by Kai Michaels
I took the microphone away from him. “This is my fault,” I said to the crowd. “I haven’t been very honest lately. A few weeks ago I was so upset with some of you. Mostly about the bro code you all live your lives by. I was so mad that I actually set out to change it. Even though I’m not a guy, I wanted to make your code work for me. I wanted you guys out there to be who I wanted you to be, to be true to girls and not to your fellow bros. In fact, I figured if someone really cool came in and changed the code, I could go out with a certain boy and everything would be fine. But it wasn’t.” I looked up at Ryan who wasn’t sitting next to RJ like he normally would.
“No, everything isn’t fine. All I did was disrupt the balance of nature here at Highland High. Guys have stopped spending time with their bros; they’ve been fighting with their friends over girls; our big pizza-loving, soda-guzzling guys are now crying at movies. All I can say is, I’m sorry.” I looked over at Morgan and Kennedy. “And more than anything, I’m sorry that it cost me my two best friends and a very special person.”
The crowd remained silent. Even Myrna stood there not knowing what to say.
Finally, RJ stood up and pointed to Jack. “So who are you, man?”
Jack took the microphone again. “My name is Lenny Gloucester.” His voice was back to the real Lenny. “I’m a college student studying acting.” Everyone in the gym gasped at the same time.
“Ewe! So I made out with an old guy named Lenny?” Aubrey shouted. Suddenly, Aubrey, Tatum, and dozens of other grossed out girls were up in arms.
“Get him!” One of them yelled. A pack of girls ran out of the stands. Jack dropped the microphone and took off. That would be the last we ever saw of Jack Fabrizio and Lenny Gloucester. The crowd was still in awe. They just sat there.
Morgan and Kennedy rushed over and hugged me. “We’re sorry,” they both said. “We were just jealous.”
“No, it was my fault,” I said. “I’ve ruined everything.” We hugged again. Then I had an idea. “Maybe this will help,” I picked up the microphone and made one last announcement. “By the way, guys,” I said, pointing to Morgan and Kennedy. “You are looking at the new number one and number two ladies on your coveted Lip List! And for your information they are available after the game.” The boys cheered and Morgan and Kennedy waved.
Coach Watkins walked over and took the mic from me. He held up his hand until it was silent. Then he wrinkled his brow as if he were searching for the right words. “This has been really . . . weird.” He paused again and then, in his loud Coach Watkins’ voice shouted, “But get on your feet and let’s hear it for your Highland High Rams!” The gym went nuts.
Carver never showed up. I cheered, but my heart wasn’t really in it. We won the game and everyone seemed to forgive me. But it was a small consolation. The one person I really cared about wouldn’t even talk to me.
“Come on, we’ll take you home,” Kennedy said. “We’re not meeting Braden and Zach for an hour.”
They pulled up in front of my house and I got out. I hugged them both again through the window. “I love you guys,” I said.
It was starting to rain. I ran up the steps and into the house. By the sounds coming from the kitchen I could tell the boys were still playing games. I couldn’t believe it.
Then I heard a different voice yelling, “Oh no! I lost!” I listened closer as I made my way to the kitchen. It can’t be, I thought. I took a deep breath and turned the corner just in time to see Carver pulling Grandpa’s underpants onto his head. The rest of the guys laughed. Grandpa and Dad were both biting into a huge sandwich.
“Carver?”
“Maddie! You’re home.”
I looked around the room. Everyone, including my dad, was acting like it was nothing out of the ordinary.
“What are you doing here?” The same chill started down my spine.
“Just hanging out, making sandwiches and playing cards with the guys . . . oh, and wearing your grandfather’s underwear on my head.”
I laughed, “Right, I can see that.”
“Can I take Carver for a few minutes?” I asked.
Dad smiled. I think that was our last round.
I took Carver by the hand and into the living room. He took my other hand too as we stood face to face.
“You know, I came over for a tutor session but you weren’t here.”
“Right, I’m sorry. I had to cheer tonight. I didn’t see you there.”
“No, you didn’t. But I heard all about your pep rally. Our good friend Jack Fabrizio called and told me all about it. Did you really go to all that expense and trouble just for me?”
I smiled. “Well, don’t get a big head now. It only cost me twenty-three dollars.”
Then, he looked into my eyes. I could smell his cinnamon breath. Involuntarily, I stood on my tiptoes and leaned in. This was it. Just before our lips touched he stopped.
“Hold on,” he said. He closed his eyes and just stood there.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just enjoying the moment. You know, the moment before the moment.”
I smiled and closed my eyes as well. It was the moment I had waited for my whole life. The moment before the moment was just as I had hoped it would be. It was the best minute of my life. Then . . . he kissed me.
