Chapter 9

My cell phone rang and I got up; moving away from them on the couches after seeign who it was on my caller ID. Elliott and Kirsten eyed me curiously. We were watching a movie. One we had memorized in middle school and was just watching for kicks now. But it's not so fun when you have every line carefully memorized. There's no fun anymore.

I answered slipping out of the door of Elliott's basement. "Hello?" I said.

"Hey... it's me." Michael. I smiled a little. Crossing my arms taking in his voice. "So, I was wondering, if you would care if I rescheduled the rescheduling of our hanging out as friends?"

I stopped smiling. Thinking this was it. But there was no way he could have found out I ditched him to hang out with my ex-boyfriend. He could have seen us in the diner. When I refilled Steven's coffee and he talked to me. Did we look a certain way together? I didn't know. "Oh, um," I looked around in the dark. The little yellow light bulb over my head was flickering slightly. "That's fine." My voice sounded so thin.

"And maybe," He said. "We could try something a little different." Suddenly everything went back uphill. I smiled a little again, shifting my weight from one leg to the other. "Like a date?"

"A date sounds good." I said, scuffing my shoes on the pavement under my feet.

"Cool, so," He said. He was so casual about this. "I was thinking we go a little more formal than before, but not too much; and try maybe me picking you up at the diner-"

"And me being there for you to pick up," I added smiling.

He laughed a little. "Yeah," He said, his voice was so warm. "Me actually picking you up at the diner, and going to a restaurant, but I have to warn you, it's going to be a chain restaurant, if that's okay with you."

I laughed a little. "A chain restaurant sounds good." I said. "I haven't been to one in a while."

"So it's set then," He said. "I'll pick you up at the same time as yesterday night."

I smiled. "Sounds good."

"I'll see you in school," He said. His voice was so happy sounding.

"Yeah," I said. "See you soon."

"Goodnight," He said. His voice really soft.

"You too." I said. And we hung up.

When I went inside the movie was paused and Elliott and Kirsten were beaming at me. I looked at them. "What?" I asked.

"That door's thin." Elliott said happily.

I smiled. "I have a date."

On Monday I parked where I normally did. This time Taylor was sitting in the passenger seat beside me. She's been happier around me. My mtoher too. I had a date. There was no reason not to be happy. In between Taylor and I, we were getting along well now. I was happier. My mind racing and my skin warm. We got out. "Remember," She said starting to walk away from me. Spotting her group of friends. "You have to go to homework club. I need a ride home."

"I will." I said waving. "See you." Taylor was staying after for this club she got into last year. She couldn't get a ride so I offered her one. Even tohugh it meant me staying after. I didn't mind. I didn't have to work today anyway. They had Lynn going in to work some extra hours.

I wlaked up to the school. I saw Michael talking to one of his friends and I felt happy. He saw me and as I walked closer his friend said goodbye. He had this msile on too. We were both happy. He wlaked towards me. "Hello," He said smiling.

"Hi," I said smiling back.

"I have to say I'm getting excited for our date." He said. "I can't wait to bring oyu to a chain restaurant. You don't seem to be the kind of person who goes to them a lot. So it'll be easier to impress you."

I laughed. "I know," I said. "Last time I went to one was when I was ten."

"Really?" He asked raising his eyebrows. "Are you joking?"

"My parent's own a diner." I said. "Saying the name of a chain restaurant is like swearing." It was true. The only reason I went was because of Elliott's tenth birthday party. It was amazing. I didn't know any of the waiters or waitresses and the food tasted like chain restaruant food should. I've only been to a chain restaurant five times in my life. I never needed to. I had the diner.

He laughed. The bell rang. "Ah-man." He said. He pointed at me. "I hope I see you around. What lunch do you have?"

"First," I said.

"Lucky," He said shaking his head. "I have last."

I smiled. "I'll see you around." I started walking.

"Hey," He said catchign me again. "Are you going to be hanging around after school?"

I paused. "No, I have to stay after." I said. "But you can call me later."

"Cool," He said smiling. "I will. Well, see you around hopefully."

I smiled. "You too." I turned bumping into someone.

"Sorry," They said quickly. Of all people. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt today. I remembered it. He wore it on our One-year. He looked at me too. We both hesitated picking ourselves up. We kept walking. Stuck next to each other. His shoulder pressed into me when we got near the doors. I felt shapr pains in my chest. He smelled like he always did. This time he smelled less like cigarettes. More like the smell his skin gave off when he didn't smoke at all. It was intoxicating and I thought about how I missed that smell. But I forced that thought out too slow. It crossed my mind.

It still hurt. But we were "friends." It wasn't supposed to. We were supposed to try. I didn't know trying would take so much. I sighed and we moved apart. He walked quickly away from me. The same distressed way he walked when we fought and he didn't feel himself. When he was vulnerable.

It was good to know he wasn't having an easy time with this either.

In homework club did all of my homework i nthe first hour. Quickly too. Looking around at all the kids getting tutored and math getting explained. I got up to go get a book to start reading. I still had another half hour.

I went through three isles looking at books. A pair of hands hit my in the hips were I was ticklish I jumped. Turning sharply. He was there laughing.

"Steven!" It was the librarian.

"Sorry Mrs. Valentine," He said turning to the librarian. She smiled and shook her head. There was nobody expect for the assistant principle who had the ability to hate Steven Green. You can't no matter what.

I started walking past him. He stuck his hand out catching me. "I'm sorry, okay?" He whispered. "I couldn't resist."

It hurt having him touching me. My chest ached. I stepped back crossing my arms. "That was unnecessary." I said.

"You're so antsy right now," He said laughing softly. His voice still a whisper. "Is it that big date you're so nervous about?"

"Who told you about that?" I hissed at him. My voice a whisper suddenly.

He looked at me like I was dumb. "Taylor told me yesterday." He said. "I miss the old diner." I shook my head turning back to the shelf. There was a tug in my chest. Remembering a couple times when we've been here. In the stacks, his hands would slide around my waist and he'd kiss my neck.

I was thankful for the few feet in between us. "So you like this guy?" He asked still in a whisper. He leaned onto his arm on the shelf looking at my face. I was getting annoyed.

I turned sharply. "Yes," I spit at him. My voice still a whisper. He face was so close to mine.

He nodded. And I went back to the shelf. He reached out and pulled out a book so it stuck out. He leaned into my ear. "I'm in love with this book." He said. "I just can't bring myself to read it ever again."

And he walked away. I looked at him. My eyes following his bright hair. His bright green shirt. There was a sharp pain in my chest. I followed him his footsteps grew bouncier as he went on. He waved and said hello to Mrs. Valentine at her desk. He looked over at me suddenly still talking to her. She did too. I forced my face down.

The book remained sticking out. I picked it up. Looking at the cover. "Dogrun" by Arther Nersesian. When I looked back over in his direction he was gone.