Chapter 14 #2
Reed had shaggy hair that swooped across his forehead. He was nice. He was in a band. There was very loud, emotional music blaring.
“Shhhhhh,” I said, covering my face with my hands. So loud. He turned it down. We drove in silence. Theo and I, anyway, were out of things to say.
We dropped Theo off because his stop was first.
“You okay, Mira?” Theo asked before getting out. “He’s a good guy, I promise. He’ll get you home safe.” I just stared at him.
“Anyone is better than you,” I slurred. Theo sighed and closed the door. He fist-bumped Reed wearily as he left the car.
A few minutes into the drive, Reed said, “What was that about? I thought you guys were best friends.”
“You didn’t think we were . . . lovers?” I asked.
“Uh, no.” He looked at me sideways.
“Well, I did.” I start to cry. “I’ve lost the only boy I’ll ever love.”
He chuckled. “We’re seventeen. I bet you’ll be okay.”
I sniffed, and he reached behind the seat and handed me a box of Kleenex. “I won’t. I love him. And he barely wants to kiss me.”
“I wouldn’t take that personally.”
“And”—I blew my nose loudly—“I kissed this stupid athlete.”
“It happens.”
“And he left me!”
“That was a shitty thing to do.”
“It Was! Right?” He smiled and kept driving. “Nobody likes me. Girls don’t want to be my friend, and boys don’t want to kiss me.” I noticed where we were. “It’s up there. The big house.”
“Yes, they do.”
“Who do what?”
“Boys want to kiss you.” He pulled over in front of my house.
“Name one.”
“I would.” His eyes were on the road as he put the car in park.
I undid my seat belt and pulled him toward me and kissed him.
He pulled away. “What are you doing?”
“You said you would kiss me!”
“I didn’t mean now. I meant in theory.”
I slumped back in my seat. I started to cry again. “Nobody wants me!”
“Hey,” he said, wiping my face with his sleeve. “Shhh. I’m sorry. I can’t kiss you now.”
“Why? Are you gay too?” I snapped. He sat back. There was a long, heavy pause. I hung my head. “I’m sorry. That was so mean.”
“It was.” He took back the Kleenex. He was quiet for a moment. “I can’t kiss you because you’re drunk.”
“I’ve kissed three boys tonight, and none of them like me. I’m weird and ugly.”
He turned to me, a soft look on his face. “I think you’re cool. And beautiful,” he said softly. “And I promise you, if you ever want to, I will kiss you for real.”
“Oh.” I wiped my nose on my sleeve. “Thank you.” I opened the door. “Thank you for the ride.” He nodded.
I stumbled up the steps to my house and felt around for my key. My parents were out. When I finally got the door open, I turned around—he was still there. He waved and pulled away.
I woke up the next morning so heartbroken over Theo, so humiliated over the athlete, I forgot all about the sweet guy who drove me home.
It’s the little wave he gives me across the room that triggers the memory.
“Hey, wait!” I call to him. He turns on the stairs. “I know you!”
“Um, yeah?” That smirk again.
“No, I felt like I remembered you, and I didn’t, but now I do.”
“Yeah, we met once.”
“You knew Theo. Why did I never see you again?”
“I went to another high school. We were childhood friends.”
“You drove me home.”
“From that party, yeah.” He looks at me, surprised. “You seriously didn’t remember?”
“I remember that night. Very well,” I say. “That was a big night.”
“It sure was.”
“And I was so embarrassed . . .” He comes down a few steps back toward me. “But then I never saw you again. But wait—your name wasn’t Will, it was . . .”
“Reed.”
“Yeah!”
“Will Reed.” He watches my face as all the parts click into place.
“Okay, wow.” I feel oddly flustered. “So, um. Hello.”
“Hello.” He’s standing right in front of me now.
“I’m sorry I forgot you,” I say.
He laughs a little. “Don’t let it happen again.”
“I probably won’t, now.”
“Probably? Rude.” The half smile is full again, and I feel like I’d do anything to keep it there.
“Hey.” Am I saying this? “If memory serves . . .”
“I mean, so far it hasn’t . . .”
“Right, so, correct me if I’m wrong . . .”
“Happily.”
“Didn’t you promise to kiss me?” He raises an eyebrow. I think we are both a little impressed by my bravado. I think we both know that I just have to say the word. He opens his mouth, but just then the teenage ASM runs after me and hands me a note.
The Fey Have Summoned You!
Tea at Barb’s, 4 o’clock.
Bring cookies.
I read it and look up in surprise.
“Like, today?”
She nods. “I think so?”
“Who is Barb?” I ask. “Where does she live? This is a very incomplete invitation.” I glance back at Will. The moment has vanished.
“Barb is Cobweb,” Will says, as though this is common knowledge. He chuckles to himself.
“Cobweb the fairy?” I ask. The ASM nods. She turns over the invitation and points: Barb’s address.
It is very presumptuous of this Barb that I am available to be summoned at a moment’s notice and that I will indeed bring cookies. But I am amused and intrigued. Also available.
“I’ll be there.” The teenager nods and scurries away. When I look up from the note card, Will is halfway back up the stairs.
“Offer still stands!” he calls down, laughing as he walks away.