Chapter 10: Invitation

Lizzie. Lizzie Lizzie Lizzie. Liiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiiie.

I loved it.

I had to endure the merciless torrent of, "I told you so" from Melanie, but that was to be expected. She'd made the name in the first place, it was only right she take credit for it. My decision was hardly important compared to the fact that she'd came up with the idea. I let her have her pride, perfectly content with her taking the attention off of me.

Well, not everyone's attention.

Keeper was constantly watching me whenever we were in the same room. I noticed that he spent a lot more time in the library, offering to help me organize the books. Doc told me he'd stop by his office at least once a day, never saying what he was there for, but seeming disappointed when he left. And he insisted on holding hands when we went to the glowworm wall, only letting go once he'd walked me back to my room.

"You're both so clueless," Lacey remarked one night. "It's borderline disgusting."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?"

I shook my head. "No."

"You're not kidding, are you?" She snorted. "Wow. And you're supposed to be an advanced species, right?"

"Lacey." Candy was across the room, making her bed. "Would you leave her alone?"

"What's she talking about?" I asked. "She's not making any sense."

"Jesus, you're so -"

"Lacey." Candy cut her off sharply. "She was saying that Keeper's been showing interest in you, is all."

"Keeper? Well, of course he is. We're friends, after all."

Lacey groaned, and Candy gave her a look before continuing. "He may have a crush on you."

"I don't understand." What did she mean, he had a "crush" on me? "Is he planning to hurt me?"

"No, you idiot!" Lacey said. "It means he likes you!"

"But we're friends, so it wouldn't make sense if he didn't."

"I swear to God…" Lacey sighed, a false smile on her face. "It means he likes you more than a friend. He wants to be your…what's the word you use…partner."

My eyes widened. "He…he wants to be my partner?"

"No, not necessarily." Candy walked over, sitting next to me. "It just means he's interested in you. He sees you as…more important than your other friends. You're special to him."

"Me?"

"Who the hell else?" Lacey snapped. "You two spend so much time together, it couldn't be anyone else!"

I sat for a moment, trying to comprehend what they'd told me. Keeper liked me as more than a friend? He wanted to be my partner, my…my mate? Images of Jared and Melanie together, Ian and Wanda, even Kyle and Sunny, flashed across my mind, and it all came together in one tremendous, terrifying realization.

"Keeper likes me," I said, my voice small.

"What's wrong?" Candy asked. "Do you not like him that way?"

"I…I…"

"Of course she doesn't. She doesn't like anyone." Lacey rolled her eyes. "Candy, for someone as intelligent as you, sometimes you can be very unobservant."

"And you can really be a pain." Candy glared at her. "Can't you find something else to do?"

Lacey folded her arms. "I was just on my way out to grab a new ice pack," she muttered, stalking to the door. "Have fun educating the worm on love."

I was still frozen in shock, unable to think of anything else. Candy turned to me. "Are you alright?"

I opened my mouth, unable to form any words.

"Do you like Keeper like that?"

"I…I'm not sure…" I blinked a few times. "I've never really thought about it."

"You don't have to know right this second, I was just curious." She put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Just take a deep breath and calm down, okay?"

"How can I be calm? I see him every day, Candy. I'm going to be constantly wondering about him, about how I really feel. I don't want to have to think about it."

"You can always stay in tonight."

"I don't want to do that. I…I like sitting with him." I felt my face grow warm. "It wouldn't feel…right…if I told him I couldn't."

"Only go if you want to. It's not good to worry yourself over something like this."

"I'll think about it, then."


I met him at our usual time, and found myself sitting next to him shortly afterward.

Things felt oddly tense tonight, but maybe that was because of what I'd discovered earlier that day. Keeper didn't seem bothered at all. He was holding my hand, watching the wall ahead of us, quiet as he always was. I envied him for being so calm.

His hair was a bit messier than it usually was, and for some reason that bothered me. I reached my free hand out, smoothing down a rather large cowlick near the front of his head.

"Lizzie?"

I didn't answer him, continuing to play with his hair.

"Lizzie?…Runs as the Lizard?"

I stopped, my fingers tangled between his dark brown locks. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Your hair was…um…" Suddenly I realized how uncomfortable the situation really was. I yanked my hand away. "Sorry."

"It's fine." He brought a hand to his head, finishing smoothing the strand I'd been working at. "Not used to your nickname yet, though?"

"I'm getting there. It's only been a few days."

"Do you want me to say it a few more times, then? To make sure you're used to it."

"You don't have to -"

"Lizzie. Lizzie." He started to giggle. "Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiizzie. Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzie."

"You sound like an insect!" I laughed.

"Lizzie the Lizard. Lizzie the running lizard." He was shaking with laughter. "Lizzie the lovely running lizard."

"Keeper, come on." I shook my head, shoving him lightly. "Stop teasing me! I got it."

"You sure, Lizzie?"

"Yes, you've said it enough times now that I won't forget." I leaned forward, pecking him on the cheek. "Thanks."

It took me a split second to realize what I'd done, and I immediately wished I'd thought before kissing him. I waited for his reaction; his cheeks went red, and his hold on my hand tightened slightly. His mouth pulled up at the corners, but he said nothing for the rest of the evening, and neither did I.

He finally broke the silence when we arrived at the door to my room.

"I'm not sure if you heard anything about it, but once every month or so everyone gathers in the main cave for a late-night bonfire. There's hot dogs and s'mores and we pull out the cordless CD player and dance and…um…it's a lot of fun."

"Sounds like it would be." Even though he'd said everyone went, I was sure it was exclusive, probably something Melanie and her close friends had. I wasn't sure why he was bringing it up if that were the case.

"Well…it's not required to do so, but…I've been talking with…with Ian, and I…" He swallowed audibly, his face bright red again. "I was wondering if…if maybe you'd…um…" He looked at his shoes, sighing. "I was wondering if you'd want to go with me."

"Why would I need to go with you? Wouldn't I already being going if you invited me?"

"Yes, but…it's different. See, I'm asking you…on a date."

"A date?" The word was foreign, and I said it a few times in my head. "A date."

"Humans do it -"

"I gathered that much."

"Well, it happens when they…er…I can't really remember how Ian explained it. But it's usually with two people, who…who like each other."

"Oh." A nervous thrill went through me at that. Somehow I knew that a "date" was something that friends didn't typically do.

"Do you…do you want to, then?"

I was silent for a moment. I still wasn't sure about how I really felt about him, but a little part of me was urging me to accept. Maybe going on this date would make him realize we were better off as just friends, and not partners. "I'd love to."

The biggest smile I ever saw appeared on his face, and he stepped forward, bringing me into his arms and spinning around. When he set me down, he placed both hands on either side of my face and pressed his lips to my forehead for the longest time, finally breaking away and averting his eyes. "Great. It's next Saturday. I'll be by at six to get you."

"Sounds good."

"I'll…I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, Lizzie."

"Good night, Keeper."

I went to bed that night wide awake, my forehead warm and tingling from where he'd kissed me.