I can sense her looking out the window at me. She’s waiting. Waiting to see if Henry pulls up by himself. Even if she can’t see all the way to the end of our street, she’ll still look as if she can. I head to the corner with my notebook tucked deep into the front of my pants. I feel uncomfortable leaving it in my room now. There’s the 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon (spruce green, pearl metallic exterior, with a gray interior) turning onto our street. Henry inherited the car from his mom. He pulls right up in front of me, reaches over, and unlocks the passenger door. I get in and try to act casual.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” Henry says as I get in, and then proceeds to drive down our street toward my house.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making a very long U-turn.”
Trying to sound normal I say, “Um, why?”
As he passes our place I can see my mother still looking out the window. She now has it open and is leaning out, her head following the car’s every move.
“Is that your mother?”
“Yep. Thanks for the pickup—could have met you there.”
“Course.” He looks over at me, turns the wheel of the car so abruptly that it makes the Legacy squeal mid U-turn. Once turned around, he floors it and we race out of my street so fast I’m forced back deep into my seat. “There,” he says.
“What was that?” I ask, exhaling a bit.
“It gives her something to see.” He laughs a little. “Nice haircut.” He goes to rub my head, but I pull away. I don’t want him to feel any possible lumps or bruises.
“Sorry, just jumpy.”
He doesn’t push it. “You gonna do the standing Bugle’s order tonight? Sundae?”
“Yep.” I try to casually reach into the front of my pants and remove the notebook.
“Planning on doing some homework?”
“I was doing homework when I left the house so I just brought my notebook.” That could not have been a worse excuse.
Luckily, I don’t think he noticed.
“I’m struggling with mine in Mr. Crandell’s class.”
“P.E.?”
He shoots me a look. “You know he used to be an English teacher.”
“Right.”
“He wants us to write what’s inspiring about being an athlete. He says it makes you a better athlete if you write what you feel. Then it becomes real inside you . . . makes for a . . .”
“Yeah. We got that too.”
“Did you write something? I don’t know if it helps.”
“I wrote about stuff but it’s different. I’m not actually going to make sports a career or anything.”
“This doesn’t inspire me—writing about it isn’t gonna make me want it more, is it?”
“You don’t sound convinced.”
“It’s not that I’m not. Convinced, I mean. I just don’t know where to start and I’ve got zero motivation. I don’t know. I was hoping you could motivate me with some great idea. Something. You’re the creative one. Plus, dude, you don’t really have to worry about his homework ’cause he knows you don’t give a shit about any kind of sports.”
“Fuck you, asshole. I play tennis with you all the time. And that doesn’t get me off the hook. I still have to do the homework.”
“Dude—you just said you aren’t going to make it a career. Damn, chill out. And you haven’t in forever.”
“Haven’t what?”
“Played tennis with me.”
“Is this supposed to make me want to help you?”
He looks ahead and doesn’t say anything. Only his right hand is on the wheel. His left is resting out the window and he’s moving it with and against the wind. I know his arms are long, but they look extra defined tonight. He’s wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and he’s still tan from summer break. His shorts are loose and faded in spots, and he’s wearing black Vans slip-ons that have seen better days. The whole thing is making it difficult for me to concentrate on anything other than how sexy he looks to me right now.
Henry breaks the silence. “I’m just frustrated.”
“I’m a little tense too. I can help if—”
“You look ready for the winter,” he says, glancing over at my bulky sweatshirt, which looks even bulkier thanks to the two T-shirts underneath. I figured out a long time ago I should cover myself as much as possible to avoid any questions.
“Thought it might be getting cooler tonight. It’s officially fall, right?”
“There’s a few more weeks before it’s officially fall. We’re still in the last days of summer. You know I’m gonna keep this feeling going for as long as I can.”
Henry has been known to wear shorts even when there’s snow on the ground. He’s not afraid of having people notice him, but it’s not like he’s trying to be noticed. He just doesn’t care if they do. I admire that.
He goes, “I don’t mean to be all Jason Bourne, but I think someone is following us. Every turn. Every move and this car is right on my ass.”
What. The. Fuck? It’s my parents. I know it without even turning around. They’ve done this before. It’s my mom, really, but she doesn’t like to drive so she ropes my father into driving and following me. Hopefully, once they see we actually wind up at Bugle’s, they will turn around and go back home. I hope the place is packed with people.
“Paranoid much?” I try to laugh but it catches in my throat.
He gives me a look, gives the rearview mirror a look, and then shrugs. “You know Tess Burgeon?”
“Yeah. We’re not close or anything, but I think that Jeremy likes her. I mean, I know he does.”
“Dude, she’s into you, not Jeremy.”
“What?” I am genuinely shocked. Tess? Since when? She’s never anything but condescending tones and glances toward me.
He tries to pull into the parking lot of Bugle’s, but cars have totally filled the lot. “I forget sometimes we live in a small town. Everyone’s trying to get their last bit of summer.”
He maneuvers the Subaru in a three-point turn and speeds out of the lot as if he’s not driving a ’95 wagon. “Street parking it is. Hang on!”
He goes right past the ice cream shop. I get a glimpse inside. Everyone is here—Jeremy, Tess, Kris, Tommy and his girlfriend, Bella. I can even spot Patty from the Depot and her husband. Normally, this would freak me the fuck out, but it’s exactly what my parents need to see. A crowd. A mixed crowd.
Wait.
A mixed crowd that will soon include a boy from California, invited against my better judgment. But still invited . . . by me.
Do I say anything to Henry or wait for him to find out?
“That’s a lot of people. Ev, are you down with just grabbing something quick and going for a drive? I’m not much in the mood to be super social.”
When has he seen me being super social? He knows I feel like throwing up every time I have to speak to more than two people I don’t know. Also, it’s not like he hasn’t called me “Ev” before. Hundreds of times. But all of a sudden, it feels different—more intimate. Now when he says it I am pretty much willing to agree to anything. That’s a new problem.
“I’m good with that.” As long as my parents see us walk in there and join everyone. As long as they don’t see us getting back into his car, just the two of us, and driving off somewhere. “But back to Tess. Why would you think she’s into me?”
“Because no girl goes around asking about a guy as much as she does about you, without interest. I’m parking here.”
We’re about two blocks away.
I put my journal under my seat and get out. I look around and in the distance spot my parents’ car driving away. The crowd did its job.
“What kind of questions is she asking?”
“You interested?” He sounds surprised.
“Just curious. This is not a vibe I have ever gotten.”
“Well, you’re not the best with vibes.”
“I am excellent with vibes. Excellent.”
“Not this kind.” He smirks and looks directly at me.
I feel a shiver down my spine. Is he flirting?
“I know exactly what’s going on. She’s trying to find out if Jeremy’s said anything to me about her, and he has. He is all about her.”
Henry stops. We’re about a block away and he turns and looks right at me.
“Evan, you have no idea what you are talking about. She wanted to know if you were dating anyone, if you were interested in dating anyone, and if yoooooouuuu liked girls.” He lingers on that last one and pokes my chest with a very long finger.
“Huh.” I laugh uncomfortably. What does that mean? I can feel my heart racing.
I shouldn’t have worn so many damn shirts. It’s like Splash Rapids Water Park under here. I feel drenched. I start walking in the direction of Bugle’s, rambling all the way. “Well, this is stupid. Why would she want to know all that? I’m going to ask her myself once we’re in there and just get—”
Henry is trying to catch up to me. “Hey, slow down. I don’t think she wants you to know that she’s been asking. Let’s just get ice cream and check out what’s going on and go. No one needs to talk to anyone about anything.”
I attack the front door. It swings out, and as I pull with all my might, I almost hit Henry with it. I forgot for a minute that he was behind me.
“Dude. Just breathe.”
We enter and see what seems like everyone we know in this town. This was not a good idea. Not tonight. Not with everything. Not with Gaige.
I steady myself and think, I can do this. I have faked it before in tougher situations. I see Jeremy and smile in his direction. I scan the room. No sign of Gaige yet.
“Paaaaaaanos! Thought for sure you’d be a dork studying or something else boring.” He turns to Henry. “Hey, Kimball.”
Henry nods at Jeremy. “I’m going to get in line. You want the usual, Ev?”
“I’m coming too.” I lean in toward Jeremy. “I see your girl is here. Have you guys been talking?”
“I don’t know, man. Burgeon is being weird. Kris, too.”
“No. You’re weird. You need to get in there, get Tess alone, and talk to her, but try something other than obnoxious shit. Be respectful. Seriously.”
“Thanks, Pubes. I feel super confident now.”
“Just be the good Jeremy. Not the d-bag one. The d-bag is strong within you, but I know you can fight it. Tess should see that Jeremy.”
“You’re being the D right now. Not good at the pep talk, Pubes.”
“Be nice to Kris, too. Tess and her are close.”
I get in line behind Henry. He is looking intensely at the flavors on the board behind the counter.
“They haven’t changed and you know you’re going for the usual.”
“I’m checking to see what the special is.”
“Hey, are you mad?”
Henry turns around. “Ev, don’t mess with me. Are you interested in Tess?”
“Shit, not so loud.” I’m whispering, scanning the room. Everyone seems to be staring right at us. I smile awkwardly at the people who meet my eyes, and then I turn back to Henry.
“No. I am not,” I whisper to him while I try to tamp down the mixture of dread and excitement building up in the bottom of my stomach.
From the back I hear, “Evan!” Seconds later a big bear hug from behind me.
“What would you like?” the girl behind the counter asks Henry.
But he doesn’t say anything because he’s too busy staring at the arms around my waist.
“Thanks for the invite.” With that, the grip releases. I turn around. And now I’m facing him.
“Gaige.” He’s tall, taller than Henry, and the only person I know with wilder hair than mine. He has the kind of big, perfect smile you see on one of those toothpaste commercials, and his nose is the opposite of mine. Sleek and straight. He’s not wearing his glasses.
He says, “Glad we can see each other before I—”
“Are you all together?” Ali, the girl working behind the ice cream counter, is flirty-smiling, but only at Henry. They all flirty-smile at him.
“A hot fudge sundae for my friend. Vanilla ice cream, extra nuts, no cherry. I’ll have . . . uh, two scoops of mint chip with lots of whipped cream. No nuts, no cherry, no sauce.” Henry’s not even looking at me right now.
Suddenly Gaige is introducing himself, and Henry is watching him and also me, and I’m not saying anything, but I reach into my pocket for some cash before Henry stops me with ready, neatly folded bills.
“I got this. I invited you.” He then looks at Gaige. “What do you want?” At first I think he means, What the hell do you want with Evan? But then I’m like, Oh, right. Ice cream. He’s talking about ice cream.
“Um, just a chocolate cone, but I’ve got it.” Gaige reaches in his pocket and pulls out a twenty. Henry fake smiles at him and shakes his head. “I got it, man.”
Gaige says, “Do you have something going on after this, or you got time to hang for a bit?” He leans in. “I’ve got beer back at my hotel.”
I point to Henry. “We’re going . . . we have something that . . . gotta get back home after this. But we can hang later. Before you leave.” He shrugs and nods.
Ali smiles sweetly. “You’re Henry, right?”
He nods, and smiles back at her. Everyone is smiling but me.
“I’m Ali. We’re in physics together.” She’s still not giving him back his change.
“I know that, Ali. Hi.” Even though he’s still smiling, he’s acting oddly stiff.
Okay. So Henry gets all worked up wanting to know if I’m into Tess or not and now he’s flirting with this girl? Really? Maybe it’s his way of getting back at me. Either way, it’s pathetic.
“I’m having one last pool party this weekend, and if you wanted to come . . .”
“Oh, yeah. That sounds cool.” Henry flashes her a big, dimply smile. Fuck you, Henry. And Ali!
“Oh, and you . . . Kevin? You and your friend are welcome too.”
“It’s Evan. Thanks. My friend’s from out of town.” I’ve been to Ali’s house at least twice. Is she pretending to not remember me?
“I’m here for a few days,” adds Gaige.
Henry says, “That sounds fun. We should all go.”
As I stand there thinking, No, no, we should not.
“Great. It’s going to be on Saturday. I’ll get you the details.”
All three of us move to the end of the counter to wait for our orders.
Henry looks at Gaige. “So how do you and Evan know each other?” It’s like I’m invisible right now. I tell myself, You have finally mastered the art.
Is Gaige really going to come to that party?
Are we all going? I’m supposed to register for Greek school on Saturday.
Like that—all my worlds are colliding.
As Gaige says, “We met at summer camp this year.”
Sorry, Gaige—not that storyline. “He’s in town taking a college tour. He knew that I lived in Kalakee. . . . The church his family attends is an affiliate of my family’s church—that kind of stuff.”
Henry says, “Nice. Evan never talks about his friends from camp.”
I think, Now would be a good time for the rapture.
“Well, he probably never met anyone like me.” Gaige smiles. Big.
“We had stuff in common,” I blurt out.
Henry looks at both of us. Is that a hurt expression?
We get interrupted by Tess and Kris, which I welcome at this point.
“Were you guys playing tennis tonight?” Tess is chattier than I’ve seen her before, like she’s anxious or something. Or like she likes you, Evan. I smile uncomfortably.
I jump in. “Nope. Work—homework. Are you here with Jeremy?” Of course I know now she’s not, but maybe with the power of suggestion I can help make this happen for him if he’s too big an idiot to do it for himself. Also, I’m actually happy to move on to this awkward exchange. Anything’s better than the one I was just having.
I offer, “We’re just here.”
“Like a date?” She laughs.
“This should be good,” Kris says.
“This is Evan’s friend from California. Gaige,” Henry says.
“Nice to meet you.” Tess inspects Gaige and then Henry, then me.
Kris nods at him. “Hey.”
As the girls start chatting with each other, Gaige turns toward me and whispers, “When are we going to get some alone time?”
“Not now,” I whisper back, and quickly look around to see if anyone is watching.
Henry turns his attention to Tess. “You and Jeremy are on a date?”
Kris snorts. Loudly.
Tess laughs and twirls her hair. “No, I meant you two. You’re here for ice cream after homework, like a date.” She giggles again. As if that’s funny.
I start to feel my face get warm. Henry turns back again toward the counter. I glance at Gaige and he shoots me an uncomfortable stare.
I stand there saying nothing and feeling all kinds of anxious.
“Here are your orders.” Ali is holding Gaige’s cone.
“Yep, Tess. Just like that. Is that a problem?” Henry says.
She half smirks at him.
“Not a problem at all,” Kris assures him, sounding annoyed at Tess.
“All right, then. Hope you can get a date with Jeremy, Tessie,” Henry says as he grabs his order. He knows she hates being called Tessie. Why is he being like this?
Tess’s face immediately turns angry.
“I’m not interested in Jeremy!” she says too loudly. So much so that Jeremy, and pretty much everyone else, hears her. Kris gives her a smirk and walks away.
I glance over at Jeremy and he just shrugs, but I can tell his feelings are hurt.
Tess is still focused on us. Henry hands me my sundae and smiles like a big weirdo at me. Gaige looks totally confused, as if he doesn’t know what he’s witnessing. Then Henry turns to face Tess, licks the whipped cream that’s piled insanely high on top of his mint chip ice cream scoops, and says, “If not Jeremy, who are you interested in, Tessie?” He’s just fucking with her now.
“Why would I tell you?” she huffs. “And please don’t call me that anymore.”
“Why wouldn’t you? We’re no threat if you think we’re dating.” He signals with his one ice cream free hand to us. As in me and him.
There’s a part of me that doesn’t like the way he’s acting. It’s not like him to be so mean-spirited, and what I love about Henry is how kind he always is. But still. Having him say that out loud in front of everyone—even if it isn’t true—gives me a thrill.
That immediately turns to panic, though, as I’m trying to control the redness of my face—and at the same time wondering what in the world Gaige must be thinking right now.
All I wanted was a sundae. Just a normal outing. I don’t get these opportunities often. Suddenly, I’ve been pulled into this universe where people are flirting and not flirting and wigging out and talking in circles and just showing up from California. Tess gives Henry an angry face this time before she turns around and heads to the corner where the girls from the volleyball team are cluster-laughing. Kris smiles at me. Like we share a secret.
Henry sticks his spoon in his pocket and keeps licking the whipped cream. He turns to me. “You ready? Nice to meet you, Gaige. See you this weekend.”
And I can’t help it. I think, Ready for what?
I turn toward Gaige. “Um, I’ll see you Saturday?”
He nods but looks baffled. “Okay. Maybe. I’m not sure I . . . can we talk before then?”
“I’ll text you. I have your number. You gave it to me at camp, remember?”
Gaige looks directly at me and answers, “Yes, I do.”
Henry’s eyebrows go way up at that. I try to breathe as we walk away.