I followed her up the stairs. I knew this could be a bad idea. And Riley was going to get all upset about this, and it's going to lead to conversions I didn't want to have.

But she likes me.

I knew I wasn't gotta sleep with her but...well I had no plan. I don't really ever have a plan. But I am tired of people telling me that I have to figure everything out in time.

I want to figure it out now.

I walked into the bedroom. It was mostly genetic teen girl stuff. However, there were framed photographs on the wall. Two of the pictures were landscapes of New York. Below were two pictures that appeared to be close-ups of flowers.

Chai stood at her doorway with the door halfway closed.

I really hope I haven't misread this.

She closes the door. Good sign.

We both shifted around trying to figure out what the next step was.

"I like those photos." I nervously said, trying to find something to talk about.

"Thanks. They are actually my photos. I took them." She pointed to the flowers, "Lately I've been inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe."

"Wow, you're a photographer. I like art…I draw."

"That's cool." She said, coming closer.

This was too frustrating.

"Do you want to kiss me?" I impatiently said.

"Yea. " She nodded, "Do you want to kiss me?"

I put my face up close to hers. Then...we put our lips together. The first kiss was short but then we were kissing. Every hair on my arm was standing up. Every nerve was shaking...

Then the door opened.

"Oh," Missy gasped, "I'm sorry."

I pulled away from her.

"Missy," I gulped, "We…"

"That's okay." She nodded, "I've...made out with boys in her room."

Missy smirked and stepped out, closing the door again.

Chai leaned back into me. I stepped back.

"That was great." I said, "But I need to go."

Chai looked at me confused but she nodded.

I grabbed my stuff and looked at the pictures one last time before I ran downstairs.

%%%%%

I had to tell Riley, right at that very second. I climbed the fire escape, not caring if Riley was still mad at me. But when I got up to Riley's window, I wished I could've ripped my eyes out.

Riley and Lucas were kissing.

Not like a little peck. Full-on making out.

I climbed down and ran to the park.

%%%%

I sat in front of the statues. Things had become clearer yet so muddy at the same time. I had texted Shawn. He and Mr. Minikus were at a Halloween party, but we were going to talk later. While I had my phone out, I texted Mr. Matthews.

Hey Matthews, can you look up a name for me?

I forced myself not to tell him about Lucas kissing Riley, in his very own home.

"Maya? Maya Hart?" A voice called.

I turned around.

"Mrs. Thompson?"

Mrs. Thompson stood in the park with a dog, carrying a pumpkin pale. She walked the dog over to me. He jumped up on my lap and I rubbed his head.

"He wanted to go for a walk." Mrs. Thompson said sitting down next to me, "So I thought I'd pass out candy. You want some?"

I took a piece of candy. I actually had not had any candy.

"So, what are you doing here by yourself?"

This was awkward. I looked over at the statues.

She took a breath, "Girl trouble?"

I was shaking. I looked up at her. She had the most confirming smile on her face.

"Do you...ever have girl trouble?"

"I do." She said, "Twenty-five years later and she is still a handful."

"25 years? With one person "

"Yea, married for eight."

"How did you know?" I asked, "How did you know when you met...her that you would spend 25 years together."

"I didn't." She chuckled, "I've had many relationships fail. The first time I was married, I did it all wrong. But one day in 1995 I was taking the subway home and this strange woman came up to me to say hi. She talked up a storm. I thought she was a bit crazy. But she asked me to lunch. Then to dinner. Then we talked every day. Then every night. Next thing you know, it's been 25 years. See there are no guarantees but if I had walked away from a stranger in 1995. I wouldn't have the love of my life."

I was touched by her story.

"What do you do if it doesn't work out?" I asked petting the dog behind his ears.

"Then you'll cry for a couple of weeks." A male voice said, "But you'll live."

Shawn walked up in a powdered wig, dressed as one of the dead guys Mr. Matthews talks about.

I pointed and laughed. He smiled and sat on the other side of me.

"I'm John Adams." He said before putting out his hand to Mrs. Thompson, "I'm Shawn. "

"I'm Geraldine." She said, shaking his hand.

"So who are we talking about?" Shawn asked me, "Purse girl or the chick that doesn't like Riley?"

I huffed. That was a good question.

%%%%

At school on Monday, I knew what I had to do. First, I had to ignore Riley and Lucas who were too attached by the lips to notice me. Though I did see when Mr. Matthews approached the hallway, they jumped two feet apart from each other. I guess he didn't know. Farkle and Smackle, as always, we're more focused on their books than on PDA. However, they were both still wearing their "cool" clothes.

I couldn't ask them right now, I had a mission. I stood outside her science class, waiting for my dream girl. I knew her when I saw her. Because there was that glow around her that I used to see on Riley.

I held up the black purse.

"Hi, Brenda." I nervously said.

And Chai stared at me. Panicked.

%%%%%%%%

Chai and I skipped science class. We sat on a bench in the hallway.

"I didn't mean to steal your purse," I said, sliding the purse to her. "I just found it and…"

"It's okay." Chai nodded, "You may be a thief, but I'm a big fat liar."

"Why did you tell me your name was Chai?"

"I wanted to new identity." She said, "A cool, hipster, photographer who goes to museums and drinks lattes, so Chai. I didn't want to be…" She shifted, looking down, "I didn't want to be Back of the room Brenda anymore."

"Back of the room Brenda?" I whispered to myself.

The name rang a bell, but it took a while to remember the face. That quiet girl with glasses and braces, who sat in the back of Mr. Matthews's classroom.

I look up at her. Her eyes still staring at the floor.

"I sat behind you guys, every day in middle school, and you never talked to me. Nobody did." She said, "When I got my braces off, I begged my parents for contacts and a new wardrobe. And it worked. Riley came up to me, looked straight at me, and didn't know who I was."

"Neither did I," I said. I turned my head to meet her eyes, "I should have. I'm sorry." I put my hand to her knee, "But I'll never forget you again. You're my Minkus."

She looked over and whispered, "What's a Minkus?"

I laughed. Then I leaned over. Then I kissed her again. She put her hand on my cheek and opened her mouth.

Wow.

You know that part in romantic movies when the couple kisses and the camera spins around. Until today, I thought that unrealistic. But that's exactly how it felt. I couldn't help to get lost in it.

I didn't notice that the bell had rung and that people were coming into the hallway. Until I heard one voice yell.

"Maya?"

I turn to see Riley holding her books, with this look on her face. She was disgusted.

Yes! Chai is Brenda who is the purse girl!

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