Chapter FIFTEEN

After dinner, my mom said she wanted to talk. I agreed, but felt unsure as we sat beside each other on the sofa. I was exhausted - like I could close my eyes right then and fall asleep. I hadn't slept much the night before.

   "So, about last night," she began, as I covered a yawn.

   "What?" I asked, trying to play it cool.

   "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about anything -"

   "It's fine, Mom. I wasn't," I said quickly.

   "Well, you don't have to pretend it wasn't awkward. I just really thought you'd be out at a party, or something," she went on, pushing up her glasses.

   "I actually stayed home to see if you wanted to hang out," I said, though the words came out sounding meaner than I intended.

   "Oh." She looked away, then let out a deep breath. I watched as she tucked some hair behind her ear. "You know, I went into this thinking you would want me to leave you alone. So I guess I've been trying to do that."

   I shook my head. "That's not what I want. Maybe when I first got here... I might have given you that impression."

   "Maybe," she smiled.

   "It's not what I expected. Any of this," I admitted.

   "Better or worse?" she wanted to know.

   "Way better." I sighed, looking at her again. "Since I've been here, I realized that I didn't really have much there, in Chicago. Kennedy, dad, yes... but even my friends were sort of... not good friends."

   "How so?"

   "None of them have even called." I looked at my hands, because I didn't want to see the look on her face.

   "Oh. Well, screw them," she blurted out. "I mean, it's all a strange situation, but they should be checking in."

   "Mom... I already have people that I've met here that I'm closer with, than any of my friends at home," I told her.

   "Wow. Well, I am happy to hear that." She reached over and squeezed my hand. "And I'm really happy you're here."

   "Dinner in two weekends at Momma Lee's," Franky announced, a few days later. "My birthday."

   We were at lunch, occupying a picnic table outside. It was chilly, but I shoved my hands into my sweater. It felt like spring some days and still like winter some days. There were posters and gossip about the Spring Fling dance that was coming up in a week.

   "Can we please worry about the dance first?" Tab asked, biting into her sandwich.

   "I guess," Franky shrugged. "But can't I be excited for my birthday?"

   Tab laughed, then looked at me. "The Spring Fling is a big deal, on Friday. But Darwin Atwood's party is Saturday night -"

   "Can we just pick one?" Franky interrupted. "That's a lot of social interaction in one weekend."

   "But the dance is -"

   "Lame, probably."

   "It will be fun!" Tab said anyway. "And the party... we have to go."

   "We don't have to. You want to," Franky rolled his eyes at her.

   "Kels? School dance or Darwin's party?" she asked me.

   I swallowed hard, not liking being put on the spot. Earlier that week, Darwin Atwood stopped me in the hall and told me he liked my hair. That morning, Asher Gray flirted with me at my locker. All of it felt very surreal. I wasn't the girl who was used to getting attention.

   "I don't know, I said finally. "Party?"

   "Fine," Franky answered, shaknig his head.

   Tab huffed, finishing her lunch. I ate my container of strawberries before packing up to go back in for my next period.

   After school, Darwin was standing at my car as I approached. I forced a smile.

   "Hey."

   "Hey, you," he grinned. "Just wanted to find out if you are coming to the party Saturday?"

   I stopped a few feet away from him. "Actually, yeah. Tab and Franky and I are -"

   "Awesome. Good. Can't wait to see you there." He smiled, showing his teeth, then started walking away.

   For some reason, the interaction made me feel uncomfortable, rather than good. There must have been some reason he and his friends were being so nice to me, right?

   BUZZ.

   My phone vibrated in my bag, as I clicked in my seat belt a few minutes later. I reached in grab it out before starting the car.

   3. YOU'RE REAL. LIKE, HONEST.

   Of course, it was a text from Anderson.

   YOU DON'T KNOW THAT. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY IM REALLY IN ST. CLOUD, I sent back to him.

   I DON'T REALLY CARE. IM JUST GLAD YOU WERE ON THAT PLANE.

   CHEESY, I sent, but I was smiling.

   MAYBE. BUT YOU WERE REAL ON SATURDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY MORNING? WHATEVER DAY IT WAS.

   I thought about that night, sitting outside with him. We hadn't told each other too much, but I guess I was honest. I didn't try to act like I was someone I wasn't. I didn't need to.

   I GUESS, I sent to him.

   YOURE DIFFERENT. I MEAN, THAN OTHER GIRLS I KNOW.

   HOW SO?

   I put my phone down on the seat beside me and backed out of the parking lot. I couldn't stop thinking about what his next text would say, and when I got home ten minutes later, I checked it right away.

   YOU DON'T TRY HARD TO IMPRESS ANYONE.

   IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE A COMPLIMENT? I asked back, still sitting in the driveway.

   YES. SORRY. I WISH I COULD SEE YOU RIGHT NOW.

   I smiled again, feeling something I'd never felt before. My chest felt tight and my heart was beating a bit too fast.