At lunch, I present my new note from Ms. Peters to the grandmotherly lunch ladies who inform me that as long as I pay the dollar for lunch, I am perfectly allowed to have one. I take a piece of pizza from the tray with cheese that is yellowing in some places, but I smile at the lady offering it and thank her. I also take chocolate milk and a scoop or two Caesar salad that looks like its leaves have seen better days. I take a chocolate chip cookie for good measure as well and follow Marnie to a square table and sit—I guess Tempus brought in the circular tables later in the century or something.
I am surprised when I see David with Rodney, and they come and join us. I know quickly that I must act like I haven't seen David in forever, so I stand up when they come over. I take David's tray from his hands and set it down on the table before throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him—I needed to get him back for not speaking to me after the Shakespeare class we'd been made to perform in. "Miss me?" I ask, yet my tone is serious.
"More than you think," David replies, his arms around my waist, and I can see that he is being just as serious as I am.
Rodney is smiling and talking to Marnie, and there is absolutely no awkwardness or hesitation between the two of them. "I really enjoyed working with you today in Euro Lit," he says with a smile. "Man, I had no idea that you could kiss like that!"
Marnie blushes then, deepening the product on her face into an attractive, yet natural, dark pink. "Well, you're not too bad yourself, Rodney."
"Where's Roxy?" I ask, leaning back into David's arm, which has slipped down and around my waist.
"She has the lunch before this," Rodney replies, almost as if he doesn't really care, before going back to his conversation with Marnie.
I lean in closer to David to pretend like I'm going to kiss his neck, but instead I whisper, "Did I detect a slight edge to his tone?"
"Yes," David whispers, mimicking my moves to disguise the fact that we are, in fact, gossiping about people that school society had deemed important. Instead of pulling away, he trails little kisses up and down my neck, and even nibbles me at the end of the trail, sending goose bumps up and down my neck and arms.
"Not here," I whisper to him.
But he doesn't stop. He keeps kissing me, and he acts like he's never going to stop this terribly inappropriate for school behavior.
Knowing exactly what to do, and the plus side that our tables' edge is just up against the wall, I navigate my right hand so that I am rubbing his leg. Then, I inch my way up his knee and manage to get my hand on his crummy early 80's zipper, and yank it down. Surprisingly, it comes down with little effort, and I manage to stick my hand into David's pants and just manage to find him.

I can feel his shudder in surprise and desire at my touch, and I am trying very hard to keep a straight face at this point. I can hear him sucking in shallow breaths between his lips—he does not want our cover to be blown. By moving my hand back and forth, I am able to keep him nestled in my neck so as nobody can see his face.
When he's about to show how much desire is within him, he hastily grabs my wrist with his other hand and yanks it away from him without hesitation. He is able to keep his pants clean, but he gives me a 'Not cool' look, and I try not to laugh. I give him a half smile and excuse myself to go wash my hands.


By eighth period, I was fully prepared to run out of the school. However, I know what I have to do to get Rodney to fully focus on Marnie. I reserve a practice room for the both of us, get some sheet music, and get the okay from Mr. Humbert, the band teacher. I just have to prove to him that I am a fully capable singer beforehand. Let's just say that he was so blown out of the water that he invited me back anytime.
I quickly decided that I would sing a song in front of the class. I chose You Should Hear How She Talks About You by Melissa Manchester. I thought that this would get Rodney's attention. I also decided that the perfect song for Marnie to sing would be Why Do Fools Fall in Love by Diana Ross. I thought that it would be just the thing to get the point across.
"Show me what you've got," I say, picking up an electric guitar.
"Okay," Marnie says. "Ooh wah..."
I shake my head, cease playing, and Marnie stops singing. "Try it like this," I say, beginning the tune on the guitar. "Ooh wah, ooh wah, ooh wah, ooh wah," I say, making sure my breathing is right and that I'm in a good position. "Try to make it sound like you're having the time of your life, and like, you're really questioning this."
"Okay," Marnie says. She takes a couple of deep breaths, and gets into the same position that I am. "I'm ready."

"Ooh wah, ooh wah, ooh wah, ooh wah
Ooh wah, ooh wah, why do fools fall in love
Why do birds sing so gay and lovers await the break of day
Why do they fall in love
Why does the rain fall from up above
Why do fools fall in love, why do they fall in love
Love is a losing game, love can be a shame
I know of a fool you see, for that fool is me
Tell my why, tell me why
Why do birds sing so gay and lovers await the break of day
Why do they fall in love
Why does the rain fall from up above
Why do fools fall in love, why do they fall in love
Why does my heart skip a crazy beat
For I know it will reach defeat
Tell me why, tell my why
Why do fools fall in love, oh, oh, oh
Tell me why, oh, oh, oh, tell me why, oh..."

I grin at her. "Marnie," I say after we've finished.
"Yes?" she asks.
"Wonderful," I say, clapping. "Now, how do we get Mr. Humbert to hear the awesomeness that you just performed?"
She shook her head. "I don't know..."
"Would you like me to go first?" I ask.
She nods. "Yes, please."
I smile at her and we leave the practice room together. We walk the short distance down the hall and into the band room, where the members of the band are just strumming and tuning their instruments. I advance towards the stage with confidence and climb up on it. "Can I sing with you?" I ask.
They shrug.
"What do you want to sing?" asks a guy named Axel.
"You Should Hear How She Talks About You by Melissa Manchester," I reply, as if I've known the song all my life.
Rodney lifts his head up. "Really?" he asks.
I nod. "Yes."
David gives me a grin from where he's standing and takes my electric guitar from me. "She can really sing, you guys," he says persuasively.
"You're just saying that because she's your girlfriend," complains another young man in the band, named Dex.
"She's also my cousin," says Rodney defensively, standing beside David, his own electric guitar draped over his shoulders. "You Should Hear How She Talks About You?" he clarifies, nodding at me.
I return his nod. "Yes."
"Get behind the mic then," he says with a grin.
I nod and hasten to get to the mic. I switch it on and get into the position that I for so long have deemed the proper one. I take some deep breaths and mentally cross my fingers that my ever-present anxiety will manage not get the better of me. I look at Rodney, grin, and give him a nod as they start to play.

"She's so very nice you should break the ice
Let her know that she's on your mind
Whatcha tryin' to hide when you know inside
She's the best thing you'll ever find?
Ahh, can't you see it?
Don't you think she's feeling the same?
Ahh, I guarantee it
She's the one who's calling your name
You should hear how she talks about you
You should hear what she says
She says she would be lost without you
She's half out of her head
You should hear how she talks about you
She just can't get enough
She says she would be lost without you
She is really in love

I ain't tellin' tales, anybody else
Could repeat the things that I've heard
She's been talkin' sweet and it's on the street
How a girl being spreadin' the word

Ahh, you should hurry
You should let her know how you feel
Ahh, now don't you worry
She gets scared that love is for real

You should hear how she talks about you
You should hear what she says
She says she would be lost without you
She's half out of her head

You should hear how she talks about you
She is really in love

Ahh, you should hurry
You should let her know how you feel
Ahh, now don't you worry
If you're scared that love is for real

You should hear how she talks about you
You should hear what she says
She says she would be lost without you
She's half out of her head

You should hear how she talks about you
She just can't get enough
She says she would be lost without you
She is really in love

Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk
Can'tcha see?
It's me
Who, what you said?

You should hear how she talks about you
You should hear what she says
She says she would be lost without you
She's half out of her head

You should hear how she talks about you
She just can't get enough
She says she would be lost without you
She is really in love

You should hear how she talks about you
You should hear what she says
She says she would be lost without you
She's half out of her head
You should hear how she talks about you..."

Rodney gives me a grin and claps, along with David, who is just beaming. I feel my flush all around me, and the warmth distracts me from the anxiety I feel about performing in public for the first time. It is a truly daunting experience and I'm unsure how I was able to summon the strength to do it.

As I look around the room, I can see Mr. Humbert has come out of his office and give me an appreciative nod. He comes and stands next to me on the stage. He leans down and whispers something in my ear.
"It was my job to pick a member of my class to sing with the band at the Spring Fling, but you're Rodney's cousin, so if I pull some strings, it could be you. Do you want to sing with X-Rod at the dance?"
I blink, trying not to laugh at the cheesy, 80's sounding band name. "Are you serious?" I ask, wavering ever so slightly.
He nods. "Very serious," he replies.
I grin at him. "What does Rodney think?"
Mr. Humbert smiles. "I told him that I was considering you when you and Marnie were in the practice room earlier."
"And what did he say?" I ask.
"Look at him," Mr. Humbert says. I turn my head and see him smiling at me and telling everyone that I was indeed his cousin. "What do you think?"
"He seemed to like it, Mr. Humbert."
"Do you want the job?"
"Yes," I reply before I can change my mind.