Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“The idea totally freaks me out…but I also keep fantasizing about it.” She giggles. “In fact, I had this ridiculous idea that maybe if I wandered around the fairgrounds enough, we’d run into each other and he’d ask me to hang out.”
Omigod, she’s so adorable I want to squeeze her.
“Okay, well, we cou—” I glance over her shoulder and freeze.
“Stay cool when I say this…but I’m going to need to steal your manifestation skills for our next band competition because Felix is actually walking up to us right now.
” I smile and wave to him like we’re having the most casual of chats. “You’ve got this,” I whisper.
A second later Felix steps to Li’s side, looking way happier than I normally see him. He’s generally a guy of few words and fewer facial expressions, but he’s practically beaming.
“I didn’t expect to find you two in the 4-H building of all places.”
“I was just about to go looking for you,” I say. “I was apologizing to Li about how the D&D game has been going lately. And that apology extends to you too. I promise I’m going to try to bring Elrid and Ellywich into the game more.”
If Felix is taken aback, he hides it quickly. “Huh. Thanks, Hazel. That’s really cool of you. And, just so you know, I had nothing to do with that stunt Brody pulled last night. I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad we ran into you.” I eye him in mock suspicion. “Though why are you hanging out in the 4-H building?”
Felix shrugs. “My two younger brothers are in it, so I came to see their stuff.”
“My mom advises the club my sister is in,” I reply and glance around. “I should probably see the exhibit while I’m here or they’re going to kill me. You guys want to come too?”
Each 4-H club in the county has a large display space to show off the various projects that members have been working on.
A lot of people show animals in the fair, but others like Kelsey complete projects on sewing, computer science, cooking, and photography.
We walk up and down the displays until I finally find the “Blue Ribbon Bandits,” the group Mom supervises.
Of course, even in 4-H, the focus would be on winning every competition.
“Mom’s done it again,” I mutter as I take it in.
Compared with the other displays, which look cluttered, bare, or haphazard, Mom’s club’s looks like a professional showpiece.
The walls artfully display the different photographs and drawings that members turned in to the fair, while the base of the display has arrangements of handmade clothes, robots, and baked goods.
And, unsurprisingly, there are more blue ribbons on these projects than any other color.
Kelsey got two this year alone. I sigh, knowing Mom will expect me to perform at the same level.
The best auxiliary award at our upcoming competition, Superior ratings at state, another Most Valuable Member award. Lots of opportunities to let her down.
“Your mom advises the Blue Ribbon Bandits?” Felix asks, and I nod. “Ah. That figures.”
I frown. “Why would you say that?”
“Everyone knows that group. They’re big on winning. And it’s obvious how competitive you are.”
“Oh.” I don’t love that, but it’s the truth. I’m my mother’s daughter, whether I like it or not.
“It’s not a bad thing,” he reassures me with a small smile. “It’s the reason the color guard is better this year. Well, that and Li.”
Li looks at the ground and smiles.
I glance between them. Li isn’t wrong, there is something here, but they’re both so shy that it might not become more without a little push. I know I told Max I wasn’t going to get involved, but I just can’t help it.
I pull out my phone and make a big show of frowning at what I see.
“Argh, I’m so sorry, but I promised I’d meet my parents soon and walk around with them.
” I take a step back. “You two are welcome to tag along, but I think you’ll have more fun by yourselves.
Li, weren’t you saying you wanted to get an elephant ear? ”
Her eyes go wide, but then she nods enthusiastically. “Unless you don’t want to, Felix?”
“As if I’d ever turn down fair food. They’re selling them at the midway. Do you want to go look?”
Li’s practically skipping as she and Felix leave the barn, and I’m tempted to run up behind them and pinch their cheeks like I’m their grandma. I’m just about to text Nova and Max when Li comes flying back into the barn alone. Her arms are around me before I have time to worry.
“Thank you!” she whispers in my ear. “You’re seriously like the best big sister!”
Then she’s running back in Felix’s direction without a backward glance. If I’m not careful, I might cry.
I text Max and Nova to find out where I should meet them.
I haven’t made it far before I see Max strolling my way holding a huge paper cone of fries.
My heart twists at the sight of him. He’s the perfect mixture of handsome and adorable, with that goofy grin on his face, and I have a sudden urge to take his face in both my hands and kiss him.
“You and Nova weren’t messing around with these fries,” he says and stretches the container out to me. “I got them for you, but I think we’re going to need to share.”
I happily take a few, grateful for the distraction so I can get my impulses back under control.
“How’d everything go with Li?” he asks.
“Really well. Thanks for pushing me to talk to her”—I point a fry at him—“although you don’t need to be so cocky about always being right.”
“I didn’t say anything!” He lifts his free hand in surrender.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t finish yet. You also might have been right about Li and Felix being a good fit. I can see a spark.”
He has the gall to do a triumphant victory dance next to the funnel cake stand.
“Don’t drop the fries!”
“As if.” His expression is pure elation. “Ooh, you hate it when I’m right.”
“I do not,” I retort. “I hate it when you know you’re right and do uncoordinated dances in my face.”
“Uncoordinated? How dare you. I’ve got all kinds of moves.” He does a spin, and I can’t help laughing at how dorky he’s being.
“Where’s Nova? Not that she’d hang out with us if she saw you dancing.”
“We ran into some people by the rides. I told her I’d come find you while she holds our place in line.”
“Let me guess,” I say with a smile. “We’re going on the Zipper first?” Nova and I ride it every year and spend the whole time screaming and laughing so loudly you can hear us on the other side of town. I always swear I’ll never get on it again but immediately relent the following year.
“Um…yeah, that’s the one,” he says, looking surprised. “You two are very in sync.”
I shrug and take a few more fries. “Standard best friend stuff.”
We walk through the midway where fair barkers yell for our attention. Max moves closer to my side. “Actually, before we get back to everyone, I have a question I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
His serious tone sends a spike of adrenaline shooting through me, but then I mentally kick myself.
It’s very possible he’s about to ask whether it’s cool if he hangs out with his percussion buddies instead of me.
I shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because I wish we were here together as more than friends.
I slowly turn toward him.
His jaw works back and forth like he’s debating something. “Do you have fair plans with Nova this evening?”
My pulse speeds higher and I shake my head. “I think there’s a tractor pull tonight, but we usually skip that kind of stuff. Why?”
“There’s someplace I’d like to take you. Just the two of us, if that’s okay?”
My breath hitches at the intimate way he’s studying my face.
People are streaming past us, barkers are shouting mere feet away, but all I can focus on is him.
He could tell me he wants to go bathe in cow manure this evening, and I’d still agree to try it out one time.
I’m so lost for this boy, it’s not even funny.
“Yeah, okay,” I whisper. My voice is unsteady. “Sounds like a plan.”