While I tried not to drool, Brendon put the computer in “safe mode” and was able to save my paper to a drive. He started up his laptop for me, and I leaned over him while he explained how to use it. The side of his ear and neck were hot. I never knew anyone could have such amazing ears. People take things like ears for granted when it comes to the cuteness factor.

“Did you get all that?” he asked. I had no idea what he was referring to, but I nodded. Why couldn’t I keep my head around this guy? It wasn’t like I had grown up in a convent or something and this was the first guy I had ever seen. I never had trouble talking to guys before, so why was I thrown by him? Well, other than the fact he was amazingly hot and nice. Nice. I didn’t even believe in the myth of the “nice guy,” but Brendon seemed to be one. I had noticed last year that even when his friends would make fun of people in the hallways at school, he never did. And who else would have come over to try and fix my computer and bring along his laptop in case I needed it? Okay, I needed to focus. After all, my grandmother always warned me about falling into the whole “knight on a white horse” thing. She said women did not need rescuing and I could take care of myself, and with the exception of this laptop thing, I could. So why did I act stupid around him?

“I think it’s a virus.”

“Huh?” I glanced up.

“I think you have a virus,” he said. “You should probably take it in and have it checked out. Wish I could fix it, but what can I say? I’m not that smart.”

A guy who admitted he couldn’t fix something? Grandma didn’t warn me about that happening. In fact, she wouldn’t believe such a thing existed.

“Well, thanks for trying and getting my paper off there. I can use my mom’s computer if you want your laptop back. I hope I didn’t infect you…” Ugh, why couldn’t I just be normal for two seconds? “I mean, I put this drive in your computer—”

“I have tons of virus blockers and stuff on there. It should be fine. Are you sure you don’t need it anymore?” he said. “How’s your paper coming?”

I shrugged. “It’s coming. Thanks again for coming over. I thought I was going to have to throw holy water on it to—” Shut up, shut up, shut up, you little weirdo. “I mean, thanks for coming over. See ya tomorrow.”

As soon as he left, Mom came into the room to ask if my computer was fixed.

“No, but my friend was able to get my paper for me. I guess I have a virus.”

“So your friend was able to get it for you,” she said, smirking. “How interesting you called a guy to help you.”

“What? Oh, because only guys know about computers. That is so sexist, mother.”

“I meant because you got ready like you were going to the prom,” she said. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you wearing makeup just to do your homework.”

I rolled my eyes and told her I had to get going on my homework. She made smooching noises as she got her laptop for me. It would be nice to have a mother who didn’t have the social skills of a six-year-old. Before I got back to work, I decided to light some candles. It was Tuesday, so I lit my pink cotton candy scented soy candle to draw love. Grandma was the one who had told me how different candle colors meant different things and which days you should light which candle. My mom wasn’t into that sort of thing, although she did light blue candles for safe travels before we’d go on trips. I wondered if the pink candle thing actually worked. It had never done anything for me before, but what if this time was different? Chances were nothing would ever happen with Brendon and me, but what if he was my soul mate? Stranger things had happened. Like the time I had a dream years ago about a player throwing up during basketball finals. I mentioned it to my dad, who had seen me predict stuff before, so he bet a ton on the game with some of his friends. Well, I was right about the guy having the flu, but he still played, and his team won. And my dad was not happy. Grandma told him that’s what he got for trying to “abuse my gift for profit.” However, my “gift” wasn’t helping me figure out how to talk to Brendon. Okay, forget talk, I wanted him to fall for me the way the singer Nick Bettis fell for my favorite actress, Grai—wait, they didn’t exactly work out. Or did they get back together? Once my subscription to Starlight Magazine expired, it was like I wasn’t up on anything anymore.

I sat back on my bed. I couldn’t think of one other person who would have dropped everything to come over to help someone they barely knew. It had to mean something, right? I had a weird feeling he and I were supposed to be more than just partners in class. Well, even if the candle thing didn’t work, it still made my room smell good.

I tried to picture what it would be like to date Brendon and imagined him taking me to a restaurant on the water. One of those places that put up Christmas lights year round so everything’s all romantic and sparkly. It would be private and dark, so I wouldn’t have to worry about getting sauce on my chin or trying to use my knife and fork. I was convinced back in the day I had missed the lesson on how to properly use silverware. Maybe I was sick that day like I was the day when everybody learned how to tell time, which meant for the rest of my life, I had to pretend I couldn’t see my watch clearly whenever someone asked what time it was. I was sure Brendon could tell time easily with his expensive Riley Turner watch. The price of his watch could single-handedly save the rain forest. Okay, maybe not, but it was expensive. As I sat there, I wondered if he believed in love at first sight and the whole soul mate/kindred spirit thing. Then I wondered if he had any feelings for me at all. I couldn’t sleep, so I went to talk to my mom. She was in her room, reading, and I noticed she had a bunch of green candles lit on the coffee table.

“For Grandma?” I asked.

“Yeah, she was always lighting green candles when people got sick,” she said. “Maybe now it’ll work for her.”

I wasn’t sure whether or not to point out the light-green candle in the middle was actually suited more for getting pregnant than getting well, but I thought I’d let it go. Maybe the exact shade of green wasn’t as important as Grandma had led me to believe. Or maybe I’d have a new brother or sister soon—eww. I couldn’t even let my mind go there.

“I’ve been lighting them, too,” I said.

“I know, your father’s been complaining you’re going to burn the house down. He’s afraid you’ll forget how many you lit.”

I had never forgotten to blow out a candle—fine, okay, once. I had lit an aromatherapy stress candle, my friend Margaux called, and I was on the phone for over an hour. When I came back, the candle had burned so low that I didn’t see the flame, and I didn’t remember it was lit until I switched off the lights to go to bed. If it wasn’t for the tiny glow, I would have fallen asleep without blowing it out, but even if I didn’t blow it out, it was in a container, so I’m sure it wouldn’t have caught my dresser on fire. Besides, it wasn’t like we didn’t have insurance.

“If nothing else, the green should help us with prosperity,” she said.

“I thought purple was for prosperity.”

“You should know, I guess. You always paid way more attention to what Grandma was saying about the superstitious stuff than I did.”

“Do you think she’s going to be all right?” I asked.

“She’s a fighter, but you need to get to bed. You don’t want dark circles under your eyes for when you see Brendon—” She started laughing. “Sorry, that sounded like something an old-fashioned sitcom mother would say. Get your butt to bed, kiddo.”

“You know, it wouldn’t kill you to be a little more sitcom mom-ish,” I said. Mom said she’d work on teasing her hair up and wearing an apron to make breakfast in the morning.