Gilbert and Louis Rule the Universe: First Impressions (5 page)

Last spring, before school let out, I was sitting at our dining room table working on my homework.
Well really, I was staring out the window watching the clouds, when I see this guy walk by.
He had on a tight white t-shirt, jeans, flip-flops
,
and a Bermuda fishing cap.
I know, the hat would have looked ridiculous on anyone else, but on him it looked amazing.
I barely got a good look at his face, but from what I could tell, he was beautiful.
I didn’t know who he was, where he was coming from, or where he was going.
I even tried to make a sketch of him that night just so I could keep an image in my head.
I know, I’m so lame, but my art skills did not do him any justice so I threw it away.
Then, about a month ago, when I was driving with my mom I saw him again.
My heart fluttered in my chest as we passed.
We came at him from behind so I still didn’t get a good look even though I had craned my head around in a totally obvious attempt to catch a peek.
But now after the dance, even though he didn’t know I had been crushing on him, I am devastated.
No, it is more than that, I am pissed.

“Yeah, totally a jerk,” Gilbert agrees.

Gilbert and I arrive at dance class.
We had been taking class here since the third grade and had finally made our way into Level Three.
Well actually, they just keep promoting you as you get older.
Level Threes get to put on performances for family and friends.
The next level is more competitive.
Level Four is when you go on tour and perform on stage for schools and old folks’ homes and places like that.
I can’t wait to be a Level Four.

When we get into class we take off our shorts and shirts that we’re wearing over our tights and leotards.
Other girls from school are there, too.
Fab
Fivers Chloe and Hannah also take the dance class.
Chloe always stands front and center, right behind the teacher.
I always stand in the front row but all the way over to the side.
Gilbert and Hannah stand in the back because they are so tall. We get to our places as the teacher breezes in.
“Alright, ladies, we have a lot to get to today.” She claps as she begins the warm up.
Gilbert floats around jazz class that day.
The teacher even comments that she is dancing beautifully.
I, on the other hand, am like a rock.
I can barely get my feet
off the ground during the
jetes
.

*   *  
*

We walk back to my house after class.
We are deep in conversation about the qualities of a good cell phone when we see Jason, Dylan, and Ralph out in front of the Baileys' old residence.
We slow our pace.
My heart starts pounding in my chest.
I can tell from the flush on Gilbert’s cheeks that she feels the same way.
The boys catch sight of us.
We move towards them, although I don’t remember how.
I don’t know why my stomach is turning somersaults like I had just downed a cup of whole milk. I mean, I hate the guy.

“Hey,” Jason says. Jason is tall and has brown hair with blond tips, cute but not crushable.
We love that even though he is older he is always cool to us.

“Hey,” we answer in unison.

“This is Ralph.” Jason introduces us. “Ralph, this is Leah and Alex.”

“What’s up?” he says without smiling.

“Not much,” I answer.
Gilbert and Dylan quietly say hi to one another.
They look awkward.

“What are you guys up to?”
I ask.

Jason answers, “We are just checking out Ralph’s new place.”

“Do you like it?”
I ask Ralph.
“I used to hang out with the kid who lived here.”

“Yeah, it’s cool, I guess.
My room’s okay.”

“Which one is it?
The one in the back with the big window?”

“Yeah, that’s it.
It’s pretty good.
But I won’t be here long.
I go back to boarding school on Monday.”

“Where do you go?”

“
Havenhurst
.”

“Isn’t that for bad kids?” As soon as I say it, I realized the mistake I made. I didn't mean to offend they guy, but I had heard about the brother of a girl in my class who got sent there after being expelled from Piermont High because he placed a firecracker in a school trash can.
I knew it was a place for
what our principal would call “troubled youth.”
All the boys look at me.

“I guess so,” Ralph cracks a smile.

“We saw you at the dance the other night,” Gilbert tries to save me.

“Yeah, it was pretty lame,” Ralph snorts.

See, I knew this guy was a jerk.

“Yeah, totally lame.”
Gilbert and I pretend to agree with him even though it had been the most important social event all year.

“How do you guys know each other?” I ask the guys.

“Ralph and I went to camp together when we were kids.” Jason says.

“So are you in eighth grade?” I ask Ralph.

“Yeah, aren’t you guys?”

“No we are in seventh.”
Gilbert says and we both blush.

“Oh.” Ralph says in
kinda
a snotty way.
I am slightly
mortified
and whenever I get nervous I just keep talking, so I ask, “Where did you live before?”

“Over in Oakwood.
My parents just moved here so my sister could be in a better school system.
This town totally sucks.
What do you guys even do here?”

Now, I can appreciate that Piermont is pretty lame.
I mean, the most exciting thing that happens here is the high school football team makes the playoffs or some kids TP a house.
But, well, only people who have lived here for at least a year are allowed to make fun of it.
It is like making religious jokes, you can only make them about your own.

“I don’t know.
Stuff.”

“Stuff?
Awesome.”
Ralph laughs.

We stand around awkwardly, out of things to say.

“Well, we better get home.
See you guys Monday,” I say to Jason and Dylan.
“Nice to meet you,” I say to Ralph.
Gilbert and I turn and walk back to my house as Ralph answers, “Nice to meet you, too.”

Chapter 5

Sunday, November 8

Today’s horoscope: Don’t lose focus.
Grab onto opportunities that come your way!

I send a text message to Gilbert:
Be there in 5.

My mom is dropping me off on Lakeshore Avenue to meet Gilbert and go shopping.
I have been holding onto a gift certificate to Hollister that I got for my birthday and I want to check out their new jeans.
Gilbert was already down there.
Her older brother had taken her earlier because he was going to meet some friends for coffee.
Her brother is so cool.
He is in high school, listens to the best music and drives a vintage Toyota Land Cruiser.
I have a total crush.
Not that I mention any of this to Gilbert.

When I get there Gilbert is waiting on the corner for me.
Apparently there is no way her brother is going to let her join him and his friends while they sit around and talk about girls, cars, and the newest Jack White album.

“What took you so long?”
Gilbert wants to know as soon as I get out of the car.

“Sorry, my mom got back late from her Pilates session, and I couldn’t get her out the door.”

*   *  
*

“I think these make my butt look big.” Gilbert and I are in the dressing room at Hollister and these are the third pair I have tried on.
Gilbert gives my ass a once over.

“No, I think they are totally cute.”
I check my butt again.
Hmmm.
Gilbert tries on a red v-neck sweater.
It looks totally classic on her.

“Oh, Gilbert.
You have to have that. You look like Anne Hathaway.”

Gilbert admires herself in the mirror.

“Are you sure?”
Gilbert always doubts her own beauty, a trait which is both admirable and totally annoying all at the same time. I have on another pair of jeans and these, well, they make me look hot.

“What do you think?”

Gilbert looks.
“Wow, you look hot.”

We walk out of the store with bags in tow, and head over to The Bean to get a vanilla blended.
I half hope that
Gilb’s
brother will ask us to join him, but he conveniently ignores us, so we go across the street to the public space where all the boys skateboard.
There are about five guys working on their kick-flips and grinding along the benches.
This kid, Wins
ton, who we met at Sophie
’s bat mitzvah, is there with some other guys.
The last time I saw him, he was in a suit that was too short on his tall and lanky figure and he was dancing at the after party like a total
spaz
. He has filled out a little since then and he’s suddenly hot in his jeans and surf t-shirt pulling a fai
rly decent
Ollie
.
Gilbert and I sit with our drinks and try to look cool.

Winston walks over.

“Hey, you’re Leah, right?”

I look up, do my best eyelash bat and pretend to be a little confused.

“Hey.”

“I’m Winston, we met at Sophie’s bat mitzvah.”