The Replacement Crush

by Lisa Brown Roberts

  Toff sighed and kicked at the ground. “He always is, but it doesn’t stop girls from throwing themselves at him.”

  “That’s total BS, Toff. Why is it cool for Jake to be a total player, but whatever girl he’s been with is a slut? You ever hear of a double standard?” I pushed past him, yanked open the van door and reached in to grab the pastry box.

  “Viv, wait. You know that’s not what I’m saying.”

  I couldn’t deal with him right now. He said he didn’t blame me, but it sure felt like he did. It infuriated me, but it also hurt, cutting much deeper than I would’ve thought. I practically ran back to the house, stumbling up the steps to the deck.

  I was done with boys. All of them.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CLARION CALLER - SEPTEMBER 15th

  Meet Our New Senior, Dallas Lang

  By Vivian Galdi

  You've probably noticed the new guy driving the Vespa to school. Senior Dallas Lang (aka Vespa Guy) moved to Shady Cove from Milwaukee, Wisconsin last spring. His dad teaches in the Engineering school at UC, so that must mean Dallas is a brainiac, but we guessed that because of the cute nerd glasses. A rabid Packers fan, Dallas might show up in a cheesehead hat some day. You’ve probably noticed lots of red University of Wisconsin Badgers clothing in his wardrobe.

  Random factoids: Dallas has played the cello for ten years and is a whiz at computer coding. When asked if he might become a professional cellist some day, going on tour like the 2Cello sensations, Dallas refused to answer, making this reporter wonder what other secret talents our new classmate might be hiding.

  Dallas misses his friends from Wisconsin but is looking forward to making new friends. In fact, this reporter has it on good authority that he loves to dance. Pay attention, ladies, and some of you gents: The Surfer Ball is just around the corner.

  Dallas slammed the newspaper on the lunch table, startling Amy, Jaz, and me.

  After my argument with Toff, the last thing I needed was another boy getting in my face. Even a smexy nerd-hot boy who looked even cuter than usual in a faded yellow polo shirt and plaid shorts. “You get mugged by Ralph Lauren?” I snarked. A tiny part of me knew I shouldn’t lash out at Dallas, but the all-boys-are-worthless part of me was louder.

  Jaz snorted with laughter, but I kept my eyes on Dallas, whose flashing green eyes bore into mine.

  “I thought you said nobody reads the newspaper.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Nobody does.” I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant even though it felt as if a swarm of butterflies were swirling from my stomach to my throat. I reached up to brush a stray curl behind my ear and shot a glance at the surfer table. Toff had been watching me like a hawk all freaking day. His gaze shifted from me to Dallas.

  “Well, somebody must read it. Three girls asked me to the Surfer Ball this morning.” He ran a hand through his spiky hair. A jolt of jealousy surged through me.

  “Sounds like Viv did you a favor,” Jaz piped up. “Making you instantly popular and getting you a date to the most awesome event of the year.”

  Dallas rolled his eyes. “I’m not interested in popularity.”

  “Hey cheesehead!” A voice boomed across the courtyard, and we all turned toward it. It was newspaper Nathan, sports columnist extraordinaire. He grinned at Dallas. “Packers suck, dude! You gotta be a ’Niners fan if you live here.”

  “’Niners suck!” One of Nathan’s friends yelled. “Raiders rule.”

  “Chargers!” someone else yelled.

  Ig chose that moment to cruise by our table. “Save me a dance, Dallas?” He winked, but kept moving as Jaz snorted with laughter.

  Dallas turned back to me, frustration etching his face. “See what I mean?”

  I bit the inside of my lip. I hadn’t expected this. I honestly didn’t think many people read the paper, even the online version.

  “Sorry,” I said, but my heart wasn’t in it. I was still too distracted by my own drama. Jake had given me the evil eye in homeroom this morning, and dreadhead Claire had stared at me in the bathroom as if she wanted to say something, but when I’d returned her stare, she’d scurried away.

  Besides, who complained about getting asked to a dance by three different people?

  Dallas watched me while I stirred my yogurt. What did he want from me? An apology for writing a funny profile that got him noticed?

  “I thought it was a good article,” Amy said quietly. “Funny. But with some interesting facts about you.” She sipped from her juice bottle. “Plus, Viv said you’re cute.”

  “I said his glasses are cute,” I corrected, kicking Amy under the table. I snuck a glance at him. Yep. Still cute, even when he was angry.

  “So, who’s the lucky girl taking you to the dance, Dallas?” Jaz asked, elbowing me hard. “Or are you breaking a school record and going with all three girls?”

  Dallas sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. He glared at Jaz, then his eyes locked on mine. “I’m not going with any of them. Vivian, I—”

  “Vespa guy!” Drew scuttled up to our table like a beetle, dressed completely in black, including his fedora. “Just the man I’m looking for. Can you audition today after school?”

  Drew squinted and did that stupid face-framing thing with his hands, zooming in on Dallas’s face pretending to be a movie director. “Not quite as hot as the Croatians, but you’ll definitely attract some interest.”

  Dallas stared at him, confusion replacing his frustration with me. “What are you talking about?”

  Drew glanced at me. “You didn’t tell him about the audition? I thought you said he wanted to do the show?”

  Could this day get any worse?

  “What show?” Dallas asked.

  “The Shady Cove Talent Show,” Drew said. “Annual tradition of surprisingly decent acts. Directed by moi.” Drew frowned at me, then refocused on Dallas. “Vivian tells me you’re an amazeballs cellist.”

  Jaz choked on her drink. “Straight guys don’t say amazeballs, Drew.”

  Drew shot her an impatient glance. “I do.” He put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes at Dallas. “So are you amazeballs? And can you try out today?”

  Dallas tilted his head to the sky and closed his eyes. Everything about his posture screamed maximum frustration, and it was all my fault. I never should’ve told Drew about the cello thing. I grabbed my yogurt and scooted to the end of the bench. “I’ve gotta go,” I mumbled, turning away to avoid eye contact with Drew or Dallas. I took off, practically running.

  “Vivian, wait!” a voice called after me but I ignored it, making a beeline for the nearest doors.

  Once inside, I hurried to the library. I headed for the farthest table hidden behind a spinning rack of manga. I sank onto the floor and buried my head in my arms. Faces swirled in my mind: Jake, Toff, Dallas, and Drew. All these boys driving me crazy, some in bad ways, and one in a disconcertingly good way, but I’d just totally pissed him off.

  I stretched out my legs and tried to focus on my yoga breathing. I visualized my bookshelf at home because it was my favorite calming image. My heart rate had finally begun to slow down when my phone pinged. Three times.

  From Toff: “U ok?”

  From Jaz: “Where u at, girl?”

  From Dallas: “Can’t make it to work tomorrow.”

  I stared at my phone then typed my replies.

  To Toff: “I’m fine.”

  To Jaz: “Witness protection. C U after school.”

  To Dallas: “Whatever.”

  I felt like a defective Midas. Instead of turning everything I touched into gold, I turned everything to crap.

  ...

  “Dang, girl. You sure know how to stir up trouble.” Jaz grinned as she fastened her bike helmet.

  “Me? You’re the biggest trouble stirrer I know.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes innocently. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Anyway, we’re talking about you.”

  “I don’t w
ant to talk about me.” I couldn’t wait to leave school and get home.

  She looked surprised. “You don’t want a replay of what happened between Drew and Dallas after you ran away like a scared little baby?”

  I glanced anxiously toward Dallas’s Vespa. He’d be here any minute. “Let’s go. You can tell me while we ride.”

  Jaz resumed her story once we reached the bike path. “Okay, so after you bolted, Dallas was like, ‘What talent show? What are you talking about?’ And Drew’s all, ‘Viv told me you’re awesome on cello and you want to be in the show.’

  “And Dallas was like, ‘When did she tell you that?’ And Drew’s all, ‘She asked me out. I think she likes me but used your audition as an excuse to meet me for coffee. But she’s not my type.’ You should’ve seen Dallas’s face! He was shocked. Or maybe pissed. It’s hard to tell with him.”

  “Wait,” I interrupted, my heart beating one hundred miles per hour. “Drew made it sound like I was into him? Oh my God.” Why had I ever put him on my RC list?

  Jaz laughed as we pedaled uphill. “That guy’s ego is bigger than his whole body.”

  I shuddered. Now Dallas thought I liked Drew. Great. “I never should’ve started this stupid replacement crush mission. It’s a disaster.”

  “You know what I’m going to say.”

  I strained as the hill’s incline increased, breathing harder. “Go ahead.” The words came out between gasps for air.

  “I. Told. You. So.”

  “Feel better?”

  Jaz shot me a grin as we crested the top of the hill. “Yeah. So anyway, after Drew said you weren’t his type, Dallas got super pissed off. He told Drew he wasn’t interested in auditioning for his stupid show. And Drew said, ‘So perhaps Vivian exaggerated your abilities.’ And Dallas looked ready to punch Drew, but then Toff came over—”

  “Toff? What the heck?”

  Jaz shot me a look. “I know, right? So anyway, Toff’s all, ‘Is there a problem?’ And Drew gets all puffed up, which was funny because next to Toff and Dallas he’s totally scrawny. And Drew’s like, ‘The biggest problem just ran away.’ And Toff’s like ‘Shut up about Viv, Drew,’ and Dallas was all, ‘Yeah, I think the real problem here is you.’ And Amy and I were like oh my God, they’re both going to beat up Drew.”

  Jaz took a deep breath. “But they didn’t. Drew took off and Toff and Dallas were fist-bumping and all, ‘That guy’s an ass.’ And then they started talking about surfing lessons or whatever.” Jaz took another breath. “You’ve gotta stop this RC madness, dude.”

  I screeched to a stop and stared at Jaz.

  A guy on a mountain bike swore as he swerved to pass us. Jaz dismounted and walked to the scenic overlook. I followed her, the butterfly swarm in my stomach making me want to puke.

  “Don’t give me that ‘Whatever do you mean, dear Jasmine?’ innocent face. You know what I mean. Take Toff off your list because Amy likes him and you don’t. Take everyone off that damn list except the McNerd.”

  Her eyes blazed. She wasn’t kidding around. “Amy likes Toff?” So I’d been right about that.

  Jaz rolled her eyes. “Earth to Vivvy. Don’t you ever notice how shy she gets whenever he’s around?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded, thinking of how she almost fainted when Toff unzipped his wet suit. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  Jaz shrugged. “She thought since you wanted to put him on your RC list, she wouldn’t get in the way of potential true love.” She sighed, shaking her head. “For someone who’s supposed to be a romance expert, you’re totally screwing up, Viv. Big time.”

  A heavy sigh escaped me and floated on the wind toward the ocean. I wished I could follow it. I felt like a terrible friend for being so clueless. I’d have to make it up to Amy somehow.

  “TSTL,” I whispered.

  “TS what?” Jaz asked, frowning.

  “Too Stupid to Live. The worst kind of heroine.” Like me. “God, it’s so much easier to read about this type of drama than actually live it.”

  “Maybe. But wouldn’t you rather fall in love for real than just read about it?”

  I started to lean against the stone wall, but it was covered with seagull poop, the perfect metaphor for my day. “I’m not falling in love. Never again.”

  “You were never in love with Jake. That was lust, pure and simple. I bet you two never even talked for more than five minutes.”

  Jaz’s ridiculous platform boots appeared in my field of vision as I stared at the ground.

  “Anyway,” she said, “you’re not stupid. You’re my best friend and I love you, but you have to get a grip.” I looked up to see her smiling, but then she crossed her arms over her vintage Journey concert T-shirt. “As for Dallas, he is so pissed off with you.”

  “I know,” I mumbled.

  “But it’s because he likes you. A lot.”

  I sighed next to her. “I don’t know. After the newspaper article and the talent show thing, I’m pretty sure Dallas hates me.”

  Jaz laughed softly. “Try telling him you’re sorry and see what happens.”

  “What do you mean?” I turned from the waves to face her.

  “I’m picturing a moonlit night. You apologize for making him the laughingstock of the school—”

  “He’s not a laughingstock.”

  “Debatable. Anyway, he thinks he is and that’s what matters. So you apologize. He glares at you for about five seconds, then sweeps you into his arms and gives you the hottest kiss of your life. A million times hotter than Jake.”

  My whole body burned with anticipation as Jaz described the kiss. The totally imaginary kiss that was never going to happen.

  She was right, but I couldn’t admit it. I grabbed my bike. “I need to get home. My shift starts in ten minutes and Mom gets panicky when I’m late, especially when she’s in the middle of writing a new book.”

  I didn’t see the ocean or the beach as we rode. All I saw were the hurt faces of my friends. And I was the cause of the pain, even though I never meant to be.

  Love sucked.

  “Come on, Spock. Let’s go mind the store.”

  —Captain Kirk

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Tuesday, September 16

  “I’m so pleased you came up with this idea, Vivian.”

  I sat across from Ms. Garcia, the director of the senior center, as we discussed the details of my mobile book service. We’d agreed on one afternoon every other week, working around my schedule at the bookstore.

  “Let’s take a tour,” she said, pushing her chair away from her desk.

  We walked down a hallway that smelled like antiseptic cleaner mixed with burned food. Ick. I squared my shoulders. The least I could do was come here a couple times a month with books. Books could take people away from reality, and I bet a lot of people here needed that type of escape.

  As we rounded a corner, I crashed into a tall body walking quickly. He jumped back, adjusting the mirrored sunglasses on his nose and tugging down his baseball cap.

  “Sorry,” he muttered, head down.

  “Hector!” Ms. Garcia exclaimed. “How nice to see you again. Bertie’s lucky to have such a devoted grandson.”

  I studied him. He looked familiar.

  He cleared his throat and dropped his head even lower, speaking in almost a whisper. “Just checking in to see how she’s doing.”

  “Well, you let me know if she needs anything.” Ms. Garcia gave me a little push toward Hector. “This is Vivian Galdi. Her mom owns the local bookstore and Vivian has volunteered to run a mobile book service for the residents. Your grandmother will be able to order books she wants from Vivian’s inventory.”

  Hector raised his head slightly. I assumed he was looking at me from behind his mirrored shades. “Excellent,” he said, and the second I heard him speak I knew who he was.

  My mouth dropped open, then I clamped it shut. I would not freak out like Jaz; I’d play it cool even though I was standing within sniffing distance
of rock star Fisk Vilhelm, code name Hector, apparently.

  Ms. Garcia’s cell phone rang from her pocket. “Excuse me.” She stepped away. “I’ve got to take this.”

  Hector/Fisk leaned in close. “Please don’t blow my cover. I’m begging you.”

  I nodded. “I won’t. I promise.”

  He took a deep breath. “It’s cool of you to bring them books. My gran likes romances.” His neck reddened slightly, and I guessed he was rolling his eyes behind his shades. “She goes through them like crack.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, um, candy, or whatever.”

  I laughed. “It’s okay. I sort of consider myself a pusher, of books I mean. Especially romance.”

  He removed his sunglasses, and I looked into his rock star eyes. Yowza. He almost put Dallas to shame. Almost.

  “No kidding? That’s awesome. Can I count on you to keep her supplied?” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed me a hundred dollar bill. “Will this cover her for a while?” He grinned at me. I liked the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He seemed normal. Not like a world famous rock star.

  I nodded mutely.

  “Awesome. But please don’t tell anyone you saw me here. I come here a lot to check on my gran. She’s so important to me. I’d hate to have to stop visiting her because the paparazzi were camped out here waiting for me.”

  I nodded vigorously. Thank God it was me he’d run into, not Jaz. It would kill me not to tell her about this, but I couldn’t.

  “I promise,” I said. “That must suck having them follow you everywhere.”

  He put his sunglasses back on. “Mega sucks,” he agreed. “But they don’t know I’m in town, so I’d like to keep it that way as long as possible.”

  “I swear I won’t tell.” I gave him the split-fingered Spock gesture; it was the only one I could think of.

  He grinned. “You’re a Trekkie?”

  My cheeks heated. Had I seriously just geeked out in front of one of the coolest guys on the planet? Wait til I told Dallas…except I couldn’t tell him. I sighed heavily.

  “You okay? You look like you just lost your best friend.”