Why did the universe choose that day of all days to make it the slowest school day on record? By the time the bell for last period began, Teddy was a complete wreck. Thank
God for Ivy, who sat beside her.
"Girl, what is wrong with you?" Ivy asked.
"How am I supposed to pick up Gabe after school and make it to the park? What if that boy is there waiting for me and he decides to leave? I'll be crushed!"
"No problem." Ivy said. "I'll pick up Gabe and you go on to the park."
"No way! Mom and Dad would kill me if she knew that I blew off picking up Gabe from school! I'd be grounded until I'm a college graduate! And your mom would have a fit
because my mom would tell her all about it!"
"So what are you gonna do? Clone yourself?"
"I wish! I guess I'll think of something!"
Mr. Bell's lecture droned on and on, but Teddy had no idea what he was saying, nor had she taken one note. Neither had Ivy, it seemed. Teddy glanced at the clock, watching
the minutes tick by and when the bell rang, she flew out of her seat, rushing past Spencer and Ivy.
"Whoa! Where's the fire?" PJ asked when she blew past him in the hallway. "You cannot be that anxious to pick up Gabe from school!"
"Trust me; I'm not anxious about it at all!" Teddy yelled back at him.
She was seconds from heading outside when her worst nightmare occurred. Or one of them, anyway. Noticing her outfit, he grinned and looked her up and down, nodding his
head in approval.
"Emmett..."
"You look hot! What's the special occasion?"
"God, why does everything have to be a special occasion?" she yelled, trying unsuccessfully to push her way past him. "I'm just wearing a dress! People wear them every
day!"
"The teachers maybe."
"What do I have to do to get you to leave me alone?"
Emmett grinned. "Go out with me."
"Ha! Not on your life. Now move it!" She said, forcing her way to the door. But she didn't have to look back to know that he was still watching her, hoping for a date with her
that would never happen.
Teddy's car came to a screeching halt in front of the elementary school. She honked the horn repeatedly, ignoring the glares of the parents who were waiting for their kids in
the driveway.
As soon as her eyes locked with Gabe's he cringed and made his way to the car. Teddy's heart was pounding. She'd never been so anxious to get away from a place in her life.
Reluctantly she lowered the passenger window and glared at her brother.
"Come on, get in!" she yelled.
"What's the big rush?"
"Just get in! I don't have all day!"
Obediently, Gabe climbed into the car and tossed his backpack onto the back seat. He'd barely closed the door when the car sped off, jerking him back against the passenger
seat.
"Whoa! Where's the fire? Why are you driving so fast? This is dangerous!"
"Then put your seat belt on! It's the law, anyway!"
"Thanks for the information. Now do you want to tell me why you're driving like Speed Racer?"
"How do you even know who Speed Racer is?"
"I saw it on one of those retro stations that Dad's always watching."
"Ah… well, to answer your question, I figured that you probably don't want to be seen with me any longer than absolutely necessary, so I'm getting you home as quickly as
possible." Teddy smiled at her quickly formed response.
"That's very kind of you, but… Whoa!" Gabe gasped as Teddy swerved to avoid hitting an SUV that was stopped at the intersection.
"Um, that was a stop sign you know. Just thought I'd point that out in case... Oh, I don't know... a cop is around?"
"Thanks, Gabe. I appreciate it!" Teddy said, turning the corner so sharply that Gabe's fingers dug into the dashboard.
"You know, if Mom and Dad knew how badly you drive, they'd take your car away so fast it'd make your head spin! And the only reason they'd give it back is for you to come
visit them in the nursing home!"
Gabe laughed hysterically at his own joke. "Get it? They'd be in the nursing home because that's how long you'd be without your car?"
"Hilarious. Now get out!"
Gabe looked around in confusion.
"What, here?"
"Mom and Dad said to pick you up from school and take you home. That's it! So now you're home!"
"Um... maybe you need to drive to a doctor. Because this isn't our house."
"What are you talking about? Of course this is our house!"
"Actually, it's not even our street!" Gabe pointed out.
Teddy blinked, realizing she'd stopped in front of Mrs. Dabney's sister's house. Which sister, she had no idea, considering that the four of them looked exactly alike.
How weird was that?
"Oh..."
"Well, aren't you going to do something about it? Like... Oh, I don't know... take me to OUR house?"
"What?"
Gabe sighed and grabbed his backpack before climbing out of the car. "Never mind. I'll walk. And just so you know, I won't tell Mom and Dad about any of this."
Gabe walked off and then turned around. "But I must tell you, that my keeping my mouth shut comes with a price. Just sayin'."
"Thanks." Teddy said, staring into the distance. "Have a good time."
Without even looking back, Teddy took off down the street, anxious to get to where she was going.
Her heart beat faster as she neared the familiar park. She pulled into a parking space and turned off the ignition.
One last glance in the tiny rear view mirror and she got out of the car, her heart pounding as she neared the spot where she'd run into the boy.
There was no one in sight and her smile disappeared. Maybe she dreamed the whole thing; or wished for it. But it had to be real.
Suddenly she had the strangest urge to cry. She was about to turn around and leave, when she heard a familiar voice:
"Juliet?"