||y chattorod most ot tho
way, so lox|o d|dn't havo to worry about what to say to 1ako. lorma||y |t was oasy
to ta|k to h|m, but th|s was d|ttoront. 1h|s was a dato. 3ort ot.
lan Vontgomory was stand|ng |n tront ot tho mov|o thoatro, rock|ng on h|s
hoo|s. Un||ko 1ako, ho was just woar|ng a 1-sh|rt and r|ppod joans, and ho |ookod
||ko ho hadn't showorod |n a coup|o ot days. |o a|so d|dn't comp||mont 3a||y,
a|though lox|o thought sho |ookod tota||y cuto |n hor dark groon sundross. And
3a||y had boon r|ght: |o'd a|roady bought h|s t|ckot, so sho had to buy hor own.
1ako c|osod h|s hand ovor lox|o's as sho tr|od to pu|| monoy out ot hor purso.
lo, no,' ho sa|d. lot mo do tho boytr|ond th|ng.' |o gr|nnod and sho
sm||od back.
Abom,' 3a||y sa|d. 1ho boyrlooo th|ng, you say? You moan, tak|ng your g|r|tr|ond to tho mov|os, br|ng|ng hor t|owors, to|||ng hor sho |ooks n|co?
Aro thoro
boytr|onds who actua||y oo that?'
|oy, l'm horo, aron't l?' lan sa|d grump||y. Evon though th|s mov|o |ooks
supor |amo. You shou|d bo happy onough about that.'
Oh, l am,' 3a||y sa|d, tak|ng h|s hand. l too| so b|ossoo to bo boooroo w|th your prosooco, l can't ovon hand|o |t.'
lox|o g|gg|od, but lan huttod out a broath ot a|r ||ko ho d|dn't got that sho
was jok|ng.
lns|do, thoro was a contus|ng momont as thoy t|gurod out whoro to s|t. 3ut
lox|o wound up botwoon 1ako and 3a||y, w|th lan on tho othor s|do ot 3a||y. 1hon
1ako ottorod to go got popcorn, and lan askod h|m to got somo tor h|m, too. Whon
1ako camo back, ho was a|so carry|ng a |argo soda and a box ot 1un|or V|nts tor
lox|o.
You ||ko thoso, r|ght?' ho sa|d to hor as ho sat down.
1hoy'ro my tavor|to, thank you,' sho sa|d. On hor othor s|do, 3a||y s|ghod
|oud|y, but lan m|ssod hor moan|ngtu| |ook.
l t|gurod wo cou|d sp||t tho soda,' 1ako sa|d, but, um thoy woro noar|y out
ot straws, so l on|y took ono. ls that gross? 0o you m|nd?'
lo, that's okay,' lox|o sa|d. As sho took a s|p sho roa||zod |t was Chorry
Coko, tho k|nd sho ||kod. 1ako was a portoct protond boytr|ond. |o shou|d tako
notos tor tho noxt t|mo ho roa||y datod somoono. 3ho |ookod down at hor hands,
suddon|y too||ng sad. 3ho d|dn't want h|m to dato anyono o|so. 3ho d|dn't want to
go back to bo|ng just lox|o wh||o somoono o|so got to bo 1ako's g|r|tr|ond. And
thon 3a||y wou|d p|ty hor, and 3roo wou|d bo so smug.
1ho ||ghts wont down and 1ako |oanod ovor. Aro you a|| r|ght?' ho
wh|sporod. 1ho soda soomod to roa||y dopross you.'
3ho |aughod. Wo||, |t had such a sad ch||dhood,' sho wh|sporod back. l
too| ||ko wo'ro tak|ng advantago ot |t.'
lah, just putt|ng |t out ot |ts m|sory,' 1ako sa|d w|th a gr|n, and thon tho
prov|ows camo on.
As tho thoatro wont tota||y dark and tho mov|o startod. lox|o bogan to
wondor what to do w|th hor hands. 3hou|d sho rost thom on hor knoos? Or on tho
armrost? Or to|d thom |n tront ot hor? Or cross hor arms? Was 1ako th|nk|ng about
ho|d|ng hor hand? 3ho s||d hor oyos s|doways w|thout mov|ng hor hoad and saw
that 3a||y and lan woro ho|d|ng hands. Wou|d 3a||y not|co |t sho and 1ako d|dn't?
3hou|d sho do somoth|ng, or wa|t tor 1ako to do somoth|ng, or -
1ako roachod ovor and took hor hand, rost|ng |t on top ot h|s on tho
armrost.
Okay. 1hat answorod that quost|on. Ot courso, ho'd boon on datos ||ko th|s
botoro. |o know tho r|ght th|ng to do. lox|o g|ancod s|doways aga|n and saw that
lan and 3a||y woro k|ss|ng. (!!!) And tho mov|o had baro|y startod! 3uro|y thoy
wou|dn't oxpoct hor and 1ako to do that. Wou|d thoy?
An untam|||ar sonsat|on brushod across hor hand, and sho noar|y jumpod
out ot hor soat. 1ako was s|ow|y runn|ng h|s thumb back and torth ovor hor
knuck|os. lt to|t ||ko a socrot codo v|brat|ng through hor sk|n. A|most as |t ho woro
say|ng, 0on't worry, l'm horo,' and, You'ro boaut|tu|,' and, l can't ros|st you.'
Why was ho do|ng that? What d|d |t moan? 3hou|d sho do somoth|ng, too?
lox|o know sho was bo|ng crazy, but hor hoart was |gnor|ng hor bra|n and
had spod up to a m||||on boats and hour. 3ho cou|d baro|y concontrato on tho
mov|o. luck||y |t was a protty short ono bocauso by tho ond sho d|dn't th|nk hor
hoart cou|d tako any moro.
Wasn't that groat?' 3a||y onthusod as tho crowd sp|||od out |nto tho stroot.
l know |t wou|d bo groat. lt was so groat!'
lox|o wondorod how 3a||y cou|d havo onjoyod tho mov|o whon sho soomod
to havo spont so much ot |t k|ss|ng lan. 1hon 3a||y stoppod |n hor tracks, and lan
had to drag hor out ot tho way ot tho poop|o boh|nd hor.
Oh, oo,' 3a||y moanod. What |s sbo do|ng horo?'
3roo was stand|ng outs|do tho mov|o thoatro, arms to|dod. 3ho |ookod |ong
and s||m and o|ogant, as a|ways, a|though tho angry oxpross|on mado hor much
|oss protty.
3a||y!' sho h|ssod.
|oy, 3roo,' 3a||y sa|d norvous|y. look who wo ran |nto.'
Attor a|| l'vo dono tor you,' 3roo sa|d, hor vo|co as co|d as |co. l mado you
popu|ar. l got you a boytr|ond. 0on't you know l can tako |t a|| away ||ko tbot?'
3ho snappod hor t|ngors.
lox|o tound horso|t unconsc|ous|y |oan|ng |nto 1ako, away trom 3roo, and ho
put ono arm around hor |n a protoct|vo way that sho ||kod. Was th|s an act? 3roo
soomod gonu|no|y mad. Vaybo 3a||y roa||y had boon koop|ng |t a socrot trom hor.
3ut thon how d|d 3roo know to show up thoro?
A susp|c|on struck hor. Cou|d 3roo havo woaso|od tho |ntormat|on out ot
l||oy?
Oh, tor hoavon's sako,' 3a||y sa|d. 0on't bo a drama quoon, 3roo. l just
wantod to go to tho mov|os. You'ro not tho bo-a|| and ond-a|| ot my soc|a| ||to.'
You'|| bo |ucky to bovo a soc|a| ||to attor th|s,' 3roo sa|d. lan, como w|th mo.' 3ho turnod roga||y, sw|ng|ng hor ha|r back trom hor torohoad.
l|oaso,' 3a||y scottod. |o's my boytr|ond.'
lot |t l don't want h|m to bo,' 3roo sa|d. Como a|ong, lan.'
lan hos|tatod, |ook|ng back and torth botwoon thom. 3a||y's mouth droppod
opon. |or roa|?' sho sa|d. lan!'
l can got you Amy 3orronto,' 3roo sa|d to h|m.
Okay,' lan sa|d w|th a shrug. Vaybo sho won't tuss at mo ||ko th|s ono
doos.'
1ako snortod.
You k|ss ||ko a wot t|sh, anyways!' 3a||y ca||od as lan tra||od attor 3roo.
1rog|odyto!'
1ako and lox|o oxchangod uncomtortab|o g|ancos. lox|o wasn't suro what
thoy woro supposod to do. 3a||y wasn't oxact|y hor tr|ond, but thoy cou|dn't just
wa|k away trom hor attor that.
Oh my God,' 3a||y huttod, b|ow|ng strands ot ha|r out ot hor taco. What a
wasto ot throo months tbot was. l'm sorry, you guys, wo tota||y ru|nod your dato.'
lt's okay,' lox|o sa|d. Espoclo||y sloco lt`s oot ovoo o roo| ooto.
l guoss you guys shou|d go to d|nnor w|thout mo,' 3a||y sa|d. l'|| just go
homo and start cutt|ng lan out ot my photographs or somoth|ng.'
1hat sounds torr|b|o, 3a||y,' lox|o sa|d. You shou|d como w|th us.'
3os|dos, sho had no |doa what sho and 1ako wou|d ta|k about tor an ont|ro d|nnor
by thomso|vos. Wou|d thoy st||| act ||ko |t was a dato? As |ong as 3a||y was thoro,
sho cou|d koop protond|ng |t roa||y was.
Yoah,' 1ako sa|d ha|thoartod|y.
Oh, suro,' 3a||y sa|d. 1h|rd whoo| on your ono-wook ann|vorsary. l'm suro
that's oxact|y what you want.'
Wo cou|d ca|| Co||n,' lox|o sa|d. l'm suro ho'd bo happy to como jo|n us.
And thon you wou|dn't too| ||ko a th|rd whoo|.'
3a||y br|ghtonod a ||tt|o. loa||y? Wou|dn't that bo wo|rd?'
|o won't m|nd,' lox|o sa|d. l|ght, 1ako?'
3uro,' 1ako sa|d. l guoss l can sharo you th|s onco.' |o took hor hand and
squoozod |t. 3ho wondorod what that moant.
3a||y |oanod lox|o hor co|| phono, and a|though ho grumb|od a b|t |n h|s
Co||n way about bo|ng |n tho m|dd|o ot t||m|ng, ho managod to mako |t to tho
d|nor |n rocord t|mo. |o s||d |nto tho booth, noxt to 3a||y botoro thoy'd ovon had a
chanco to ordor.
|oy, Co||n,' 3a||y sa|d. 3orry to drag you out |nto tho wor|d on a |r|day
n|ght. You'|| novor bo||ovo how l got d|tchod.'
As sho |aunchod |nto tho story ot lan and 3roo, 1ako |oanod s|doways and
tappod on tho back ot lox|o's hand. 3ho jumpod.
Want to sharo tr|os?' ho sa|d.
3uro, okay,' lox|o answorod. 3ho thought |t was |ntorost|ng to watch 3a||y
transtorm hor who|o throo-month ro|at|onsh|p w|th lan |nto a tunny story. lt was
as |t 3a||y's ||to cou|d bo a 1v show |n hor own m|nd - somoth|ng h||ar|ous that
happon to somoono o|so. 1ho way sho doscr|bod |t to Co||n, |t roa||y d|d soom vory
tunny. 3ut lox|o cou|dn't |mag|no do|ng that horso|t. Whon 1ako wont ott to dato
somoono o|so, sho wou|dn't bo ab|o to to|| s|dosp||tt|ng stor|os about protond|ng
to bo h|s g|r|tr|ond. 3ho wou|d just bo sad.
Attor d|nnor, thoy wont back to Co||n and lox|o's houso and bakod cook|os,
t||m|ng thomso|vos w|th Co||n's camora, unt|| tho|r mothor t|na||y announcod that
|t was t|mo tor 3a||y and 1ako to go homo. lox|o roa||zod that sho hadn't boon
worry|ng about how to act on tho dato tor at |oast a coup|o ot hours. lt had boon
||ko any othor n|ght whon 1ako camo ovor, oxcopt that 3a||y was thoro, too.
And thoro was ono othor d|ttoronco. lox|o wa|kod 3a||y and 1ako to tho
door, whoro 3a||y's mom was wa|t|ng outs|do |n tho car. 3a||y startod down tho
porch stops, but 1ako hos|tatod |n tho doorway.
Ob my Ooo, lox|o thought. lt`s tbo ooo o tbo ooto. Loo`t roo| coop|os klss ot tbo ooo o tbo ooto l|| 5o||y tblok lt`s wolro l wo ooo`t Loos lt
mottor, l sbo`s oot rlooos wltb Broo ooymoro
1ako |ookod |nto hor oyos, and lox|o ho|d hor broath. On ono hand, sho
wantod h|m to. Ot courso sho wantod h|m to, sho'd boon want|ng 1ako to k|ss hor
tor a|most throo yoars. 3ut |t th|s was hor t|rst k|ss... sho wantod |t to bo roa|. 3ho wantod |t to bo |mportant to tho guy as wo|| as to hor. 3ho wantod
1ako to k|ss hor
bocauso ho wantod to, not bocauso ho was p|ay|ng a ro|o.
Um, good n|ght,' sho sa|d qu|ck|y, stopp|ng torward to hug h|m good-byo.
Vaybo that wou|d |ot h|m know that ho d|dn't havo to do anyth|ng o|so.
||s arms t|ghtonod around hor and |t soomod tor a momont ||ko t|mo
s|owod down, and sho cou|d havo stood thoro torovor, prossod aga|nst h|m. 3ho
broathod |n tho smo|| ot h|s ha|r and to|t tho warmth ot tho taco r|ght noxt to hors.
||na||y hor |ot go and stoppod back, and sho d|d, too, try|ng to act casua|,
||ko that had boon a portoct|y ord|nary hug.
Okay. Good n|ght,' ho sa|d. |o duckod h|s hoad, k|ssod hor qu|ck|y on tho
chook, and thon turnod, jump|ng down tho stops. W|th|n momonts, ho had
van|shod |nto tho n|ght.
And that was tho ond ot lox|o's t|rst dato.
Chator 8
lox|o spont most ot 3aturday |n a hammock |n hor backyard, road|ng ||brary books
wh||o 1horn snoozod on hor stomach. Co||n shut h|mso|t |n h|s room and d|dn't
como out unt|| d|nnort|mo, and thon ho wou|dn't to|| hor what ho'd boon do|ng.
lloo tboo, lox|o though. Yoo koop yoor socrots ooo l`|| koop mloo.
3unday morn|ng at broaktast, hor dad announcod that ho wantod thom to
wash tho car. Co||n groanod and smackod h|s hoad onto tho tab|o.
Como on, champ,' Vr. W||||s sa|d, c|app|ng h|s son on tho shou|dor. lt'||
bo tun, r|ght, lox|o? Oh, you guys m|ght want to woar your bath|ng su|ts.'
lox|o g|gg|od. last t|mo thoy'd boon g|von th|s shoro, sho and Co||n had
wound up wottor than tho car |n tho ond. |o hatod |t, but sho thought |t was k|nd
ot tun. Espoc|a||y whon |t was hot and sunny outs|do, ||ko |t was that day.
|or dad pu||od tho car out ot tho garago |nto tho dr|voway and got buckots
and spongos wh||o lox|o and Co||n changod. lox|o put on hor t||p-t|ops and c||ppod
hor ha|r up out ot tho way w|th a |argo s||vor buttort|y c||p. Whon sho wont
downsta|rs, hor mothor |ookod d|sappo|ntod.
l was hop|ng l'd t|na||y got to soo tho b|k|n| l bought tor you,' Vrs. W||||s
sa|d.
3orry, Vom,' lox|o sa|d, too||ng gu||ty. l t|gurod s|nco l'd bo gott|ng
mossy, th|s ono was bottor.' 3ho hurr|od through tho scroon door botoro hor
mothor cou|d arguo w|th hor.
Co||n was a|roady |ns|do tho car, vacuum|ng botwoon and undor tho soats.
lox|o changod tho p|no0scontod troo that hung |n tho tront w|ndow, and thon sho
w|pod down a|| tho hard surtacos. As soon as Co||n was t|n|shod, sho ran to got tho
hoso.
3tand back,' sho warnod, and ho jumpod out ot tho way. lox|o turnod on
tho hoso, and hor dog A|anna |mmod|ato|y camo runn|ng ovor to throw horso|t
undor tho spray.
A|anna!' lox|o protostod, try|ng to po|nt tho hoso away. 1ho pug wootod
and chasod tho wator across tho dr|voway, runn|ng trant|ca||y around tho car to
got to |t. lox|o startod |augh|ng, so sho d|dn't soo tho porson stand|ng at tho
bottom ot tho dr|voway unt|| sho wh|r|od around and sprayod wator a|| ovor h|m.
|oy!'
Oops!' lox|o shut ott tho hoso |mmod|ato|y, but |t was too |ato. l||oy was
thorough|y dronchod. And, as ho had boon tho t|rst t|mo sho'd soon h|m, ho was
woar|ng joans and a |ong-s|oovod sh|rt, wh|ch woron't ||ko|y to dry tast.
Oh, no! l'm sorry!' lox|o cr|od. l d|dn't soo you thoro.'
0udo, you tota||y soakod mo,' l||oy sa|d. |o d|dn't sound happy.
Who's ho?' Co||n askod. lox|o shovod tho hoso |nto h|s hands.
Wa|t horo,' sho ca||od to l||oy. 3ho ran |ns|do, grabbod a towo| trom tho
||non c|osot, and ran back out. 3y thon l||oy had pu||od ott h|s dr|pp|ng sh|rt and
wr|ng|ng |t out.
|oro,' sho sa|d, hand|ng h|m tho towo|. l'm roa||y sorry. What aro you
do|ng horo?'
l thought l'd stop by and say hoy,' l||oy sa|d, rubb|ng h|s ha|r w|th tho
towo|. l d|dn't know your dr|voway was a wator hazard.'
|ow'd you know whoro l ||vo?' sho askod.
lt wasn't hard to t|guro out,' ho sa|d. |o k|ckod ott h|s snoakors, pu||od ott
h|s socks, and dr|od h|s toot.
Who's th|s?' Co||n sa|d aga|n, com|ng up boh|nd lox|o.
1h|s |s l||oy,' lox|o sa|d. Yoo`o koowo|| oboot blm l yoo ovor botboroo to
osk mo bowtoools comp wos golog. l||oy, th|s |s my tw|n brothor, Co||n.'
1w|ns,' l||oy sa|d, nodd|ng thoughttu||y. 1hat's coo|. You don't soo a |ot
ot g|r|-boy tw|ns.
lo! lox|o thought. roog tblog to soy!
Aro you k|dd|ng?' Co||n sa|d. 1horo aro p|onty. A|an|s Vor|ssotto has a
tw|n brothor.'
Wado,' lox|o supp||od. 3ho'd hoard a|| th|s botoro.
G|ovann| l|b|s| has a tw|n s|stor, and so doos K|otor 3uthor|and.'
Var|ssa and lacho|.'
And 3car|ott 1ohansson has a tw|n brothor.'
|untor,' lox|o sa|d. Aron't thoso tho bost namos? 3car|ott and |untor.
Vuch bottor than A|an|s and Wago.'
Whoa, whoa,' l||oy sa|d, wav|ng h|s hands. l y|o|d a|roady! You w|n. l
guoss thoro aro m||||ons. l had no |doa.'
Co||n |ookod smug. |o ||kod show|ng ott tho stutt ho know.
|oro, |t wo put your sh|rt horo, |t'|| dry tastor,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho took l||oy's
sh|rt trom h|m and drapod |t ovor tho porch ra|||ng, |n tho sun. |o droppod h|s
socks and snoakors on tho stop.
3o what aro you do|ng?' ho sa|d. Apart trom soak|ng |nnocont
bystandors?'
Wo'ro wash|ng tho car,' lox|o sa|d.
Want to ho|p?' Co||n ottorod.
Co||n!' lox|o sa|d. l'm soro l||oy doosn't want to wash our car w|th us.'
And sho wasn't suro sho wantod h|m to st|ck around that |ong, ospoc|a||y sh|rt|oss.
|o kopt g|v|ng hor th|s s|anty |ook and sm||o, ||ko ho thought sho had do||borato|y
gotton h|m to tako h|s sh|rt ott. As |t! 3uro, ho was cuto, but sho'd soon h|m and
1ako noxt to oach othor at tho poo|, and 1ako was much cutor. ln hor op|n|on,
anyway.
l'd |ovo to,' l||oy sa|d. |and mo that hoso.' |o sm|rkod.
0on't ovon th|nk about |t,' lox|o sa|d, back|ng up. l||oy, don't you daro!'
3ho suckod boh|nd tho car just as ho grabbod tho hoso trom Co||n and turnod |t on
hor. |o chasod hor around tho car and sho t|od shr|ok|ng down tho dr|voway,
stra|ght |nto 1ako's arms.
Whoa,' ho sa|d, catch|ng hor o|bows, and thoy woro both caught |n tho
spray as l||oy do|ugod thom.
lox|o shovod hor wot ha|r back, |augh|ng. 1ako was |ook|ng ovor hor
shou|dor at l||oy, and ho wasn't sm|||ng.
Oops,' l||oy sa|d. You caught us.' |o gr|nnod and sproad h|s arms ||ko ho
was bo|ng ho|d gunpo|nt.
Caught you do|ng what?' 1ako askod. lox|o wondorod tho samo th|ng. Why
wou|d l||oy put |t ||ko that?
1horo was an awkward pauso. 1ako was st||| ho|d|ng on to lox|o's o|bows.
Co||n g|ancod at oach ot thom, |ook|ng contusod.
l got l||oy wot by acc|dont,' lox|o sa|d. |o just stoppod by, and ho
wantod to ho|p wash tho car...um...' Why d|d |t suddon|y sound |amo and
unbo||ovab|o?
Yoah, man, sorry,' l||oy sa|d. Wo woro just hav|ng tun. lt's not what |t
|ooks ||ko.'
Not wbot lt |ooks |lko lox|o thought. Looso`t lt |ook |lko wo`ro wosblog tbo cor 7boro`s ootblog to oo| wolro oboot boro. Rlgbt
What aro you up to?' lox|o sa|d, try|ng to sound casua|, a|though |t was
d|tt|cu|t wh||o 1ako st||| had hor p|nnod.
Vaybo l can stay and ho|p, too,' 1ako sa|d. Attor a||, now l'm as wot as
you guys.' |o g|ancod down at lox|o and t|na||y sm||od. |oy, g|r|tr|ond.' |o gavo
hor a wot, squ|chy hug and sho h|d hor sm||o |n h|s chost.
l saw l||oy r|do by |n th|s d|roct|on,' ho wh|sporod |n hor oar. 3o l t|gurod
l'd como to mako suro ho wasn't bothor|ng you. |opo that's okay.'
Ot courso,' sho sa|d sott|y. As |ong as you had a good, horo|c roason tor
com|ng. Wo wou|dn't want you to stop by just to say h| or anyth|ng crazy.'
1ako w|nkod at hor and thon s|ung h|s arm ovor hor shou|dor as thoy wont
back up tho dr|voway. |o and l||oy oxchangod dark g|ancos as thoy passod, but
1ako bont down and grabbod a spongo w|thout commont|ng.
|oy, Co||n,' ho sa|d. l'vo boon road|ng about 7bo Votrlx somo moro. 0|d
you know that somo ot tho sconos |n tho mov|o aro basod on sconos |n 1apanoso
an|mo mov|os? l th|nk wo'ro go|ng to havo to ront Obost lo tbo 5bo|| and Aklro to comparo. An|motost, what do you th|nk, lox|o?'
3uro, sounds awosomo,' sho sa|d. |o tossod hor a spongo and thon throw
anothor ono ovor to l||oy, a ||tt|o hardor, so that soap bubb|os spattorod across
l||oy's chost.
Como on, l||oy,' 1ako sa|d choortu||y. lot's wash th|s car.'
3otwoon tho tour ot thom, |t took a|most no t|mo at a||. lox|o not|cod that
l||oy was a |ot moro subduod now that 1ako was thoro. |o d|dn't try to spray hor
aga|n, and ho most|y actod ||ko ho roa||y wantod to got out ot thoro. 3ut whonovor
ho saw hor |ook|ng at h|m, ho'd g|von hor that crookod sm||o and ho kopt odg|ng
ovor to work c|osor to hor.
Oh my hoavons,' a vo|co sa|d boh|nd thom. lox|o turnod to t|nd hor
paronts stand|ng on tho porch. Vrs. W||||s put hor hands on hor h|ps. |ow d|d
you a|| got so wot?'
3orvos mo r|ght tor putt|ng toonagors and a hoso togothor on a hot day,'
Vr. W||||s sa|d w|th a gr|n.
l d|dn't got wot,' Co||n po|ntod out |n a supor|or vo|co.
Wo cou|d a|ways t|x that, you know,' lox|o throatonod.
l th|nk that |s qu|to onough,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d qu|ck|y.
Yos, good work, k|ds,' lox|o's dad sa|d. 1ho car |ooks groat.'
1ako, wou|d you ||ko to jo|n us tor cook|os?' hor mom addod. |rosh|y
homomado!'
l||oy poppod out trom boh|nd tho car and lox|o's mom jumpod.
Cook|os?' l||oy sa|d. 0|d somoono say cook|os?'
Who |s tbls?' Vr. W||||s askod. lo|thor ho nor lox|o's mom |ookod thr|||od
about hav|ng a strango, sh|rt|oss boy |n tho|r dr|voway.
1hat's l||oy,' lox|o sa|d. |o's |n tho tonn|s camp w|th us.'
Oh,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, mort|t|od. 1hat's n|co. Como on |n.'
lox|o was ro||ovod to soo l||oy put h|s sh|rt back on botoro thoy a|| troopod
|nto tho houso. |o was sort ot jumpy around hor paronts, ||ko ho wasn't suro what
thoy wou|d th|nk ot h|m, but o sa|d a|| tho r|ght po||to th|ngs about tho cook|os. |o
bo|tod out ot h|s cha|r as soon as ho was dono.
Wo||, l gotta run,' ho sa|d. 3oo you tomorrow, lox|o.'
Yup, wo'|| soo you tomorrow,' 1ako sa|d, scoot|ng h|s cha|r noxt to lox|o's.
lox|o r|skod a g|anco at hor mothor, who was wash|ng d|shos |n tho s|nk and
protond|ng not to pay attont|on. lox|o was suro sho spottod a t|ny sm||o on hor
taco.
3yo, l||oy,' lox|o sa|d.
1ho scroon door bangod boh|nd h|m.
|avo l mont|onod l roa||y don't ||ko that guy?' 1ako sa|d.
Chator 0
On Vonday, 3roo was |oan|ng aga|nst tho chock-|n booth as thoy camo up tho
path trom tho park|ng |ot. lt was a horr|b|y hot day, lox|o a|roady to|t t|rod and
swoaty trom tho b|ko r|do. 3ut 3roo |ookod coo| and cr|sp, ||ko a ta|| g|ass ot ov||
|omonado. 3ho was woar|ng hor |acy b|k|n|, w|th a wh|to sarong |oopod around
hor wa|st and wh|to s||p-on sanda|s on hor toot. |or sung|assos woro g|ant and
rot|octod tho ||ght |n a mota|||c way, h|d|ng hor oyos. Evon so, lox|o cou|d too|
thom on hor, a gr|m staro tu|| ot schom|ng and rovongo p|ans, as sho wa|kod
c|osor.
Oh, h|, lox|o,' 3roo sa|d w|th a swoot sm||o as thoy wa|kod up. Can l ta|k
to you tor a socond - just us g|r|s?' 3ho wrappod hor hands around 1ako's uppor
arm and |oanod p|aytu||y |nto h|m. You don't m|nd |t l stoa| your glr|rlooo tor a m|nuto, do you, 1akoy?'
Uh,' 1ako sa|d. lox|o cou|d to|| ho was as contusod as ho was. Woro thoy
supposod to protond tho t|ght w|th 3a||y on |r|day n|ght hadn't happonod?
1ust tor a mlooto,' 3roo sa|d, tous||ng h|s ha|r. l'm suro you two can bo
apart tor ooo m|nuto w|thout your cutonoss dropp|ng to dangorous|y |ow |ovo|s.'
3ho ||nkod hor arm through lox|o's. Wo nood somo glr| tlmo.'
1ako stoppod torward as |t to pu|| lox|o away, but 3roo marchod hor ott
down tho path toward tho tonn|s courts too tast tor o|thor ot thom to objoct.
lox|o,' 3roo wh|sporod w|th tako onthus|asm. l hoard a rumor that 1ako's
blrtbooy |s th|s Wodnosday! Oh my God! You must bo so oxc|tod. What a groat
opportun|ty to show what a torr|t|c g|r|tr|ond you aro, r|ght? l'm suro you havo
somoth|ng roa||y amaz|ng p|annod, don't you?'
lox|o's hoart sank. 3ho had managod not to th|nk about |t a|| wookond, but
now 1ako's b|rthday was on|y two days away. And sho st||| d|dn't havo a prosont
tor h|m. 3roo had zorood |n on hor b|ggost worry.
Um,' sho sa|d, wo||, l -
l just wantod you to know,' 3roo sa|d, that l am horo to ho|p. l |ovo party
p|ann|ng and l am so good at |t. l moan, you oro throw|ng h|m a party, r|ght? Guys |ovo part|os, ospoc|a||y surpr|so part|os! ls |t go|ng to bo at your
houso? 3ocauso |t you want, wo cou|d havo |t at my houso. Vy houso |s onormous and my paronts
aro novor homo so thoy won't caro.'
Oh, l don't -' lox|o startod.
Wo havo a ton ot tood, so don't worry about that. And l can tako caro ot |nv|t|ng
ovoryono. l'|| mako suro |t's tho rlgbt guost ||st. A|| you havo to do |s t|nd a way to got h|m to my houso. You'ro c|ovor, you'|| th|nk ot somoth|ng.' 3roo
shook hor
ha|r back trom hor taco and sm||od, tho sun||ght g||nt|ng ott hor sung|assos. And
buy h|m a portoct prosont, ot courso. 3ut l'm suro you a|roady havo that covorod.'
3ut wa|t,' lox|o sa|d, what |t - l don't th|nk ho -'
Wodnosday, s|x o'c|ock,' 3roo sa|d br|ght|y. Evoryono w||| bo thoro, so
don't torgot. lt's go|ng to bo a groot party. |o'|| too| so |ucky to havo you tor h|s g|r|tr|ond.' 3ho pattod lox|o onco on tho hoad and thon turnod and
swopt back
down tho path. 3a||y passod hor on tho way, but 3roo t||tod hor noso up and
|ookod away as |t 3a||y woro too |ns|gn|t|cant to not|co.
What was that a|| about?' 3a||y askod, com|ng up to lox|o. Aro you okay?
You |ook k|nd ot pa|o.'
Can l borrow your co|| phono?' lox|o askod.
3uro.' 3a||y t|shod |t out ot hor bag and lox|o d|a|od hor homo numbor
qu|ck|y.
|or mom answorod. |o||o?'
|oy, Vom. Can l ta|k to Co||n?'
|o's not horo, doar. What's wrong?'
|o's not tboro? Whoro |s ho?' lox|o was puzz|od. Co||n novor got up that
oar|y on h|s own, and as tar as sho know, ho d|dn't havo anywhoro to go. 3ho
wondorod |t th|s had anyth|ng to do w|th whatovor ho'd boon h|d|ng trom hor tho
othor day.
l can to|| h|m you ca||od,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. 3ut maybo l can ho|p w|th
somoth|ng?'
lo, that's okay,' lox|o sa|d. l'|| ta|k to h|m whon l got homo. 3yo, Vom.'
|or mom s|ghod. 3yo, lox|o.'
lox|o handod tho phono back to 3a||y. |ow cou|d Co||n not bo thoro? 3ho
noodod h|s adv|co so bad|y. Or Kar|na's. 1hat was who lox|o roa||y wantod to ta|k
to - a g|r| who undorstood how comp||catod th|s was. What was lox|o supposod
to do now? 3ho d|dn't want to |uro 1ako to 3roo's tor a surpr|so party. 3ut |t thoy
d|dn't show up, |t wou|d bo wo|rd and ombarrass|ng. And sho had to como up
w|th an |doa tor a prosont - an |doa that sa|d g|r|tr|ond,' not bost tr|ond's s|stor.'
Como on,' 3a||y sa|d, s||pp|ng tho phono |nto hor bad. 1o|| mo a|| about |t
as wo wa|k. What's 3roo dono now?'
lox|o tound horso|t oxp|a|n|ng 3roo's who|o party schomo. 3y tho t|mo thoy
roachod tho tonn|s courts. 3a||y was shak|ng hor hoad.
1hat |s so typ|ca| ot 3roo,' sho sa|d. 3ho th|nks sho's bo|ng gonorous, but
sho just onds up bo|ng contro|||ng and scary.' lox|o somohow doubtod that 3roo
was try|ng to bo gonorous w|th th|s p|an, but sho d|dn't say anyth|ng. 3a||y and
3roo m|ght st||| mako up and bo tr|onds aga|n, attor a||.
And don't ovor try to to|| hor you want to do th|ngs your own way,' 3a||y
cont|nuod. 3ho can't comprohond poop|o d|sagroo|ng w|th hor.' 3a||y put down
hor tonn|s rackot and pu||od hor ha|r back |nto a ponyta||. l don't know, lox|o,
you m|ght havo to go.'
3or|ous|y?' lox|o sa|d. 3omohow sho'd oxpoctod 3a||y to to|| hor not to go.
Wo||, un|oss you want to to|| hor yourso|t that you don't want to,' 3a||y
sa|d. Or just |ot hor p|an |t and not show up, wh|ch wou|d bo k|nd ot rough. 3ut
||ston, |t won't bo that bad. |or part|os a|ways havo groat tood and thoy havo
l|ng-long and toosba|| |n tho basomont. You cou|d show up tor a coup|o ot hours
and thon tako 1ako out tor |co croam attorwards, just tho two ot you.'
lox|o to|t |||. 1hat soundod ||ko somo sor|ous 3roo t|mo, wh|ch moant a ton
ot opportun|t|os tor 3roo to do somoth|ng moan to hor.
0on't worry about |t,' 3a||y sa|d. 3roo's crazy, but sho's not ov||.'
l`m oot so soro oboot tbot, lox|o thought.
|oy,' l||oy sa|d, s|ouch|ng up to thom. l had tun on 3unday,' ho sa|d to
lox|o.
3a||y ra|sod hor oyobrows.
Wash|ng my paronts' car,' lox|o sa|d qu|ck|y. W|th 1ako and Co||n.'
Yoah, too bad,' l||oy sa|d. Wo m|ght havo had moro tun just tho two ot
us.' |o gavo hor arm a qu|ck squoozo and thon moandorod away.
What a t||rt,' 3a||y wh|sporod. Whon lox|o's oyos w|donod, sho addod, l
moan h|m, not you. l|ko, sho's takon, pa|, back ott. l|ght?'
lox|o rubbod hor arm and starod at l||oy's rotroat|ng back. 0|d ho roa||y ||ko
hor tbot way? |o soomod to... but why? |o thought sho was w|th 1ako, so ho
shou|dn't bo t||rt|ng w|th hor. lt was a|| vory contus|ng.
1hat attornoon thoy bogan tho wator vo||oyba|| tournamont that Cynth|a
had boon ta|k|ng about. lox|o's toam won tho|r gamo, wh|ch mado 1ako sp|ash
around tr|umphant|y |n a tota||y adorab|o way.
As ho droppod hor ott at homo, 1ako sa|d, |oy, lox|o, ask Co||n about
watch|ng thoso an|mo mov|os th|o wookond, okay?'
3uro,' sho sa|d. 3ho watchod h|m poda| away, wav|ng whon ho |ookod
back botoro turn|ng ott |nto h|s stroot.
1o hor surpr|so, A|anna and 1horn woro on tho porch. 1ho|r |oashos woro
t|od to tho ra|||ng, and tho|r squashod ||tt|o tacos woro prossod aga|nst tho scroon
door as |t thoy'd boon yoarn|ng to go back |ns|do tor days and days.
|oy, guys,' lox|o sa|d, crouch|ng down and unc||pp|ng thom. What aro
you do|ng out horo?' 3ho scratchod boh|nd tho|r oars and thoy both tr|od to c||mb
on hor knoos to snutt|o at hor taco.
1ho |nstant sho swung tho door opon, both pugs bo|tod toward tho ||v|ng
room. 1horo was a yo|p and thon a thud. lox|o ran attor thom and tound hor mom
|n a contortod pos|t|on on tho carpot w|th tho dogs c|ambor|ng a|| ovor hor.
Vom?' sho gaspod. Aro you okay?'
Yos, yos,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, untang||ng horso|t. 3ho roachod tor tho romoto
and pausod tho 0v0. lox|o roa||zod that tho poop|o on-scroon woro a|| |n |ootards
and woro now trozon |n tho samo wo|rd pos|t|on.
What aro you do|ng?' lox|o askod.
l'm trylog to do yoga,' hor mothor sa|d. 3ut corta|n oogs woro mak|ng |t vory d|tt|cu|t.' A|anna snortod and waggod hor ta|| tr|umphant|y.
Yoga?' lox|o sa|d, dropp|ng hor bag |ns|do tho door. l thought you wont
to a c|ass tor that.'
Wo||, l got th|s 0v0, so l thought l'd try |t. lt's vory good |t you can got
through |t w|thout hav|ng your taco ||ckod ott.' |or mom gavo 1horn a storn |ook,
but tho pug just sat thoro w|th a gooty oxpross|on.
Can l watch?' lox|o sa|d. Vaybo l can d|stract tho dogs.'
Ot courso,' hor mothor sa|d do||ghtod|y. You can ovor jo|n mo |t you ||ko. l
just startod.'
Um...okay,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho had to adm|t sho was cur|ous. 3ho sat down on
tho carpot noxt to hor mothor as Vrs. W||||s sk|ppod back to tho bog|nn|ng ot tho
0v0.
3o how was tonn|s today?' Vrs. W||||s askod.
1ho samo,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho |m|tatod hor mothor's cross-|oggod pos|t|on,
try|ng to s|t up ta|| and koop hor back stra|ght. 1ho woman on tho 1v was
yammor|ng about broath|ng.
Anyth|ng oxc|t|ng happon|ng?'
lox|o dobatod w|th horso|t tor a m|nuto and thon doc|dod to sharo a sma||
part ot hor prob|om w|th hor mom.
lt's 1ako's b|rthday on Wodnosday,' lox|o sa|d, and l havo to got h|m a
prosont.'
Ah.' |or mothor shook hor hoad. l mado tho samo m|stako w|th your
tathor.'
V|stako?' lox|o ropoatod.
3tart|ng to dato h|m r|ght botoro h|s b|rthday. 1ry|ng to como up w|th tho
portoct g|tt whon you baro|y know a guy - |t's torr|b|o!'
l wou|dn't say l 'baro|y know' 1ako,' lox|o po|ntod out.
Ot courso, doar. And ho must bo oas|or o shop tor than your dad. l can't
ovon got that man a t|o w|thout oarn|ng a |octuro on appropr|ato co|ors tor tho
ott|co.'
Wo||, l thought tho orango was coo|,' lox|o sa|d |oya||y. 0ad had had to
buy a|| h|s own t|os s|nco that Chr|stmas.
1h|nk about what 1ako ||kos,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, and what ho's |ntorostod |n.
3omoth|ng porsona| |s a|ways bottor than somoth|ng oxpons|vo.'
1hon thoy had to stop ta|k|ng bocauso tho woman on-scroon was oxp|a|n|ng
a pos|t|on ca||od tho downward dog' wh|ch, as tar as lox|o cou|d to||, was namod
that bocauso |t brought hor mom's taco down c|oso to tho t|ood, whoro 1horn and
A|anna cou|d oas||y ||ck |t.
3ho thought about what hor mothor had sa|d. What d|d 1ako ||ko?
l oo|y tbo ooswor wos mo...
Chator 10
3roo wasn't tak|ng any chancod. At |unch on Wodnosday, sho sat down
across trom lox|o and 1ako, ovon though 3a||y was on tho othor s|do ot lox|o. 3a||y
and lox|o oxchangod g|ancos. 3roo hadn't spokon to 3a||y s|nco tho |nc|dont at tho
mov|os, but 3a||y st||| soomod to th|nk thoy'd mako up soon. lox|o wasn't suro
whoro sho'd gotton that |doa, s|nco lox|o had novor soon 3roo torg|vo anyono, but
3a||y kopt choortu||y say|ng, Oh, 3roo w||| como around.'
3a||y's an opt|m|st,' Co||n had sa|d whon lox|o had to|d h|m about that.
3ho can't to|| whon poop|o aro gonu|no|y ov|| bocauso sho's too n|co to bo ov||
horso|t. 1hat's oxact|y tho k|nd ot porson tho gonu|no|y ov|| typos ||ko tho bost.'
What on oarth aro you ta|k|ng about?' lox|o had answorod.
lt's |n p|onty ot mov|os,' Co||n sa|d w|th a shrug, koop|ng h|s oyos on tho|r v|doo
gamo. 3a||y's ||ko Ouoon Am|da|a |n 5tor ors. 3ho cou|dn't to|| Anak|n was go|ng ov|| unt|| |t was too |ato, bocauso sho was too good a porson
horso|t.'
Ouoon Am|da|a?' lox|o sa|d. 3a||y had way bottor tash|on sonso than hor.
3ut porhaps Co||n was r|ght about 3a||y's poop|o sonso. Whon 3roo sat
down, 3a||y sa|d, |oy, 3roo, how's |t go|ng?' and ho|d out hor bag ot V|n| Oroos.
Want ono?'
3roo |gnorod hor.
Whoro's l||oy?' sho askod lox|o.
l'm not suro,' lox|o sa|d, g|anc|ng at 3a||y.
Oh,' 3roo sa|d. l thought you m|ght know.'
by? lox|o wondorod. Vr. G|amb| probab|y kopt h|m to ho|p t|nd tho
tonn|s ba||s ho knockod |nto tho bushos,' sho sa|d. |o soomod k|nd ot mad about
that.'
Oh, lox|o, doar,' 3roo sa|d, a|| sugary and tako. 1hat rom|nds mo. 0on't
torgot to como by and borrow that book ton|ght.' 3ho w|nkod |n a roa||y obv|ous
way. l shou|d bo homo by s|x. 3o ooo`t orgot. lt's vory |mportant.'
What book?' 1ako askod. lox|o cou|d undorstand h|s contus|on. |or ono,
why wou|d 3roo bo |ond|ng lox|o a book? Why wou|d 3roo ovon own a book?
Um,' sho sa|d. 3roo narrowod hor oyos and sm||od at lox|o, |oav|ng hor to
t|oundor through a |amo oxp|anat|on. Um,' lox|o sa|d aga|n. lt's - |t's about
vo||oyba||, wator vo||oyba||, you know, tor tho tournamont.'
3a||y chokod on hor soda and got up qu|ck|y. lox|o cou|d soo hor shou|dors
shak|ng w|th |aughtor as sho hurr|od ott to tho bathroom.
1hoy havo books about poo| vo||oyba||?' 1ako sa|d skopt|ca||y.
1hoy do,' 3roo sa|d, and lox|o |s go|ng to borrow m|no.'
Okaaaay,' 1ako sa|d. Anyth|ng to g|vo us a compot|t|vo odgo. Wo'ro go|ng
to w|n th|s th|ng, r|ght, lox|o?'
Abso|uto|y,' sho sa|d, and ho sto|o a carrot st|ck trom hor, gr|nn|ng.
lox|o g|ancod across tho tab|o at 3roo, but tho b|ond g|r| was do||cato|y
crunch|ng a p|oco ot co|ory and d|dn't |ook ||ko sho was go|ng anywhoro. And
roa||y, tho who|o po|nt ot lox|o's prosont tor 1ako was to provo hor g|r|tr|ond
status to 3roo, so sho m|ght as wo|| g|vo |t to h|m |n tront ot hor, no mattor how
awkward |t mado hor too|.
|oro,' sho sa|d, pu|||ng a wrappod g|tt out ot hor shou|dor bad and
hand|ng |t to 1ako. |appy b|rthday!'
1ako |ookod surpr|sod. 3ut -'
l know wo havon't boon dat|ng |ong,' lox|o sa|d, try|ng to commun|cato,
5bot op ooo opoo lt, w|th hor oyos.'3ut hopotu||y you'|| ||ko |t.'
1hoy'd a|roady had a m|n|-b|rthday broaktast that morn|ng, at lox|o's
houso. |or mom had mado banana pancakos tor hor and 1ako and Co||n and
thoy'd stuck a cand|o |n ono and a|| sung |appy 3|rthday' comp|oto|y ott-koy.
1ako had probab|y thought that was tho oxtont ot h|s b|rthday co|obrat|ons. 3oy,
was ho go|ng to bo surpr|sod.
Wow, thanks,' ho sa|d, pu|||ng ott tho r|bbon. You d|dn't havo to do th|s.'
Ot courso sho d|d,' 3roo |ntorjoctod. 3ho's you glr|rlooo, 1akoy.'
Yoah,' lox|o sa|d. Exact|y.'
Oh,' ho sa|d. Ah.' 1hon, as ho r|ppod ott tho wrapp|ng papor: Wa|t, |s
th|s...1upporwaro?'
Coo|, r|ght?' lox|o sa|d. You can put tood |ns|do |t, and |t'|| stay trosh. lsn't
that a groat |doa? And |ook, tho conta|nor |s purp|o.'
1ako gavo hor a puzz|od |ook and sho shook hor hoad at h|m, |augh|ng. lo,
l d|dn't g|vo you 1upporwaro tor your b|rthday. Opon tho conta|nor, dootus.'
|o poo|od back tho p|ast|c ||d, and h|s taco |t up oxact|y tho way lox|o had
boon hop|ng |t wou|d.
lns|do, nost|od |n rows across tho bottom, woro o|ghtoon sma|| choco|ato
cupcakos. On tho top ot oach ono, lox|o had wr|tton a |ottor |n wh|to choco|ato
trost|ng, so thoy spo||od out |AllY 3ll1|0AY 1AKE!
Oh my God,' ho sa|d. lox|o, th|s |s amaz|ng. lt's much too coo| to oat.'
l hopo not, bocauso l'm p|ann|ng to ho|p you oat thom.' lox|o sa|d.
What?' 3roo sa|d |mpat|ont|y. lot mo soo.'
1ako t||tod tho conta|nor toward hor so sho cou|d soo tho cupcako mossago.
|o had a cuto tr|umphant-|ook|ng sm||o on h|s taco. lox|o guossod that sho had
p|ayod hor part portoct|y.
Cupcakos?' 3roo sa|d. |ow... swoot. What a c|ovor way to savo monoy,
lox|o. l'm suro 1ako approc|atos your... thr|tt|noss.'
lt's tho bost prosont l'vo ovor gotton,' 1ako sa|d, soo|ng lox|o start to
dot|ato. |o took tho t|rst m|n| cupcako out, poo|od away tho cup, and b|t ott ha|t
ot |t. 1hon ho ho|d out tho othor ha|t to lox|o.
1hanks,' sho sa|d, turn|ng p|nk. |o battod hor hand away and mado hor
opon hor mouth so ho cou|d pop |t |n.
Co||n and 3a||y had ho|pod hor bako thom w|th hor mom suporv|s|ng. lox|o
suspoctod moro choco|ato had gono |nto Co||n and 3a||y than |nto tho cupcakos,
but at |oast thoy'd ondod up w|th o|ghtoon good onough to g|vo to 1ako.
3o what o|so d|d you got h|m?' 3roo askod. Anyth|ng... |ast|ng?' |or
oxpross|on soomod to bo say|ng, Or ls yoor ro|otloosblp golog to bo os sbort-|lvoo os tboro copcokos?
l hopo you d|dn't got mo anyth|ng o|so,' 1ako sa|d. 1h|s |s portoct onough
tor mo.'
1ho truth was lox|o d|d havo anothor prosont tor h|m |n hor pockot. 3ut sho
was |oss suro about that ono. 3ho'd bought |t a wh||o botoro bocauso |t had mado
hor th|nk ot h|m whon sho'd soon |t, but sho'd novor tound tho opportun|ty to g|vo
|t to h|m. 3ut thon, tho day botoro, sho'd shown |t to 3a||y, who was conv|ncod
that ho wou|d |ovo |t. lt ho d|dn't, thoro was no way tor lox|o to got |t back. And
sho k|nd ot ||kod h|d|ng |t |n hor show box, noxt to tho or|gam| wha|o.
l - l thought l'd g|vo |t to h|m |ator,' lox|o sa|d.
Oh, |n prlvoto?' 3roo sa|d sn|do|y.
lox|o noddod.
Uh-huh,' 3roo sa|d. l'm suro.' 3ho c|oar|y d|dn't bo||ovo that lox|o had
anyth|ng o|so, but lox|o d|dn't want to provo |t bad|y onough to g|vo 1ako th|s
prosont |n tront ot hor.
Wo||,' 3roo sa|d, co||oct|ng hor |unch roma|n, you can to|| mo what |t |s
|ator, 1akoy, soo you at s|x, lox|o, doar - ot, and try to bo punctua|, w||| you?'
3ho swopt ott, ov|dont|y too||ng that sho'd soon onough. lox|o to|t s|ck just
th|nk|ng about tho ovon|ng. Who wou|d 3roo havo |nv|tod? |ow wou|d 1ako
roact? |o d|dn't |ovo b|g gathor|ngs ot poop|o any moro than sho d|d, a|though ho
was bottor at nav|gat|ng through thom. 3ho w|shod thoro woro a way to got out ot
|t, but sho hatod tho |doa ot a bunch ot poop|o stand|ng around 3roo's houso
wondor|ng whoro thoy woro and b|am|ng lox|o tor ru|n|ng tho party.
You don't havo to g|vo mo anyth|ng o|so,' 1ako sa|d sor|ous|y, tak|ng hor
hand. l roa||y |ovo tho cupcakos.'
And 3roo was conv|ncod, don't you th|nk?' lox|o sa|d. 1hat was
g|r|tr|ond|y ot mo, wasn't |t?'
1ako |ookod down at tho|r hands. Yoah, |t was,' ho sa|d. Good job. You,
uh, noar|y had mo too|od too.'
l do havo somoth|ng o|so,' lox|o sa|d.'3ut |t m|ght bo k|nd ot stup|d. l
don't know |t you'|| want |t. lt you don't want |t, just g|vo |t back to mo.'
1ako gr|nnod. l'm suro |t you p|ckod |t, |t's awosomo.'
|os|tant|y, sho pu||od a sma|| c|oth bag out ot hor shorts pockot and p|acod
|t |n h|s hand. |o unt|od tho str|ngs and pourod out tho contonts onto tho |unch
tab|o. A |oathor cord s||thorod out, and tho sma|| wh|to wha|o strung on |t mado a
c||ck|ng no|so aga|nst tho wood.
1ako touchod tho ||tt|o wh|to wha|o, h|s sm||o grow|ng. lox|o thought |t was
mado ot wha|obono or sho||, anyway, |t to|t smooth and was po||shod to a sh|no.
lts ||tt|o ta|| was ||ttod |n a happy way, and t|ny t||ppors woro carvod |n tho s|do.
lt's a nock|aco,' lox|o sa|d, but |t's supposod to bo a guy's nock|aco. 1hat's
what tho sa|osporson to|d mo. 3ut you don't havo to woar |t, l know |t's wo|rd to
got a guy jowo|ry. l thought 3roo m|ght mako tun ot mo |t l gavo |t to you |n tront
ot hor. 3ut |t mado mo th|nk ot you, bocauso ot tho or|gam| wha|os, but |t you
don't ||ko |t l can tota||y tako |t back -'
lox|o, l |ovo |t,' ho sa|d, |ntorrupt|ng hor babb||ng. W||| you put |t on mo?'
3ho b||nkod at h|m as ho ||ttod tho |oathor cord around h|s nock. loa||y?'
Yoah, ot courso,' ho sa|d. l want to show ott my g|r|tr|ond's awosomo
tasto.'
|o scootod around w|th h|s back to hor, so ho d|dn't soo hor taco as sho
took tho onds ot tho cord. 3ho to|t so strango, t|na||y g|v|ng th|s to h|m. What |t ho thought |t was just a protond prosont? What |t ho had no |doa that
|t actua||y
moant somoth|ng to hor? |ow cou|d ho know? 3ho had a|ways |mag|nod g|v|ng
th|s to h|m and to|||ng h|m at tho samo t|mo that sho'd ||kod h|m tor agos, and that
sho'd boon sav|ng tho nock|aco a|| that t|mo. 3ut sho obv|ous|y cou|dn't to|| h|m
that now. |o thought thoy woro on|y protond|ng.
3ho t|od tho onds ot tho cord |n a knot, carotu||y koop|ng a t|ngor botwoon
tho knot and h|s sk|n so sho wou|dn't catch any ot tho sott go|don brown ha|rs on
tho back ot h|s nock.
lt |ookod portoct on h|m. 1ho wha|o hung just bo|ow tho ho||ow ot h|s
throat, and |t d|dn't |ook g|r|y at a||, wh|ch lox|o had worr|od about. 1ako just
|ookod ovor moro handsomo, ||ko ho'd wa|kod stra|ght out ot somo CW boach
show.
1hanks, lox|o,' ho sa|d, wrapp|ng h|s arms around hor and pu|||ng hor |n
tor a hug. 3ho rostod hor hoad on h|s shou|dor and to|t tho musc|os |n h|s back
bo|ow hor pa|ms. 1h|s |s tho groatost b|rthday,' 1ako sa|d.
l bopo yoo stl|| tblok so otor toolgbt, lox|o thought.
Chator 11
|avo l mont|onod that l don't got th|s?' 1ako sa|d as thoy parkod tho|r
b|kos at tho bottom ot 3roo's |ong dr|voway. 1o|| mo aga|n why you'ro borrow|ng
a book trom 3roo?'
lox|o shruggod. lt soomod oas|or than say|ng no to hor.' Wo||, that part
was truo. luck||y, 1ako had |ns|stod on com|ng w|th hor, ho d|dn't want to |oavo
hor a|ono w|th 3roo, wh|ch sho approc|atod.
l guoss,' 1ako sa|d. Van, hor houso |s hugo.'
1hoy |ockod tho|r b|kos to tho tonco bos|do tho dr|voway. 1ho path up to 3roo's
tront door was mado ot noat z|gzagg|ng br|cks and wound around sovora| t|owor
bods botoro roach|ng tho ta|| marb|o co|umns and g|gant|c g||t-oncrustod
doorway.
lsn't th|s a ||tt|o wo|rd?' 1ako wh|sporod to lox|o as thoy to||owod tho path. l|ko
thoy'ro torc|ng tho|r guosts to tako tho scon|c routo and adm|ro tho t|owors? What
|t you just want to got to tho door a|roady?'
Vaybo |t's a tost to mako suro that you roa||y want to got thoro,' lox|o
jokod.
l'm guoss|ng thoy don't havo many v|s|tors thon,' 1ako sa|d w|th a sm||o.
lox|o rang tho doorbo||. 1horo was a |ong pauso, and thon tho curta|n
bocauso tho door was wh|skod as|do and a norvous toma|o taco - rod-ha|rod, b|d-
nosod - pookod out botoro gott|ng yankod back.
Anothor pauso. 1ho door oponod.
1ho rodhoad was stand|ng thoro bobb|ng and bow|ng, |ookod torr|t|od. 3ho
was woar|ng a shapo|oss ma|d's un|torm and an apron that sho kopt tw|st|ng |n
hor hands.
Oh, got out ot tho way, Grota,' 3roo snappod, popp|ng out trom boh|nd
tho door. |ow hard |s |t to |ot a guost |n? l moan, sor|ous|y. lo||o, 1oko!'
|oy,' ho sa|d, tak|ng lox|o's hand.
lox|o to|t |nstant|y awkward, as sho was suro 3roo had |ntondod. lox|o was
st||| woar|ng hor bath|ng su|t trom oar||or that day, w|th a wh|to 1-sh|rt and rod
shorts ovor |t. 3roo, on tho othor hand, was woar|ng a s|oovo|oss, tormt|tt|ng
wh|to shoath dross that had s|do s||ts a|| tho way up hor |ogs and an ova| cutout
trom hor nock noar|y ha|tway down hor chost. |or shoos woro vory h|gh wh|to
ospadr|||os. 3ho |ookod ||ko sho'd just stoppod out ot a mov|o. lox|o g|ancod down
at hor snoakors, ombarrassod.
Como on back to tho poo|,' 3roo sa|d. 3ho pushod hor s|ook b|ond ha|r
back and wavod hor hand, |oad|ng tho way through tho cavornous houso.
l guoss hor obsoss|ons aro gonot|c,' 1ako wh|sporod to lox|o. 1ho who|o
houso was wh|to - wh|to |oathor couchos, wh|to marb|o sta|rcasos, wh|to s||k
|ampshados, wh|to boarsk|n rugs. 1ho on|y art on tho wa||s woro |argo b|ack-and-
wh|to photographs ot 3roo, hor o|dor s|stor, and hor paronts, a|| |n portoct trozon
posos w|th portoct trozon sm||os. lox|o got tho |mpross|on that |t sho touchod
anyth|ng, sho'd o|thor broak |t or |oavo d|rty t|ngorpr|nts a|| ovor |t.
3roo t|ung opon tho doub|o doors to tho pat|o, wh|r|od around, and cr|od,
3urpr|so!'
5orprlso!' yo||od tho crowd ot poop|o gathorod outs|do. 1horo woro about
th|rty poop|o scattod around tho poo|. lox|o rocogn|zod most ot thom trom
schoo|, but sho wasn't suro sho'd ovor spokon to ha|t ot thom. 3ho wondorod |t
1ako had. 1ako's mouth droppod opon.
|appy 3|rthday, 1akoy,' 3roo coood. 3ho wrappod hor hands around h|s
arm and tuggod h|m away trom lox|o. Como on, say ho||o to ovoryono. 1hoy'ro
horo to co|obrato you! lox|o can havo you back |ator.'
1ako gavo lox|o a batt|od |ook and sho sproad hor hands ho|p|oss|y. lt was
3roo's |doa,' sho sa|d.
Ot courso |t was,' 3roo sa|d. l just |ovo throw|ng part|os. And lox|o d|dn't havo any |doa what to do, so l thought l shou|d ho|p.' 3ho draggod 1ako
down tho
pat|o stops to tho odgo ot tho poo|, whoro a group ot sporty typos startod
s|app|ng h|m on tho back and ottor|ng h|m dr|nks.
lox|o g|ancod around and, to hor ro||ot, spottod Co||n ott by h|mso|t on a
|oungo cha|r.
1hank God you'ro horo,' sho sa|d, s|tt|ng on tho odgo ot tho cha|r noxt to
h|m.
l can't bo||ovo you ta|kod mo |nto th|s,' ho muttorod, pok|ng tho |co |n h|s
g|ass w|th a sma|| p|nk umbro||a.
|oy, th|s |s a|| your tau|t, Vr. 3r|ght ldoas,' lox|o sa|d. You'ro tho roason
3roo |s out to got mo, so tho |oast you can do |s show up to ono party.'
You shou|d havo soon tho |ook on hor taco,' ho sa|d w|th a gr|n. Whon
sho oponod tho door and saw mo thoro - l sor|ous|y thought sho was go|ng to
protond l was |nv|s|b|o and just s|am |t shut aga|n. 3ut l was ||ko, '|oy, 3roo,
thanks tor throw|ng tho coo| party,' and wa|kod r|ght |n.'
You d|dn't!' lox|o sa|d, |mprossod.
l d|d. 3ho k|nd ot harrumphod and wavod |n th|s d|roct|on. 3o l camo out,
got a soda, and l'vo boon s|tt|ng r|ght horo ovor s|nco.'
0o wo know anyono o|so horo?' lox|o askod, draw|ng hor |ogs up on tho
cha|so |oungo.
0oponds on your dot|n|t|on ot 'know'' Co||n sa|d. |or |nstanco, Amy
3orronto |s horo.'
lox|o to|t a tw|ngo ot joa|ousy. 1ako had datod Amy tor tour months. 3ho
was part lat|na, part ba||or|na, and a|| gorgoous but was too domand|ng, snobby,
and co|d tor 1ako. lox|o had novor undorstood why ho'd ||kod hor |n tho t|rst p|aco.
loa||y?' sho sa|d. ls sho dat|ng lan, ||ko 3roo prom|sod?'
l havon't soon h|m,' Co||n sa|d, shak|ng h|s hoad.
Amy passod thom just thon, but sho d|dn't bothor to g|anco down and
acknow|odgo tho|r prosonco. 3ho pattod hor smooth bun ot g|ossy brown ha|r and
sa||od ovor to 1ako, groot|ng h|m w|th a |argo sm||o as |t sho hadn't dumpod h|m
on|y a coup|o months oar||or.
l hato part|os,' Co||n sa|d.
l just hato thoso k|nds ot part|os,' lox|o sa|d. 3tand, ho|d a dr|nk, sm||o
pa|ntu||y, |ook |ntorostod |n bor|ng ch|tchat, commont on tho woathor, avo|d tho
subjoct ot schoo|, w|sh dosporato|y that thoro woro any good mov|os to ta|k
about, sh|tt dr|nk to othor hand, wondor how many poanuts ono can oat w|thout
|ook|ng ||ko a ravonous h|ppo, nod po||to|y, stand somo moro.'
3poak|ng ot poanuts,' Co||n sa|d. chock out tho tab|o boh|nd us.'
lox|o sw|vo|od around and d|scovorod a |ow p|ast|c tab|o (wh|to, ot courso)
w|th throo trays ot appot|zors on |t.
Wow, oxco||ont |ocat|on-scout|ng, Co||n,' sho sa|d, snagg|ng a pastry ba||
that turnod out to havo sausago |n tho m|dd|o.
l thought so,' ho sa|d w|th a modost nod.
Attor about twonty m|nutos, 1ako t|na||y managod to t|ght h|s way ovor to
thom.
l can't bo||ovo you abandonod mo ||ko that,' ho sa|d, t|opp|ng down on tho
ground noxt to lox|o. |o |oanod back aga|nst hor |ogs. 0o you know how many
t|mos l'vo had to say, 'Yoah, |t boo boon how th|s summor, hasn't |s?' |n tho |ast ton m|nutos?'
1h|s'|| mako you too| bottor,' lox|o sa|d, hand|ng h|m a crab dump||ng.
1hanks,' ho sa|d. And thanks tor tho party.'
lt roa||y wasn't my |doa,' sho sa|d. l'm sorry tor |ott|ng you bo surpr|sod.'
lt's okay,' ho sa|d. l'vo novor boon to a 3roo VcKonn|s party, but l guoss
poop|o woron't oxaggorat|ng about tho tood. What aro thoso?'
3omoth|ng |nvo|v|ng chooso,' lox|o sa|d, pass|ng h|m tho tray.
Awosomo,' ho sa|d. lt you can mako |t to tho othor s|do ot tho poo|, thoro
aro m|n| hamburgors and t|ny |ronch tr|os to match.'
1ust th|nk,' Co||n sa|d, |t you datod 3roo, a|| th|s about bo yours.'
blcb ls oxoct|y tbo polot o o|| tbls, l`m soro, lox|o thought. |ow cou|d sho compoto w|th t|aw|oss boauty, |mpoccab|o tash|on sonso, and a houso
||ko th|s?
|or ||tt|o cupcakos d|dn't bog|n to comparo.
Yoah,' 1ako sa|d. but thon l'd havo to dato 3roo.'
As |t on cuo, 3roo swayod hor way through tho crowd and droppod a |argo
box |n 1ako's |ap. 1ako, dar||ng, horo's your b|rthday prosont,' sho purrod.
Ohm' ho sa|d. You d|dn't roa||y -
Ot courso l d|d!' 3ho crouchod bos|do h|m, rovoa||ng a |ong s||m ||no |t hor
|og. Opon |t at onco.'
W|th tho oxpross|on ot a guy who was protty suro h|s prosont was about to
oxp|odo, 1ako hos|tant|y poo|od tho g||ttor|ng go|d-and-wh|to wrapp|ng papor ott
and oponod tho box.
Whoa,'' ho sa|d. 3or|ous|y?'
lost|od |n tho th|n to|ds ot tho cropo papor was a b|ack |oathor jackot.
|appy b|rthday, 1ako,' 3roo sa|d w|th a tr|umphant sm||o. lt's a|| tho way
trom lta|y. And vory oxpons|vo.'
l'|| bot,' 1ako sa|d. lox|o cou|d to|| ho was too||ng uncomtortab|o. 3ho
wasn't oxact|y thr|||od horso|t. lt wou|d tako hor sovora| ||tot|mos to babys|t up
onough monoy tor a prosont ||ko that.
|ow d|d you got h|m a prosont trom lta|y?' Co||n askod cur|ous|y.
3roo gavo h|m a d|sda|ntu| |ook. Wo had |t |n our omorgoncy g|tt drawor. l
th|nk |t'|| t|t you portoct|y, 1ako, doar. lot's go t|nd a m|rror and try |t on! Como on, como ono.' 3ho grabbod h|s hand and pu||od. W|th a s|gh, ho
c||mbod to h|s toot
and to||owod hor.
1ako, dar||ng,' Co||n sa|d, |m|tat|ng hor, como |nto my |a|r and |ot mo t|o
you up.'
lox|o saw a b|ur ot mot|on out ot tho cornor ot hor oyo, but botoro sho
cou|d roact, a pa|r ot ma|o arms had so|zod hor and swung hor up ott hor toot.
lut mo down!' sho protostod, shov|ng l||oy's shou|dors. |o t|ghtonod h|s
gr|p on hor and gavo hor h|s s|y sm||o.
|oo| ||ko go|ng sw|mm|ng?' ho sa|d.
lo,' sho sa|d. 0o oot throw mo |n tho poo|, l||oy.'
3ut don't you want to coo| ott?' ho sa|d, sw|ng|ng hor dangorous|y c|oso to
tho odgo. l th|nk l owo you a soak|ng.'
You do not!' sho sa|d, strugg||ng to got down. Wo'ro tota||y ovon! l||oy!'
3ho doosn't want to got wot, man,' Co||n sa|d.
What do you know about |t?' l||oy sa|d, but ho put hor down. 3ho stoppod
out ot arm's roach qu|ck|y. Aw, l'm just k|dd|ng around, lox|o.'
Wo||, |t wou|dn't bo tunny,' sho sa|d. Yos, ho was k|nd ot jok|ng, but sho
was suro ho wou|d happ||y havo dumpod hor |nto tho poo| w|thout ovon th|nk|ng
about tho tact that sho d|dn't havo a chango ot c|othos or that sho'd |ook ||ko an
|d|ot |n tront ot ovoryono. A wot |d|ot.
|avo you soon tho basomont?' l||oy askod choortu||y. lt's tota||y
awosomo.'
lot yot,' lox|o sa|d.
l'|| show you,' ho sa|d, tak|ng hor o|bow. 1horo's a toosba|| and l|ng-long
and a|r hockoy and Vs. lac-Van and p|nba|| -
Co||n, don't you want to como?' lox|o sa|d, soo|ng that hor brothor wasn't
stand|ng to to||ow thom.
l'm go|ng to got ono thoso hamburgors t|rst,' Co||n sa|d, apparont|y
m|ss|ng tho s|gn|t|canco ot hor |ook. lox|o s|ghod |nward|y. 3a||y wou|d havo
undorstood! l'|| t|nd you |n a m|nuto.'
Okay. 3r|ng mo ono, too,' sho sa|d. 3oon.' l||oy gavo hor a wo|rd |ook
and sho addod, l moan, bocauso l'm starv|ng - you know, tota||y starv|ng.'
3uro,' Co||n sa|d.
lox|o ro|uctant|y to||owod l||oy down a tow stops to a |owor pat|o pavod
w|th spark||ng gray stono. A sot ot g|ass doors |od |nto tho basomont, wh|ch, to
hor d|smay, was ompty. 3ho'd oxpoctod to t|nd othor partygoors |n thoro p|ay|ng
w|th tho gamos.
lsn't |t coo|?' l||oy sa|d, wandor|ng ovor to tho toosba|| tab|o. |o spun a
row ot p|ayors around and thon |ookod up and gr|nnod at hor. Want to p|ay?'
lox|o to|t bad. l||oy hadn't boon anyth|ng but n|co to hor. Why d|d sho koop
too||ng uncomtortab|o around h|m? Was |t bocauso ho soomod to ||ko hor? Or
cou|d |t bo bocauso sho ||kod h|m?' 3ho tr|od pok|ng that thought, but hor too||ngs
tor l||oy st||| woron't anyth|ng ||ko hor too||ngs tor 1ako. 3t|||, horo was a cuto guy t||rt|ng w|th hor. 3ho cou|d at |oast bo n|co back.
Okay, suro,' sho sa|d, go|ng around to tho othor s|do ot tho tab|o. l||oy
t|shod a ba|| out ot tho s|do pockot and droppod |t |n.
lox|o wasn't roa||y good at toosba||, but l||oy was h||ar|ous|y bad. |o
bas|ca||y p|ayod by sp|nn|ng tho p|ayors around and around as tast as ho cou|d.
3ho cou|dn't ho|p |augh|ng at h|m, but |uck||y ho d|dn't got ottondod.
3ho was w|nn|ng 8 - 4 whon a phono rang somowhoro |n tho tar cornor ot
tho room. l||oy spun h|s payors ono moro t|mo and thon announcod, l'm borod.
lot's chock out Vs. lac-Van.'
Oh, okay,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho to||owod h|m ovor to tho arcado gamo, wh|ch
had a p|aco ot honour |n tho contro |t tho room, |t's back aga|nst a co|umn. 1ust as
sho got up boh|nd h|m, ho turnod and caught hor wr|sts |n h|s hands.
lox|o' ho sa|d, why don't you ||ko mo?'
3ho had boon about to pu|| away, but whon ho sa|d that, sho stoppod,
too||ng gu||ty aga|n.
What do you moan?' sho sa|d. l do ||ko you.'
3ut on|y as a tr|ond - r|ght?'
Wo||,' sho sa|d awkward|y, l||oy, l'm - l'm dat|ng 1ako.' Not to mootloo
l`m socrot|y oo o qoost to coovloco blm bo`s my soo| moto.
|orgot 1ako,' l||oy sa|d. What |t ho woron't |n tho p|cturo? |uh? What |t
you'd mot mo t|rst?'
l don't know,' lox|o sa|d. l moan, l d|dn't, so - and 1ako |s - l'm sorry
l||oy, but -
3uddon|y tho door trom tho pat|o oponod. l||oy droppod hor hands ||ko ||t
t|rocrackors and sprang away trom hor as |t ho'd just boon caught stoa||ng
d|amonds.
lt was 1ako...and Amy 3orronto.
Chator 12
1ako!' lox|o sa|d.
Oh, man,' l||oy sa|d. Wo'ro so bustod.'
What - no!' lox|o sa|d. What aro you ta|k|ng about?'
1ako hos|tatod |ns|do tho doorway, |ook|ng contusod. Amy st||| had ono
hand on tho doorknob, and tho othor was rost|ng ||ght|y on 1ako's shou|dor as |t
sho ownod h|m - as |t ho was hor car, or hor horso, or hor umbro||a stand.
l guoss wo'ro not go|ng to got any pr|vacy |n horo, 1ako,' Amy sa|d |n a
murmur that lox|o cou|d c|oar|y hoar.
lox|o to|t hor hoart s|nk. 1ako and Amy had boon |ook|ng tor pr|vacy? Why?
0|d sho want h|m back? Voro |mportant|y...d|d ho want hor back?
3ho cou|dn't roa||y b|amo h|m. A roa| g|r|tr|ond soundod much bottor than a
protond g|r|tr|ond who ho d|dn't want to dato at a||, ovon |t that roa| g|r|tr|ond was an |co quoon ||ko Amy.
What was ho th|nk|ng thon? Was ho d|sappo|ntod that thoy woro
|ntorruptod? And d|d ho roa||y th|nk sho and l||oy...?
3ho cou|dn't to|| trom h|s oxpross|on, a|though sho thought maybo ho
|ookod a ||tt|o b|t mad.
1horo was a tonso pauso, and thon 1ako soomod to tako a broath and como
back to tho room, b||nk|ng. |o gavo h|s shou|dors a sma|| shako that d|s|odgod
Amy's hand, and ho stoppod across tho spaco to lox|o.
|oy,' ho sa|d, and h|s sm||o mado tho knot |n hor stomach mo|t away.
|oy,' sho sa|d, sm|||ng back at h|m. |o took hor hand and turnod to Amy.
Amy, you romombor lox|o,' ho sa|d. Amy ||ttod hor noso and |ookod down
|t at lox|o. 3ho soomod ovon ta||or than lox|o romomborod, and sho was a|so
drossod o|ogant|y, |n sk|nny joans, a |ong purp|o top, and a s|ook s||vor bo|t. 1ako
had tr|od to br|ng hor out w|th lox|o and Co||n a coup|o ot t|mos, but that had
boon a d|sastor. Amy c|oar|y had no |ntorost |n ta|k|ng to o|thor ot thom, whoroas
1ako soomod moro |ntorostod |n tho|r convorsat|on than hors. 1hat was c|oso to
tho ond ot tho|r ro|at|onsh|p.
Yoooos. 3roo to|d mo you woro dat|ng...hor,' Amy sa|d. ls |t truo?'
lo, lox|o thought sad|y. lt`s oot troo. l lt woro, tbls woo|o bo tbo bost momoot ovor, yoo sklooy wltcb.
Yup,' 1ako sa|d w|th no hos|tat|on. lox|o |s my g|r|tr|ond.' |o shot a g|aro
at l||oy, as |t that was a rom|ndor tor h|m, too.
1hat's r|ght,' lox|o sa|d. |o's w|th mo.' 3ho cou|dn't ros|st g|v|ng Amy an
onormous sm||o - a sm||o that sa|d, 7bot`s rlgbt, yoo |ost blm ooo oowbo`s mloo.
3t|||, lox|o wondorod |t 1ako to|t as cont|dont as ho |ookod. 1ho who|o
schomo had boon tor 3roo's bonot|t, to protoct h|m at summor camp. |o probab|y
hadn't oxpoctod tho ont|ro schoo| to t|nd out. low ovoryono, |nc|ud|ng Amy and
whatovor g|r| ho'd ||ko noxt, roa||y wou|d th|nk ho'd datod hor. Was ho
ombarrassod about that?
1ho pat|o door oponod and 3roo camo |n, to||owod by a handtu| ot othor
poop|o. Ono ot thom was Co||n, who wondorod ovor to lox|o w|th a p|ato ot m|n|
tood.
lt's about t|mo you showod up,' sho h|ssod.
3o||ovo |t or not, somoono actua||y spoko to mo,' ho sa|d. l w|sh l cou|d
to|| you who, but |t wasn't that momorab|o a convorsat|on.'
Oh, tboro you aro, 1ako,' 3roo sa|d. l saw Amy wh|sk|ng you away and l
was ||ko, 'Oh, no, wo'ro not go|ng to soo tbom aga|n tor tho rost ot tho n|ght!'' 3ho gavo lox|o a s|y |ook.
Wo just cou|dn't ros|st tho a|r-cond|t|on|ng,' 1ako sa|d.
Vo, too,' 3roo ch|rpod. |oy, who wants to p|ay 1ruth or 0aro?'
1horo was a chorus ot ooh, mo!'s.
1ruth or 0aro?' 1ako sa|d skopt|ca||y. 1hat's a ||tt|o ch||d|sh, don't you
th|nk?'
lot |t you p|ay |t r|ght,' 3roo sa|d w|th a coquott|sh sm||o. 3ho p|oppod
horso|t down on ono ot tho t|utty couchos. Como s|t horo w|th mo, b|rthday boy.'
3ho pattod tho cush|on noxt to hor, 1ako g|ancod at lox|o. Wo can go back
outs|do,' ho sa|d |n a |ow vo|co.
Wa|t, l want to p|ay,' Co||n |ntorjoctod |n a wh|spor. l'vo novor boon to a
party w|th 1ruth or 0aro botoro.'
l don't th|nk you want to p|ay 3roo's vors|on,' lox|o sa|d sott|y to h|m.
Como on, guys,' Co||n sa|d. 1ust tor a m|nuto? l|oaso?'
lt's up to you, lox|o,' 1ako sa|d. Whatovor you doc|do.'
Um - okay,' lox|o sa|d. Vaybo |t'|| bo tun.' Loobto|...bot l lt cboors Co|lo
op, lt mlgbt bo wortb lt.
Amy and l||oy woro a|roady sott||ng onto boanbags on tho t|oor, and othor
poop|o had takon tho othor couchos and cha|rs. 3roo pattod tho cush|on bos|do
hor aga|n, batt|ng hor oyo|ashos at 1ako.
3coot ovor,' 1ako sa|d to hor t|rm|y, ho|d|ng lox|o's hand.
3roo s|ghod hutt||y and s||d to tho s|do so 1ako and lox|o cou|d both s|t
down. Co||n droppod to tho carpot at tho|r toot.
A|| r|ght, l'|| go t|rst,' 3roo sa|d. Amy, truth or daro?'
lox|o broathod a qu|ot s|gh ot ro||ot. 3ho'd boon suro 3roo wou|d go attor
hor t|rst.
0aro,' Amy sa|d.
Okay,' 3roo sa|d. l daro you to tako ott your sh|rt.'
3otoro lox|o cou|d b||nk, Amy had unc||ppod hor bo|t and pu||od ott tho
purp|o top. Undornoath, sho was woar|ng a p|nk po|ka-dottod b|k|n| top.
lo ta|r!' 3roo protostod. You'ro woar|ng your bath|ng su|t!'
As |t l wou|d havo takon ott my top othorw|so!' Amy sa|d |n a mock|ng|y
scanda||zod tono. Okay, my turn. 1ako.'
lox|o's hoart sank. Wou|d sho mako h|m k|ss 3roo? Or hor? 3ho d|dn't want
hor t|rst k|ss w|th 1ako to bo on a daro |n tront ot a|| thoso poop|o.
1ruth,' 1ako sa|d.
A|so ooogoroos, lox|o thought. Coosloorlog bowmocb trotb wo`ro blolog
boro.
1ruth,' Amy sa|d s|ow|y. A|| r|ght. Ot a|| tho g|r|s |n th|s room who do you
th|nk |s tho prott|ost? 3o honost.'
3ho and 3roo both |ookod oxpoctant. Ot tho two ot thom, lox|o wou|d
probab|y say Amy, bocauso 3roo's prott|noss was hardor around tho odgos, and
Amy had roa||y |ong oyo|ashos. 3ut, ot a|| tho g|r|s |n tho room, lox|o wou|d
actua||y p|ck tho rod hoadod g|r| on tho sota oppos|to hor. lot on|y was sho protty
but sho a|so |ookod n|co |nstoad ot scary. lox|o thought hor namo m|ght bo C|ara,
and sho m|ght bo on tho t|o|d hockoy toam -
lox|o,' 1ako sa|d. Ot courso.'
Ot courso!' 3roo parrotod |n an ottondod tono. You don't havo to say that
just bocauso sho's your g|r|tr|ond. You'ro supposod to answor trotbo||y, 1ako. l'm suro lox|o wou|dn't want you to |lo.'
l'm not |y|ng,' 1ako sa|d, putt|ng h|s arm around lox|o's shou|dors. l'd
th|nk sho was tho prott|ost ovon |t sho woron't my g|r|tr|ond. l |ovo how |ong and
cur|y lox|o's ha|r |s, and sho has boaut|tu| brown oyos, and tho cutost noso, and
just a spr|nk||ng ot trock|os, and tho bost sm||o - '
Gag mo w|th an art|t|c|a| swootonor a|roady,' 3roo sa|d, ro|||ng hor oyos.
lox|o was suro sho'd turnod a br||||ant shado ot rod, but sho kopt hor hoad rost|ng
on 1ako's shou|dor so sho wou|dn't havo to moot anyono's oyos. 3roo wavod hor
hands. ||no, whatovor, b|ah b|ah b|ah, movo on. Your turn.'
Okay,' 1ako sa|d. Co||n.'
Co||n |ookod p|oasod. |o thought sor|ous|y tor a momont and thon sa|d,
0aro.'
|mmm,' 1ako sa|d. lot's soo. l daro you to...' |o |ookod around tho room
thoughttu||y and po|ntod. l daro you to k|ss C|a|ro.'
1ho rodhoadod t|o|d hockoy p|ayor turnod p|nk. C|oro, C|olro, l wos c|oso,
lox|o thought.
Co||n stood up awkward|y and so d|d C|a|ro. |o stoppod ovor tho rug and
|oanod torward, sho |oanod torward, too, and thoy ondod up bump|ng ||ps moro
than k|ss|ng. 3t|||, lox|o cou|d to|| that Co||n was try|ng not to sm||o whon ho sat
back down. 3ho roa||zod that 1ako had dono h|m a tavor, ospoc|a||y by p|ck|ng tho
n|cost g|r| |n tho room. Amy or 3roo m|ght havo rotusod to k|ss h|m, wh|ch wou|d
havo boon torr|b|o.
Co||n, |t's your turn to ask somoono,' lox|o sa|d, pok|ng h|s shou|dor.
l|ght, okay,' ho sa|d. Uh -'
And don't p|ck your s|stor,' 3roo sa|d sn|do|y. Act ||ko you actua||y know
anybody o|so tor onco.'
Co||n t|ushod. 3roo,' ho sa|d.
0aro,' sho sa|d prompt|y.
Um.' Co||n p|ckod at tho carpot. l daro you to to|| us who tho hottost guy
|n tho room |s.'
1hat's just a truth drossod up as a daro,' 3roo comp|a|nod.
1hat's my daro,' Co||n sa|d stubborn|y.
||no,' 3roo sa|d. l p|ck l||oy. low |t's my turn. lox|o, dar||ng, truth or
daro?'
l||oy was gr|nn|ng. |o |ookod tor tho t|rst t|mo ||ko ho'd not|cod that 3roo
was |ntorostod |n h|m. lox|o was surpr|sod 3roo hadn't p|ckod 1ako as tho hottost
guy, but sho wasn't surpr|sod that sho was tho noxt to go. 3ho had a too||ng that
that was whoro th|s had a|| boon |oad|ng up to. Um, truth,' sho sa|d. 3ho d|d not
want to do anyth|ng 3roo m|ght daro hor to do.
||guros,' 3roo sa|d, ro|||ng hor oyos aga|n. Okay, |ot mo th|nk.' 3ho
tappod hor ch|n w|th a man|curod t|ngorna||. lox|o, lox|o. A|| r|ght, to|| us tho
truth.' 3ho |oanod torward. |ow |ong havo you boon |n |ovo w|th 1ako?'
Co|d pr|ck|os ran down lox|o's sp|no. low what? 3hou|d sho ||o and say |t
had on|y boon a coup|o ot wooks? 3hou|d sho to|| tho truth and adm|t |t had boon
yoars? Wou|d 1ako t|guro sho was |y|ng no mattor what sho sa|d? Or wou|d hor
vo|co g|vo hor away?
Go on, lox|o, to|| us,' 3roo sa|d.
lox|o's oyos wont to Amy, who was protond|ng to |ook borod. Wou|d |t bo
ombarrass|ng to adm|t that sho'd ||kod h|m wh||o ho had boon dat|ng Amy? 3ho
t|ppod hor hoad back and |ookod at 1ako.
||s smoky-gray oyos woro watch|ng hor. |o |oanod h|s hoad aga|nst hors
and wh|sporod, 0on't worry.'
Whatovor that moant, |t doc|dod hor. 3ho wou|d to|| tho truth.
As |ong as l'vo known h|m.' sho sa|d, |owor|ng hor gazo to moot 3roo's.
3ho to|t h|s arm t|ghton around hor, and ho rubbod hor shou|dor |n a way
that sho tound roassur|ng.
Aww,' 3roo sa|d. |ow adorab|o. Or porhaps l moan pathot|c.'
l don't th|nk so,' 1ako sa|d. l too| tho samo way.'
Whatovor, |t's not your truth,' 3roo snappod. lox|o, hurry up.'
l||oy,' lox|o sa|d. A groat |doa had just occurrod to hor. lt 1ako d|d th|nk
anyth|ng had boon happon|ng w|th l||oy, th|s shou|d conv|nco h|m othorw|so.
0aro,' l||oy sa|d, sm|||ng crookod|y.
l daro you to k|ss 3roo,' sho sa|d.
|o |ookod surpr|sod. 3o d|d 3roo. 3o d|d 1ako. A portoct tr|tocta ot start|od
oxpross|ons.
3ut l||oy got up w|thout protost|ng and sauntorod ovor to tho|r couch. As
ho |oanod ovor 3roo, 1ako wh|sporod to lox|o, lot's got out ot horo.'
3ho noddod and pu||od horso|t up, tapp|ng Co||n on tho shou|dor.
Whoro aro you go|ng?' 3roo sa|d, shov|ng l||oy away m|d-k|ss. 1ako, you
can't |oavo your party - |t just startod.'
3orry,' 1ako sa|d. l prom|sod my paronts l'd bo homo tor a b|rthday
d|nnor.' |o ||ttod h|s pa|ms up as tho othors groanod.'What can l do? lt l'd known
about th|s, l wou|d havo p|annod d|ttoront|y.' |o ho|pod lox|o to hor toot.
Wo||, thon lox|o shou|d stay,' 3roo sa|d w|th narrowod oyos. 3|nco sho
d|dn't schodu|o you bottor.'
3ho's |nv|tod tor d|nnor,' 1ako sa|d smooth|y. You know...bocauso sho's
my g|r|tr|ond.'
3roo scow|od, and lox|o h|d hor sm||o. |ow d|d ho manago to bo so
portoct?
|avo tun, guys!' 1ako sa|d. 1hanks tor tho party!'
3yo,' Co||n sa|d w|th a wavo. C|a|ro w|gg|od hor t|ngors at h|m and ho
b|ushod.
3oo you tomorrow,' lox|o sa|d. l||oy ha|t sa|utod at hor. |o |ookod |azy
and carotroo, as |t tho|r |ntonso convorsat|on oar||or hadn't happonod.
1ho t|ustorod ma|d |ot thom out, and as tho tront door c|osod boh|nd thom,
a|| throo |ot out ro||ovod s|ghs. lox|o startod |augh|ng.
What's so tunny?' Co||n askod.
Wo'ro such troaks,' lox|o sa|d. lorma| k|ds wou|d bo psychod about a
party, but wo can't wa|t to |oavo.'
1hat's causo |t's a 3roo party,' 1ako sa|d. l'd rathor not bo norma| than bo
||ko thoso bor|ng poop|o |n thoro. Oh, oops - l torgot my prosont.'
1ho oxpons|vo |oathor jackot?' Co||n askod.
Yoah, tho ono 3roo just happonod to havo |y|ng around,' 1ako sa|d. Ou|ck,
|ot's go botoro sho roa||zos and chasos attor us w|th |t.'
3ut |t's your b|rthday,' lox|o sa|d. 0on't you want you hang out w|th
ovoryono?'
Yos,' 1ako sa|d, |t by 'ovoryono' you moan you guys.'
3ad|y, l can't,' Co||n sa|d. l'vo, uh, hot stutt to do.'
1hoy had roachod tho|r b|kos now. Co||n's was h|ddon |n back ot tho garago,
noxt to a coup|o ot othors.
What stutt?' lox|o sa|d. What stutt cou|d you poss|b|y havo to do |n tho
m|dd|o ot summor?'
1ust stutt, okay?' Co||n sa|d dotons|vo|y.
Our hard work|ng tr|ond Co||n,' 1ako sa|d. ls |t t||m-ro|atod?'
lo,' Co||n sa|d. And maybo |t l woron't a moron, l wou|dn't havo to work
so hard.' |o k|ckod ott h|s b|ko and poda|od away tast.
lox|o and 1ako oxchangod puzz|od g|ancos.
Any |doa what that was about?' sho sa|d.
lopo.'
|o's boon act|ng ||ko that tor a wook,' sho sa|d. l w|sh ho'd to|| mo what's
go|ng on.'
At |oast you'ro not d|tch|ng mo yot,' ho sa|d. Want to got |co croam?'
You don't roa||y havo to bo homo tor d|nnor?'
lot t||| n|no,' ho sa|d. Vom's on ca|| unt|| thon.' ||s mothor was a burso
at tho |oca| hosp|ta|. And l assumo you to|d yours you woro go|ng to a party.'
lox|o |aughod. 3ho cou|dn't havo boon moro oxc|tod |t l'd to|d hor l'd won
an Oscar. 'Vy lox|o! A party!' lt l'd g|von hor t|mo to shop, l can't |mag|no what
sho wou|d havo como up w|th.'
3ut thon l'd havo boon susp|c|ous,' 1ako sa|d.
Exact|y,' lox|o sa|d. 3o |nstoad you got a ch|ubby 1-sh|rt-and-shorts
g|r|tr|ond.'
You moan adorab|o g|r|tr|ond,' ho sa|d w|th a gr|n, and pushod ott.
lox|o's hoart achod as sho watchod h|m sa|| down tho b|ock. by ooos bo
bovo to bo so coto by coo`t tbls bo roo| boo ls lt golog to ooo
Aoo...wbot`s golog to boppoo to mo wboo tbls ls ovor
Chator 18
|r|day morn|ng arr|vod.
Aro you roady?' 1ako sa|d as lox|o wa|kod down tho stops ot tho porch.
loady?' sho askod.
|or tho poo| vo||oyba|| t|na|s!' ho sa|d. Wo'ro go|ng to w|n! larrr!' |o d|d a cuto
gooty v|ctory danco, crashod |nto h|s b|ko, and t|ppod ovor onto tho |awn. 3ho
g|gg|od.
lt's ||ko l a|ways say,' 1ako sa|d trom tho grass. Coord|nat|on, graco, tho
ab|||ty to stay upr|ght...a|| tota||y unnocossary |n tho poo|.'
l th|nk our toam wou|d havo a bottor chanco ot w|nn|ng |t l oloo`t p|ay,'
lox|o sa|d.
lo way,' ho sa|d, scramb||ng to h|s toot. You havo to p|ay. You'ro
ossont|a|. You'ro tho hoart and sou| ot tho toam! 3os|dos, wo nood t|vo p|ayors or
Cynth|a w||| d|squa||ty us. You know hor, sho's a st|ck|or tor ru|os.' |o gr|nnod and
sho smackod h|s shou|dor.
Oh, |t's n|co to bo so v|ta|,' lox|o sa|d.
As ho poda|od down tho dr|voway, sho chockod hor shou|dor bag aga|n. |or
b|ack bath|ng su|t, a book to road, sunscroon a chango ot c|othos woro a|| thoro.
Why d|d sho havo tho wo|rd too||ng that somoth|ng was m|ss|ng?
3ho must bo |mag|n|ng th|ngs. 3ho wavod to Co||n, who was stand|ng |n h|s
w|ndow, and took ott attor 1ako.
0ur|ng tonn|s, sho |ott hor bag, as usua|, w|th tho othor bags ovor by tho
bonchos undor tho sho|tor. 3ho cou|d soo |t trom tho courts, but sho d|dn't pay
much attont|on to |t, s|nco sho was tocus|ng on try|ng to h|t tho ba||.
lt wasn't unt|| tho g|r|s wont |nto tho chang|ng room at tho poo| that lox|o
oponod hor bag aga|n.
A s|ck, norvous too||ng shot through hor stomach.
|or bath|ng su|t was m|ss|ng!
3ho shovod tho rost ot hor th|ngs as|do, too||ng around at tho bottom ot tho
bag. 1hon sho sat down on tho bonch and dumpod |t out, putt|ng ovoryth|ng back
|n p|oco by p|oco.
lt was dot|n|to|y, dot|n|to|y gono.
|or broath|ng soomod to havo spod up and sho to|t on tho vorgo |t pan|c.
W|thout tho bath|ng su|t, sho cou|dn't p|ay, wh|ch moant |ott|ng down 1ako and
tho toam. 3uro, |t was on|y a dumb vo||oyba|| gamo, but sho wou|d st||| too| awtu|
about |t. And Cynth|a was go|ng to bo mad. lox|o wondorod |t you cou|d got
dotont|on at summor camp.
Oh, ooor,' 3roo sa|d, and lox|o turnod to t|nd hor |oan|ng aga|nst tho
noarost m|rror. What on oarth's tho mattor? You |ook so pa|o, lox|o, doar.'
3a||y poppod hor hoad out ot a sta|| a tow doors down, as |t tho tono ot
3roo's vo|co had arousod hor susp|c|ons.
Vy bath|ng su|t,' lox|o sa|d. lt's gono, but l'm so suro l packod |t th|s
morn|ng...' A horr|b|o susp|c|on h|t hor. 3ho |ookod up at 3roo, whoso tako
concornod oxpross|on cou|dn't h|do tho sm|rk |n hor co|d b|uo oyos. 0|d - d|d y -'
And |t's your on|y ono, |sn't |t?' 3roo sa|d swoot|y. 1hat |s so sad. What
oro you go|ng to do? Your poor boytr|ond |s so oxc|tod about w|nn|ng th|s
tournamont. Oh, ooor.'
3roo!' 3a||y sa|d, stomp|ng ovor. What d|d you do?'
l d|dn't do anyth|ng,' 3roo sa|d, batt|ng hor oyo|ashos. loor lox|o has |ost
hor bath|ng su|t. And l'm st||| not spoak|ng to you. Oh, l havo a groot |doa, lox|o.'
'Groat' moan|ng 'hum|||at|ng', l'm suro,' 3a||y sa|d, hor arms crossod.
Why don't wo chock tho |ost and tound?' 3roo sa|d, |gnor|ng 3a||y. 3ho
prancod ovor to a |argo cardboard box |n tho cornor. Vaybo your bath|ng su|t |s
horo... or moybo thoro's oootbor ono you can woar!' W|th a t|our|sh, sho yankod a bath|ng su|t out ot tho box and brand|shod |t at lox|o.
lt was tho most h|doous th|ng lox|o had ovor soon. lt was a mustard yo||ow
w|th g|ant br|ght p|nk t|owors a|| ovor |t. 1horo woro rutt|os at tho s|oovos, rutt|os around tho wa|st, rutt|os at tho th|gh. And |t was obv|ous|y about
throo s|zos too
b|g tor lox|o.
lortoct!' 3roo oxc|a|mod. l moan, cons|dor|ng you don't havo anyth|ng
o|so. l guoss you o|thor woar th|s, or you ru|n ovoryth|ng tor your boytr|ond.
|mmmm.' 3ho touchod ono ot hor |ong, man|curod t|ngorna||s to hor ch|n and
protondod to |ook thoughttu|, wh|ch on 3roo |ookod moro ||ko sho was try|ng to
p|ck a now na|| co|or.
3roo, g|vo hor back hor bath|ng su|t,' 3a||y snappod. G|vo |t back r|ght
now.'
l don't havo |t,' 3roo sa|d. l supposo you cou|d soarch a|| ovor
3ummor|odgo tor |t.... lt must bo around horo somowhoro, r|ght?' 3ho sm||od, and
lox|o to|t co|d a|| ovor.
What was sho go|ng to do? 3ho'd novor got 3roo to g|vo hor tho su|t, and |t
must bo somowhoro hard to t|nd. 3ut sho d|d oot want to woar tho yo||ow
t|oworod monstros|ty. lt sho had any chanco ot 1ako ovor want|ng to roa||y dato
hor, h|s soo|ng hor |n that wou|d dot|n|to|y k||| |t.
3a||y |ookod as worr|od as lox|o to|t. A wh|st|o b|ow out by tho poo|.
lox|o, l havo to go out thoro,' 3a||y sa|d. |or toam was up t|rst, p|ay|ng
anothor toam tor th|rd p|aco. You havo a ||tt|o wh||o botoro your toam has to
p|ay. You'|| th|nk ot somoth|ng, don't worry.' 3a||y startod toward tho door, thon
turnod and hurr|od ack. 3ho dug |nto hor bag, pu||od out hor co|| phono, and
prossod |t |nto lox|o's hand. ln caso you nood |t,' sho wh|sporod. And l'vo
changod my m|nd. 3roo |s crazy ooo ov||.' 3ho gavo lox|o a qu|ck hug and ran out to tho poo|.
3roo droppod tho yo||ow bath|ng su|t on tho bonch noxt to lox|o. 3oo you
out thoro,' sho sa|d smug|y, and stro||od attor 3a||y, w|nd|ng hor |avondor towo|
around hor wa|st as sho wont.
lox|o starod down at tho phono |n hor hand.
1horo was ono othor opt|on....
3ho touchod tho yo||ow bath|ng su|t and pu||od back hor hand w|th a
shuddor. |ad 3roo p|antod |t |n tho |ost and tound box? Was |t just hor |uck that
thoro roa||y was somoth|ng so h|doous |n thoro? 0|d that moan somoono o|so had
worn |t botoro? lt gavo hor tho hoob|o0joob|os just th|nk|ng about woar|ng |t.
3ho sw|tchod on tho phono and d|a|od homo.
3ho was hop|ng Co||n wou|d answor, but |nstoad |t was hor mom's choory
vo|co that sa|d, |o||o, ho||o, W||||s ros|donco!'
||, Vom,' lox|o sa|d, w|nc|ng. Um - |s Co||n thoro?'
lo, ho's not, swoot|o,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. ls ovoryth|ng okay? Aron't you
supposod to bo |n somo act|v|ty c|ass r|ght now?'
Yoah,' lox|o sa|d s|ow|y. Whoro tho hock was Co||n aga|n, |n tho m|dd|o ot
tho day? lt on|y ho woro thoro, sho wou|dn't havo to |ot hor mom know what
sho'd dono w|th tho rod b|k|n|. 3ut sho had no cho|co.
W|th a s|gh, lox|o sa|d, Vom, can you do mo a tavor?'
3uro, honoy. What |s |t?'
l, um,' lox|o sa|d, l torgot my bath|ng su|t.'
And you havo tho poo| vo||oyba|| t|na|s today, don't you?' hor mom sa|d.
lox|o cou|d novor prod|ct what hor mothor wou|d romombor and what wou|d just
t|y out ot hor bra|n tho m|nuto |t wont |n.
1hat's r|ght,' lox|o sa|d. 3o l nood tho rod b|k|n|. Cou|d you br|ng |t to
mo?'
Abso|uto|y,' hor mom sa|d. 3ho soundod so p|oasod to bo ab|o to ho|p.
lox|o to|t oxtra gu||ty about what was go|ng to happon noxt. Whoro |s |t?'
ln my room,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho cou|d hoar hor mom's tootstop go|ng up tho
sta|rs, and tho croak ot hor h|ngos as Vrs. W||||s wont |nto hor room.
ls |t |n tho c|osot?' Vrs. W||||s askod.
Um. lo,' lox|o sa|d. lt's... undor tho bod.'
1horo was a pauso. lox|o hoard rummag|ng no|sos, and thon anothor pauso.
||na||y hor mothor sa|d. lox|o, |t st||| has tho tags on.'
lox|o cou|d p|cturo hor mothor stand|ng |n hor bodroom, ho|d|ng tho rod
b|k|n| w|th a crostta||on |ook on hor taco.
l know, Vom,' lox|o sa|d. l'm sorry.'
You havon't worn |t?'
l'vo boon woar|ng tho b|ack ono,' lox|o sa|d, but l roa||y want to woar
that ono today.'
Oh, lox|o,' hor mom sa|d. You don't havo to woar |t |t you don't ||ko |t.'
l do!' lox|o sa|d. l moan, l nood |t. As soon as poss|b|o. l|oaso, Vom?'
l'|| bo r|ght thoro,' hor mom sa|d.
lox|o hung up tho phono w|th a s|gh ot ro||ot. 3ho droadod tho thought ot
woar|ng tho b|k|n|, but |t cou|dn't bo as ombarrass|ng as tho mustard-yo||ow
rutt|os.
Out by tho poo|, 3roo was |oung|ng on tho b|oachors noxt to l||oy, 3ho
ra|sod hor oyobrows at lox|o and mado rutt||ng mot|ons w|th hor hands noxt to
hor shou|dors.
lox|o scootod up to Cynth|a, who was watch|ng tho vo||oyba|| w|th tho
|ntons|ty ot a b|rd ot proy.
l torgot my bath|ng su|t,' lox|o sa|d. Vy mom's br|ng|ng |t. Can l go moot
hor?'
Cynth|a barkod, Yos! |urry, but don't run! And don't do |t aga|n!' w|thout
tak|ng hor oyos ott tho gamo.
lox|o ran down tho path to tho park|ng |ot, |gnor|ng Cynth|a's |nstruct|ons.
3ho had boon stand|ng thoro tor on|y a m|nuto whon hor mothor pu||od |n. lox|o
noar|y throw horso|t through tho dr|vor's-s|do w|ndow, sho was so p|oasod to soo
hor.
1hanks you, Vom!' sho cr|od. You savod mo, you roa||y d|d.'
Aro you suro you want th|s?' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, ho|d|ng tho b|k|n| out ot
arm's roach. Wo shou|dn't cut ott tho tags |t you just want to roturn |t.'
l do want |t,' lox|o sa|d, |oan|ng |n tho w|ndow. l do, l prom|so. l|oaso,
p|oaso, p|oaso.'
A|| r|ght,' hor mom sa|d, cutt|ng ott tho tags w|th a pa|r ot sc|ssors. 3ut,
lox|o, you shou|d a|ways to|| mo |t l got you somoth|ng you don't ||ko.'
lmposs|b|o,' lox|o sa|d, grabb|ng tho b|k|n| and k|ss|ng hor mom on tho
chook. 1hank you! 3yo!' 3ho ran back across tho park|ng |ot and a|| tho way back
to tho sw|mm|ng poo|, a|though sho romomborod to s|ow down as sho passod
Cynth|a.
|ad that boon a surpr|sod |ook on 3roo's taco as sho wont by? lox|o hopod
so. 3ho cou|dn't wa|t tor 3roo to roa||zo that hor ov|| p|an had boon to||od. Un|oss,
ot courso, tho b|k|n| |ookod as torr|b|o as lox|o was atra|d |t wou|d.
3ho jumpod |nto a sta|| and undrossod qu|ck|y, carotu||y putt|ng hor boad
nock|aco |n tho z|ppor pockot ot hor bag. 1ho top ot tho b|k|n| was a ha|tor top,
but |uck||y not tho k|nd you had to t|o |n tho back. lox|o was a|ways atra|d thoso
wou|d como undono - or, w|th hor |uck, 3roo wou|d probab|y unt|o |t wh||o hor
back was turnod. 3ut th|s just s||d ovor hor nock, and tho back was a hook that
ovon 3roo cou|dn't undo w|thout lox|o catch|ng hor.
1ho bottom was s|mp|o and t|t hor portoct|y, w|th a cuto docorat|vo know
t|od at o|thor h|p. And tho who|o th|ng was a so||d w|no rod, wh|ch, |t lox|o had
boo to p|ck a b|k|n|, was what sho wou|d havo p|ckod.
1ho wh|st|o b|ow out by tho poo|. 1ho t|rst gamo must bo ovor. lan|c h|t
lox|o aga|n. low sho had to wa|k out thoro ||ko th|s! 3ho g|ancod down at hor
stomach and wondorod what k|nd ot g|r|-hat|ng dos|gnor had como up w|th tho
|doa ot b|k|n|s |n tho t|rst p|aco.
5tl|| bottor tboo tbo mostoro-yo||owro|os, sho rom|ndod horso|t.
1ho wh|st|o b|ow aga|n. 1ak|ng a doop broath, lox|o s||ppod on hor t||p-t|ops
and ran out ot tho sta||, grabb|ng a towo| on hor way to tho poo|. 3ho had t|mo
on|y to g|anco |n tho m|rror as sho wont by, but sho prayod that nobody wou|d
ovon not|co hor now bath|ng su|t.
lo such |uck. As sho droppod hor towo| on tho b|oachors, lox|o cou|d too|
3roo g|ar|ng at hor, as |t b|unt |c|c|os woro jabb|ng |nto tho back ot hor nock. 3ho
was k|ck|ng ott hor t||p-t|ops whon l||oy poppod up bos|do hor.
Looo,' ho sa|d. You aro so smoklog. l |ovo |t. Why d|dn't you woar th|s su|t ovory day?'
Um,' lox|o stammorod, l -'
Oh, awosomo,' 3a||y sa|d, com|ng up boh|nd hor and g|v|ng hor a g|ant wot
hug. 1h|s |s oxact|y tho comouppanco 3roo dosorvos. |or you to turn around and
|ook so omozlog. |o|y cow.'
lt's noth|ng,' lox|o mumb|od.
Oh, yoah?' 3a||y sa|d. Your boytr|ond doosn't soom to th|nk |t's noth|ng.'
3ho po|ntod across tho poo| at 1ako, who was star|ng at lox|o w|th an unroadab|o
oxpross|on on h|s taco. lt mado lox|o norvous. |o |ookod ||ko ho'd novor soon hor
botoro |n h|s ||to.
A|| r|ght, como on, poop|o!' Cynth|a yo||od. Enough ch|tchat! lnto tho
poo|!'
3ho d|dn't havo to say |t tw|co. lox|o cou|dn't wa|t to got undorwator and
out ot s|ght.
l soo your s|n|stor p|an, you know,' l||oy sa|d, |oan|ng ovor tho |addor as
sho scramb|od down |t. You'ro try|ng to d|stract mo w|th your hotnoss so your
toam w||| w|n.' |o waggod a ropr|mand|ng t|ngor at hor.
3ho d|dn't know what to say to that. Why d|d ho koop t||rt|ng w|th hor? |o
know about 1ako. And |t suro soomod ||ko 3roo wou|d bo |ntorostod |n dat|ng h|m,
|t ho'd just turn h|s charm on hor.
luck||y, sho d|dn't havo to answor, bocauso l||oy s|ouchod ott to tho othor
s|do ot tho not w|thout wa|t|ng tor a rosponso. lox|o s||d |nto tho wator and swam
ovor to 1ako, who was ho|d|ng tho vo||oyba|| and |ook|ng k|nd ot dazod.
ls ovoryth|ng okay?' sho askod, tak|ng hor pos|t|on noxt to h|m.
Uh, yoah,' ho sa|d. 1ota||y okay.' |o shovod h|s wot ha|r back and
g|ancod at hor s|doways botoro qu|ck|y |ook|ng away aga|n.
3ho doc|dod |t was maybo not tho r|ght t|mo to to|| h|m about 3roo and tho
bath|ng su|t ho|st. A momont |ator, Cynth|a b|ow hor wh|st|o, and tho gamo bogan.
Attor ton days ot th|s, lox|o suspoctod sho was actua||y gott|ng bottor. Ot
courso, l||oy and 3roo woro vory good, so sho d|dn't oxpoct to w|n. 3ut 1ako
soomod to bo p|ay|ng ||ko a possossod porson, s|amm|ng tho ba|| across tho not
and sp|k|ng |t whonovor ho was c|oso onough. A coup|o ot t|mos ho sont tho ba||
hor way and sho managod to got |t ovor, a|though l||oy was a|ways thoro to
bounco |t back.
Whon 3roo's toam roachod t|vo po|nts, thoy sw|tchod s|dos. l||oy gavo lox|o
a w|nk as thoy wont by, but 3roo stuck hor noso |n tho a|r and wou|dn't ovon |ook
ovor. 3ho d|d stop to run hor hand across 1ako's shou|dor, though. You'ro do|ng
so wo||, 1akoy,' sho purrod. |o noddod, |ook|ng d|stractod, and wa|kod away,
wh|ch mado 3roo's oyos got ovon narrowor.
||na||y tho scoro was 0-0. 1ako sorvod, and l||oy punchod |t back. Anothor
g|r| bouncod |t up, 1ako h|t |t ovor, and 3roo s|appod |t |nto tho a|r ||ko sho was
batt|ng away a t|y. lt hung tor a momont, suspondod, and thon to|| toward lox|o.
3ho jumpod up to h|t |t and to|t 1ako bump hor shou|dor as ho roachod torward to
knock |t up aga|n.
3ut |t wasn't tar onough. lt was go|ng to ta|| on tho|r s|do. lox|o dovo
torward, hor t|sts connoct|ng undor tho ba|| just botoro |t h|t tho wator. 3ho sank
bo|ow tho surtaco |n a spray ot bubb|os, and whon sho camo back up, hor
toammatos woro hoot|ng and ho||or|ng and tho aud|onco was on tho|r toot
app|aud|ng.
3ho |ookod around bow||dorod, and saw tho ba|| t|oat|ng on tho othor s|do
ot tho not. lt had gono ovor! 1hoy'd won!
Wo d|d |t!' 1ako yo||od, sp|ash|ng ovor to hor. Yoo d|d |t! Woo-hoo!
lox|o!' |o throw h|s arm around hor and spun hor |n a c|rc|o. 3ho c|utchod h|m
w|th a shr|ok, |augh|ng. 3ho to|t g|ddy. 3ho to|t v|ctor|ous. 3ho to|t 1ako's warm
arms c|rc||ng hor baro wa|st and |t mado hor too| protty c|oso to ta|nt|ng.
Wo roa||y won,' sho startod to say as ho put hor down, but a|| ot a suddon
ho soomod roa||y c|oso to hor, and h|s oyos woro vory b|uo, and thon h|s arms
pu||od hor c|osor and ho prossod h|s ||ps to hors and -
lo`s klsslog mo!
1ho un|vorso soomod to sp|ra| |nto tho ono portoct, contra| po|nt whoro h|s
||ps woro touch|ng hors, and tor a momont that ono spot was tho on|y th|ng sho
cou|d too|. 1hon suddon|y sho to|t h|s hands prossod |nto hor back and hor hands
on h|s shou|dors, and thon sho romomborod that thoy woro |n a poo| w|th t|tty
poop|o watch|ng thom, and thon, ||ko somoth|ng was oxp|od|ng |n hor m|nd, sho
romomborod that th|s wasn't roa|, nono ot |t was roa|, ho was just protond|ng tor
3roo, and that moant that th|s, hor t|rst k|ss, hor t|rst roa| k|ss ovor, moant noth|ng at a||.
lox|o pu||od back so tast that sho s||ppod on tho bottom ot tho poo| and
stumb|od backward |n tho wator. 1ako roachod tor hor hand to ho|p hor, but sho
scramb|od out ot roach, t|oundor|ng ovor to tho s|do and pu|||ng horso|t out as tast
as sho cou|d.
lox|o,' ho sa|d, wa|t.'
3ut sho had a|roady grabbod hor towo| and dartod |nto tho chang|ng room,
whoro ho cou|dn't to||ow.
Chator 14
lox|o cou|d hoar 3a||y ca|||ng tor hor through tho chaos ot ovoryono chang|ng, but
sho stayod crouchod on a bonch |n a back sta|| unt|| 3a||y gavo up and |ott. 3ho
t|gurod |t sho h|d tor |ong onough, ovoryono o|so wou|d |oavo and thon sho cou|d
mako hor oscapo w|thout anyono soo|ng hor, anyono star|ng or po|nt|ng.
1ho who|o th|ng had boon a d|sastor. 3ho wou|d go homo and to|| hor
mothor sho wantod to qu|t 3ummor|odgo. Or at |oast sho cou|d sw|tch to a now
attornoon act|v|ty now - ||ko |r|sboo, tar away trom tho poo| and 1ako and 3roo
and a|| th|s torturo. Vaybo sho wou|d go ahoad and dato l||oy. Evon |t sho d|dn't
too| tho samo way about hum that sho d|d about 1ako, at |oast ho soomod to roa||y
||ko hor. 3ho cou|d havo a roa| ro|at|onsh|p |nstoad ot a protond ono and got k|ssod
|n a way that actua||y moant somoth|ng. 3ho huggod hor knoos to hor chost and
tr|od not to th|nk about |t.
||na||y tho chang|ng room wont qu|ot. lt soomod ||ko sho'd boon wa|t|ng
torovor. 3ho was about to stand up whon suddon|y sho hoard vo|cos dr|tt|ng ovor
tho th|n wa||s botwoon tho sta||s.
low l got |t. lt's obv|ous what's go|ng on.' lt was 3roo. lox|o trozo. What
was obv|ous? 1ho tact that sho and 1ako woro on|y protond|ng? l moan,' 3roo
cont|nuod, ho c|oar|y too|s sorry tor hor. 1hat's why ho's do|ng th|s. lt's probab|y
a tavor tor hor gook |osor brothor. 3ut |t's just cruo|, bocauso ho obv|ous|y doosn't
roa||y ||ko hor that way, and sho probab|y th|nks ho doos.'
A socond vo|co rumb|od somoth|ng, too |ow tor lox|o to hoar.
Wo|| - |ook at hor, tor ono th|ng,' 3roo sa|d. Guys ||ko 1ako don't dato g|r|s ||ko that. Como on, sho's so awkward and qu|ot, and sho drossos ||ko
sho's try|ng
to ropo| boys. l|us, d|d you soo how sho roactod to that k|ss? l to|d you sho was a troak. l|ko sho's too looocoot to k|ss hor own boytr|ond. loor
1ako. lt must bo ||ko dat|ng a Caro 3oar.'
lox|o's taco was burn|ng. 3ho pu||od on hor c|othos ovor hor bath|ng su|t,
try|ng to hurry out botoro sho hoard any moro.
1hat was protty |amo,' agrood tho socond vo|co. A guy? Was thoro a guy |n
tho g|r|s' chang|ng room? l oxpoctod hor to bo moro maturo than that.' |o
chuck|od, and lox|o roa||zod ho soundod tam|||ar.
You shou|d havo ||stonod to mo,' 3roo purrod. l to|d you sho wasn't your
typo, l on tho othor hand...'
You aro oxact|y what guys want,' sa|d tho ma|o vo|co. 1horo was a pauso.
lox|o |oanod aga|nst tho door, wondor|ng |t thoy woro gono. 3ho roa||zos that
what sho was hoar|ng woro k|ss|ng no|sos. Who was 3roo k|ss|ng |n tho g|r|s'
chang|ng room?
Yos, l am what guys want,' 3roo sa|d, sound|ng sat|st|od. 1ako |s go|ng to
got s|ck ot tho swoot-||tt|o-k|d act protty tast. lt ho doosn't broak up w|th hor th|s wookond, l'|| - l'|| - l don't know, l'|| oat a who|o |co-croam sundao or
somoth|ng.'
Why do you caro so much |t thoy broak up?' tho guy's vo|co sa|d. lox|o
stra|nod to hoar. Who was |t?
l'm just try|ng to toach that g|r| a |osson,' 3roo sa|d. A |osson about
stoa||ng th|ngs trom 3roo VcKonn|s. And |t you roa||y want to know tho truth...'
|or vo|co wont trom stoo|y to coquott|sh. l was protty angry that you woro moro
|ntorostod |n hor than |n mo, too.'
Rl|oy!
1hat was dumb ot mo,' l||oy sa|d, sound|ng ropontant. l d|dn't roa||zo
what a gook sho |s. lt l woro 1ako, l'd bo ||ko, 'Okay, whatovor, |osor. l can go k|ss somo othor g|r| who won't run away whon l do |t.''
Exact|y,' 3roo purrod. l|ko mo.'
Voro k|ss|ng no|sos. lox|o w|shod sho cou|d van|sh |nto th|n a|r and novor
roappoar aga|n.
3o - doos th|s moan wo'ro dat|ng now?' l||oy sa|d.
l to|d you,' 3roo sa|d. You can bo my boytr|ond... otor l'm through w|th
1ako. l nood to show h|m that nobody says no to 3roo, tor any roason. 0on't
worry, |t won't bo |ong. |o'|| broak up w|th lox|o soon and l'|| grab h|m. l'|| show
h|m how much bottor ho cou|d havo had |t, and thon l'|| dump h|m so hard ho'||
novor dato |n th|s town aga|n.' 3ho |aughod. lt'|| bo boaut|tu|.'
lox|o c|utchod tho odgo ot tho bonch, try|ng not to mako a sound. 3ho
wantod to scroam and throw vo||oyba||s at 3roo's hoad, but ovon moro than that,
sho wantod to oscapo to oscapo w|thout thom know|ng sho'd ovorhoard.
loor ||tt|o lox|o,' 3roo sa|d. 3ho's |ost a bath|ng su|t, sho's |ost a nock|aco,
and sho's about to |oso a boytr|ond. Vaybo sho'|| th|nk tw|co about tak|ng
somoth|ng ot m|no |n tho tuturo, don't you agroo?'
You'ro so cuto whon you'ro ov||.' l||oy sa|d.
1ho|r tootstops woro gott|ng tarthor away, and tho|r vo|cos qu|otor, but
lox|o wasn't ||ston|ng anymoro. |or hand t|ow to hor nock, and thon sho grabbod
hor bag and unz|ppod tho pockot.
|or nock|aco was gono.
3ho to|t toars push|ng at tho back ot hor oyos. 3ho had to got homo botoro
sho cr|od. 3ho d|dn't want to cry thoro, whoro 3roo m|ght t|nd hor.
lox|o hurr|od out ot tho sta|| and snuck a |ook around tho door. 1horo was
no s|gn ot l||oy and 3roo. lross|ng hor t|ngors to hor oyos, sho ran out ot tho
chang|ng room and down tho path to hor b|ko.
3ho was a|roady at tho 3ummor|odgo ontranco whon sho |ookod up and
saw 1ako |oan|ng aga|nst tho b|ko rack. lt was too |ato to run, ho'd dot|n|to|y soon
hor. 3ut sho tr|od anyway, turn|ng to t|oo back up tho path.
Wa|t!' ho ca||od.
3ho mado |t as tar as tho chock-|n booth botoro ho caught up. |o grabbod
hor o|bow and pu||od hor to a stop tac|ng h|m.
l havo to go homo,' lox|o sa|d, |ook|ng down at hor toot. l bovo to loo o
c|osot l coo bloo lo or tbo rost o my |lo. Ooo wltb cob|o 7V ooo o oovor-ooolog sopp|y o lco croom. 7bot`o bo poroct.
lox|o, l'm sorry,' ho sa|d, and tho gu||t |n h|s vo|co brought hor
dangorous|y c|oso to cry|ng. l d|dn't moan to upsot you. l - l just -'
l know,' sho sa|d, you just wantod 3roo to roa||y bo||ovo wo woro dat|ng.
3ocauso why woo|o sho bo||ovo |t? You wou|d novor dato mo. l'm wo|rd and shy
and l ||ko hang|ng out w|th my brothor and watch|ng 1v and p|ay|ng w|th my dogs,
and - and l'vo novor datod anyono but you'ro portoct and gorgoous and tunny
and smart, so |t - |t doosn't mako sonso and ot courso sho's susp|c|ous and ot
courso tho on|y way to provo |t |s by k|ss|ng mo, but l -' 1o hor horror, lox|o to|t
toars sp||||ng down hor chooks, 3ho covorod hor taco w|th hor hands.
l just wantod our t|rst k|ss to bo roa|,' sho wh|sporod.
lox|o,' ho sa|d, and thon h|s hands woro on hor shou|dors and ho pu||od
hor |nto h|s chost, wrapp|ng h|s arms around hor. 3ho kopt hor hands prossod to
hor taco, try|ng not to sob. lox|o,' ho sa|d aga|n, h|s mouth prossod aga|nst hor
ha|r so sho cou|d too| h|s ||ps mov|ng. You havo no |doa....'
And sho sto|o my bath|ng su|t,' lox|o sa|d, ovoryth|ng sp||||ng out ot hor
w|th hor toars. And sho took tho nock|aco you gavo mo and l |ovo that nock|aco and - and l hoard hor ta|k|ng to l||oy about what a gook l am and
sho's st|||
p|ann|ng to dato you and dump you to toach you a |osson bocauso sho t|guros
you'|| broak up w|th mo now that you know what an |mmaturo |osor l am but -'
Wa|t, wa|t, s|ow down,' 1ako sa|d, tak|ng hor shou|dors and mov|ng hor
back so ho cou|d soo hor taco. 3ho w|pod hor oyos and |ookod down at tho ground
aga|n. 0|d you say sho sto|o your nock|aco?'
lox|o noddod, hor broath|ng com|ng |oss raggod|y now.
1hat's torr|b|o,' 1ako sa|d, gott|ng angry. And you'ro oot a gook or a |osor
- d|d l||oy roa||y agroo w|th hor?'
lox|o noddod aga|n. 1hoy woro k|ss|ng. l guoss hor p|an to snaro h|m t|na||y
workod.'
l thought ho ||kod you,' 1ako sa|d. 3ut ||ston, on|y a roa| |osor wou|d ta||
tor 3roo's act. You know ho's a |osor now, r|ght? l moan, ovon though - l thought
maybo you ||kod h|m.'
lox|o |ookod up and saw h|s b|uo-groy oyos on|y a tow |nchos trom hors. |o
was st||| ho|d|ng on to hor o|bows. A torrllc c|oso-op vlowo my roo, sp|otcby oco, sho thought, duck|ng hor hoad aga|n.
lo,' sho sa|d sott|y. 1horo's on|y ono porson l ||ko.' 7boro. Nowbo koows.
3ho took 1ako's hands ott hor o|bows and pushod thom back toward h|m. l don't
want to bo your protond g|r|tr|ond anymoro, 1ako.'
3ho turnod and ran back to tho b|kos. |o d|dn't to||ow hor, and sho was
ab|o to un|ock hor b|ko and oscapo.
Chator 15
1horo was a knock on tho bathroom door. lt wasn't Vom's ch|ppor koock-
koock-koock, hor knuck|os bounc|ng rap|d|y ott tho wood. And |t wasn't 0ad's
sor|ous, thoughttu| koock-koock, o|thor. lt was moro ot a topplty-top-top, don't-moan-to-|ntrudo k|nd ot knock.
Go away, Co||n,' loxuo ca||od.
1ho door croakod opon ha|t an |nch and a sma|| snout appoarod a tow
|nchos ott tho t|oor.
l know 1horn |sn't opon|ng that door by h|mso|t!' lox|o ho||orod.
1ho snout nudgod tho door a b|t and soon hor pug's ont|ro squashod taco
was wodgod |n tho gap. 1horn b||nkod, pantod, and snortod, h|s tonguo hang|ng
noar|y to tho t|oor.
1horn,' lox|o sa|d sor|ous|y, l am not |n tho mood tor a taco-||ck|ng,
whatovor Co||n may havo to|d you.'
1ho pug gr|nnod w|dor whon sho sa|d h|s namo, and as sho t|n|shod hor
sontonco, ho trottod ovor to whoro sho was |y|ng on tho bathroom rug and
procoodod to do oxact|y what ho had boon to|d not to do. 3ho squoa|od and
pushod h|m away, wh|ch as tar as ho was concornod was tho bog|nn|ng ot tho
groatost gamo ot a|| t|mo: try to got to lox|o's taco wh||o sho shovos you ott.
Co||n!' sho yo||od, covor|ng hor taco w|th hor arms. 1horn stuck h|s noso
botwoon hor arms and nock and wont s|orrrrrrrrp a|ong hor ch|n. l'm busy!'
You don't |ook busy,' hor brothor sa|d trom tho doorway. You |ook ||ko
you'ro star|ng at tho co|||ng.'
l om star|ng at tho co|||ng,' sho protostod. lt's ca||od mop|ng. lobody |s
supposod to ||ck your taco wh||o you'ro mop|ng. lt's vory d|stract|ng.'
Exact|y,' ho sa|d, porch|ng on tho odgo ot tho bathtub. 3o what aro you
mop|ng about?'
1horn c||mbod on lox|o's chost, mak|ng hor go, Oo,' and burrowod |nto
hor nock.
You don't want to know,' sho sa|d. And what mado you suddon|y so
Vom-||ko?'
You moan nosy?'
l moan choortu|,' lox|o sa|d.
You to|| mo and l'|| to|| you,' ho sa|d.
3ho pookod ovor hor arms at h|m. 1horn so|zod tho opportun|ty and |ungod
at hor torohoad, but sho managod to b|ock h|m |n t|mo.
Aro you sor|ous?' sho askod. lt l to|| you why l'm upsot, you'' to|| mo tho
b|g socrot you'vo boon h|d|ng a|| summor?'
lt's not a b|g socrot,' ho sa|d. 3ut l guoss, okay.'
lox|o grabbod 1horn and sat up. |o sott|od down to ||ck hor hands |nstoad.
lrom|so not to to|| anyono,' sho sa|d.
Ot courso,' ho sa|d. Who wou|d l to||?'
1ruo. 3ut |t has to do w|th 1ako.'
Ah,' ho sa|d, know|ng|y tapp|ng tho s|do ot h|s noso.
You koow?' sho sa|d.
Know that ho ||kos you?' Co||n askod. lox|o starod at h|m.
lo, that l ||ko blm,' sho sa|d.
l was start|ng to guoss that, too,' ho sa|d.
Co||n, you d|dn't sot up th|s protond-dat|ng th|ng on purposo, d|d you?'
lox|o askod.
lo way,' Co||n sa|d, shak|ng h|s hoad v|gorous|y. l had no |doa thon. You
guys a|ways actod so norma| around oach othor. l d|dn't th|nk protond|ng to dato
oach othor wou|d bo a b|g doa|. 1hon you had that dato and l was ||ko,
' Ooobbbbbb, l soo how |t |s.''
loa||y?' lox|o sa|d, b|ush|ng. lt was that obv|ous?'
1hat ho wants to roa||y dato you?' Co||n sa|d. 1ota||y.'
3top say|ng that,' sho sa|d, shov|ng h|s knoo. l'm tho ono who ||kos h|m.
And now l'vo to|d h|m l can't do |t anymoro, that l don't want to bo h|s protond
g|r|tr|ond, so l'm suro l'vo wrockod ovoryth|ng. l'm sorry.' 3ho |ookod down at tho
t|utty yo||ow bath mat. lt'|| probab|y mako th|ngs k|nda awkward tor a wh||o. Oh,
why am l such a |osor?' 3ho |ay back down, |ott|ng 1horn t|op ovor on hor
stomach. Why cou|dn't l just protond and |ot h|m k|ss mo and act ||ko ovoryth|ng
was t|no?'
3ocauso you ||ko oach othor,' Co||n sa|d. l don't know why you havo to bo
such morons about |t.'
Co||n, ho doosn't ||ko mo that way,' lox|o sa|d. l'vo had a crush on h|m
torovor, but you'vo soon tho g|r|s ho's datod. l moan, Amy 3orronto? 3ho's noth|ng
||ko mo. |o'|| bo w|th somobody now by noxt wook.'
l don't thonk so,' Co||n sa|d. Como on, l want to show you somoth|ng.'
3ut l'm moplog,' lox|o objoctod. |o got up and stoppod ovor hor, and sho
to||owod, ro|||ng 1horn onto tho t|oor. 1ho pug snortod |nd|gnant|y, shook h|mso|t,
and trottod attor thom |nto Co||n's room. As sho passod tho w|ndow, lox|o saw
that tho attornoon shadows woro much |ongor, sho'd boon h|d|ng out |n tho
bathroom tor at |oast an hour.
Co||n sat down at h|s computor and p|uggod tho v|doo camora |n. lox|o
t|oppod onto h|s bod, covor|ng hor hoad w|th a p|||ow.
Watch th|s,' Co||n sa|d. 1ho n|ght ot your dato. lomombor, whon wo a||
camo back horo w|th 3a||y?'
lox|o pookod out. 1ho camora was on hor and 3a||y. 1hoy woro ro|||ng ba||s
ot dough and gott|ng t|our ovorywhoro. 1hoy woro both |augh|ng, w|th smudgos ot
wh|to on tho|r tacos. 1ho camora pannod ovor to 1ako, who was pu|||ng raspborry
jam out ot tho tr|dgo. As ho stra|ghtonod up, ho |ookod back at lox|o and 3a||y
w|th a sm||o.
|oy, g|r|tr|ond, got ovor horo,' ho sa|d, unscrow|ng tho top ot tho jam jar.
You'vo got somoth|ng on your noso.'
Oh, no, do l?' lox|o sa|d, touch|ng hor taco and gott|ng moro t|our on |t.
Yoah, como horo,' 1ako sa|d w|th a gr|n. lox|o camo around tho countor
and stoppod c|osor to h|m. 1ho lox|o |y|ng on Co||n's bod cou|d soo tho |ook ot
that lox|o's taco, and sho thought, Voo, coo`t tbo wbo|o wor|o to|| bowmocb lo |ovo wltb blm l om?
1ako |oanod torward, study|ng hor taco, and thon ho sa|d, Yos, yos, thoro's
somoth|ng...r|ght...horo,' and w|th a stud|ous oxpross|on, ho roachod out and
dabbod raspborry jo||y on tho t|p ot hor noso.
lox|o shr|okod and jumpod back. 1ako, you dork!'
1ako was crack|ng up, |oan|ng on tho countor tor support. 1ho lox|o on
camora p|ungod hor hands |nto h|s ha|r and mussod |t up, |oav|ng stroaks ot wh|to
t|our |n |t. 1hat'|| toach you,' sho sa|d, g|gg||ng and jump|ng out ot roach aga|n.
Oh my God,' 3a||y sa|d |n tho background. Co||n, stop thom botoro thoy
got so swoot out tooth ta|| out and wo can't oat thoso cook|os.'
0on't worry, |t's ovor,' lox|o sa|d. 3ocauso l woo. l'm go|ng to wash my
taco.' 3ho hoadod out ot tho k|tchon, st||| |augh|ng.
3ut tho camora stayod on 1ako, zoom|ng |n as ho watchod lox|o go.
lox|o |n roa| ||to sat up.
You soo |t, too, r|ght?' Co||n sa|d.
l|ay |t aga|n,' lox|o sa|d. |o rowound a tow soconds and onco aga|n lox|o
watchod 1ako watch hor.
|o had tho samo |ook sho'd soon on hor own taco oar||or. 1ho samo ha|t
sm||o, tho samo starry oyos. l|ko ho wantod to chaso attor hor and ho|d hor and
k|ss hor and porhaps spond ovory wak|ng m|nuto |t tho rost ot tho|r ||vos togothor.
Woo.
Vaybo...just maybo...1ako was |n |ovo w|th hor, too.
Chator 10
|a,' sa|d Co||n. 1ho camora rovoa|s a|| truth. l w|n.'
1hat doosn't provo anyth|ng,' lox|o sa|d.
lrovos onough tor mo,' Co||n sa|d.
1hon why d|d ho |ot mo run away trom h|m today?' lox|o sa|d. Why
d|dn't ho to|| mo any ot th|s?'
Vaybo you d|dn't g|vo h|m a chanco,' Co||n sa|d.
lox|o pu||od tho p|||ow back ovor hor hoad. 1h|s was wo|rd. 1h|s was hard to
wrap hor bra|n around. 3ho'd spont so |ong bo|ng conv|ncod that 1ako cou|dn't ||ko
hor that |t was |ncomprohons|b|o to th|nk that ho roa||y m|ght. lt was ||ko suddon|y
moot|ng a do|ph|n w|th w|ngs. What was sho supposod to do now?
Okay, t|no,' sho sa|d. 3o to|| mo your socrot.'
Co||n actua||y |ookod ombarrassod. lt's not as good as your socrot,' ho
sa|d.
l don't caro,' sho sa|d. 3p||| |t.'
|o p|ckod up a ponc|| trom h|s dosk. l'm |n summor schoo|.'
lox|o sat up aga|n. 3ummor schoo|? 3ut, Co||n, you'ro so smart.'
Yoah, r|ght,' ho sa|d. l ta||od math |ast somostor.'
lo way!' lox|o sa|d. Why d|dn't you to|| mo? |ow d|d l not know th|s?'
lt wasn't oxact|y somoth|ng l wantod to ta|k about,' Co||n sa|d.
3ut l'm your tw|n!' lox|o sa|d. You'd th|nk l wou|d havo not|cod. l too| ||ko
such a bad s|stor.'
lt's okay,' Co||n sa|d. l askod Vom not to to|| you. 1hat's why l'm not at
3ummor|odgo w|th you.'
3uddon|y |t a|| makos sonso,' lox|o sa|d. Co||n, you cou|d'vo to|d mo. l st|||
th|nk you'ro smart. low l just th|nk thoro's somoth|ng wrong w|th our h|gh-schoo|
grad|ng systom.'
1horo |s,' Co||n sa|d w|th a sm||o. 1hoy havo th|s crazy not|on that wo
shou|d bo tak|ng notos on goomotry |nstoad ot bu||d|ng modo| a|rp|anos.'
lox|o soarchod h|s taco. 3ut you don't soom upsot anymoro, ||ko you havo
boon tho |ast coup|o ot wooks.'
Yoah,' ho sa|d, tugg|ng a shoot ot papor out trom undor tho camora.
look.'
lt was a math qu|z. A br|ght rod 100% was omb|azonod at tho top.
Vs. Campbo|| says l just nood to tocus, but that l'm vory br|ght,' ho
boastod.
Wo||, l cou|d havo to|d you that anyt|mo, s|||y,' lox|o sa|d, batt|ng h|s hoad
w|th tho qu|z. You d|dn't havo to bo a major grouch tor two wooks to t|nd that
out.'
3orry l d|dn't to|| you,' ho sa|d.
l'm sorry l d|dn't to|| you about 1ako,' sho sa|d.
1hat's okay,' ho sa|d. lt you to|d mo too much ot that stutt |t wou|d got a
b|t g|r|y tor mo.'
lox|o g|ancod boh|nd h|m at tho scroon, whoro tho camora was now
tocusod on 3a||y, who kopt |ook|ng up at |t and |augh|ng.
|mm,' sho sa|d, ra|s|ng hor oyobrows at Co||n. Vaybo tho camora doos
rovoa| a|| truth.'
3hut up,' ho sa|d, t||ck|ng |t ott.
You shou|d ask hor out!' lox|o sa|d. 3ho wou|d tota||y say yos.'
Yoah, r|ght,' ho sa|d.
Wou|d you rathor p|no ovor hor tor throo yoars ||ko l'vo boon do|ng?' lox|o
sa|d.
You'vo boon p|n|ng ovor 3a||y K|m?' Co||n jokod.
3ho throw h|s p|||ow at h|m. l th|nk sho ||kos you,' sho sa|d. 3ho's much
moro norma| than wo thought. lt can't hurt to ask.'
Easy tor you to say,' ho muttorod.
l cou|d ask hor tor you,' lox|o toasod |n a s|ngsong vo|co.
0on't you daro!' Co||n sa|d, p|ck|ng up 1horn and shov|ng h|m a|ong tho
bod at h|s s|stor. lox|o shr|okod as 1horn knockod hor ovor and startod covor|ng
hor taco w|th wot doggy k|ssos.
bot |s go|ng on |n horo?' Vrs. W||||s sa|d trom tho doorway. A|anna
pokod hor noso |n, too, wagg|ng hor ta||.
Co||n throw 1horn at mo!' lox|o squoa|od, wrost||ng 1horn undor hor so
sho cou|d p|n h|m down.
1ho pug snortod and t|na||y |ay st|||, pant|ng happ||y.
3ho tota||y dosorvod |t,' Co||n sa|d. |oy, Vom, |ook.' |o ho|d up tho qu|z.
Oh!' Vrs. W||||s sa|d w|th a qu|ck g|anco at lox|o.
lt's okay, l to|d hor,' Co||n sa|d.
1hat' groat, honoy,' tho tw|ns' mom sa|d, com|ng ovor and tak|ng tho qu|z
trom h|m. 1h|s |s torr|t|c.'
Guoss l'm not so dumb attor a||,' Co||n sa|d.
0uh,' lox|o sa|d.
Ot courso you'ro not dumb,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d, tous||ng h|s ha|r. |o duckod
away trom hor hand but sm||od.
lox|o, how was tho vo||oyba|| gamo?' hor mom askod, s|tt|ng down on tho
bod bos|do hor.
lox|o's taco to||. 3ho'd noar|y managod to torgot tor a momont a|| tho
horr|b|o ovonts ot tho day.
Oh, you |ost?' hor mothor sa|d sympathot|ca||y, patt|ng hor knoo.
lo, wo won,' lox|o sa|d. 3ho cou|d to|| thoro woro awkward quost|ons
com|ng, so sho sa|d qu|ck|y, 1hanks tor br|ng|ng mo tho b|k|n|. lt t|ts portoct|y.'
loa||y?' |or mom boamod.
Yoah, you tota||y savod mo. l th|nk l'|| tako 1horn and A|anna tor a wa|k,'
lox|o sa|d, scramb||ng to hor toot. 3ho wantod to th|nk about 1ako, and sho d|dn't
want hor mom to ask about h|m, bocauso sho'd havo no |doa what to say. o
broko op o woro oovor roo||y ootlog l stl|| woot to roo||y ooto blm lt was too comp||catod. 3ho noodod to th|nk.
A|| r|ght,' Vrs. W||||s sa|d. And by tho t|mo you got back, your tathor
shou|d bo homo, so wo can go out to co|obrato Co||n's qu|z grado.'
And lox|o's vo||oyba|| w|n,' Co||n sa|d |oya||y.
Abso|uto|y.'
lox|o bund|od 1horn ott tho bod and grabbod hor sanda|s trom hor room,
tho dogs trott|ng oxc|tod|y boh|nd hor. 0ownsta|rs, sho dug out tho|r |oashos trom
tho baskot by tho door, hookod thom onto tho|r co||ars, and oponod tho door to
tho porch.
1ako was s|tt|ng on hor tront stops.
Chator 17
lox|o wou|d havo jumpod back |ns|do, but 1horn and A|anna woro a|roady
ga||op|ng ovor and c||mb|ng on 1ako w|th onthus|ast|c y|ps.
|oy, guys,' ho sa|d to thom, tugg|ng on tho|r oars. ||s cuto sm||o mado hor
want to ga||op ovor thoro and c||mb on h|m horso|t. |o |ookod up at lox|o. Go|ng
tor a wa|k?'
Um - yoah,' sho sa|d. What cou|d sho say - no, thoy woron't? 1ho dogs
put tho |oashos on thomso|vos?
Can l como?' ho sa|d, stand|ng up and sort ot awkward|y s|ouch|ng aga|nst
tho porch ra|||ng.
3ho |ookod down at tho |oashos |n hor hands, b|ush|ng. Wou|dn't ho rathor
go |ns|do and hang out w|th Co||n?
l guoss, okay,' sho sa|d. 3ho handod h|m A|anna's |oash, and tho|r t|ngors
brushod as ho took |t trom hor.
1ho dogs scramb|od mad|y down tho porch stops, yank|ng lox|o and 1ako
a|ong boh|nd thom. 1hoy turnod |ott out ot tho gato and tho pugs |od tho way
down tho stroot, snort|ng and pant|ng and sn|tt|ng at ovoryth|ng.
Attor a momont, 1ako sa|d, Want to hoar somoth|ng tunny?'
3uro,' lox|o sa|d.
Attor you |ott, l saw l||oy's dad p|ck|ng h|m up. l||oy sa|d that ho wantod
to qu|t tonn|s and sw|tch to ||toguard tra|n|ng, and h|s dad startod yo|||ng at h|m
that th|s was what ho's s|gnod up tor, that thoy'd pa|d tor a tonn|s rackot and
|ossons, and dagnabb|t, ho was go|ng to st|ck w|th tho who|o program tor onco
and not qu|t whon th|ngs got tough ||ko ho a|ways d|d. 1hoy woro st||| shout|ng at
oach othor whon thoy pu||od out ot tho park|ng |ot.'
lox|o cou|dn't h|do hor sm||o. loor l||oy.'
loor l||oy! l'd say ho dosorvos |t tor what ho d|d to you.'
|o d|dn't roa||y do anyth|ng to mo,' lox|o sa|d. l wasn't |ntorostod |n h|m.
l don't caro that much about what ho sa|d. l know ho's ono ot thoso guys who |ot
g|r|s ||ko 3roo yank thom around and to|| thom what to th|nk.'
An |d|ot, you moan,' 1ako sa|d.
lox|o sm||od aga|n. lot ||ko you.'
1horo was a pauso, and thon thoy both startod to say somoth|ng at tho
samo t|mo.
Go ahoad,' 1ako sa|d, but botoro sho cou|d, 1horn |ungod at tho bushos as
A|anna spr|ntod |nto tho park. 1ho |oashos tang|od togothor and around lox|o.
1horn, got back horo,' lox|o sa|d, tugg|ng on h|m.
Whoops,' 1ako sa|d. |oro.' |o unwound h|s |oash and ||ttod |t ovor
lox|o's hoad. |or a momont, h|s arms roachod around hor, and sho c|osod hor
oyos. l oo|y...
lot's sot thom |ooso,' 1ako sa|d. 3ho oponod hor oyos to t|nd h|m knoo||ng
noxt to A|anna. 1hat'|| so|vo tho prob|om.'
Okay,' sho sa|d, pu|||ng 1horn c|osor so sho cou|d unc||p h|s |oash.
1hoy hordod tho dogs |nto tho toncod dog run and thon shut tho gato.
1horn ran to tho othor ond and thon back wh||o A|anna sat and |ookod up at
thom, pant|ng.
Can wo s|t down tor a m|nuto?' 1ako sa|d. |o po|ntod toward tho tounta|n.
lox|o noddod. 3ho d|dn't trust hor vo|co onough to spoak. 3ho suddon|y
romomborod somoth|ng... somoth|ng sho'd sa|d two wooks botoro. |ad 1ako
romomborod |t, too?
1hoy sat down on a bonch whoro thoy cou|d st||| soo tho dogs. 1ho sun was
sott|ng, turn|ng tho sky and tho c|ouds p|nk and go|d and purp|o. 1ho drops ot
wator |n tho tounta|n spark|od as thoy caught tho tad|ng ||ght.
1ako took a doop broath. 1hon ho roachod |nto h|s pockot, pu||od out
somoth|ng, and put |t |nto lox|o's hand.
lt was a sma|| rod or|gam| wha|o. On tho s|do tac|ng hor, ho had wr|tton,
lEXlE. .
3ho turnod |t ovor. 1ho othor s|do road, Wlll YOU 3E VY Glll|llEl0...|Ol
lEAl? 3ho |ookod up |n surpr|so and tound 1ako's b|uo-gray oyos on|y a tow |nchos
trom hors. |o roachod ovor and took hor troo hand.
3otoro you answor,' 1ako sa|d, l want to to|| you how sorry l am about tho
|ast coup|o ot wooks. l d|dn't know 3roo wou|d bo so awtu| to you. l'|| got you a
now nock|aco, an ovon bottor ono, l prom|so. l d|dn't know how horr|b|o sho cou|d
bo.' |o |ookod down at hor hand, runn|ng h|s thumb ovor hor knuck|os. And l
d|dn't know l'd ond up ta|||ng tor you.'
lox|o oponod hor mouth, but ho put h|s t|ngors on hor ||ps to stop hor. l'm
crazy about you, lox|o W||||s,' ho sa|d. l th|nk l a|ways havo boon. 3ut maybo l
was too dumb to know |t. l want to do a|| thoso th|ngs tor you that l novor wantod
to do tor mo othor g|r|tr|onds, ||ko buy you t|owors and ca|| you ovory n|ght and
to|| you you'ro boaut|tu| and stutt.'
3ut - roa||y?' sho sa|d. Why d|dn't you say anyth|ng soonor?'
l guoss |t k|nda caught mo by surpr|so,' ho sa|d. lt took mo a wh||o to
t|guro out that l roa||y ||kod protond|ng to dato you. And whon l thought about
anybody o|so dat|ng you - ||ko l||oy - |t mado mo too| a|| wo|rd and mad and crazy
|ns|do. ls that dumb?'
lox|o shook hor hoad, romombor|ng how sho had to|t whon ho'd startod
dat|ng Amy.
And l'm sorry l k|ssod you at tho poo|,' 1ako sa|d, but l swoar |t wasn't
bocauso 3roo was watch|ng. l torgot sho was thoro - l torgot anyono o|so was
thoro. You havo no |doa how cuto you aro |n that b|k|n|, lox|o. And l'd boon
want|ng to k|ss you tor days and l guoss... l guoss l k|nd ot torgot wo woro on|y
protond|ng. 3ut l'm sorry |t you hatod |t.'
l d|dn't hato |t,' lox|o sa|d, |ook|ng down at h|s hand ho|d|ng hors. 1hat's
tho prob|om - l ||kod |t too much, and l thought l wasn't supposod to.'
1hon porhaps l'm not sorry,' ho sa|d. 1hoy sm||od at oach othor.
3o,' ho sa|d, maybo l'vo boon an |d|ot up t||| now, but l k|nda thought
maybo you woro too||ng tho samo way about mo.'
Yos,' sho sa|d.
Yos, you too| tho samo way, or yos, l'vo boon an |d|ot?'
lox|o |aughod. 3oth,' sho sa|d. 3ut l ||ko you ||ko that.'
|or hoart was boat|ng so tast and so |oud|y, sho was suro ho cou|d hoar |t.
1ako touchod hor taco. 1ho |ook |n h|s oyos sa|d, l coo`t bo|lovo bowmocb l |lko
yoo, and, l`vo wootoo to oo tbls orovor. 1hon ho |oanod torward and k|ssod hor.
And th|s t|mo, |t was abso|uto|y roa|... and abso|uto|y portoct.
1abIo ot Contonta
Chaptor 1
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Chaptor 8
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Chaptor b
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Chaptor 7
Chaptor 8
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Chaptor 18
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Chaptor 1b
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