Access Denied (and other eighth grade error messages) (33 page)

THE THEATER WAS ABOUT HALF-FULL when we got there. We picked a row in the middle and settled in with our snacks—Rosie, me,
Mark, Steve, Carla, and Tyler. Mark passed a huge tub of popcorn back and forth and then the previews came on. I settled back
to watch. A few seconds into the third trailer, Rosie tapped my arm.

“Ex. Two rows back.” She jerked her head over her shoulder.

I looked. Kara sat with two of her friends, laughing as she watched the previews. I raised my eyebrows at Rosie. Since when
was she the relationship drama police?

She shrugged. “Just thought you should know.”

I sighed. They were totally going to think I was on a date with Mark, even with our big group. Maybe I should try to switch
seats with Rosie. But that might call attention to us. Better to play it cool, I thought, as I sank low in my seat.

“What are you doing?” Mark asked.

“Just trying to get comfortable.” I scooted my butt back and forth to prove my point.

During the movie, my elbow sometimes touched Mark’s as one of us reached for the Coke we were sharing, but I got away quickly
and all was well.

I started imagining touching elbows with Jeff Massey, or feeling that hard bicep pressed against my arm. He’d smile over at
me in the dark, lean in, and kiss me. He might drop his arm around my shoulders like he did at the game. Or maybe he’d reach
out and take my hand in his, squeezing gently, neither of us sweating because we were so comfortable with each other.

My hand.

Someone was touching it.

No, someone was
holding
it.

I glanced down. Mark’s hand covered mine. It couldn’t be an accident because my hand was on my knee, nowhere near the Coke
cup. He squeezed my hand and held on. I glanced at Rosie, but she was into the movie.

Mark Sacks was holding my hand. How many nights last year did I imagine a scene just like this one? And now it was here and
all I could do was feel uncomfortable and wish it was Jeff’s hand. I didn’t want to hurt Mark’s feelings but I didn’t want
to hold his hand either. I decided to tie my shoe, even though it didn’t need tying. I pulled my hand out from under his and
leaned down. When I sat up, Mark had settled back, his elbows on the armrests.

I scootched my elbow behind his. “No hogging the armrest,” I whispered into his ear.

He turned so his face was millimeters from mine. “Okay.” His soft buttery popcorn breath warmed my nose. Oh, no. He was going
to kiss me. Mark Sacks was going to kiss me and half the school would see and why wasn’t he Jeff Massey?

I leaned down for a sip of Coke and his lips brushed the side of my head. He let out an impatient sigh and sat back hard in
his seat.

We watched the rest of the movie without any whispers and I could tell Mark was trying not to touch me. He even stopped drinking
the Coke, just sat with his arms over his chest.

When the movie was over, we all went to the bathroom, then waited in the lobby for Tyler to get a popcorn refill “for the
road.”

Rosie shook her head. “Where does he put it all?”

“Bottomless pit,” I said, smiling as I tried to catch Mark’s eye. But he was busy talking to Carla, who seemed completely
enthralled with him, even though Steve was at her elbow, staring at her. Then Carla said, “Uh oh,” and we all turned to look.

Kara and her friends stood in the lobby, watching us. Kara flipped her hair over her shoulder and strode toward the main doors,
her friends hurrying to keep up.

“You need a ride?” Mark asked Carla.

“My mom could take you,” Steve chimed in.

“Um, no, I’m okay.” Carla seemed flustered by all the attention. Her eyes flicked to me before she dropped them to the ground.

“Okay,” Mark said. “See ya.” And he left the theater.

Tyler stepped up then, tossing back a handful of popcorn. “So, did I miss anything?”

All three of us looked at him.

“Okaaayy,” he said slowly. “I think I’ll wait outside with Sacks.”

When I got home I hopped on the Internet. My Buddy List showed Mark online.

Webqueen429:
Sacks, you there?

The cursor blinked at me accusingly.

I watched his status. A second later, it changed from
Online
to
Away.

Sighing, I closed the program and went up to my room.