Page 72 of Library or Lattes?

“Is it too much?” Pop asked, a little embarrassed. “I was just trying it out. But listen, Willa, I got a message from Jo, and she said Theo’s at the library on his own. Did you think of maybe asking him to this party you’re going to? He seems like a great boy.”

I snorted. “He’s at the library?” I said under my breath. So much for those plans he had.

“That’s what Jo said.” Pop filled up the half-empty candy basket beside me.

“But wait, hold on. Are you and Jo, like, a thing?” I asked. Pop with a social life was kind of fun.

Pop’s face lit up. “I don’t know what I’d call it, but things have certainly become a bit more serious. I was thinking of taking her somewhere special …” His voice trailed off.

I smiled. “Ah! The cologne?”

“The cologne,” he replied.

It was nice to see him making an effort. It was nice to see him doing something with someone that wasn’t just work. And if I did pass the exam and go to London … then he wouldn’t miss me so much.

“I think that’s a great idea. And I like the cologne. Maybe just go a bit easier on it next time.”

Pop laughed. “Thanks, Will. Have fun tonight. Think about asking Theo, okay?”

On the way to Krista’s, Theo invaded my thoughts no matter what I did. Oh, there was Pepe’s where we’d had pizza, and the street corner where we’d opened our fortune cookies. There was the library where I met the stupid boy in the first place. And now I was wondering what he was doing in there, wondering why he’d said he had plans when he didn’t, wondering why he’d kissed me and then started avoiding me. Him and his stupid sexy glasses.

Krista’s party was already going strong when I got there. She’d decorated her yard like a cemetery, and a smoke machine curled gray mist over the grass.

“Willa!”

I looked up to see Sara/Vickie from Stranger Things calling me from the open door.

“Oh my God, you look great,” she said, squeezing my arm. She led me to a corner where Lennie and Krista and the whole gang were standing.

“She’s here! Now we can get our photo.”

“My little brother promised he’d make himself useful if he was allowed to stay,” Krista/Eleven told me.

“He’s doing a great job.”

“You’re too nice, Willa Taylor,” Krista said, ruffling my hair. “You need a drink.”

“A drink sounds good,” I replied, and Krista’s eyes widened in surprise. I almost never drank alcohol, mostly because I’d heard about the party Melissa, Krista’s sister, had in her senior year, when the cops showed up and everyone got in serious trouble. But tonight I liked the idea of caring less.

So I followed Krista to a table with a huge bowl of green punch, where she grabbed a ladle, then handed me a paper cup.

It smelled not great. I screwed up my face. “What is it?” I asked.

Krista laughed evilly. “Poison apple. Try it if you dare.”

And I did dare. Over and over again.

Later on, when most kids had gone home, it was just us. Me, Lennie, Sara, Krista, Avery, and Wyatt, sitting in the mess of Krista’s living room. And I was telling them all about Theo. I’d been checking my phone all night, hoping for a message. An explanation. But there was nothing.

“And I’m still going to the library,” I babbled. “Like I am. I am loving the library, and I love my studies. But I don’t love him. No, I hate him …” I sipped the glass of water Lennie had brought me.

“Maybe we should go home?” Lennie came over and helped me up. “But you’re right, Will. Just keep focused on your future.”

We said goodbye to Krista, I think, and then Lennie and Sara walked me home … I think.

A thousand hammers in my skull woke me up the next morning.

I laughed to myself as an image of Lennie trying to moonwalk flashed in my head. But it was just as quickly replaced by a surge of panic as a half memory of sending a message to Theo invaded my head. I sat up in bed and scrambled for my phone.