Mario was waiting at our locker when I finally showed up Friday morning. "What's your plans tonight?" he asked. "I was thinking of heading up to the amphitheater."

I stuffed a book in my locker. It barely fit. I made a mental note to clean my half. Mario's was cleaner than I'd ever seen a locker, especially the bottom. "Sorry, I made plans with the girls I work with."

He leaned on the locker bank and crossed his arms. "Oh, yeah?" I nodded. He studied me for a moment. "Well, that's probably better, anyway." His voice was light, but his eyes seemed sad. "George would be happier about that setup, at least."

I turned to him. There was so much I wanted to say to him, beginning with the fact I was beginning to care less about what George thought about my friends. All that I allowed to come out was, "You could probably come if you wanted."

He pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "Me and three girls? Really?"

"Kenny will be with us for a while after his show."

Mario raised one eyebrow but didn't say anything. Just looked at me. For so long I began to blush. He finally sighed. "I don't really know them."

"It would give you a chance to." I caught myself reaching for his sleeve. "Broaden your horizons and all that."

He gave me a small smile. "I'll think about it. If I decide to hang out, I'll meet you at the theater."

I figured that was the best I was going to get. "Okay."

---

Britt sighed impatiently. "Come on," she said.

"Just give him another minute," I pleaded. We were behind the theater. I was hoping Mario would show up, even though the show had been over for nearly ten minutes. He was normally there on time, but this time it wasn't going to be just us. I was with some new friends. Friends he didn't know.

Shay looked at her watch. "Kenny's probably on by now. We only have a little time to get the pizzas and get back to our apartment."

I chewed my lip furiously, trying to reconcile myself to the fact that he likely wasn't coming. "Okay, I guess." I started to head to their car when a pair of headlights turned in. When I turned around, I realized it was only someone driving around to pick up someone else coming out of the theater. I sighed.

We piled into Britt's car, and she backed out. I kept watching the vehicles, but I only saw him as we left: a lone black Toyota Camry parked at the end of arow, lights off, Mario watching us. I wondered why he didn't get out to come with us. As we left, I felt as lonely as that car looked. I was with two others, but I couldn't help feeling the notion of being alone creep into my bones as we picked up pizza and soda. The night was sure to be long if this was any indication.

The more time passed, the more I regretted coming. We were going to a strange place, where I was going to be until Larry picked me up – if he even remembered – around eleven. We'd barely have time to get the pizzas down and talk any at all by then, but I was beginning to think I'd rather not be there at all.

When we parked in front of the apartment Britt and Shay shared, I had to physically force myself to move. I returned their smiles, but I found myself wishing to be back in Denver with Mario, listening to some show and laughing at the performer.

My mind was working overtime and I took deep breaths on the climb to the third floor, hoping they'd believe it was from the exertion and not from my nerves. I remembered why I didn't normally hang out with new and older kids. Not that nineteen and up were technically kids. Britt unlocked the door, and we followed her inside. I put the pizzas on the counter and Shay put the sodas next to them. Britt opened a cabinet and took out three glasses. Shay opened the Coke and poured it.

I took a glass and sipped it. I glanced at my phone. No texts. I resisted the urge to text Mario. I was in a group now. It wouldn't be right to be the one glued to her phone the whole time. Britt opened the box on top and pizza smells filled the kitchen. There was a knock on the door and Shay let Kenny in.

Now that everyone was here, Britt began putting slices on paper plates and passing them around. We sat at a flimsy table in one corner. I ate in silence while they were all comparing classes and professors and all kinds of college things. They asked Kenny how things with his girlfriend were going and he told them he was thinking of leaving her because it seemed like all they did now was argue and he couldn't take it for much longer.

Larry's words played in my head. "Sometimes you need to think of your own happiness," he'd said. It may have been true for him and was probably true for Kenny now. As it seemed to do all the time now, my mind turned to Mario, sitting alone in his car at the theater.

He was somewhat shy, I knew, but he'd never been shy to me. From the moment we met he'd seemed more outgoing. George and he had more in common than I thought they would, as it turned out. It reminded me of Mr. Darcy in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. He told Miss Bennett that they neither performed for strangers. That was true. He certainly didn't, and I was beginning to realize Mario didn't, either. At least, when it wasn't me.

Britt snapped her fingers in front of my face, making me jump. "Hey," she said. "You left us for a minute there. Everything okay?"

I pasted on smile. "Oh, of course. I was just thinking. I tend to do that sometimes." I wanted to pull my foot out of my mouth, but it was too late for that.

Shay put a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh. "It's okay," Kenny told me. "I get you." He gave me a warm smile before getting up. I watched him get a couple more slices of pizza and come back.

If Mario was always warm to me, there had to have been a reason. He didn't seem as accepting of all the other people he'd met. I couldn't help but wonder about it the whole night. The whole time we sat at the table talking and eating, while we played cards, after Kenny left and Britt began braiding my hair as we all talked about their exes, and while I called Larry to find out why he wasn't there yet.

Midnight came and I was waiting at the window, watching for Larry's car. He hadn't been answering his phone, and it was way past my curfew. For the first time that evening, I wasn't thinking about Mario. Instead, I was getting furious at my brother.

Dad called me. I hated that because I knew he was going to be asking me a bunch of questions, most of which I had to blame Larry for. I didn't want to get him in trouble, but I couldn't help it.

"Hello?"

"Where are you? You're supposed to be home by now." He was mad. I could hear it.

"Larry hasn't come yet. He said he was going to get me at eleven-thirty."

Dad was quiet for a long time. "He's not here," he told me finally. "Have you called him?"

"Three times. He never answered."

Silence for another long minute. "I'll be there myself." He hung up on me.

I sighed and turned to the girls watching me. "I'll need to hang out for a little bit longer," I told them.

Shay shrugged. "Hey, it's cool. I asked you to spend the night, and my offer still stands if you need it to. Don't worry about it."

I smiled at her. "Thanks, but my dad is coming."

"If you're sure."

I smiled and nodded at her. When she broke eye contact, I went back to looking out the window. Five minutes later I saw his car coming. I hurried through my goodbyes and down the stairs. I nearly flew down them. I was so ready to get out of there. Dad looked mad when I got in and he turned at me. "Is everything okay?" I asked him.

"I got Larry on the phone," he said. "He told me he came here at eleven-thirty and waited for twenty minutes."

My jaw dropped. "That's not true!"

"Daisy, honey, I don't have any reason to not believe him."

I shook my head. "He didn't come! If he had, I would have gone downstairs to him. If he really came, he must have gone to the wrong building. I was looking out the window since twenty after!"

He sighed. "That's what he told me. It's your word against his, and, at the moment, I'm more inclined to believe him."

My stomach dropped. "Dad, you can't seriously believe him. Please." My eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry, but I do."

I opened and closed my mouth a moment, trying to find words, but it was useless. I ended up turning to my window and watching Boulder slide past while tears fell. Why would Larry do this? How could Dad believe him? When Dad pulled into our driveway, I wiped my face and ignored the look he gave me as I climbed out. He followed me up the walk to the door.

"Please go to your room," he said behind me as I walked inside.

I sniffled and nodded as I headed up the stairs. Larry's door was slightly ajar, So I looked inside. He wasn't there. I pulled out my phone as I went into my room. Nothing. I sent Larry two angry texts: Why did you never come for me? and You threw me under the bus and now he's punishing me over your lies. Hope you're happy. Next, I texted Mario. I saw you. 

I put my phone on my nightstand and began getting ready for bed. It was half past midnight when I crawled under my blanket and checked my phone. Larry hadn't responded, and I never heard him come back, but Mario had sent me a few texts.

I know you did.
You're the only friend who has ever seen me for who I am.
Have fun?

I raised an eyebrow at the second one. I meant at the theater...

I know, came his reply.

I shook my head. "Weirdo," I mumbled with a smile. Since you asked, I did have some fun.

Anything interesting?

Kenny's leaving his girlfriend, Shay's failing one of her classes and is on the verge of quitting school.

Intense.

Kind of, I guess. Maria there?

No, why?

Larry never came to get me. Dad did, now he's not home.

You think they're together.

Not a question, a statement. I smiled. He knew me well, then. I do. Find Maria, find Larry.

Want to look for them?

I could almost see him with that nervous look, wondering how he'd be received. It's too late. I'm not going to risk sneaking out. I don't want to be grounded more than the week I was given.

Okay, then. See you tomorrow?

Plans with Sue and George, but you can come too if you'd like. Just pizza and skating in the morning but George and I are hanging out in the afternoon.

He didn't answer for a long time. I was beginning to wonder if he'd fallen asleep when he answered. I can't hang out in the morning, so I guess I'll see you on Monday.

Why not Sunday?

My family day, remember?

Oh, yeah. Have fun, then.

We will – mini-golfing in Denver. So gonna beat James this time. ;)

James?

Jimmy's full name.

Ah. He could always make me smile, but this time the smile faded. My mind went back to where it'd been earlier in the evening. He was shy around everyone except me. Why was that? See you Monday. I sent the final text and put my phone on vibrate. Larry still hadn't texted me and wasn't home, as far as I could tell. At some point I fell asleep, but I woke up around three. Snoring came from the next room, so I knew Larry was back. About time. I rolled over and found sleep wasn't so easy to come by this time.