When I wake up, my entire face is back to normal. I stare at my smiling face in the mirror, feeling like I’ve been renewed. I have my face back. I put on tinted moisturizer, a coat of mascara, and add some blush to my cheeks. I apply a layer of lip glossand walk to my closet in a really happy mood. I hum and dance as I stare at my clothes for a long moment. I put on my favorite jeans that hug my hips but loosen around my thighs, and I think a tight shirt would look best, so I put on a plain spaghetti strap and wear a cardigan over it.
When I step out of my bedroom, Gianna says, “You look so cute.” She grabs my face and scans it. “You officially have your face back!”
I blush, realizing she has no idea that Benson and I have a tutoring session right now.
“Thanks. I’m heading out.”
“Oh, where?”
I grab my things. “The library and then I have class later.”
“Is your mom having another dinner tonight?”
I blink, realizing I had purposely forgotten all about that. “I don’t know. I’ll have to call her. Thanks for reminding me.”
“Okay. See you later. Oh, and there’s a party at the Hawthorne House.”
I almost stop in my tracks.
I open the door and step out as she calls out, “You’re coming with me again!”
The walk to the library is nerve-racking. Even though Benson and I had that talk yesterday, it feels like things are in the air. It’s obvious he wants something casual, but I think we need to change our plan since it’s going to upset Gianna. Maybe we shouldn’t do this at all.
What I don’t expect is to see him walking towards me when I round the corner.
I halt, surprised at the sight of him. He’s wearing a backward hat, a plain black shirt, and brown jeans with skater shoes. He’s holding his phone in his hand.
“Hey,” I say.
He smiles brightly when he sees me. “Hi, Lucy.”
“Are you––” I pause, pointing behind me.
“Yeah,” he exhales. “Is that alright?”
I nod.It’s more than alright.I’m a little shocked and transfixed, so I stand there for a moment.
“Benson?” Gianna calls out from behind me.
He opens his mouth, looking at her and then back at me. “I was just about to call you.” He lifts his phone.
Gianna looks at me with a confused gaze that’s slowly turning into something darker. Then her phone rings, so she grabs it and shows it to him.
“Uh,” I say. “Nice seeing you. I have a thing to get to.”
He nods. “Yeah, for sure. See you later.”
I walk off with my heart pounding, and now I don’t have to question where we stand with Gianna.
I catch her agitated tone when she says, “There better be something really wrong, Benson. In all these years, you’ve never shown up here.”
That’s a fair statement. His voice is too deep to hear over the hum of traffic and the distance between us now. I keep walking, and I don’t turn back. I hear her voice start up again, but I only hear my own that’s screamingthis is a bad idea.
I enter the library, and the cool air makes me shiver. I take the stairs. Someone’s in our usual room, so I take the open one and set my things down. I immediately leave the room and start pacing. I don’t know where I’m going, but I walk in one direction and then I walk back. When I turn around again, I hear the stairwell door open. It’s Benson. I look behind him for any sign that Gianna is with him, even though he’s a giant.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I realize Gianna isn’t behind him, so I nod. I notice his backpack is in his hands now. “You didn’t have the bag when I saw you out there.”
