I turned and rushed off before Mrs. Clark realized I had been gone way too long and took my future key privileges away.
When it was time for my Chemistry class, I arrived at the door to find it locked again, and the classroom still empty. This time I noticed a sign taped to the door. Had it been there earlier? It must’ve.
LAB TODAY. MEET IN ROOM 301.
Lab. I’d forgotten about lab. That meant there would be no note today. It also meant he hadn’t read my note from the day before. I didn’t remember exactly what I had written. I vaguely remembered trying to make a few jokes. Would he think I was laughing at him? Was I trying too hard to be funny?
It didn’t matter. I wasn’t trying to date the guy. I didn’t even know who he was. I wasn’t going to overanalyze it. Besides, rules were stupid.
“It says: Lab today. Meet in room 301.” Cade said each word of the sign slowly.
I turned, wanting to throw an elbow as I did, but kept my arms safely at my sides. “Yeah. I got that.”
“You were standing there for so long I wondered.”
“Are you stalking me now?”
He held up his hands and stepped to the side. “I was just trying to be helpful. It’s who I am.”
“You should reevaluate your definition of help.”
He smiled and started ticking words off on his right hand. “To assist, to save, to be handsome. I think I have them all.”
“Pretty sure you only possess the one that doesn’t even fit the definition.”
“I’m glad you think I’m handsome, Lily. I always knew you did.”
My cheeks went pink as I realized I had walked right into that.
He leaned close. “That makes it two hundred and one … ” He pointed at himself. “To three.” He pointed at me. “Since you’re keeping score.”
I gave him a little push and walked away. “I have at least five points,” I mumbled.
I got to the lab and settled into my seat next to my lab partner, Isaiah. I knew there would not be a note under the long lab table. I looked anyway. There were only tubes leading up to the Bunsen burners. My pen pal and I probably sat in completely different seats for lab. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t disappointed.
Isaiah handed me a pair of goggles and said, “I should probably control the fire this time. Your paper dragon last time almost set off the smoke alarm.”
“Thanks,” I sighed, and got to work.
I was the first to arrive at the library after school. I found a table near the back and placed my backpack in the center. This was already off to a better start than the last time I hung out with David because it was taking place outside of my house. No spilled Legos and stacks of laundry, no bloody-chinned brothers and definitely no rabbits with bladder control issues.
Okay, I told myself as I settled back in the chair. Isabel is trying really hard in her self-appointed quest to make you dateable. You can try, too. I wasn’t sure what trying consisted of. Not talking?
As I sat there thinking about how to be normal, I realized I was staring in the general direction of a guy sitting two tables over. Not just any guy, but Lucas. I caught my breath.
His attention was fully focused on the book in front of him, his finger scanning the page. This was my opportunity to say hi or to ask him if he knew where the nonfiction section was or something. I could do that.
Just as I convinced myself that I really could do that, David arrived.
“Hey,” he said, placing his backpack next to mine.
“Hi.”
He sat down and pulled books out of his bag. I gave one last useless look at Lucas and then sat down as well. I unzipped my bag and pulled my book and notebook out. This not-talking thing was working well so far; it made things less awkward.
“Silence is kind of awkward, don’t you think?” he said.
Oh. Or not. “No. I’m okay with silence. We’re in a library after all. This is the birthplace of silence.”
“The library is the birthplace of silence?” David asked.
“All the words are being used by the books. When I was little, that’s what I used to think. That people were told to be quiet so that all their words didn’t get stolen by the books. I thought books needed words to exist. Well, obviously they do, but I thought they needed spoken words. Yeah … I was always weird.”
“And here I thought libraries were quiet because people were trying to study,” David whispered.
“That might be another explanation.”
He laughed a little and my eyes met his. It seemed like he was genuinely amused. That was a good thing. Or was it too early for that?
He opened his book. “So is Isabel normally this late?”
“Normally … That’s such a subjective word.” Especially since she and I never met in the library to study.
“Is it?” He looked at his watch.
Before I had to answer, Isabel came rushing in. “Hi, guys. Sorry. I got held up in Math class because Sasha needed notes from yesterday.”
“Sasha?” I said. “Cade’s girlfriend?”
“I don’t think she and Cade are together. Are they?”
“I thought they were.” I looked at David to back me up but he was turning pages in his Chemistry book as if he hadn’t been following the conversation.
“I guess they could be. She’s never said anything.” Was that jealousy in Isabel’s voice? Why would Isabel be jealous of Sasha?
“I didn’t know you and Sasha were friends,” I said, feeling sort of jealous myself.
“We’re not, really,” Isabel said, opening her books, “but everyone always asks me for notes. I’m a good note taker.” She looked from me to David. “Did you guys get started?”
I smirked. “Yes, the people who need help in Chemistry went ahead and taught each other. We’re super good at Chemistry now.”
Isabel rolled her eyes.
Over Isabel’s shoulder I could still see Lucas. He looked up, a small smile on his face. Had he been following our conversation or was he amused by something in his book?
Isabel hit my arm. “I hope you’ve learned by now that Lily likes to joke,” she said to David.
“I have,” David said.
“You have?” I said.
“Yes.”
Isabel moved her eyebrows up and down at me. I ignored her.
“Why are we extending the torture of Chemistry beyond school hours again?” I asked, picking up my pen.
“So we don’t have to retake the class next year?” David offered.
“Good point.” I opened my book.
“What are you guys up to this weekend?” Isabel asked, instead of focusing on Chemistry. “We should all do something.”
I glanced at David. I wondered if he knew that Isabel was trying to set us up.
“What day?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Isabel said. “Whatever day we all have open.”
I said nothing.
David flipped through the pages of his textbook. “The band is playing for the home game on Friday.”
“You’re playing at the football game?” Isabel asked, widening her eyes. “Fun. We’ll totally go watch you. Right, Lily?”