"When? What are you talking about?"
"Yesterday. I walked by the cafeteria and saw you reading something. You seemed really into it."
"Just a book. I read a lot of books."
"What's it about?"
"It's a mystery. This girl finds a locket and it turns out to belong to her childhood friend who died when they were eight. She thought it was an accident but now she's thinking her friend was murdered."
"That's dark. Is that what you like? Dark stuff?"
"I didn't used to. I started reading books like this about a year ago."
"What'd you read before that?"
"Just...other stuff."
"Like what?"
"Romance," I mumble, hoping he didn't hear.
"Romance?" he asks with a smile.
I shoot him an angry look. "There's nothing wrong with romance. It's a very popular genre."
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with it. I've read a few romance novels."
"You have?"
"I didn't read them front to back. I just skimmed through, looking for the dirty parts."
I laugh. "Was this recently?"
"No. I was twelve at the time. My mom has a ton of romance novels so one day I flipped through a few of them."
"And did you find anything?"
"Yeah. It turned out to be very educational."
"How so?" I ask, laughing as I imagine twelve-year-old Wes reading his mom's romance books. I picture a smaller, skinnier version of him crouched down on the floor, eyes wide as he reads a steamy scene.
"I learned what women really want," he says, "which is a lot different than what my friends told me."
Thinking back to the many love scenes I've read, I wonder what exactly Wes is referring to. And I wonder if he's tried those things on girls. I'm assuming he's been on dates, maybe even had a girlfriend.
"Why'd you stop?" he asks.
"Stop what?"
"Why'd you stop reading romance books?"
I shrug. "I just wanted to read something new."
That's not the real reason. The truth is that I found it depressing to read about something I'll never have. Stella keeps telling me I'll fall in love someday, but I don't think I will. I won't let myself. Because what if I fall in love, then lose my vision and the guy I love leaves me for someone who can see? In the books, the guy would never leave the girl. He'd stay with her no matter what. But those are books. That doesn't happen in real life.
After chem, I walk by myself to history class because Wes has to go make a phone call. Maybe he's calling his girlfriend. Maybe she lives in California and they're doing the long distance thing.
He shows up to class after the bell has rung and the teacher doesn't even yell at him for it. How does he get away with being late? Anyone else would get in trouble.
After class he says, "I have to miss lunch again."
"Independent study?"
"Not today. I have other stuff I have to do."
"Nice shirt, dumbass," a guy says to Wes as he walks by.
"Thanks!" Wes says, even though it was meant as an insult. "See you on the bus?" he asks me.
"Yeah. Bye."
"Oh, and..." he leans down to my ear, "I can't wait to take you out on Friday." He rises up and smiles. "If it goes well, maybe you'll consider letting me take you out Saturday too."
I watch him leave, shocked he wants to go out with me not just once, but twice. We haven't even been on a date yet. We don't even know if we like each other that way. There's definitely an attraction between us but our date could turn out to be a disaster. And I'm not going on Friday. I still have to find a way to get out of that.
During lunch, when I'm just about to start chapter four of the book I'm reading, I feel my table move. I look up and see Colton sitting across from me.
"Hey, you coming on Friday?" he asks.
I'm so surprised he's sitting at my table that nothing comes out of my mouth. I look around, seeing if anyone is witnessing this. Unfortunately, they're all too busy to notice. Plus, I'm tucked away in the corner, where nobody ever looks.
"Luna?" I hear him say.
"Yeah." I look at him. "Sorry, but no, I can't go."
"But Wes is still going, right?"
"I think so. And Sam and Stella will be there. Wes kind of invited them. I hope that's okay."
"Sure." He shrugs. "Half the people there will be people I didn't actually invite, but I don't mind. I always tell people to bring whoever they want."
Unlike the rest of the popular crowd, Colton's never teased or bullied me. He's never been very friendly to me but at least he's never picked on me.
"So what's going on with you and Wes?" Colton asks.
"What do you mean?"
"You two going out?
"Uh, no, not really. We're just friends."
He nods. "I was thinking of setting him up with someone. She goes to another school but she'll be at the party on Friday. You know if he has a girlfriend?"
"I don't think so."
"Cool." He stands up. "I'll let you get back to your reading. See ya around."
"Yeah. See ya."
Colton's setting up Wes up with some girl. And I won't be there to stop it! Crap!
Maybe Wes will tell the girl he's not interested. He's made it clear he's interested in me, so he wouldn't go out with someone else, would he?
The rest of the day I'm still thinking about this, thinking how I should've told Colton that Wes and I are going out. Why didn't I do that? I always blurt stuff out without thinking, then regret it later.
After school, Wes isn't on the bus and it leaves without him. I get a text from him. Not taking the bus today. Something came up. Got a ride home with my dad.
Something came up? Like what? I hope it's not something bad, like a family emergency.
I text him back. Everything okay?
He doesn't text back until I'm home. Everything's fine. Just busy. Have a good night!
So I guess we're done texting for the night. I was hoping he'd call. We barely talked today, and after history class I didn't see him for the rest of the day. I missed him. It's the first time I've missed a guy, which tells me I'm falling for him. And now he's going to go to that party without me and be set up with whoever this girl is that Colton knows.
I call Stella. She answers on the first ring. "Hey, Luna, what's up?"
"Are you at the rink?"
"Yeah, I'm at practice. What's going on?"
"Never mind. I'll just call you later."
"Tell me now. I can take a break. Go ahead."
"During lunch today, Colton came over and asked if Wes and I are dating."
"Was Wes there?"
"No, he had something to do during lunch. Anyway, I told Colton that Wes and I are just friends."
"I thought Friday was supposed to be a date."
"It is, or was, but I didn't want Colton knowing that. I don't know why. I should've just told him we were going out but I didn't and now he's going to set up Wes with some girl. She'll be at the party on Friday."
"Who is it? Who's the girl?"
"I don't know. She goes to some other school. It doesn't matter. The point is, I have to make sure he doesn't agree to go out with her."
"And you want Sam and me to be the ones to make sure it doesn't happen."
"Yeah. Will you do it? Please?"
"Why don't you just go to the party? I'll stay by you the whole time to make sure you don't trip on anything."
"I'd rather just not go. It's too risky. Remember last summer when you made me go to the fireworks?"
"You only tripped because some kid left his toy on the sidewalk."
"It wasn't because of the toy. It was because it was dark and I couldn't see. There were street lights along the sidewalk and I still couldn't see. It'll be even darker in the fields behind Colton's house."
She sighs. "Okay, fine. Sam and I will keep an eye on Wes."
"Thanks."
"What did you give Wes f
or an excuse?"
"I didn't yet."
"You're running out of time."
"I know. I'll do it. I just have to come up with a reason for why I can't go. You should get back to practice."
"Yeah. Bye."
Later that night, as I'm getting ready for bed, I get a text. I smile when I see it's from Wes. You like tomatoes?
That's an odd text. Not at all what I was expecting.
Yes. Why do you ask? I text back.
His response is, What's your favorite flower?
That wouldn't be an odd question except for the fact that it followed the tomato question. Are the two somehow related?
I'm not sure how to answer him about the flowers. I feel like I should say roses because that's what everyone says, but they're not my favorite. I close my eyes and the first flower that pops in my head is a daisy.
Daisies, I text back.
Perfect! he texts with a smiley face. Again, I don't know what that means. I gave the perfect answer? I didn't know there was one. He can be very confusing sometimes.
Another text pops up. Goodnight, Luna.
Goodnight, I text back.
That was strange. But Wes is kind of a strange guy. Not in a bad way, but in a way that's interesting, a bit quirky, and keeps you wondering what he'll do next. Maybe that's why I like him so much. He's different, like me. And he likes me. He knows how unpopular I am and he still likes me.
Chapter Eight
In the morning, Wes arrives at chem class right before it starts so we don't have time to talk. Then on the walk to history, we discuss our first assignment which is due next week. He's already started it. I plan to do my part of it on Friday, since I won't be going to the party. I haven't had a chance to tell him that yet. Every time I try, he says something that distracts me.
After school he's not on the bus but I sit in the back because I like it there, and because it reminds me of Wes. Today he was wearing light colored pants and a white polo shirt with a little monkey on it. I think the monkey was some kind of logo. I feel like I've seen it before but I can't remember where. I was going to ask him about it but then I forgot.
Later that night I'm doing homework when my mom comes in my room.
"You received a package," she says, smiling.
"A package?"
"It's actually a basket, along with some—well, why don't you just come see for yourself?" She smiles even more. "You didn't tell me you have a secret admirer."
"I don't."
"I think you do," she says as we walk down the hall. "And he seems to have a green thumb."
Now I'm even more confused. She leads me to the kitchen and on the table is a basket overflowing with tomatoes, all different kinds, and a bouquet of yellow and white daisies.
"Was there a note?" I ask, even though I know who it's from. Now the texts make sense but what's with the tomatoes? What guy sends a girl tomatoes?
"I didn't see a note," my mom says as she picks up a tomato and smells it. "These are fresh from the garden. They smell heavenly. You don't know who sent them?"
"I think it's a guy from my school, but I don't really get why he sent me tomatoes. Where'd you find this?"
"It was on the front porch. Someone rang the bell but by the time I answered it, nobody was there. The flowers and tomatoes were just left on the steps."
"Hey, kiddo." My dad comes up beside me and drops a kiss on my head. "Who's the boy?" My dad goes to the freezer and takes out the ice cream.
"There's no boy."
"Then who sent the tomatoes?" He looks at my mom. "Is something going on between you and the produce guy?"
She laughs. "I can assure you you're the only man for me, although these tomatoes could certainly win over my heart if I were single."
My mom loves tomatoes, or any vegetable that's fresh from the garden. But she's never been good at growing things and neither is my dad so we get all our produce at the store.
A text pops up from Wes. It's best not to refrigerate tomatoes. Ruins the flavor.
Good to know, I text back, then, Thanks for the gifts.
You're welcome. I was going to give them to you tomorrow before the party but decided to drop them off tonight instead.
The flowers are beautiful and the tomatoes look good. I've never been given tomatoes before.
I grew them myself. I forgot to mention I'm a champion tomato grower. I have the blue ribbons to prove it.
What guy our age grows tomatoes? It's another quirky trait that makes me like him.
"Look at that smile," I hear my mom say. I look up and see my parents staring at me.
"Who is this boy?" my dad asks.
"Just a guy from school. He's new here. He's from California."
My dad turns to my mom. "Did you know about this?"
"I didn't have a clue. But you know how secretive she is when it comes to boys."
"Guys. Really? I'm right here. I can hear everything you're saying."
"We need to meet this boy," my dad says.
"Why? I'm not dating him."
"The gift he left would indicate that you are dating him."
"Maybe not yet," my mom says. "He appears to be trying to woo her with the tomatoes and daisies."
"Are you going to date him?" my dad asks me.
"I don't know. I haven't decided."
"We need to meet him before you go out with him. That's the rule. It hasn't changed."
"I know. Now are we done here?"
"Yes," my mom says as she comes over to hug me. "Goodnight, honey."
"Goodnight." I turn and walk away.
"Don't forget your flowers." My mom catches up to me and hands me the flowers. Wes even put them in a vase. I wonder if he wants it back or if I'm supposed to keep it. I'll ask Stella. She always knows what to do.
When I'm in my room, I call her. "He got me daisies. And tomatoes."
"What?" she asks.
"Wes. He left a vase full of daisies on the porch. And a basket of tomatoes."
"Okay, hold on. So I get the flowers but why the tomatoes? Is it some kind of inside joke?"
"He said he grows them."
"Huh. That's kind of weird, but also really nice. You haven't even been on a date and he's already giving you gifts. Gifts that he made. He really likes you, Luna."
"I still haven't told him I can't go tomorrow. I tried to but he keeps interrupting me. And he mentioned something about going out on Saturday."
"Are you gonna go?"
"I don't know yet. This is all happening so fast. I didn't plan on dating anyone and now I have this guy asking me out the first week of class."
"You have to go on Saturday. You can't blow him off twice. He'll think you don't like him and then he'll go out with someone else."
"I know. I'll have to figure something out."
"Just go out to dinner. Some place with good lighting. And go early, so you're done before it gets dark."
"See how complicated this is? This is why I don't want to date."
"You'd rather spend every night sitting at home? Just go and don't worry about it. Everything will be fine. And if something goes wrong, Wes seems like the type of guy who would understand."
"I'm not telling him, Stella."
"If you guys start dating, you'll have to eventually."
"I doubt we'll get to that point."
"Don't think that way. This guy really likes you so give him a chance." She pauses. "My mom's asking me something. I gotta go."
"Okay, bye."
***
At chem the next morning, I'm all prepared to tell Wes my excuse for why I can't go to the party but then he doesn't show up. I get a text saying he has to miss morning classes but that he'll text me later to confirm what time he'll be picking me up.
Crap. Now I can't talk to him. My excuse was that I'm going to an event with my mom but I know Wes will ask a thousand questions about it and I'll have to come up with answers and I don't want to do all that through texts. I'll just call him later
and tell him.
I try calling his number at lunch but he doesn't answer. Then he shows up at my table, wearing a suit and tie.
"Hey." He sits next to me and pulls out a protein bar. "Lunch." He smiles. "So how's it going?"
"Why are you wearing a suit?"
"I had a meeting this morning. I didn't have time to change." He unwraps his bar and takes a bite.
I can never tell if he's kidding or telling the truth, but I'm guessing he's kidding. I don't know what kind of meeting he'd be going to. Then again, he's wearing a suit so maybe he really did go to a meeting.
"Did you try a tomato?" he asks.
"No, but my mom did. I hope that's okay. She went crazy when she saw those tomatoes."
"Tell her she can have as many as she wants. I've got tons of them and they're all getting ripe at the same time."
"So um...about tonight, I can't go. I have a thing. An event to go to."
"You already tried that excuse. Try again."
He's right. I already used that excuse! Why didn't I remember that?
"Wes," a guy says, coming up to our table. "Someone trashed your locker again."
Wes sighs. "Did you see who did it?"
"No, but Mr. Henderson did. He's the one who caught them. It was Lucas and Ty."
"Okay, thanks." Wes gets up from the table as the guy walks off.
"Someone trashed your locker?" I ask.
"Sounds like it." He gets out his phone and types something.
"And this happened before?"
He doesn't answer as he walks around me to toss his wrapper in the trash.
"Wes, I know it happened before. That guy said 'again' meaning today wasn't the first time."
"It happened Wednesday too, but it's not a big deal."
"It's a huge deal. Having your locker trashed twice in one week means you already have people bullying you and it's all because of me."
He sits down beside me. "It's not because of you. It has nothing to do with you. Or me. People who do that shit have their own problems and they do things to other people because they don't know how to fix themselves or fix whatever's wrong in their lives."
I roll my eyes. "Yeah, that all sounds great but it doesn't change the fact that they make our lives miserable." I look him in the eye. "Will you be honest with me?"
"About what?"
"Did this prank—them trashing your locker—involve tuna?"
The Geek and The Goddess Page 7
