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Sunday January 3, 1999
One
"And...one, two, three, four. One, two, three, four," Mrs. Peterson barks at the class. You should hear the music she has playing, I swear to God it's an accordion or something. She actually has it playing on a record player. I mean, a record player? My parents brag about what a rich school they're sending me to and yet here I am, diligently typing away in grade nine typing class to the retro stylings of a record player. I guess I should be thankful it's not an eight track or something.
Mrs. Peterson is short and fat. Well, I guess in some circles she'd be known as 'pleasantly plump' or at least big boned, but to all us grade nines she's just fat. With really bad coffee breath. We've nicknamed her The Beached Whale. Teenagers can be so cruel...
"Don't look at the keys, two, three, four," she continues. Mrs. Peterson takes her job way too seriously, and someone should just remind her that she teaches grade nine typing and not quantum physics or something. She actually went around to all the typewriters in the class and painted all the keys black so we can't actually see what letters we're pressing. She says this will force us to learn faster and we won't end up looking at the keys when we type but I'm not so sure. I think she just had lots of black paint sitting around her house and nothing to do with it. You know how adults are, 'waste not, want not' and all that shit.
She snaps her fingers at Joey, who sits in the front row where she can 'keep an eye on him'. He hates typing class, and spends most of the period trying to pick off the black paint, which he says is no easy task. It's like she shellacked it on there or something.
AJ kicks my chair from behind, "Look," he hisses, "She's raising her fin!"
Everyone around us cracks up, making Mrs. Peterson drift to the back of the class to see what we're up to. She doesn't stay long though, mostly because I'm a good student and always get my work done, even if I tend to chat a lot. She leans over AJ's shoulder, "One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four." She says it like he has no concept of rhythm and can't count to four.
Joey looks back at us and giggles uncontrollably at the site of AJ's face. I can sympathize for AJ too. I can smell Mrs. Peterson's coffee breath from here.
"Good work, Summer," she praises me, as usual. I cringe at her approval because I know that if AJ and I weren't best friends he'd make fun of me for being a teacher's pet or something.
He doesn't let it go after all, because as soon as Mrs. Peterson's out of hearing range he chirps, "Good work, Summer!" and cracks up laughing, "God, you're such a brown-noser!"
"And you're such a superficial space-cadet." I reply, flippantly quoting from one of my favourite movies.
He joins in the game and scoffs, "As if!"
"Quiet at the back!" Mrs. Peterson barks. She starts handing out papers, "Here's your assignment. It must be completed before the class ends."
Joey turns and peers at AJ and I, trying to hear what we're saying. I have the biggest crush on Joey. He's not tall or extremely muscular like most of the guys I know, but he plays basketball and runs track and his smile is crooked with dimples, which makes him special enough, I guess. At first I thought it was just a passing thing, like last month I decided I liked Murray Krakow because he winked at me in the cafeteria. Turns out he winked at Michelle Cook and she actually had the guts to ask him out and now they go together. I wasn't really that crushed, like my good friend Denise thought I would be. Murray Krakow kind of has a lisp anyway.
Anyway, this thing for Joey has lasted nearly four weeks, which is pretty much a mile stone for me. I'm still pretty much waiting to find something wrong with him, and knowing myself like I do, it shouldn't take that much longer. I can be real fickle when I want to.
There have been rumors around school that Joey kind of has a thing for me but so far nothing has happened. We're like the four musketeers, Joey, AJ, Denise and me. I met AJ the summer before school started when he moved across the road from me and he knew Joey from his old public school. Although AJ knows all about my crush on Joey, we don't spend a lot of time talking about it. I guess it makes him uncomfortable or something. At one point during the summer Denise thought she might like AJ, but AJ thinks she's too loud and 'overbearing' so she stopped liking him immediately. Now she goes with this guy Chip who goes to Kennedy High, downtown.
AJ used to like this girl Chloe Stephenson who sits across the aisle from me in typing class. Chloe's cool and all but not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer if you know what I mean. And if it's possible for a ninth grader to have implants then she does. For sure. Apparently last year she was barely into a training bra and now she's a C cup. As if shit like that ever happens overnight.
Anyway, it turns out Chloe has a thing for older guys, or probably more accurately, older guys have a thing for her so now she goes on and off with Steve Mitchell who's in twelfth grade. I keep telling myself it's 'cause of the implants or all that long blond hair of hers but in reality I'm pretty jealous. I would love to go out with a twelfth grader, even just for a little while.
The typing assignment is a dumb one, some stupid letter to some made up corporation. I'll bet Mrs. Peterson made this all up by herself, after she blacked out all the keys on the typewriters, crazy bitch.
Joey, with typing assignment in hand, makes his way to the back of the room to where AJ and I are sitting, "What kind of margins do we put on this?" he asks me.
He's smiling a little, so the dimples are only partially visible.
"3 centimeters on each side." I tell him, and am glad to be the teacher's pet for once. Otherwise I wouldn't have known what margins to tell him, "And start an inch from the top."
"Cool." He saunters back to his desk.
AJ kicks my chair hard enough to make me bump my knees.
"Ow," I say, annoyed, "What?"
"So what's going on with you and Joey?" he whispers to me.
"Nothing. Why?" I hold my breath, hoping he'll divulge some information about what Joey feels.
"He hasn't asked you out yet?" he asks, like he can't believe it or something.
"Is he supposed to?" I try not to sound overly eager but I am. I've never had a boyfriend. Haven't even been kissed, unless you count Spin the Bottle in grade seven, which no one does, "I didn't think he liked me in that way."
AJ scoffs. "Don't be retarded," he says, "Do you think he honestly came all the way back here just to ask you about margins?"
I turn back around. AJ is absolutely right. Joey easily could have asked Samantha Werritt who sits right next to him and is just as smart as me. But he came all the way to the back of the class. Just to see me. My sister, who is a freshman in university makes this joke whenever something good happens to me. She says the grade nine gods are smiling down on me. I always scoff and tell her to shut up but sometimes, especially at moments like these, I think she's right.
Suddenly, bells are ringing. Stupid, retarded fire alarms. Normally I would be thankful to get out of class but not today. The mass confusion and exultation of getting out of class means that my conversation with AJ about Joey is over, probably never to be continued again. Like I said, AJ doesn't talk about it.
Once outside I immediately head for the smoking section 'cause that's where Denise will be. She just started smoking last year but you'd think she was a veteran the way she goes through them. I don't smoke at all, hiding behind the excuse that I wouldn't be able to play basketball if I did. In reality the smoke makes me sick to my stomach.
When I find her, I pull her away from the crowd, "Guess what AJ told me in typing class?"
"Ah, typing class," Denise says, wistfully. She's a year older than me, so anytime I mention any of the classes I'm taking this semester she always gets nostalgic, like grade nine was eons ago, when in reality it was just last year and she was dangerously close to having to repeat it all.
"Yeah, so he said that Joey's supposed to ask me out!" I tell her in hushed tones.
"Cool!" She says it with just the right amount of enthusiasm, "When?"
"I dunno, but he's supposed to." I go on, trying to act nonchalant, "I don't know what I'll do."
"Well, duh, you'll say yes, of course," she replies, rolling her eyes, "Isn't that the whole point?"
"Well, obviously, but I mean I won't know how I'll say yes or how I'll act or what. What do you think I should do?"
She considers it a moment, "Okay, here's what you do," she pauses for dramatic effect, "Pretend like you don't hear him the first time and then when he repeats himself you go�"
"Omigod, shhhh!" I hiss, "Here comes AJ!"
AJ is wearing his Forty Niners ball cap, which he no doubt managed to snag back off Mrs. Peterson's desk in all the confusion. He grins at me when he approaches.
"What are you doing tonight?" he asks me, no preliminaries.
"I'm hanging with Chip." Denise chimes in. I think although she's with Chip now, she still has a thing for AJ 'cause she's always mentioning something about how she's with Chip and how great Chip is and whatever. It seems to me that AJ doesn't even notice.
"'Cause Joey wants to hang out," AJ continues, completely ignoring what Denise said, "We can go to my house. My mom's working late."
I'm at a loss for words. I look at Denise for some direction.
"She'll be there." Denise answers for me without hesitation. She gives me a nudge, "Right?"
"Yeah!" I say, a little too loudly, "Sure thing."
"Cool." AJ walks away. Slowly, I start to breathe again.
"Omigod, this is it!" Denise screams at me, "You're so getting a boyfriend tonight!"
I feel like dying from the anticipation.
TWO
By six o'clock that evening I am a complete mess. Digging through my closet, curling my hair, and putting on mascara, all at the same time. I am going insane. And Denise can't help me 'cause she's on her way to Chip's.
My sister Mia comes drifting into my room, "I thought you were going out tonight?" she asks, watching me dig through my closet, "What are you looking for?"
I pull myself out of the closet and totally blow up at her, "I need my baby blue Nike tee-shirt and Mom forgot to wash it or I left it at Denise's or it's just missing and now I have nothing to wear and I was supposed to be there ten minutes ago!"
"Relax yourself," she says, calmly, like she always does, "You let me borrow that tee-shirt last night, remember? You said it was no problem."
Oh, my God.
"Oh, my God!" I scream at her, "How can this be happening to me tonight of all nights! I need that tee-shirt!"
She blinks at me, "So just wear your white Nike tee-shirt. What's the big deal, Summer?"
"No, I need the blue one, the blue one!" I scream, "That's it, I'm not going."
"Why does it have to be blue?" she asks me.
"It just does," I wail, pouting. Joey had mentioned to me once how much he liked girls in baby blue and ponytails. Since I don't have long hair this was my only way of making up for it. And now Mia had worn it and stretched it all out of shape 'cause her chest was so much bigger than mine and she looked better in it anyway. So there it was. All my chances at a boyfriend ruined by a single baby blue tee.
"Don't be such a moron," she says, becoming fed up with my screams, "Just wear my baby blue tennis dress, no big deal."
I look at her doubtfully. The tennis dress is a lot more flattering than the tee shirt would have been. And Mia had just gotten it last month. So either she's really sick of my melodramatics or she actually cares that I look good tonight. Whichever, I don't care which.
"Thanks," I mumble at her.
She leaves and returns holding the dress out to me, "Now has the world stopped coming to an end?"
I ignore her and pull the dress over my head. It fits perfectly and actually makes me look like I have a pretty good chest (with the help of a padded bra). I pull on my Adidas shell-toes and smile at myself in the mirror. Pretty good.
"Must be nice to have such dainty feet," Mia stares at my feet with admiration, "I could never wear shoes like that."
I look at her astonished. I never thought there'd come a day when Mia would envy anything about me. She's got long hair and big boobs and perfect skin. She's the most all-American girl I know.
"Must be nice to wear that tee-shirt and actually fill it out," I reply.
She grins at me and gets up to leave, "Let me know how it goes tonight."
"How what goes?" I call after her. I hadn't mentioned anything to her about what was going on at AJ's tonight. Her and I aren't exactly close.
She doesn't answer, she just laughs all the way down the hall. I decide to put her out of my mind. Like I have time to try and figure out an older sister. I had boyfriends to snag and lips to kiss. Tonight was my night!
Three
When I get to AJ's Joey isn't even there yet. I can barely hide my disappointment.
"When's he coming?" I ask AJ, who is running around the kitchen looking in all the cupboards.
"Quit being so impatient, you're getting on my nerves. He has to take the bus all the way here remember." AJ replies, annoyed, "Geez, you'd think you came just to see him or something."
He puts his hands on his hips and starts stamping his feet in mock despair, "What about me, what about my needs?"
"Stop being retarded," I tell him, giggling, "What are you looking for anyway?"
"You're not even going to believe what I have for us tonight," he tells me, continuing his rampage through the cupboards, "God, I put it somewhere around here. Fuck, I hope Russ didn't get it."
Russ is AJ's very cute older brother. It's weird, Russ and AJ actually look very much alike but I think Russ is brutally hot when I really don't think of AJ at all. I guess it has something to do with Russ being older and all.
"Sweet!" AJ's finally found what he was looking for. He pulls a bottle from the back of the cupboard, "We are going to have a wicked night tonight."
He holds it up for my inspection. AJ has scored a bottle of tequila.
"Omigod, where did you get that?" I'm astonished.
"Russ gave it to me one morning when he was puking from a hang over. Said he'd never touch the stuff again and if I was smart I'd throw it down the sink," AJ explains, "He said he couldn't do it himself. Something about it being alcohol abuse or something."
"Omigod, that is sooo cool!" I am beyond astonished. Mia would never do something like that for me, "Have you had some?"
"Not yet, I was waiting for you," AJ replies, getting two glasses out of the cupboard, "Russ says you should never drink by yourself. Have you ever drank before?"
"I had champagne at my cousin's wedding in May but not enough to get drunk," I admit. I'd actually had half a glass before my mom snatched it out of my hand and gave me a horrified look like spirits had corrupted her child or something.
"You can't get drunk on champagne," AJ tells me, knowingly, "Not properly anyways."
He fills half the glasses with the liquor and gets some Coke from the fridge, "Do you want ice?" he asks me. He looks very grown up.
"Naw," I reply, taking the glass from him, "Should we make a toast or something?"
He raises his glass and chimes, "To the Beached Whale!" We both take a healthy gulp of the drink.
Tequila and Coke is easily the worst thing I have ever tasted. Once when I was three and some girl was babysitting my sister and me at our old house, my sister told her how I liked to eat my frosted flakes with grape Kool-Aid. So she fixed me up a bowl and I didn't even realize until I took that first spoonful. I thought it was the worst taste ever imaginable. But I was wrong.
I try to look cool as my eyes start to water, "Maybe we're not supposed to mix it with Coke or something."
AJ has already made his way to the sink to drink water straight from the tap, no glass or anything, "What do you mean?" he asks after he's done, "Mine tastes fine. Maybe I didn't put enough tequila in yours."
I'm horrified at the idea of him putting more alcohol in my glass, "No! It's fine the way it is, just not very tasty. I guess I'm just used to champagne or something."
Just then Joey comes pushing through the front door, wearing blue jeans and a white tee shirt. He's all smiles and dimples as usual and my heart races.
"What are you guys doing?" He gives us a strange look, "What's that smell?"
"I'll mix you a drink," AJ says, pointing to the bottle.
"You're drinking tequila?" Joey exclaims, smiling wider, "Cool!"
"Yeah, I know," AJ grins back, pouring him a glass, "Russ gave it to me."
"Where are the lemons?" Joey asks us, picking up the salt shaker.
"What are you talking about?" I blurt. Lemons? Are we supposed to be baking with it or something?
"Yeah, y'know, salt, drink, lemon," he says, noticing the Coke bottle for the first time, "Eww, are you guys mixing it with Coke?" he asks, incredulously.
"That's the way you're supposed to do it, moron." AJ's trying to save face.
"No it's not, moron," Joey starts to laugh, "Not unless you have a death wish. Haven't you guys ever drank before?"
"Well, I have," I chirp. Now AJ's made me look like a complete idiot who's never had a drink in her life.
"So have I," AJ says, looking at me with wounded eyes, "Just not tequila, that's all."
"Well, you're supposed to lick the salt, drink it straight and then suck a lemon," Joey explains, "That's how it's done."
"Right," AJ concurs, heading to the fridge for the lemons, "That's what I thought but I wasn't sure."
So we drink it the other way, with salt and lemons and straight and whatever and that's not much better either. In fact, it kinda hurts going down and after it leaves this burning in your stomach. We do three shots together.
"This is retarded," I say, "I don't feel anything."
"Of course you don't yet," Joey laughs at me, "Just give it time."
I hate it that he knows so much more about drinking and that he can laugh at me so easily. I'm not feeling quite so nervous and I'm barely conscious that a half-hour ago I was having a crisis over what to wear for him. AJ's lining up another shot.
"Okay so we'll do this one and then we'll wait a little," Joey says and AJ and I nod. He must know what he's talking about.
After the last shot my lips start to feel a little numb but that's pretty much it. Like I can still stand up and I don't feel sick to my stomach or whatever. I hope I don't get a hangover or something.
"Let's watch TV or something," I suggest, because I'm bored of sitting around AJ's kitchen and am anxious for Joey to ask me out, "Maybe there's a movie on."
We move to the living room and settle on the couch. Well, AJ and I settle on the couch and Joey sits on the chair, which irks me. How is he supposed to hold my hand from all the way over there?
I love AJ's house because he has a satellite dish and gets all these weird channels that no one's even heard of. Like this one time we watched Welcome Back, Kotter in Spanish just because we could.
Suddenly I'm starting to feel a little out of sorts. Not really in a bad way, just in a way that I'm not used to. Like not only are my lips numb but the rest of my body is too. And I am having trouble focusing on the TV. And everything they are saying on the TV is strangely funny. I look at AJ and Joey but they look fine to me.
"AJ, how do you feel?" I ask him, and my words don't sound like my words at all, and I'm saying them in a voice I don't even recognize, "'Cause I'm feeling a little funny."
AJ grins at me and starts to laugh, "You're drunk!"
Joey has started to laugh too, "Yeah, you are," he agrees.
I flip them both the finger, only it's the wrong one and that makes them laugh even harder and makes me more embarrassed. But it's a different kind of embarrassment, like I feel stupid but not enough to try and hide it or whatever. Besides which I have to take a wicked pee.
"I'm going to the bathroom," I announce but the boys are too busy in hysterics to notice me. I manage to walk out of the room gracefully but nearly collapse when I reach the hallway. It's more than a chore to actually sit on the toilet, and I end up missing it more than once. The whole bathroom is dancing.
When I get out of the bathroom I feel much better and the room isn't spinning nearly as much. I just kinda feel like I'm floating and Joey and AJ are just watching me.
"Now I have to go to the bathroom!" AJ announces it louder than necessary.
As soon as he leaves Joey comes to sit beside me. He flashes his dimples at me.
"People are saying how we like each other," he starts and he has the goofiest smile, dimples or not, "Have you heard that?"
I nod, dumbly. This is it. Now he'll ask me out and we'll kiss. Right here in AJ's living room. I try to remember what Denise told me to do. Just act like you don't hear him.
"Anyways, I think you're really cool, Summer," he continues, but he's not looking at me anymore, "Like you're lots of fun and stuff."
Here it comes.
"But I think we should just stay friends," he finishes.
Pause.
Pause.
What?
"What?" I say, unbelieving. What did he just say to me?
"I don't think we should go together," he says. He's looking at me kind of strangely, like he doesn't see why I don't get it.
"Oh," I say, "Yeah, right." I manage to squeeze it out.
This is easily the worst moment of my life. He doesn't want to ask me out at all. I came over here to get a new boyfriend and he had no intention of being with me whatsoever. Suddenly, I start to feel sick to my stomach.
"Joe, I'm not feeling so good," I tell him, getting up, "I think I should go home."
"Are you gonna throw up?" he asks, genuinely concerned.
I shake my head, no, "Naw, I just need to lie down and sleep for a while."
I make it to the front door without a hitch, "See you tomorrow!" I call to him.
I make it all the way to my bedroom before I start crying.
Four
I was at AJ's a total of one hour and ten minutes. Just enough time for my life to officially end. How on earth could he not want to be with me, what's so wrong with me? Everyone thought we were together, why didn't he want to be?
Crying on my bed like a little baby who didn't get her way is not usually my way of dealing with shit but I can't help it, I just feel so stupid. God, I was so sure he was going to ask me out. What a moron I was!
I guess I fall asleep because when I look at the clock again it's eleven at night and my whole family has gone to bed. At least Mia didn't come asking for her dress back and make me explain how my life was destroyed. Thank the stupid grade nine gods for small miracles.
I turn on the light and take off the stupid dress that was supposed to seal my fate in couple-dom. I have no plans. I was supposed to be on a couch with Joey's hand up my shirt by now. So what am I supposed to do?
The envelope icon spins on my computer, letting me know that I have new mail. Maybe Denise got back from Chip's early and wants to know how everything went. I wonder if there's a way to tell her I got dumped even before we went out that still makes me sound like a hero. Probably not.
The message is from AJ, surprisingly. He usually doesn't mail me so late.
Saw your light on. You awake?
I look out my window and across the street but I can't see into his window at all. I decide to reply:
Yeah, I'm up. I guess tequila doesn't really agree with me, so I've been sleeping this whole time. What did you and Joey end up doing?
Drinking. He told me he didn't ask you out. What's up with that?
He would have to bring it up. Thought he didn't like talking about that stuff.
Yeah, well, we just decided to stay friends or whatever. No big deal.
Nonchalant. Aloof. That's what I'm going for here.
Too bad. He says he still likes you.
I narrow my eyes at the computer screen. Is he joking?
Doesn't matter. I think I'm starting to like someone else anyhow.
Me too. I'm still pretty drunk, and Mom's staying at Rich's house tonight. Why don't you come over? Welcome Back, Kotter is on in ten minutes.
Still tequila left?
You know it.
I'm on my way.
I'm not generally in the habit of sneaking out of my house, especially since last summer my mom caught me doing it. But I figure I was supposed to get a boyfriend tonight and I ended up with nothing so I deserve it. And if she catches me again then I'll just get grounded and I'll never have to see Joey over at AJ's house ever again.
I pull on my favourite pair of jeans and a red T-shirt, which just happens to be my favourite too. To hell with ever wearing baby blue to please anyone ever again. I walk right out the front door.
Five
When I get there, AJ's wearing a towel around his neck and his hair's all wet.
"I thought a shower might help sober me up," he explains, "I didn't want to look like a drunken idiot in front of you."
What the hell was he talking about? Since when did he care how he looked in front of me?
"Whatever," I reply, "Where's the tequila?"
"I thought it didn't agree with you," AJ says, grinning.
I decide to be candid, not caring if he likes talking about it or not, "Yeah, well, I thought Joey was going to ask me out tonight and he didn't so I think I'm entitled." I remark, flippantly.
AJ grins harder, "Cool."
We make our way to the kitchen, "It's not so bad after a while, y'know? You get used to it."
He's talking about the tequila. I notice a pile of lemon wedges on the counter, "How much did you guys drink?" I ask.
"Enough," he replies, "I haven't puked or anything."
AJ and I down two shots together and I start to wonder if this is such a good idea. Like is it metabolically okay to get drunk twice in one night? I hope I don't get a hangover.
AJ lines up two more shots for me, "You need to catch up," he tells me.
I down them easily, not really caring about the hangover, "Let's watch Welcome Back, Kotter," I say.
I make the way to the living room with AJ stumbling behind me. I wonder how much he's had to drink anyway, because he looks pretty fucked up. I wonder how Joey is. Hope he ends up puking, stupid jerk.
"So Russ called and since Mom is staying at Rich's he says he's staying at Gloria's house," AJ tells me, as we sit on the couch.
Gloria is Russ's girlfriend. She seems okay, if you go for that Vogue magazine, supermodel thing. They've been together a year and half which has made it pretty clear to me that Russ doesn't go for younger women. AJ told me once that he used to have a thing for Gloria after he saw her lying on Russ's bed with just her underwear on. Until Russ heard him telling Joey about it and totally freaked out and beat him up. I still think he might have a little thing but he doesn't say anything. It's like he thinks Russ has radar or something.
"I'll bet they'll have sex all night, that's all they ever do," AJ goes on, flipping on the TV.
"I guess," I reply, non-committing. Pretty sure I don't want to hear about Russ having sex with Gloria.
"Have you ever done it?" AJ asks me, point-blank.
So that's where he was going with all this sex talk.
"Have you?" I reply.
"Asked you first," AJ says back, grinning.
I try to decide what type of answer AJ's looking for. If I tell him I haven't done it (which is true) will he tease me and tell me all about how he's been doing it since grade seven or something? Or will he actually confess that he hasn't either? I don't know why I care what he thinks about my sex life (or lack-thereof) but I do. But when you consider how clueless I was about Joey's intentions it's retarded for me to say or do anything to impress some guy or try and save face (case in point: baby-blue tee). I decide to be brutally honest.
"No, I haven't," I say, bluntly. I wait for his reaction and see relief all over his face.
"Me either," he confesses, "Although I've had the opportunity. On more than one occasion."
Yeah, right.
"Yeah?" I say, "So why didn't you?"
"I dunno," he shrugs, "I guess I'm just waiting for someone special. Like I don't want to just lose it just to get it over with, y'know? I want it to actually mean something. How come you haven't?"
Besides the fact that I've never had a real boyfriend? Hmmmm...
"Pretty much the same, I guess," I reply, "I'm definitely not waiting till marriage though."
"Joey's already done it," AJ tells me.
Why would he bring him up?
"Yeah?" I reply, aloofly.
"Last summer," AJ continues, "She was seventeen."
I had no idea Joey was so experienced. Maybe it was a good thing that he didn't ask me out after all. Probably he could tell that I wasn't all that experienced and that's why he didn't ask me out. God, what if that was the reason he didn't ask me? What if he told people that, "Yeah, she's cool but she's barely been with anyone so what would be the point? I'd want to have sex and she'd just want to hold hands or something". How mortifying.
"AJ, did Joey tell you why he didn't wanna ask me out?" I venture. I know he doesn't usually talk about it but he's been a bit more forthcoming lately. Why not take my chances?
"Not really." AJ's being very close-mouthed, "I thought you said you guys decided to be just friends or something."
"Well, he decided more than I did," I admit.
"Do you really like him?" AJ asks, incredulous, like he thought it was just a passing whimsy or something.
"I guess," I say.
"But you said you were starting to like someone else," AJ points out, like he's trying to refute my opinion or something, "That's what you said on email tonight."
"Yeah, I am," I say, "I dunno, AJ, Joey was just cool or whatever. But it's not like he was the only guy I was thinking about."
AJ seems satisfied with this answer and decides to move into a different line of questioning, "So who's the guy?" he asks.
"I'm not going to tell you." I laugh, "What do you think this is?"
"Why not?" he pretends to be hurt but he's still laughing, "I'd tell you."
"Okay, so who do you like then?" I challenge.
"You mean besides you?" he teases me, "There's a few. But they don't go to our school."
"How convenient," I reply, lining up another shot, "Let's talk about something else now."
He protests, "No, I like this! So who's the guy?"
"Forget it." I toss back, "Are you going to do this shot with me or not?"
AJ's eyes twinkle, "Have you ever done a body shot?" he asks.
"A what?" I reply, "What's that?"
"So I lick your shoulder or something and put the salt there and then lick it off and do the shot. And then we suck the same lemon." AJ explains, "Get it?"
I consider it, narrowing my eyes at him, "This afternoon you didn't even know how to drink tequila and now you're talking about body shots? What up with that?"
He shrugs, "Joey explained it to me. Said he did it with that seventeen-year-old I told you about. He said it was pretty cool."
He would have to mention the seventeen-year-old. I consider it again, and reach a decision, grinning, "You're just using it as an excuse to lick my shoulder!"
AJ looks at me, annoyed, "So I'll lick your hand or something, it doesn't really matter where you do it," he says to me, like I'm a complete idiot or something.
I grin a little wider, although his sarcasm kind of stung, "How about my tummy?" I suggest.
He raises an eyebrow, "Yeah, that should work."
I'm already buzzing by now, so I pull up my shirt to the bottom of my bra without any hesitation. I'm not really too self-conscious of my body, especially when I'm on the court or in gym class or something. But suddenly I'm very conscious of the fact that my bra's showing while I'm lounging on AJ's couch, with no one else home at twelve midnight.
He leans over and licks my stomach, right above my bellybutton. As soon as he does it my mind kind of clears up a bit and I'm also suddenly very conscious of how his tongue felt and the little circle of wetness he left behind. My whole body is hot but that one spot where he licked me is very cold.
AJ dumps some salt on my tummy; too much in my opinion so I brush some away. Then he pulls his shirt off and leans his shoulder towards me expectantly. I kind of look at him astonished. I mean, I've seen him without a shirt plenty of times, especially during the summer but for some reason it seems different tonight.
He frowns at me, "Well?" he says.
Tentatively, I lick his shoulder. He smells like soap but it doesn't leave an unpleasant taste in my mouth or anything. He pours the salt over his shoulder.
He grins, "Ready?" he asks.
I nod, dumbly, "Sure," I mutter.
First he licks my stomach and then I lick his shoulder. We do the shot together but he sucks the lemon first. Then suddenly his mouth is on mine and before I can even blink the lemon's in my mouth. To hide my surprise, I just begin sucking on it.
AJ looks at me, wide-eyed. Finally he breaks into a grin, "Cool, huh!"
What the hell just happened there? Was that really AJ's mouth on mine? Did that mean something? Did that, like, constitute as a kiss? My God, what's happening here?
"Yeah," I mumble around the lemon wedge. I take the lemon out of my mouth and just kind of stare at AJ, "Now what?"
Suddenly AJ's mouth is back on mine and we are lip to lip and he is kissing me. Right there on the couch. He tastes like salt and lemons and I can smell the conditioner from his still damp hair. My eyes are wide open because I'm afraid that if I close them somehow this won't be real. His eyes are closed tightly though and his face looks very different up close. Like his skin is so smooth and his eyelashes are so long; stuff I'd never really noticed before. Seven hours ago my life was over and now suddenly it's been resurrected from the dead. Apparently the grade nine gods are just fucking with me or something.
It's weird because I never really thought of AJ in that way at all, like I certainly didn't see this coming. But I get the idea that he's been planning this for a while. Why else would he suggest body shots?
The front door slams shut. AJ and I spring apart and my heart jumps into my throat. Russ comes storming into the living room with Gloria in toe.
"Gloria's dad came home so we decided to just come here instead of staying there." He notices the tequila bottle, "Are you guys getting drunk?" he asks, incredulously.
"So?" AJ retorts. He looks pretty pissed off that we were interrupted and to prove it he's taking his time putting back on his shirt. Gloria just kind of raises her eyebrows at us but thankfully Russ doesn't say anything about it.
"Whatever," Russ shrugs it off and motions for Gloria sit down beside him. It's starting to get pretty crowded on the couch now, "Well, Gloria and I wanna watch TV."
AJ and I just kind of sit there, waiting.
"Alone," Russ says, pointedly.
"So we were watching first," AJ says, resentfully. I hate it when AJ and his brother fight. Mostly because Russ can be a real asshole sometimes, and AJ never ends up winning. After a while, watching him get beat up gets really boring.
"So we're watching second," Russ replies, flippantly. I guess he doesn't feel much like fighting tonight, especially not in front of Gloria, "C'mon. Get lost."
AJ's about to say something back to him but I just grab the bottle and say, "C'mon, let's just go," although I have no idea where we'll go. I get up to head down the hallway. I see Gloria lean over and whisper something to Russ and Russ looks at her, shocked.
"AJ, come here a sec," Russ orders.
I just continue down the hall to wait for him. Knowing Russ he just wants to take some cheap shots at AJ or something. I wonder where we'll go now that Russ has kicked us out of the living room. Will we go to AJ's room?
"Were you just making out with Summer?" I overhear Russ ask AJ, and my jaw drops to the ground. I hear Gloria giggle, "Is that what was going on?"
AJ doesn't reply so Russ just starts laughing, "Oh my God, so you get her good and drunk and then you try to sleep with her?"
Drunk or not, tears begin to sting my eyes. I am so beyond embarrassed. To think, just a few hours ago I'd thought Joey's not asking me out was the single most embarrassing thing of my life. Boy, was I way off.
"Shut up, Russ," AJ says.
"Well, is she on birth control or do you have condoms?" Russ continues, laughing hysterically.
Birth control? Condoms? I peek around the corner and see that Gloria has stopped laughing. In fact, she's starting to look a little guilty.
"C'mon, Russ," she says, "Leave him alone. I think it's cute."
"Cute?" Russ turns to her, "My little brother is trying to sleep with our neighbor. It's pretty gross if you ask me."
Gloria starts giggling again, "Just leave him alone. Sorry AJ."
"Hey, if you need condoms I've got some in my dresser!" Russ tries to catch his breath.
"You're a real asshole, you know that Russ?" AJ says quietly but still loud enough for me to hear. Now I'm just hoping that AJ does hit Russ, and Gloria for that matter. I mean, it's embarrassing enough without them laughing at us.
"Why are you so bitter, tough guy?" Russ says, "You're about to get laid!"
AJ just walks away while Russ laughs uncontrollably and Gloria tries to stifle her giggles. Stupid bitch. I never liked her.
AJ broods as we walk down the front hall. I search for something to say to him. He keeps walking like he's on his way up to his room but I stop.
"Maybe I should just go home," I glance pointedly at the living room where Russ and Gloria are no doubt having sex or something, "It's getting pretty late anyway."
AJ looks at my like he's noticing me for the first time, "Fine, whatever," he says, bitterly.
"It's just Russ can be such an asshole sometimes, y'know?" I say.
AJ kind of considers it a moment, "Yeah," he smiles a little, "He really can."
I break into a huge goofy smile, just glad that AJ's not pissed off at me or something, "So give me a call tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure thing." AJ's previous shitty mood has cleared up completely, "You can come over and watch the Lakers/Celtics game with me or something."
"Cool," I concur.
Now AJ has the cutest smile. It's not dimpled or crooked like a certain someone I won't mention but it's cute just the same. Can't wait to kiss those lips tomorrow...
I float through the door with wings on my heels, literally. The grade nine gods can kiss my ass because as it turns out, this was my night after all. And just because AJ wasn't the guy I'd originally wanted doesn't mean I shouldn't end up with him just the same. AJ and Summer. Summer and AJ. Together at last.
Six
AJ doesn't call on Saturday. And when I call him, his mother informs me that he's not at home. I figure it's no big deal, like maybe he just went over to Joey's house to brag about being with me, and what an idiot he was to miss such a great opportunity because I am easily the best kisser at our school, even over Pamela Lee-like Chloe Stephenson. But when it gets to be Sunday night and he still hasn't called I start to realize. I am getting the brush off from AJ Rudowski.
I just can't figure out why. That kiss definitely was not one-sided, I mean, if anything, he instigated it. So why wouldn't he call, especially after he said he would? Something must have happened.
I spend all day Monday just going through the motions of my classes, waiting for typing class. Denise is a mess because her and Chip had this huge fight and are on the road to breaking up, so she doesn't even ask about how my weekend went. I doubt I would tell her about what happened between AJ and I. Like I said, she still seems to have a thing for him.
When I get to typing class AJ and Joey are sitting on AJ's desk, talking conspiratorially. They stop as soon as I come within earshot.
"Hey, Summer," Joey's grin is huge and dimples fly everywhere, "How was your weekend?"
"It was okay," I tell him. AJ barely looks at me, "How was yours?"
"Okay," he says, "I can't believe the Celtics lost!"
"Please, Kobe and Shaq?" I say, "Did they ever really have a chance?"
Joey grins and AJ just watches us talk without saying anything. Maybe he's just waiting for Joey to leave so he can talk to me in private.
"What are you doing tonight?" Joey goes on. Is it just me or is Joey paying me a lot of attention? Maybe AJ wasn't joking when he said that Joey told him he still likes me.
"Nothing really," I say, non-committingly. That way if AJ wants to hang out, I'm still available.
"Big party at Luke St. John's. You in?" Joey says.
"It's a Monday night," I point out. Who parties on a Monday?
Joey shrugs, "His parents went away until Wednesday," Joey explains, "So you in?"
"Yeah, I guess so," I glance at AJ but he's not saying anything, "Are you taking the bus there?"
"Well, he kind of lives near you so we could walk over together or something," Joey replies, smiling hard. He's definitely paying a lot of attention to me.
"Yeah, we could all go together," I say, trying to include AJ in the conversation, "Denise will probably want to come too."
"I'm not going," AJ announces, and Joey nods, "I've got other plans."
"Oh," is all I say. Other plans? Other plans like what?
Just then the Beached Whale walks in and squawks at everyone to take their seats. She is wearing an especially hideous dress today and has a huge mug of fresh coffee clutched in her fin just for our class. Joey tips me a wink before walking to his seat and I just kind of slide into my seat, numbly.
The first half of typing class passes by with absolutely nothing happening. AJ doesn't even acknowledge my existence; he doesn't kick my chair once. I can hear him counting along with the Whale like he's actually paying attention and concentrating or something. My heart sinks even further, if that's even possible. It's like he forgot he's supposed to be my best friend or something. One kiss was hardly worth this.
The Whale hands out our assignment and I pass it down to him without even a glance. If he's not making an effort then neither am I. Why should I chase after him, right?
Finally, AJ kicks my chair and although he makes me bump my knees especially hard, I'm thankful for it.
"What?" I feign annoyance.
"What margins do we put on this?" he asks me and he has the goofiest grin. I can't help smiling back, "Are you really gonna go to Luke's party tonight?"
"Well, yeah, I mean, why not?" I say to him, just ecstatic that he's talking to me again, "Why aren't you coming?"
"I told you, I have plans." He says it so flippantly, but it's obvious that he has no intention of telling me what his plans are.
"Oh," I say. I decide to just bite the bullet, "So what happened to you this weekend, AJ?" I ask, quietly.
"We went to Gloria's cottage for the weekend. I had the wickedest time!"
Gloria's cottage? He never mentioned anything about that before.
"Really? When did you decide to do that?" I ask, trying not to sound confused although I am. If he was going away for the weekend then why didn't he just say so?
"Well, I wasn't going to go but then Gloria said her sister was going and she's really hot, so I changed my mind," he replies.
I wait for him to burst out laughing and tell me he's just joking but this doesn't happen.
"You went for Gloria's sister?" I ask, not caring if I sound confused. He just kissed me three days ago.
"Yeah, she's one of the girls that I like," he goes on, completely serious, "She goes to Lincoln High. She plays volleyball. Wicked kisser."
Pause.
Pause.
"You kissed her." It's not even a question, I'm just repeating what he told me in disbelief. He just kissed me three days ago.
"Quiet at the back!" The Whale yells from her desk.
I don't need another reprimand; I'm not saying another word to AJ, probably not for the rest of our lives. That kiss didn't mean anything at all. And the reason he didn't call me was because he was making out with some other girl. Probably with long hair and big boobs.
After class I just get up and leave without even sticking around to talk to Joey about tonight. I'm just not in the mood to deal with boys anymore, they're too much headache. Even Denise shares my sentiments, so after school when we're at the mall looking for new outfits to wear to the party, we don't mention boys once. It turns out to be a very refreshing afternoon.
Seven
"So then he says something like, 'You're just using me to make other guys jealous, and you never pay any attention to me' or some crap." Denise tells me. We're at my house getting ready for the party, and she's giving me a blow by blow description of her fight with Chip.
"I'm so sure," I scoff, "What guys are you trying to make jealous? You spend all your time with Chip."
"That's what I told him, but he's just being stupid. You know how boys are," she continues, "I just hope Joey gets here soon so we can just go already. I am getting so drunk tonight. Check out what I stole from my mom."
She pulls a half-empty bottle of bourbon from her knapsack.
"It's the expensive kind so you know it's gotta taste good," she explains, "No more gut rot from drinking malt liquor for me. It's first class all the way, baby!"
I giggle. Denise has a way of putting everything in perspective. So what if AJ's making out with some random chick, there's plenty of other guys. And after today things don't look too bleak for me and Joey. Fuck AJ, he just never knew what he had.
"Put that away before Mia comes in here and freaks," I warn her, "She's not cool like your sister."
"Too bad," Denise says, putting the bottle back in her knapsack, "My sister says she'll go to the liquor store for us this weekend if we want. I told her we didn't know what we were doing yet so I'd let her know. You think there'll be any parties this weekend?"
"I dunno," I reply. I hear Mia screaming up at us that Joey's here, so I put on a little more lip-gloss and we head downstairs.
He gives me a toothy grin, "You should have wore that blue dress, that looked really cool."
What, is he shitting me?
"Maybe next time," I shrug. Why is everyone acting so weird? First the brush off from AJ and now Joey's acting like he can't get enough of me or something. We're about to head out the door when Mia calls me back.
"What is it?" I ask her, kind of annoyed. Knowing her she'll make some retarded comment about how cute it is that we're all going to a party together or something.
"I need my dress back, I have tennis practice tomorrow," she informs me, "And does Mom know you're going out on a school night?"
"Just tell her I had practice or something," I concoct, "And then say I went to Denise's to work on a project or something."
"She knows you two aren't in the same class," Mia points out, "You're gonna have to do better than that."
"So tell her I went to Diane's to work on a project, whatever," I say, "Make something up, I don't care." Why is she getting on my case?
"Fine," she shrugs, "By the way, who's that guy?"
"What guy?" I ask, copping even more attitude. I just want to get out before Mom gets home.
"That guy who came to pick you up." Mia smiles, knowingly.
"Oh, that's just Joey," I reply, "He's just a guy from school."
She frowns, "I thought you were with AJ."
"What?" I say, "What made you think that?"
"Well, you guys are always together and just...I dunno, the way he looks at you..." she trails off, "You mean you're not together?"
"Not by a long shot," I admit, "How does he look at me?"
"Y'know, just in that way," she's being very evasive, "Like you're more than friends or something, y'know?"
"Oh...that," I reply, although I have no idea what she's talking about, "Well, AJ looks at everyone that way," I explain.
"Oh, I see." Mia looks like she wants to say something else but she doesn't, "Well, have fun tonight. Don't drink too much."
How does she know everything that's going on in my life? I don't reply, I just turn back down the hall so Denise, Joey and I can just leave already.
Eight
The party ends up being totally retarded. Chip shows up so instead of getting drunk and ignoring him, which was the plan, Denise ends up sitting in the corner with him and making out all night. Most of the people there are older so Joey and I don't mingle much, for fear of looking like losers and by ten o'clock I am so ready to leave.
"This is retarded," I say to Joey, finally, "I'm just gonna go home."
He looks incredulous, "You're gonna leave? Why?"
"Because I'm not having any fun, and Denise is just gonna make out with Chip all night and I barely know anyone here and...I dunno, I just don't really feel like partying," I tell him, "You can stay if you want, like I don't expect you to walk me home or anything."
"No, it's cool," he says, getting up, "You're right, this is pretty lame. Let's go."
Denise barely acknowledges our leaving, and I'm so depressed that I barely say two words on the walk home. But the reason I'm depressed is not because the party sucked, or because Denise and Chip reunited. It's all because of AJ. Stupid jerk. I mean, he kissed me three days ago, y'know?
"So..." Joey says, after ten minutes of silence.
I sigh at him, "I'm sorry, Joe, I guess I'm just in a lousy mood."
He shrugs, "No big deal."
"At least AJ will be glad he didn't miss a good party or anything," Joey says to fill in the silence.
"Yeah," I reply, "I wonder what his big plans were for tonight."
I don't even know why I said that, I guess deep inside I just wanted to know, and I knew that Joey would tell me.
"He went to see a movie with Amber, Gloria's sister." Joey doesn't let me down.
So there it is. AJ's making out in some dark movie theatre with Gloria's sister. The same girl he made out with this weekend after kissing me three days ago. If I needed any more proof that AJ just didn't care then there it is. My life is turning into a featured movie of the week. Death by movie theater in a baby blue tee.
Joey clears his throat, "So, AJ says you're starting to like someone new."
"AJ told you that?" I ask, surprised. I figured since AJ wasn't saying much to me that he wasn't saying much about me either, "What else did he say?"
"He said I'm an idiot for not asking you out." Joey has a way of just saying things point-blank without any warning or segue or anything. Kind of like AJ...
I giggle, embarrassed, "He said that?"
"Yeah," Joey says. By now we've reached my house so we just stop outside my front door, "He's probably right, y'know."
I don't know what to say, so I don't say anything at all. Where is all this coming from? How can he say all this now and three days ago he wanted to be just friends?
"You're just really cool, Summer, I mean that," he says to me.
And then Joey kisses me. Just a little peck on the cheek but a kiss just the same. Again I forget to close my eyes but it's over too fast anyway. He steps away from me.
"So I'll see you in school tomorrow?" he asks, like I hardly ever go or something.
"Sure thing," I reply, smiling slowly. Joey likes me. Really. He likes me. He kissed me, that's proof. Oh, my God. Where are the grade nine gods now?
He turns to go but not before flashing me a world famous smile with abundant dimples, "Cool," he tosses over his shoulder.
I watch him walk down the street before heading inside. Who needed AJ? The guy I originally wanted just told me he liked me. Well, not in so many words but he kissed me. I only wish that AJ could have seen.
When I get inside my parents are in the TV room waiting for me.
"Mia said you were at Diane's," my mom starts.
"Yeah, that's right," I reply, nervously. Mia's not exactly the greatest liar, especially when it comes to my parents.
"How was practice?" my dad asks, barely glancing away from the TV.
"I shot four three pointers," I make up. Might as well make myself look good, right?
"Where are your books, Summer?" my mom asks. Leave it to her to pick up on such a little detail.
"Uh, I left them at Diane's," I say, flushing, "We're just going to work on it again tomorrow, anyway."
My mom narrows her eyes at me, like she's trying to decide if I'm telling the truth or not, but my dad just nods, "Keep up the good work on those three pointers, hon," he says.
"Sure thing," I giggle, nervously. My mom's face has completely cleared and now she's smiling which means she absolutely knows that I'm lying but isn't going to tell my dad.
"Good night, sweetheart," she purrs.
"Right." I turn and bolt up the stairs before something happens and my dad starts asking questions. I guess Mia's not the only lousy liar.
When I get to my room the envelope icon is spinning on my computer.
You're home early, how was the party?
The only way for AJ to know that I was home was if he was watching from his house or something. Which means he did see Joey kiss me. Which means he knows that I could care less that he was making out with Gloria's stupid sister at the movies. He saw Joey kiss me, and even if it wasn't passionate or anything, he still saw it. For such a lousy day, this was certainly shaping up just fine.
It started out pretty lame but it ended up really good. How come you're home, I thought you had big plans tonight?
If there's a way to type so that sarcasm drips from every word, then that's what I'm doing now. I hope stupid Amber dumped him on his ass.
They fell through. I called you but you'd already left.
Oh.
Oh. So you just stayed at home?
Pretty much. So I was thinking maybe we could hang out tonight?
What the hell was he doing? Why would he want to hang out now, after everything that's happened? Does he think I have no pride or something?
It's pretty late.
Just an hour? C'mon, Summer, I really feel like hanging out.
Okay, so we can hang out, right? After all, we're still friends and that's what I said I wanted back more than anything. So just act like you did before he kissed you. No big deal.
Fine. Meet you outside in fifteen.
On the way down the hall I meet up with my parents on their way to bed.
"What are you still doing up?" my dad asks, looking at his watch, "School tomorrow."
"Yeah, I was just going to get something to eat," I say, lamely, "Diane's, uh, Amish so...they don't have a lot of snacks or whatever."
"Amish, really?" my mom says and she's smiling again, "I had no idea."
"Oh, yeah," I reply, "There's quite a few Amish kids at my school. You'd be surprised."
My dad frowns at me, "Isn't Diane the kid with the nose ring?" he says, "She's Amish?"
"Yeah, well, she only wears it at school and stuff," I say, "Not around her house or whatever."
My dad seems satisfied with that answer so he and my mom continue to their room without anymore questions. I breathe a sigh of relief, although I don't know why. They must have seen through that, they just didn't feel like giving me the third degree.
I actually do grab an apple to eat and sneak out the kitchen door. AJ's waiting outside his house.
"So what's up with you and Joe?" he asks me, no preliminaries.
"What do you mean?" I ask, innocently. If he can jerk me around then I can be as evasive as I want.
"I saw him kiss you tonight," AJ says, quietly, "So are you guys going out now?"
AJ's won't look at me. For some reason I start to feel guilty.
"No," I reply, finally, "Like I said, we're just going to be friends."
"But he still likes you," AJ points out, "Don't you like him anymore?"
"I don't know," I say, truthfully.
"What about that other guy you were starting to like, don't you like him anymore?" AJ won't let it go.
I look AJ directly in the eyes, "He's seeing someone else now."
AJ starts heading towards his house, but we don't go inside, we just around to the backyard.
"Joey said he was going to ask you out tonight after the party," AJ tells me. He sits on a lawn chair.
I sit cross legged on the grass, "Well, he didn't. I don't think he's going to either."
"That's why I never called you on Saturday, 'cause he said he was going to ask you out," AJ goes on like I never even spoke, "Otherwise I would have called."
"Well, you were pretty busy, what with Amber and all," I say, sarcastically, "I thought you were supposed to go out with her tonight?"
AJ sighs, miserably, "I never went to the cottage with Gloria and Russ. I made it all up," he looks at me, "Joey said he was going to ask you out. I couldn't tell him what happened. He's my best friend."
Oh.
"Oh," I say, "So you never kissed her?"
"I've never even met Amber," AJ says without looking at me, "He was supposed to ask you out and you guys were supposed to go together, like you wanted."
Oh, my God. Is he serious? Was this seriously happening? How can I have two guys like me and still have no boyfriend?
"Well, I don't want that," I say, "I don't want to be with Joey anymore."
"Since when?" AJ scoffs.
"Since now," I reply, defensively, "Since three days ago."
AJ doesn't reply right away and when he finally goes to the back light snaps on.
"AJ? What are you doing out here?" It's AJ's mom, "Summer? It's almost midnight, what are you guys doing?"
"Just talking," AJ replies, and surprisingly he's not annoyed at being interrupted.
"Summer, I think it's time for you to go home. It's pretty late," AJ's mom says, still confused as to why we're sitting in the backyard.
I spring to my feet, "Sure thing, Mrs. Rudowski."
AJ and I just kind of stare at each other, and then we turn to look at AJ's mom. She just stares back at us. She doesn't get it.
"Goodnight, Summer." She frowns at me, like she can't figure out why I don't get that I should be leaving.
So sick of always getting interrupted! "Goodnight," I say finally, and turn and leave.
Nine
Again, I float home. I'm trying not let my imagination run wild, because that's what seems to get me in trouble to begin with but I just can't help it. AJ does like me. Like, really likes me. Amber isn't even real. He was just being loyal to Joey, which is an admirable quality in a guy, right? He actually likes me, and he meant that kiss.
Y'know, for a girl without implants or hair down to her ass, I'm doing pretty well. The guy I want wants me back. For once.
As I crawl into bed I realize. Crooked smiles and dimples are great but highly over-rated. There's actually a whole lot to be said for bruises on my knees and Welcome Back, Kotter in Spanish. AJ and Summer. Summer and AJ. Together at last.
Copyright 2000 Halima Thompson
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