Single word texts are the worst. I stare at my phone as I walk into my house and toss my backpack on the couch. Tomorrow is my date with Caleb, so I should spend today working on as much extra credit worksheets as humanly possible for the next hour until I head to the store and give Mom a break from work.
But extra credit work is what someone who was responsible would do. I can’t seem to find the energy. I keep staring at my phone, wishing Jonah had said something—anything—else. I don’t know why. It makes no sense, but I want him to talk to me. I want us to feel like we’re back to normal so I can go back to tutorials and actually learn something.
I make a PB&J sandwich and eat it quickly while staring at my phone. Finally, I break. I have to say something.
Me:Don’t worry about the missed tutorial. I’ll just go to Saturday detention to make up my time.
Jonah:No need…I signed in for both of us today and told the librarian we were studying outside.
I stare at the phone, nearly choking on my Diet Coke.
Me:You covered for me?
Jonah:of course. That’s why I’m such a good tutor.
Me:kind of sounds like you’re a terrible tutor… ;-)
Jonah:okay, terrible tutor but good friend.
My heart warms and I read his texts over again to make sure I didn’t interpret them wrong. He lied to the school administration so that I’d still be counted as present for detention. I don’t have to make up an additional day because of him. He called himself my friend.
I can’t get the stupid grin off my face until Friday morning, when I wake up nervous as hell about my date tonight. Even though it won’t take place until after school, I still agonize over what to wear from my closet, and it makes me ten minutes late to meet with April in the morning. I’ve decided on a pair of skinny jeans, black converse, and a black V-neck tee that somehow makes my boobs look bigger while simultaneously just being a plain shirt that makes it look like I’m not trying.
But I’m so trying.
I just know this is the day that Caleb will finally come talk to me in class. I take my time in the hallways, lingering around so that I’m easy to spot should he be looking for me.
But he never is.
Or maybe he never finds me.
The day blows by in a way that is both fast and slow. My classes seem to take forever, but before I know it, the final bell has rang and I’m meeting April after school to walk home. I look all around for Caleb in the parking lot. If he’s going to offer to give us a ride again, it’d be today, right?
“You freaking out about your date?” April says the moment she finds me waiting at our usual spot.
“Is it that obvious?” I ask.
She shrugs as she falls into step with me. “It’s a big deal, dating a popular jock. I’d be freaking out, too.”
“I’m starting to wonder if I just imagined it,” I say with a sigh as I give up on scouting the parking lot. “Why would a guy ask me out one day and then not talk to me for the rest of the week?”
“Because he’s nervous?” April says.
I bark out a laugh. “Yeah right. Caleb Brown nervous of dating me? Never in a million years.”
“Give yourself some credit,” she says. “He asked you out after all. That’s something.”
I take a deep breath and try to have some confidence. “I guess so.”
***
As much as I try to fight it, the tears start to pour from my eyes at 8:15. It’s been one hell of a Friday night, and any confidence I tried to have earlier today has been shattered, ripped, and torn until there’s absolutely nothing remaining. Caleb hasn’t called me. Hasn’t texted me. Hasn’t sent a carrier pigeon.
I left Mom to work the store by herself tonight while I got ready for my date, only to realize that the date wasn’t happening. Mom closed up at six and came back home, ate dinner, and started watching a movie with a glass of wine, all while I’ve been sitting here on my bed staring out the window. I guess I hoped that maybe Caleb would just show up for our date without calling first. It could happen.
Of course it didn’t.
He forgot.
