Chapter 11 Am I Getting Good at Flirting?
-Annie-
Meg texts me to ask about what happened after I left the party with Daniel.
We chat back and forth most of the weekend about it, and my frustration that I don’t have his number.
Meg thinks I should ask Miles, but I am not going to open that can of worms. My brother hasn’t brought up the party, so I’m not bringing it up either.
We are living in our silent agreement not to discuss the events of Friday night.
I also learn from Meg that yes, she does in fact think Drew is hot, and she, in more detail than I need, describes what he looks like in just his boxers.
She has been texting him all weekend, and I’m happy for her.
Meg has always gone after the guys she wants and it looks like Drew is no exception.
***
Before I know it, it’s Monday morning and I’m back at school, putting my things away in my locker before first period.
I’m lost in my thoughts when a shadow falls over my locker.
I turn, smiling, as my shadow just happens to be the guy that has been on my mind all weekend.
“Do anything interesting this weekend?” Daniel asks as he leans on the locker next to me.
I act like I’m thinking about it and respond, “You know, I can’t recall anything worth noting.
” He laughs next to me, “Is that right? Here I was thinking about the girl I kissed against a car.” I turn my body towards him to look at him after that comment.
He smiles and gives me a wink. “Knew I could get your attention with that,” he replies and takes a step into my space.
Then he reaches out, taking a piece of hair between his fingers, and leans down and says, “Maybe we can do it again soon.” Before I can reply, he turns and heads down the hallway.
My heart is racing, thinking about the fact that he wants to kiss me again, and I know that I’m looking forward to it.
I’m daydreaming as I turn back to my locker, grab what I need, and head off to first period.
I make it just in time as the second bell rings. Meg gives me a questioning look from her seat. I give her a smile and point to my phone. I take my seat, hiding my phone in my notebook, and text Meg.
Annie
Daniel was at my locker
Meg Patterson
Did he kiss you again?
Annie
No, but he suggested we do it again!
Meg Patterson
So…when is the date?
Annie
No idea…
I still don’t have his number
Meg Patterson
I’ve got a plan for that
Tell you after class
I put my phone away before the teacher notices and makes me lock it away for the day in the office.
I tune back into what we are learning, but my focus isn’t on school, it’s on the sky-blue eyes of a very distracting boy.
As soon as the bell rings, Meg and I get together to discuss her plan.
She lays out phase one of the plan, and it’s not bad.
She wants me to tell Miles that I have a ride with her after school.
However, I’m not going to get a ride from her.
She, meanwhile, is going to text Drew after she sees my brother leave, since she has his number, and ask him if they can give me a ride.
We both know that the brothers are carpooling to school.
Hopefully, he’ll say yes. She’ll ask him if they can give me a ride, as she isn’t able to because she has to go to work, resulting in the objective of phase one.
I’ll be able to get a ride home with them.
Phase two is all on me to casually ask for their numbers in case this happens again.
Meg has given me a few ways to spin it, from not waiting to make her the middleman, or the fact that we are neighbors and you never know when you’ll need that cup of sugar.
***
It is a good plan. Meg is truly a mastermind at this.
I love that my best friend is a schemer and feel so grateful that she is on my side and not someone else’s.
I never could have come up with this on my own.
The rest of the day goes pretty well. We gather at our normal lunch table now with Drew, Craig, and Luke.
Conversation flows from sports to the paper we have to write for history.
It’s a fun group, and I’m glad how it has worked out.
Meg and Drew are not talking directly, but they are giving each other looks across the table.
I’m going to give Meg a hard time about this; normally, she is the direct one.
It isn’t like her to not just act after what she’s told me about their texting and flirting over the weekend.
After we work out this plan, I’m going to have to ask her what her phase approach to dating Drew is going to be.
I text Miles right before sixth period to set the plan in motion.
Annie
I am getting a ride from Meg today
Miles
k, love u sis
Annie
Love you too
My brother is a man of many words. I mentally check off step one of the plan.
I head to soccer practice, losing myself in drills until the coach blows the whistle, ending practice.
I take my time dressing today. Normally, I rush to get changed to give myself time to walk around the school to wait in the bleachers for football practice to end.
I know that Monday is a normal practice for them, but it still goes a few minutes longer than our offseason soccer practices.
I check the time before texting Meg to start on the next part of the plan.
Annie
Out of practice, has Miles left?
Meg Patterson
He just pulled out of the parking lot
Annie
Perfect timing!
I have to wait for a full five minutes, which feels like forever. Then I see the … indicating that Meg is working on a reply and the message isn’t far behind.
Meg Patterson
Mission Success!
Your ride is secured
You owe me one, kiss kiss!
OMG, I’m doing this. I look into the mirror one more time.
My hair is up in a ponytail, and the makeup is mostly gone from practice.
I have changed back into my t-shirt from earlier, but I stayed in my shorts at Meg's suggestion that my legs are my best asset. She said I should use my best asset to my advantage at every opportunity. I shake my head at myself. I am so not good at this. I look at myself again in the mirror and make sure to think “rebrand,” then turn to leave the locker room. I make my way to the parking lot, spotting Drew and Daniel leaning against the trunk of their car. I up my tempo to a small jog. As soon as I’m in front of them, I give a small grin.
“Thanks for the ride, I appreciate it.” Drew is the first to answer: “No problem, Annie, it’s not like we are going out of our way to get you home.
” Then he gives me a little shoulder bump to make sure I get that he is giving me a hard time.
Daniel looks me up and down from head to toe and winks before commenting, “I don’t mind waiting when you look like that.
” I try not to blush, I feel like he is always trying to push that line with me.
Before I can respond, Daniel pushes off the car and climbs in.
Drew climbs in the front, and I slide in the back.
***
The drive isn’t bad as our houses are only about five minutes from the school.
Daniel and Drew are talking, but I can see Daniel checking me out in the mirror.
I try not to pay attention, and I’m also trying to think about how to start the conversation to get the phone numbers.
Meg had made it sound so simple. For Meg, this would have been simple, but for me it is pushing past the nerves in my stomach.
Daniel parks the car, and I realize it’s now or never.
I have to ask to complete the third and final stage of the plan.
I clear my throat, “Thank you guys again for the ride and for waiting for me. I feel so bad about it. Thank goodness Meg had your number, Drew. Since we are neighbors and just in case my ride cancels again, do you all mind if I get your numbers?” I know that I say all of this in one long run-on sentence, but it’s out of my mouth and I feel so much better about it.
Drew is the first to answer, as I predicted he would be; of the two of them, he does seem like the one that is the most helpful.
“Sure.” He gives me his number, and I add it to my phone and send him a message to give him my number.
Annie
This is Annie Campbell
Thanks again for the ride
I look up at Daniel. He has turned in his seat to half face me. A sly smile crosses his face before he says, “Well played, Annie.” He gives me his number, which I type into my phone, trying not to let his comment make my hands tremble. I send him a message.
Annie
This is Annie Campbell
maybe we can plan that “next time” ??
I look up and smile at them both. Then I mumble my “Thanks again” and scoot out of the car and walk towards my house. It takes all my internal self-talk to walk all the way inside and close the door without turning around.