by J. L. Berg
“Still nothing from Eddie?” I asked, knowing she’d been waiting to hear from him for forever.
“No.” She pouted. “I’m giving up. I’ve decided I’m not good at this boy thing. First, I fall for my best friend, the boy who has basically been my brother since birth… and then I decide to go for a guy who apparently doesn’t know I exist. I think a little drama-free, boy-free time will do me good. For the time being, I’m just going to live vicariously through you and Sam.”
“That’s… weird.”
She laughed. “Not like that. I don’t need to know details or anything — unless you feel like sharing. I just meant that knowing my two best friends are happy and in love is all I need right now.”
In love?
Is that what we were?
The only person I’d ever really loved was Addy, but Sam was different.
The butterflies I felt when Sam was near, was that love? Or just teenage lust?
The way he made me feel… the safety and trust I knew I had when he was near, was that love?
How did you know?
How did anyone know?
These questions bounced around in my head for the rest of the day as we ushered in and out new customers and rang up sales. I watched Sam tirelessly greet people outside. More than once, someone had tried to relieve him, insisting he go inside to warm up, but he’d refused. This was his business, and in a way, I thought that was how he felt he was making the most impact.
Once the customers became steady and the money started rolling in, I encouraged Addy and Allison to return to their normal lives. Both protested, but in reality, we’d already stolen too much of their time.
“I don’t have a life,” Allison argued. “Really, I don’t. I just sit at home and do nothing.”
“Have you considered getting a job?” Addy asked. “I might need an assistant in the salon.”
Her eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you serious?” she asked as they both walked out.
I could hear Allison’s high-pitched voice as they traveled down the street.
Allison working for my aunt?
It was a good match, honestly. They both had high energy and were sociable, and it would be nice to have Allison so close by.
No doubt we’d need to double our supply of coffee though.
After helping Sophie, who’d come in for the afternoon with the line that had developed, I found a familiar face standing in front of me.
“Your nose is red,” I said, looking into Sam’s green eyes.
“Want to join me for a cup of coffee?” he asked.
I looked at the clock, surprised to see we had less than an hour to go before closing. Nodding, I picked out a flavored coffee while he went for something black and boring.
“We’ll need to figure out a better setup,” he said as we waited for everything to brew. “It’s nice to have it all up here, so we can keep tabs on it, but maybe we should look into one of those cold carafes for creamer, so we don’t have to use that powdered crap. Going back and forth to the stockroom refrigerator every time someone wants a cup of coffee seems stupid.”
“I agree,” I said, grabbing my coffee from the machine. “We might as well not bother if powdered cream is all we can do. That stuff is nasty. Even I know that, and I rarely drink coffee.”
The nook, which had turned out to be a big hit during the day, especially among the younger crowd, had thinned out as nighttime settled. People were getting ready for New Year’s festivities, and we’d anticipated a sharp decline in attendance once it got dark. But it had been a good day, and we still had a little bit longer until the store closed.
I wanted to enjoy it…no matter how many customers we had.
“You were amazing today,” he finally said after taking a sip of his coffee.
“Me? You stood out in the cold all day. Did you even eat?”
“Do doughnuts count? Because I’m pretty sure I ate about a dozen of those chocolate ones your aunt brought over.”
“No wonder you lasted all day outside. You were probably high on sugar.”
He laughed. “I could use some real food though. Want to grab dinner after we close?”
“Sure.”
“And afterward… will you let me kiss you at midnight?”
I stopped breathing.
“I’m sorry,” he backpedaled. “That was too much, wasn’t it?”
“No,” I answered. “It just took me by surprise.”
His expression turned hopeful. “Does that mean yes?”
I smiled. “It means yes… eventually. Just maybe not yet.”
His smile grew as our hands found each other once more. “I look forward to eventually.”
So do I, Sam. So do I.
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT.
That was my exact thought after walking back into school the day after New Year’s.
The bookstore was in good shape, Addy’s hair salon dreams were coming true, and I had the best boyfriend in the world.
What a difference a few weeks could make.
I didn’t even care that my dingy red gloves still remained glued to my hands. I was happy… truly happy. For maybe the first time ever.
“My life sucks,” Allison announced as we sat down to lunch after making it through our morning classes.
“A whole four hours back at school, and your life is already that bad?” I asked, setting down my tray on the table we’d taken over in the cafeteria. I hadn’t had any time to pack a lunch this morning after accidentally sleeping in. After two-plus weeks without an alarm, waking up early was a harsh adjustment, and I’d pressed the snooze button more than once.
“Well, for one, I have a new teacher in Spanish.”
“What happened to Mrs. Decker?”
“Caught her husband cheating on her with the cleaning lady. Moved back to Connecticut to live with her mom.”
“Whoa,” I said. “Sorry I asked.”
She shrugged. “She’s young and pretty cute. I’m sure she’ll be fine. It’s me who’s going to fail miserably! This new guy — Mr. Lee — is insane. He’s convinced Mrs. Decker did us a disservice by teaching at such a slow pace, and he has now completely redone the syllabus and assigned, like, a billion hours’ worth of homework. Oh! And we’re not allowed to speak in English. Ever.”
I was having a hard time seeing how Mrs. Decker’s failed marriage really compared to Allison’s new homework load, but as a friend, I did commiserate.
“Like, ever? Because, unless you haven’t noticed, you’re speaking it right now.”
She gave me a hard stare. “You know what I mean! In class! We’re not allowed to speak it in class, which is going to be impossible for me because, so far, I only know how to count to one hundred and say my name.”
I laughed. “Wow, I hate to say it, but maybe this new guy has a point.”
“I knew I should have taken Spanish as a freshman.”
“That’s what the rest of us did.”
“And to make matters worse,” she went on, “Eddie has a new girlfriend. And get this, she’s a freshman.”
Taking a bite of salad, I asked, “How did you find this out?”
She’d obviously had a much busier day than me.
“I saw them making out between second and third period.” She pouted.
“Oh. Well, that’s… gross. Here, eat something,” I suggested, pushing her slice of pizza toward her.
“I can’t. Everything is too horrible.”
“Has anyone told you that you’re sometimes a little overly dramatic?” I said, taking a bite of my own slice of pizza. It wasn’t great, not like the stuff Addy made from scratch, but it wasn’t terrible either.
“You,” she answered. “Quite often actually. And you’re right. I swore, I was going to live in a boy-free, drama-free bubble, and here I am, back on the crazy train on the first day back. I just need to refocus.”
“And how are you going to do that?”
“Well, for starters, I’m going to go find that Mr. Lee
and figure out how I can get some one-on-one tutoring or extra credit.”
“And Eddie?” I asked, knowing she was still annoyed.
“I’m going to avoid him like the plague.”
I laughed. “Solid plan.”
I held up her pizza slice, and after an eye roll, she finally took it from me and began eating.
Sometimes, I wondered who had taken care of Allison before I came around.
But then again, sometimes, the same could be said for me.
“Oh, I did have some good news to share,” she chimed in after wiping a little grease from her mouth.
“So, the day wasn’t all that bad?”
“Well, not totally, but it’s only half over.”
“Way to be optimistic,” I joked. “What’s your good news?”
“Well, I heard a few people talking about the new couple on campus.”
My nerves came to life. “Oh?”
“Seems everyone can’t stop talking about you and Sam.”
Now, I was the one to roll my eyes. “I can’t imagine what they must be saying.”
“Actually, nothing bad. Well, at least, from what I heard. It was more like, ‘Hey, did you hear Sam and that new girl Willow are together?’ People saw you holding hands at the bookstore and in the hall. But, honestly, Willow, I think people are kind of over your particular weirdness.”
“My weirdness?”
“The gloves,” she clarified. “I don’t think it really bugs them anymore. You’re just Willow to everyone now.”
Just Willow.
Huh.
I kind of liked that.
“And, speaking of the hot new couple, here comes your boyfriend now,” she announced.
I turned just in time to see Sam take a seat next to me.
“Hey,” he said to both of us. “Is it just me, or is it strange to be back?”
“Kind of,” I replied. “It did feel like an eternity that we were away.”
“It did, yet now that we’re back, it’s like nothing has changed.”
“Well, some things did,” Allison piped in, raising her eyebrows at the way Sam’s hand rested on my knee. “Anyway” — she smiled — “I’m going to go make the most of my remaining lunch break. If that Mr. Lee thinks he’s safe in the teacher’s lounge, he’s sorely mistaken.”
“Poor Mr. Lee,” I said before we said our good-byes.
“What’s up with her?” Sam asked, his emerald eyes focused on mine.
“New Spanish teacher.”
He nodded. “Right. I heard about that. A couple of the guys in my English class were talking about it. Sounds rough. Glad I took my foreign language requirement early on.”
“Me, too.”
A long tendril of his dark brown hair fell forward, and I instinctively bent forward and brushed it back. The corner of his mouth lifted into a lazy smile.
“You need a haircut,” I said softly, my fingers still running through his hair.
“Yeah? You think you could hook me up?”
“I might know someone.”
“Does this offer come with food?” he asked, watching my hand softly rest on top of his.
“You and food.” I laughed. “Now, I know you’re a sixteen-year-old boy.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been deprived of Addy’s cooking for five years. I’m making up for it.”
“I’m sure she would love to cook for you. And cut your hair. But only on one condition,” I said.
He waited for my request, looking completely amused and relaxed.
“You walk me home after work.”
His grin grew. “I mean, I guess… if I have to. Want a little practice now? The bell is about to ring,” he warned.
I agreed, grabbing my trash and backpack. Being the gentleman he was, he grabbed my tray the minute I stood up and took care of disposing of everything only to return a moment later.
It was then that I noticed the stares.
And the whispers.
“Have you ever been to the zoo and wondered what it’s like to be constantly on display?” I asked him as we walked hand in hand out of the cafeteria.
His head turned sideways, catching a few lingering eyes, and he laughed. “I’ve always thought it would be fun to be a monkey,” he joked, remembering a previous conversation.
“It doesn’t bother you?” I asked, growing serious, as my voice grew quiet.
He stopped as we reached the hallway. “That they’re staring at us?”
I nodded.
“No,” he said adamantly. “I’m proud to have you here by my side. If I knew you wouldn’t kill me, I’d run down Main, announcing you agreed to go out with me to the entire town.”
“I would definitely kill you,” I replied, shaking my head at his theatrics. “Although you actually never asked.”
“What?”
“You never asked me. To be your girlfriend, I mean.”
“I just figured that was implied,” he said, “with the whole I-like-you, hand-holding, magical-winter-wonderland moment.”
“Hmm…” I smiled. “Allison says you’re supposed to clarify.”
“And she would know how? Oh, fine. Willow Fairchild, would you please do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”
I laughed but immediately sobered the moment I saw the sincerity in his eyes.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Good. Now, get to class before you’re late.”
“I’m never late.”
I could hear his laughter filling the hallway behind me as I scurried off to class.
AFTER PUTTING IN a few hours at the bookstore, Sam and I enjoyed a quiet walk home, expecting to arrive to an even quieter house filled with the smells of a home-cooked meal.
What we instead stumbled into was the exact opposite.
Sheer chaos.
And, to Sam’s utter disappointment… not a single home-cooked anything in sight.
“What the heck?” I found myself saying the moment I closed the door behind us.
“Your aunt decided to open the salon… in a week,” Allison announced before shoving a slice of pizza in her mouth.
I guessed we were eating pizza.
Again.
“Why a week?” Sam asked, helping himself to the box of pepperoni pizza that was lying on the kitchen table.
“Well, there are several reasons,” Addy responded, appearing in the hallway, dressed in overalls and a Christmas sweater. She must have been in my closet — or the part of my closet she still occupied — because she had a handful of fabrics and knickknacks I distinctly remembered seeing shoved next to the few clothes I had hanging in there.
“But, mostly, I just want to,” she added.
“Well, who can argue with that? How can we help?” Sam asked, his mouth stuffed full of pizza, obviously realizing our laid-back night was clearly out the window… along with his much-needed haircut.
“I’ve already got Allison working on everything marketing-related. I’m not starting a business from the ground up, but it never hurts to get the word out.”
“How has the response been from your clients?” I asked, grabbing a slice for myself before Sam ate it all.
“Pretty good,” she answered, busying herself with the things she’d grabbed from the closet. “There are a few, mostly ones from the neighborhood, who aren’t thrilled with the idea of driving all the way downtown for their haircut, but I think they’ll adjust.”
“All the way?” I laughed.
“Well, when you’re used to walking the length of a few houses, I guess even a mile can seem like an adjustment.”
“Then, we’ll just have to make it worth it,” I said.
“Agreed.”
Over the next few hours, we all worked together, boxing up Addy’s hair products, making pillows for the small lobby area, and doing several other tiny tasks. I’d even tried to show my crafty side by painting an old chest of drawers she planned on using for storage in the restroom. Unfortunately, Allison had to take over
when I’d proven to be neither crafty nor neat.
“Maybe you should just stick to reading,” Sam said, patting me on the back.
“Bite me,” I mumbled.
“Right here? In front of your aunt? That would be awfully rude of me,” he said, completely straight-faced.
I caught Addy grin as she ducked into the garage, a chorus of laughter following her.
“You’re crazy.”
“From where I’m sitting, you’re both crazy,” Allison commented, hunched over her homework.
She’d finished setting up everything online for Addy over an hour ago, again reminding me that a child could do what she’d just accomplished, and then proceeded to pull out her pile of Spanish homework.
She’d been complaining ever since.
I really did feel bad for her.
Or at least I was trying.
“Can one of you help me with this? Is it corre or corrió?” she asked, pointing to something in her textbook.
“It’s corre,” I replied, looking over her shoulder after Sam’s blank stare in my direction.
“I’m glad you know because I had no clue. Maybe Mrs. Decker wasn’t the greatest teacher after all.”
Allison’s head flopped back against the couch. “I’m going to fail this class. There goes college. There goes any chance at a career, all because I failed Spanish 101.”
“You’re not going to fail,” I said, walking around the couch to take a seat next to her. “I thought you said you were going to make it your life’s mission to track him down and give him a piece of your mind.” I lowered my voice, trying to impersonate the determined tone she’d had earlier today at lunch.
“I don’t sound like that.” She frowned. “And I couldn’t find him. But I’m heading in early tomorrow. I will find him.”
“See? No need to worry. You’ve got this.”
She stood up, nodding with confidence. “You’re right. I do have this.”
“Good. Now, get back to it!” I demanded, making both of them laugh… me included.
Everything was perfect.
Just the way it was supposed to be.
LIFE SETTLED INTO a nice routine over the next few days. Everyone pitched in to help at the salon while we continued to get as many customers in the door at Page Turners. It was busy, chaotic, and stressful but fulfilling.
