#5 Not What I Expected (6 page)

I nodded.

“This must be fate” said Leo. “I just finished too. If you have nothing to do, perhaps we could do it together?” He looked hopeful as he awaited my response.

“Sure,” I said.

He fell in step beside me as we walked.

“Is this a date?” I asked.

Leo laughed. “Since we're doing nothing, it's more like an un-date.”

“I've never been on an un-date,” I told Leo.

He smiled down at me. “It's my first too. Perhaps we should start our un-date by getting to know each other. Ladies first.”

As we meandered the streets of Faraway, I told Leo about my family and friends and being on the dance team. He was incredibly easy to talk to and asked lots of questions, which made me talk more. We stopped walking and sat down on a bench. I couldn't help noticing how much longer his legs were than mine. I rambled on about my life like we were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time and were catching up.

“Fascinating,” he said when I was done.

“Not really.” I couldn't image what he'd found so interesting about my life.

“I get to be the judge of that,” said Leo. He smiled down at me.

“What about you?” I asked.

“I'm afraid I've led a pretty dull existence,” said Leo.

“Don't I get to be the judge of that?” I asked.

“Touché,” said Leo. Then he proceeded to tell me about himself. Sixteen. Only child. Homeschooled. Starting college in January.

“Wait a minute. You're only sixteen and you're going to college?”

“Guilty,” said Leo.

“You must be a genius,” I said.

Leo shook his head. “
Genius
is a broad term. Extreme chemistry enthusiast would probably be more accurate.”

I eyed Leo carefully. “Are you homeschooled because you know more about chemistry than they teach at the high school?”

“That's part of it,” said Leo.

“What's the other part?” I asked.

Leo hesitated. “I'm not sure we should get into it on our first un-date.”

“Then we'll have to have a second,” I said without missing a beat.

Leo smiled. “Are you flirting with me, April?”

I bit my lip. “I think so,” I said quietly.

“Fascinating,” said Leo.

“You like that word, don't you?”

Leo blinked at me like he was considering my question. “To be honest April, I rarely ever use it.”

He that is jealous is not in love.

—St. Augustine

Monday, October 6, 9:12 p.m.

In my room

This morning there was a special assembly at school to kick off Spirit Week. Principal Meeks made a speech about Homecoming this weekend and the importance of Spirit Week. “Participate fully and show your school spirit,” he said. Then he turned it over to Jeff Ingraham, a senior who's president of the SGA.

“It's going to be a great week at Faraway High!” he said. Then he went through the Spirit Week schedule. Pajama Day Tuesday, Crazy Hat Wednesday, Red-and-White Thursday. On Friday we have the pep rally, the football game Friday night, then the dance on Saturday night.

I was sitting with Emily, Kate, and Brynn for the assembly.

“This is going to be an amazing week,” said Emily.

“I already have my pajamas picked out,” said Kate.

“It's going to be totally fun,” I said.

We all looked at Brynn. “Yeah,” she said. “It'll be great.” But I could tell by her body language that she didn't really think it would be.

Before Jeff left the stage, he announced that the SGA class reps had a special presentation. Brynn sat up straight as they came out on stage in costume. The ninth-grade reps, which meant Billy and Sophie, had on pajamas. The tenth-grade reps were wearing crazy hats and the juniors were in red and white.

The skit was kind of silly. They all played dumb, like they thought today was the day they were supposed to wear pajamas or crazy hats or school colors. Then they reminded everyone to be sure and come dressed to show their spirit on the right days. When Sophie and Billy did their part about Pajama Day, I glanced at Brynn.

I could tell that watching Sophie and Billy doing the skit together was really bugging her. Their part only lasted like a minute. Still, Brynn looked upset. “You OK?” I asked.

Brynn turned and rolled her eyes at me like it was a ridiculous question. “Of course,” she said. “Why wouldn't I be?”

“Sorry,” I said. I figured maybe I'd read her emotions wrong. Brynn let out a breath like dealing with me was getting increasingly difficult. I guess it's not uncommon for best friends to think alike, because I was feeling the same way about her.

Wednesday, October 8

Study Hall

Sophie asked me this morning if I want to have a sleepover after the dance on Saturday. “Sure,” I said. I had no reason not to say yes. It wasn't like I had other plans.

“Great!” said Sophie. “It'll be fun!”

I agreed. But I was having a hard time thinking about the fun Sophie and I would have, because I was thinking about Brynn. I know she's upset about Sophie and Billy, but there's also still this tension between us over my friendship with Sophie. I kind of get it. If Brynn had an almost-cousin that moved to Faraway and they got super close, it would probably be hard for me too. But still, she hasn't been nice to Sophie, and I'd like to think I wouldn't act the way she has.

I've tried talking to Brynn about it, but it hasn't helped. I could invite her to our sleepover, but (a) she wouldn't want to have a sleepover with Sophie, and (b) if I did ask, she'd probably say she was going to ask me if I wanted to have a sleepover and that she can't believe I made plans with someone else.

Bottom line: I shouldn't have to choose between my two friends.

Sunday, October 12, 11:15 a.m.

Post-Homecoming

So much happened this weekend. The dance team performed at the pep rally on Friday. According to Ms. Baumann (and the applause we got), we did a great job. The Friday night football game (which we won, YEAH!) was great too. The dance team performed at halftime. It was fun and exciting and a lot less nerve racking than it was when I did it last year. When we came off the field, everyone on the team was in a great mood, including Brynn. “That was awesome!” she said and gave me a hug.

Unfortunately, the Homecoming dance on Saturday was such a weird, awkward night.

SGA had decorated the gym for the Winter Wonderland theme, and there were stars and twinkly lights everywhere. When I got to the gym, I looked around to find my friends. Sophie and Billy were in a corner hanging a string of lights. They'd been decorating all afternoon, and I guess they weren't quite done. I went over to where they were working. “Everything looks amazing!” I told them.

“Does it look wintery?” asked Billy.

“And wonderlandy?” added Sophie.

“It's very wintery and wonderlandy,” I said. Everyone was in a good mood. The three of us were talking and joking around when Brynn got to the gym. I waved to get her attention, but she wasn't looking at me. Her eyes were locked on Billy.

“You look great,” I said as she joined our group. She was wearing a tight white dress that showed off all her curves.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Wow!” said Billy. “You look amazing.”

“I love your dress,” said Sophie.

Brynn smiled and put her hand on Billy's arm. “Let's dance,” she said. Then she pulled him off toward the dance floor without even acknowledging Sophie's compliment.

“She doesn't like me,” Sophie said. I hadn't been sure before if Sophie was totally aware of Brynn's disdain for her, but she clearly hadn't missed it.

“She's just jealous,” I said.

Sophie shrugged. “She's difficult.”

Sophie is always so positive. Sometimes annoyingly so. This was the first time I'd heard her say anything so negative about someone else, and she was saying it about the person I'd been best friends with since kindergarten. “We can talk about it later,” I said, not really wanting to get into it at the dance.

But Sophie didn't bring it up at our sleepover and I didn't either. I was actually relieved this morning when she left. I feel terrible saying that. Sophie hadn't done anything to me. Not directly, anyway. But she and Brynn have both made it clear they don't like each other, which puts me in the middle. The person I've always talked to when I have issues like this is Billy.

But he's clearly not a person I can talk to about this.

3:15 p.m.

I don't need to talk to Billy. The people I need to talk to are Sophie and Brynn. I just need to figure out what I want to say. They're two of my best friends and they can't not like each other. It's ridiculous. We're in high school now.

It's time they start acting like it.

I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.

—Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday, October 15, 6:30 p.m.

Talked to Sophie

Tonight, when I got home from dance, I called Sophie and told her there's something I wanted to talk to her about.

“I'm glad you called,” she said. “There's something I want to talk to you about too.

“You first,” I said. I thought maybe we were going to talk about the same thing, but I wasn't expecting to hear what Sophie said.

“I was supposed to go to New York for Thanksgiving to see my dad,” said Sophie. “But he called today and told me he's not coming in until Christmas.”

Sophie almost never talks about her parents' situation, and when she does she makes it seem like it's no big deal, so I was a little unsure of how to respond. “That's too bad,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Sophie. I waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't.

“You're upset, aren't you?”

“Kind of,” said Sophie. “I haven't seen my dad since we moved here.” She paused. “I'm going to call him back. I know I can get him to change his mind.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” I've only met Sophie's dad once when he was here for Gaga and Willy's wedding. I had no idea if Sophie could get him to change his mind, but it couldn't hurt to try.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” asked Sophie.

I hesitated. What I was going to say seemed trivial in comparison to what she'd said.

“Just say it,” said Sophie, like she understood my hesitation.

I cleared my throat. “I wanted to talk to you about Brynn. She and I have been best friends since kindergarten. I know she can be …” I paused. I decided to use Sophie's word. “I know she can be difficult. She's just jealous of you. I really hope we can all be friends.”

“Consider it done,” said Sophie.

I hate to be the pessimist here, but I consider it half-done.

Friday, October 17, 6:57 p.m.

Talked to Brynn

Finally

I'd been putting off talking to Brynn all week, because sometimes she can be so unreasonable and hard to talk to. But today when I got home from dance practice, I decided to just do it. I put Gilligan on a leash and walked to her house. “Can we talk?” I asked when she came to the door.

“We're eating dinner soon,” she said, like I only had a few minutes to state my case.

I got right to the point. “I want to talk to you about Sophie.” Brynn stiffened. A knot started to form in my stomach. “She's part of my family,” I said. “You've been my best friend since kindergarten. You're both super important to me. You can't not like each other.”

“I haven't done anything,” said Brynn, like Sophie was the one responsible for any tension that existed between them. I was speechless. Did Brynn actually think that was true?

“I don't have a problem with Sophie as long as she stays away from Billy,” said Brynn.

It was an absurd thing to say. “She doesn't like Billy. But they're on SGA together, so that means they're going to do stuff together.”

Brynn made an
hmmm
sound like she had offered to do more than her part and the rest was up to Sophie. “I have to go eat.”

“That's kind of ridiculous,” I said.

Brynn looked dumbfounded. “That I have to go eat?”

I let out a breath as Brynn closed the door. She knew exactly what I meant.

8:15 p.m.

I called Billy. He's Brynn's boyfriend, but he's been one of my best friends since third grade. Plus, he knows Brynn and I have had our troubles lately, and the truth is that he's part of the problem, at least from Brynn's perspective. He listened patiently while I told him what was going on.

“I guess I don't really understand what everyone is upset about, but … I'm sorry you're all having issues,” he said.

It was a really diplomatic response, but it didn't solve the problem. “So what do you think I should do?” I asked Billy.

“I'm honestly not sure,” he said.

Billy gets an A for honesty. An F for helpfulness.

Sunday, October 19, 5:31 p.m.

Babysitting

Mom's store opens a week from yesterday, and she and Dad are both busy and stressed. This morning, she thought he was making breakfast and he thought she was making breakfast. In the time they spent discussing it, they both could have made breakfast. And lunch.

“I'll make it,” I said.

I thought for sure one of them would say they were sorry for being ridiculous and that they'd be happy to do it. But they just thanked me for taking care of my sisters and left. I wasn't thrilled I had to babysit all day, but to be honest, it's better than having them around.

Wednesday, October 22

Study Hall

This morning I was trying to open my locker, but my lock was stuck. I kept turning the dial to put in my combination. But no matter what I did, it wouldn't open.

“Need some help with that?” a voice asked from behind me.