There's that word again.
"Thanks," I say to Alex, my cheeks getting hot just like last year when he said "beautiful" to me after my last performance of Guys and Dolls .
"Are you going to the Hot Shot dance?" he asks.
"Of course. I'm in charge of it," I pull my shoulders back and sit up straighter. President Hart at your service .
"Well..." Alex runs his fingers through his curly brown hair. His blue eyes sparkle even in the dim computer lab. "Since we did go to a movie last Saturday, and you let me put my arm around you, maybe we could..."
"Nice jersey, Jock Strap." Lil cuts him off and casually takes the seat next to me. Alex blinks, surprised. He looks at Lil, and then back at me, a deer-in-headlights kind of look on his face. His shoulders fall a bit.
"Thank you, Lil. You look nice today as always," Alex smiles at her and says in a bold voice, "Thanks for going out with me last Saturday, Marty. I hope we can do it again." He winks and walks over to his seat.
I giggle, the nervous bubble in my stomach deflating. I think kissing Alex would be nice. He probably tastes like apples and his lips are never chapped and I bet he'd run his fingers through my hair just like I've always wanted. We could go out on dates and he'd hold my hand and kiss me on the front porch while my parents peered from inside the house, thinking, Marty's finally found the perfect boyfriend .
But what if that's not what I want anymore? I touch the black jelly bracelet Matt gave me. Insta-goosebumps.
"Oh my God, could he have a bigger boner for you or what?" Lil turns on her computer. I look at her out of the corner of my eye. Her red sunglasses are propped on top of her head, even though it's raining out, and she's looking straight ahead.
Did she just say the word boner ?! You can't just say things like that out loud!
"Be quiet," I whisper, my heart picking up speed.
"What? Would you prefer I call it a chubby?" Lil speaks even more loudly. Pippa Rogers turns around and rolls her eyes. My face heats up a thousand degrees. I can't believe Lil is saying this. To ME. I breathe, trying to calm my insides.
You are in a class, Marty Hart. Eyes on the board .
"Lil," I bark through my teeth.
"Or maybe purple-headed yogurt slinger!" Lil's voice is on the verge of yelling now and half the class is staring at her.
My mouth has fallen open, a gaping hole the size of the Grand Canyon. I can't believe her ability to say things that should never be spoken aloud.
And then I feel it. It starts with a sniffle that moves to a hiccup that becomes a giggle that explodes into an all-over, body-convulsing fit of laughter I can't control that makes me want to scream BONER at the top of my lungs.
"Is everything okay, Marty?" Ms. Everley asks. I've caused such a commotion that she can't start the lesson. I stare at her and the white line of chalk across the crotch of her black pants. Is everything okay? I'd like to know the answer to that question myself. For the past few days, I haven't felt right in my own skin and all of a sudden Lil says some inappropriate words and I'm free and laughing and utterly embarrassed at the same time. What's happening to me?
"It's just a tickle in my throat," I say, and cough.
"Why don't you get a drink of water."
I walk out of the computer lab and breathe. It felt good to laugh, but my mom would be appalled.
When I come back to the classroom, I keep my eyes focused on the computer. But I smile in Lil's direction, just a little bit.
***
Halfway through class, my phone dings with a text message. We're not supposed to text in school. It's the rules and as my mom would say, it's highly rude and inconsiderate. Those teachers spend hours developing lesson plans and I expect you to pay attention .
My mom studied education in college, even though she hasn't worked a day in an actual school, and she considers herself an expert on teaching. I have a hard time believing Ms. Everley spent hours on today's lesson plan about how to
"Thanks," I say to Alex, my cheeks getting hot just like last year when he said "beautiful" to me after my last performance of Guys and Dolls .
"Are you going to the Hot Shot dance?" he asks.
"Of course. I'm in charge of it," I pull my shoulders back and sit up straighter. President Hart at your service .
"Well..." Alex runs his fingers through his curly brown hair. His blue eyes sparkle even in the dim computer lab. "Since we did go to a movie last Saturday, and you let me put my arm around you, maybe we could..."
"Nice jersey, Jock Strap." Lil cuts him off and casually takes the seat next to me. Alex blinks, surprised. He looks at Lil, and then back at me, a deer-in-headlights kind of look on his face. His shoulders fall a bit.
"Thank you, Lil. You look nice today as always," Alex smiles at her and says in a bold voice, "Thanks for going out with me last Saturday, Marty. I hope we can do it again." He winks and walks over to his seat.
I giggle, the nervous bubble in my stomach deflating. I think kissing Alex would be nice. He probably tastes like apples and his lips are never chapped and I bet he'd run his fingers through my hair just like I've always wanted. We could go out on dates and he'd hold my hand and kiss me on the front porch while my parents peered from inside the house, thinking, Marty's finally found the perfect boyfriend .
But what if that's not what I want anymore? I touch the black jelly bracelet Matt gave me. Insta-goosebumps.
"Oh my God, could he have a bigger boner for you or what?" Lil turns on her computer. I look at her out of the corner of my eye. Her red sunglasses are propped on top of her head, even though it's raining out, and she's looking straight ahead.
Did she just say the word boner ?! You can't just say things like that out loud!
"Be quiet," I whisper, my heart picking up speed.
"What? Would you prefer I call it a chubby?" Lil speaks even more loudly. Pippa Rogers turns around and rolls her eyes. My face heats up a thousand degrees. I can't believe Lil is saying this. To ME. I breathe, trying to calm my insides.
You are in a class, Marty Hart. Eyes on the board .
"Lil," I bark through my teeth.
"Or maybe purple-headed yogurt slinger!" Lil's voice is on the verge of yelling now and half the class is staring at her.
My mouth has fallen open, a gaping hole the size of the Grand Canyon. I can't believe her ability to say things that should never be spoken aloud.
And then I feel it. It starts with a sniffle that moves to a hiccup that becomes a giggle that explodes into an all-over, body-convulsing fit of laughter I can't control that makes me want to scream BONER at the top of my lungs.
"Is everything okay, Marty?" Ms. Everley asks. I've caused such a commotion that she can't start the lesson. I stare at her and the white line of chalk across the crotch of her black pants. Is everything okay? I'd like to know the answer to that question myself. For the past few days, I haven't felt right in my own skin and all of a sudden Lil says some inappropriate words and I'm free and laughing and utterly embarrassed at the same time. What's happening to me?
"It's just a tickle in my throat," I say, and cough.
"Why don't you get a drink of water."
I walk out of the computer lab and breathe. It felt good to laugh, but my mom would be appalled.
When I come back to the classroom, I keep my eyes focused on the computer. But I smile in Lil's direction, just a little bit.
***
Halfway through class, my phone dings with a text message. We're not supposed to text in school. It's the rules and as my mom would say, it's highly rude and inconsiderate. Those teachers spend hours developing lesson plans and I expect you to pay attention .
My mom studied education in college, even though she hasn't worked a day in an actual school, and she considers herself an expert on teaching. I have a hard time believing Ms. Everley spent hours on today's lesson plan about how to
Similar Books
