careful around her. “How was your date?”
“It was nice,” she replies. That’s an understatement, I know. She’s working the breakfast shift tomorrow, which means she has to be up at four thirty in the morning. She must have had a hell of a fine time with Breeze to stay out so late. “How was your date? Did you have dinner?”
“My date was fine.” Another understatement. “I had a fried egg sandwich and salad for dinner. Do you want me to fix something for you?”
“No. I’m going to bed. Good night.” She floats down the hall, and I can tell from the faraway look I saw in her eyes that her mind is on her long Sunday date. Whoever Breeze is, he is already working some kind of magic on my mom.
I DON ’ T expect things to be any different at school. Saul and I only have one class together, and I rarely see him at other times during the day. But I’m thinking about him, and it makes me feel good. The other kids avoid me, as usual. I stop by my locker before first period to get my history book. A folded piece of notebook paper falls out. I pick up the paper and unfold it. It reads: I’m stalking you. (Not really. But sort of.) Saul .
The smile flashes across my face before I know it. I look up and down the hall, but Saul is not in sight. I wish I knew where he is right now. But I don’t have time to go find him, and even if I did, it’s probably not a good idea for me to do it. I don’t want to make him a freak by association around here.
I’m so glad he left me this note. It means he’s thinking about me too. God, that makes me so happy.
I still have some of the money left that Mr. Luigi paid me. On my lunch period, I treat myself to a burger and salad combo. With my tray, I make my way through the crowded dining area until I find an empty table. It’s empty because a bunch of kids ate there and didn’t bother to carry their dirty trays and dishes to the dishwasher’s station. I push aside one of the trays and sit down.
The burger is nice and hot, the salad is cool and crisp. I lucked out going through the line when I did. For once, the food is really fresh. I eat slowly. Soon, my mind is drifting. There is sudden movement right behind me, and I think it’s just some guy on his way to somewhere else. Only he doesn’t pass by. He plops down on the empty metal stool beside me.
“Man. Could you be any harder to find in this place?” Saul snipes at me with a smile. “I thought I was gonna have to send out a bloodhound.”
I’m surprised and pleased to see him but also nervous. “What are you doing here?”
“Cutting my Econ class so I can drop in on your lunch period,” he answers. “I couldn’t wait until Botany to see you.”
I take a quick look around. A couple of kids are giving us these weird, what-the-hell looks. Saul shouldn’t be here, not with me.
“Why are you hiding out on the backside of the cafeteria at a dirty table?”
“This was the only vacancy.” I hope he won’t keep pressing me on this. To make sure he doesn’t, I ask, “How’d you know this is my lunch period? And how’d you know where my locker is?”
“I asked at the office. The secretary didn’t want to tell me at first, so I told her you forgot your inhaler this morning and your mom gave it to me so I could get it to you, and if I didn’t get it to you, you could wind up having an asthma attack and going to the hospital. She gave up the information right after that. Please tell me you don’t really have asthma, because I’m going to feel like a major dirtbag if you do.” He leans toward me, his big shoulder almost touching my puny one.
“No, I don’t have asthma.” My throat is suddenly so dry my voice squeaks.
He’s sitting with his back to the table, very close to my seat, and his face shows how glad he is that we’re together once more. For the first time, it occurs to me that he actually likes me. I don’t want him to be hurt, but we’re sitting together in a crowded
“It was nice,” she replies. That’s an understatement, I know. She’s working the breakfast shift tomorrow, which means she has to be up at four thirty in the morning. She must have had a hell of a fine time with Breeze to stay out so late. “How was your date? Did you have dinner?”
“My date was fine.” Another understatement. “I had a fried egg sandwich and salad for dinner. Do you want me to fix something for you?”
“No. I’m going to bed. Good night.” She floats down the hall, and I can tell from the faraway look I saw in her eyes that her mind is on her long Sunday date. Whoever Breeze is, he is already working some kind of magic on my mom.
I DON ’ T expect things to be any different at school. Saul and I only have one class together, and I rarely see him at other times during the day. But I’m thinking about him, and it makes me feel good. The other kids avoid me, as usual. I stop by my locker before first period to get my history book. A folded piece of notebook paper falls out. I pick up the paper and unfold it. It reads: I’m stalking you. (Not really. But sort of.) Saul .
The smile flashes across my face before I know it. I look up and down the hall, but Saul is not in sight. I wish I knew where he is right now. But I don’t have time to go find him, and even if I did, it’s probably not a good idea for me to do it. I don’t want to make him a freak by association around here.
I’m so glad he left me this note. It means he’s thinking about me too. God, that makes me so happy.
I still have some of the money left that Mr. Luigi paid me. On my lunch period, I treat myself to a burger and salad combo. With my tray, I make my way through the crowded dining area until I find an empty table. It’s empty because a bunch of kids ate there and didn’t bother to carry their dirty trays and dishes to the dishwasher’s station. I push aside one of the trays and sit down.
The burger is nice and hot, the salad is cool and crisp. I lucked out going through the line when I did. For once, the food is really fresh. I eat slowly. Soon, my mind is drifting. There is sudden movement right behind me, and I think it’s just some guy on his way to somewhere else. Only he doesn’t pass by. He plops down on the empty metal stool beside me.
“Man. Could you be any harder to find in this place?” Saul snipes at me with a smile. “I thought I was gonna have to send out a bloodhound.”
I’m surprised and pleased to see him but also nervous. “What are you doing here?”
“Cutting my Econ class so I can drop in on your lunch period,” he answers. “I couldn’t wait until Botany to see you.”
I take a quick look around. A couple of kids are giving us these weird, what-the-hell looks. Saul shouldn’t be here, not with me.
“Why are you hiding out on the backside of the cafeteria at a dirty table?”
“This was the only vacancy.” I hope he won’t keep pressing me on this. To make sure he doesn’t, I ask, “How’d you know this is my lunch period? And how’d you know where my locker is?”
“I asked at the office. The secretary didn’t want to tell me at first, so I told her you forgot your inhaler this morning and your mom gave it to me so I could get it to you, and if I didn’t get it to you, you could wind up having an asthma attack and going to the hospital. She gave up the information right after that. Please tell me you don’t really have asthma, because I’m going to feel like a major dirtbag if you do.” He leans toward me, his big shoulder almost touching my puny one.
“No, I don’t have asthma.” My throat is suddenly so dry my voice squeaks.
He’s sitting with his back to the table, very close to my seat, and his face shows how glad he is that we’re together once more. For the first time, it occurs to me that he actually likes me. I don’t want him to be hurt, but we’re sitting together in a crowded
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