back.”
Lydia raised her can of Diet Coke. “Always.” Shannon raised her water bottle and waited for me to raise mine. We clicked over the table, sealing the deal.
“So now that we have that out of the way, what is the deal with Brody? Do you like him?” Shannon asked, popping a hunk of cucumber in her mouth. “I’m telling you, we saw you guys through the window and the sparks were flying.”
“There were no sparks,” I said. “We were just celebrating getting started on our project. C’mon, you guys know me, do I ever turn down an opportunity for ice cream?” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I didn’t want to talk about him. It was like what was happening with Brody was completely separate from the rest of my life, and I didn’t like the two parts mixing together. Shannon and Lydia were great, but anytime any of us had a crush or started dating anyone, the whole situation had to be dissected and explored. We practically busted out a whiteboard so the whole thing could be diagrammed with colored markers. I wanted to keep Brody to myself. “I’d go with anyone if they offered ice cream. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Shannon snorted. “Sparks, fireworks. I’m telling you there was a boom. Fever. Heat.” She licked her finger and made a sizzling sound.
“I don’t like Brody, okay? We’re just friends. We’re not even really that—we’re just partners for this stupid project.”
Lydia’s mouth opened into a perfect circle and her eyes were wide. Shit. I turned around slowly and saw Brody standing right behind me. The words in my mouth dried up.
“Hey,” I croaked.
“I wanted to give you this.” Brody passed me a manila envelope. “It’s the pictures I’d already taken for the project.”
“Oh. Thanks.” An awkward silence fell over the table.
“I didn’t know you took pictures. That’s so cool,” Lydia said in an overly perky voice.
Brody stared at her without answering and then looked back at me. “See you around.” He turned and wove through the crowd in the cafeteria. He pushed his way through the large group hanging out near the door and walked out. I wanted to jump up and follow him, but I was pretty sure he didn’t want to talk to me, and even if I caught up with him, I had no idea what I’d say. Lately I didn’t seem capable of talking to anyone without screwing it up.
“See what I mean? The guy is weird,” Shannon said.
• • •
I went to the Human Services office after school. When we’d planned it, Brody had said he’d come with me, but I didn’t seehim the rest of the day. I hung around his locker after classes, but he didn’t show up. I sent him a text, but he didn’t text me back. There was no denying it: Either aliens had kidnapped him, or he was avoiding me. I decided to go ahead without him. Maybe I’d find out something and have an excuse to contact him again. I knew he’d want to hear what happened.
My heart was slamming in my chest. My skin felt hyperaware and itchy. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this nervous. I made myself take three deep breaths, exhaling slowly. I’d thought about calling, maybe calling from a pay phone at the mall like it was a bomb threat that I didn’t want traced to my home phone, but I knew that was a stupid idea. All I was asking for was some information. Going in person was still the best plan.
I yanked open the door to the Department of Human Services and stepped inside. It looked like every other government office I’d ever been in: industrial furniture, informational posters taped to the wall, and worn carpet on the floor. There was a group of people milling around the lobby, and at the front a few desks behind a counter. I walked up to one of them.
“Excuse me,” I started.
The woman didn’t even look up from what she was doing and instead pointed to the far wall. I turned but didn’t see anything.
“I was hoping—” I got out before she cut me off.
“Take a number.” Her
Lydia raised her can of Diet Coke. “Always.” Shannon raised her water bottle and waited for me to raise mine. We clicked over the table, sealing the deal.
“So now that we have that out of the way, what is the deal with Brody? Do you like him?” Shannon asked, popping a hunk of cucumber in her mouth. “I’m telling you, we saw you guys through the window and the sparks were flying.”
“There were no sparks,” I said. “We were just celebrating getting started on our project. C’mon, you guys know me, do I ever turn down an opportunity for ice cream?” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I didn’t want to talk about him. It was like what was happening with Brody was completely separate from the rest of my life, and I didn’t like the two parts mixing together. Shannon and Lydia were great, but anytime any of us had a crush or started dating anyone, the whole situation had to be dissected and explored. We practically busted out a whiteboard so the whole thing could be diagrammed with colored markers. I wanted to keep Brody to myself. “I’d go with anyone if they offered ice cream. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Shannon snorted. “Sparks, fireworks. I’m telling you there was a boom. Fever. Heat.” She licked her finger and made a sizzling sound.
“I don’t like Brody, okay? We’re just friends. We’re not even really that—we’re just partners for this stupid project.”
Lydia’s mouth opened into a perfect circle and her eyes were wide. Shit. I turned around slowly and saw Brody standing right behind me. The words in my mouth dried up.
“Hey,” I croaked.
“I wanted to give you this.” Brody passed me a manila envelope. “It’s the pictures I’d already taken for the project.”
“Oh. Thanks.” An awkward silence fell over the table.
“I didn’t know you took pictures. That’s so cool,” Lydia said in an overly perky voice.
Brody stared at her without answering and then looked back at me. “See you around.” He turned and wove through the crowd in the cafeteria. He pushed his way through the large group hanging out near the door and walked out. I wanted to jump up and follow him, but I was pretty sure he didn’t want to talk to me, and even if I caught up with him, I had no idea what I’d say. Lately I didn’t seem capable of talking to anyone without screwing it up.
“See what I mean? The guy is weird,” Shannon said.
• • •
I went to the Human Services office after school. When we’d planned it, Brody had said he’d come with me, but I didn’t seehim the rest of the day. I hung around his locker after classes, but he didn’t show up. I sent him a text, but he didn’t text me back. There was no denying it: Either aliens had kidnapped him, or he was avoiding me. I decided to go ahead without him. Maybe I’d find out something and have an excuse to contact him again. I knew he’d want to hear what happened.
My heart was slamming in my chest. My skin felt hyperaware and itchy. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this nervous. I made myself take three deep breaths, exhaling slowly. I’d thought about calling, maybe calling from a pay phone at the mall like it was a bomb threat that I didn’t want traced to my home phone, but I knew that was a stupid idea. All I was asking for was some information. Going in person was still the best plan.
I yanked open the door to the Department of Human Services and stepped inside. It looked like every other government office I’d ever been in: industrial furniture, informational posters taped to the wall, and worn carpet on the floor. There was a group of people milling around the lobby, and at the front a few desks behind a counter. I walked up to one of them.
“Excuse me,” I started.
The woman didn’t even look up from what she was doing and instead pointed to the far wall. I turned but didn’t see anything.
“I was hoping—” I got out before she cut me off.
“Take a number.” Her
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