What If

by Shirley Anne Edwards

  Love, Mom

  I snatched the cash and ran upstairs to take a quick shower. I took off my clothes in the bathroom and stuck my tongue out at my reflection in the mirror. The monster red zit had popped out of my forehead.

  Why me?

  It was going to be one of those days.

  ***

  I gobbled down the last of my blueberry pancakes and finished my orange juice. Pam patted her mouth with a napkin like she was at some fancy restaurant instead of the local IHOP.

  “Aw, you finished it all.” She pouted, eyeing my plate as if another pancake would suddenly appear.

  “You’re always hungry. I don’t understand how you can eat like you do and not gain any weight.” I patted my full stomach.

  “Must be the genes, baby. I’ll pay this time.” She gave me an air kiss.

  Glancing outside the window, I expected to see steam rising up from the pavement. It was grosser than yesterday and would probably hit the upper nineties before noon.

  “I hope the heat isn’t as muggy and hot tomorrow as it is today. I really hate this weather.” I fished an ice cube out of my water glass and sucked on it. Even in my light pink cami and khaki skirt I felt overheated.

  Pam didn’t seem to mind the humidity in her white linen, sleeveless summer dress.

  “The sexy weather guy on The Weather Channel said the heat should break by the weekend. We can always go for a dip in the lake.”

  “You and your obsession with the weather. You really do want to be a meteorologist? I thought you just watched for the cute weather guys.”

  She took out a few bills from her purse. “I watch for both.” She smiled and finished her coffee.

  We stood. I stretched, feeling drowsy. She noticed my yawn and crossed her arms. “You just woke up! Come on, none of that. Let’s go to the bookstore.”

  “We were just there last week.”

  “Yeah, so? I want to visit Toby.”

  “All right.” I scraped my feet across the faded-blue carpet.

  She dragged me up to the front. After we paid the bill, we put on our sunglasses and strolled down the street. Quaint shops filled the center of Brookeside, as well as big brand name retailers and Williams’ Foods, the supermarket where Pete worked. There was a movie theater, a few other independent clothing stores, and the bookstore we planned on hitting up.

  “I feel so gross from this heat,” I complained while we strolled toward the center of town.

  “This is perfect to tan in.” She smiled up at the sweltering sun.

  “That’s your opinion. More likely I’d melt into a pile of goo on the sidewalk.” We passed the supermarket, and I peered inside to see if I could spot Pete.

  Pam touched my arm. “Can’t you go a day without seeing Pity?”

  I stopped. “Don’t call him that. I hate when you do it.”

  “Everyone does. It’s just a nickname.”

  “It’s not just a nickname. It’s mean.”

  She made a show of sighing loudly. “I really don’t see what’s great about Peter Preiss. I know you two have been best buds since you were kids, but he really ruins your mojo.”

  “Mojo?” I asked when we stopped at the light.

  “Yeah. Your mojo with the boys. The entire school thinks you two are an item.”

  “We’re just friends. Like you and I are. But he doesn’t go out for pancakes with me. I make sure that’s our special thing.”

  She grinned. “If I was a lesbo, I’d so be in love with you.”

  I snapped my fingers. “Shucks. Too bad we aren’t.”

  We giggled and crossed the street.

  “Seriously though, you’re awesome, and everyone I know thinks so, but if you spend our whole junior year with Pity-Pete, you may find yourself ignored or not invited to any parties. You’ll never have a date for prom and end up staying at home like a loser.”

  My temperature rose. It wasn’t because I was hot and cranky. “Pam, the whole being a part of the ‘in crowd’ doesn’t interest me at all. If I have to deal with assholes like Anthony Varela and Conner Bryce, I’m fine with the way things are.”

  We reached the store, and I held open the door for her. Pam rooted through her purse. “What do you have against those two? They can be immature, but they’re cute. They’re always nice to me when they’re at Toby’s house playing video games.”

  I waited inside the entrance for Pam to fix her face with blush and lipstick. I really didn’t want to get into it with her. “You know why. Those two jerks are the reason Pete’s treated like he has the plague or something.”

  She finished beautifying herself and fluffed her hair. “You never did tell me—”

  “Pammy,” Toby called out from behind the coffee counter.

  Her whole face brightened, and she skipped over to her boyfriend. He welcomed her with a huge grin on his face. He stopped refilling the straws to give Pam a hug. No one stared. Except for a few tables with customers reading or typing away on laptops while they drank coffee or ate some cake or cookies, the café was nearly empty.

  He gave me a wave. “Hey, Wendy. You’re going for the beach bunny look?”

  I wondered if I should be insulted or not. Based on his snicker, I took it as so and stuck my tongue out at him. He responded by rubbing his cheek and giving me the finger.

  “Oh, baby, you’re so funny.” Pam giggled and kissed his cheek.

  Sometimes these two laid it on a bit thick.

  “My break is in ten minutes. Can you wait?” he asked her.

  She nodded. Great. It would be another half hour before I could get the things I needed for school.

  “I’m gonna walk around.”

  “Sure,” she said over her shoulder. She only had eyes for Toby.

  I held back a gag and made my way over to the magazine racks. That killed about ten minutes. I then strolled over to the teen section to see if anything caught my eye. I picked up a current release about troubled teens at a boarding school, reading the description on the inside of the jacket cover and went over to a chair. Because my nose was literally in the book, I crashed into someone. I jerked away, and the book landed on the floor. The person bent down to pick up the book, giving me a smile that made me blink in stunned silence.

  The guy, near my own age, held out the novel. “Are you okay?” He eyeballed the cover. “You’re into cheesy teenage soap opera?” Turning it over, he scanned the back cover. “Love triangle? Sounds pretty corny.”

  His opinion of my reading material made me want to grind my teeth. Is he making fun of me or is this his lame attempt at flirting? I wish I could come up with a witty comeback, but my mind went blank. At least he was nice to look at. He reminded me of those Hollister models in the fashion magazines I read. He had a great muscular build, gorgeous blue eyes, and blond hair with natural highlights.

  “Um, yeah, big fan here of corny teen drama.” I took the book from him. Oh God, I was probably blushing. My face seemed on fire.

  He nodded and smiled. His teeth were also perfect. He kept staring at me, and I became even more frazzled. Oh no. What if he notices my volcanic zit?

  I touched my forehead, releasing a small groan at feeling the very noticeable blemish sticking out from under my skin for the world to see.

  “Is something wrong?” He took a step closer. I caught a whiff of his woodsy, yet subtle, musky-smelling cologne.

  “Ah, no. It’s just, um…are you wearing cologne?” I wanted to die.

  The cute boy laughed. “Yeah. Calvin Klein.”

  I bet he wore Calvin Klein underwear. No, better yet, boxer briefs. “Sorry, I’m such a dork. Blame it on the heat.”

  “I can understand. It’s pretty hot out there but probably worse in Manhattan.” He pushed his hands into the back pockets of his tan-colored shorts. He wore dark-brown leather flip-flops. Even his feet were great.

  “Manhattan?” I asked, confused.

  The cutie flicked a few bangs away from his forehead. “That’s where I’m from
. I used to live in the city.”

  “Oh? You’re visiting here?”

  “No, I’m the new member of the Brookeside population. Actually, my cousin works here.”

  “Really? Who—?”

  Toby and Pam approached us with their arms around one another.

  “Here he comes now.” The cute boy glanced over at them and then back at me. He couldn’t stop staring—or maybe I tricked myself into thinking that.

  “Hey, bro.” Toby and the hottie slapped hands.

  Pam noticed the book and grimaced. “You are not getting that, are you?”

  “Shut up,” I whispered.

  The boys both turned, and I smiled at them.

  “I see you’ve met my cousin,” Toby said.

  “Yup. But we haven’t exchanged names,” I responded.

  “Only our love for books,” Hottie said, shoving his hands in his pockets again.

  I would nip this in the bud. I held out my hand for him to shake. “I’m Wendy Wyman.”

  Hottie took mine in his and shook it. “I’m Dylan Mayone. Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.” I smiled. He did the same and didn’t let go until someone cleared his throat.

  I pulled my hand out of Dylan’s first. I would’ve sworn it tingled.

  Chapter Three

  Pam and I sat together at a table in the café. She drank a frozen coffee while I sipped a soda. We didn’t have to pay for a thing. Dylan did. Score one for us!

  He talked to Toby at the counter. Again, his hands were in his pockets. Every so often, he would turn our way and smile.

  “Isn’t Dylan a sweetie?” Pam sucked down her drink.

  “I’d say he’s more than that. Do all the boys look like that in New York? ‘Cause we don’t have any of those here.”

  She bumped my arm. “You’re just not paying attention to the local eye-candy. But, you’re right. He’s different from the guys in Brookeside.”

  She gazed at Dylan and sighed.

  I rolled my eyes and finished my soda. “Okay, give me the details. Who is he, and why did he move here?”

  “Dylan’s dad is some big television producer. His parents are divorced. His mom lives in Los Angeles. I think she’s some important vice president at some hot shot music label. He comes from big money.” She rubbed her fingers together.

  “Brookeside is filled with big money. You’re the perfect example.”

  She sniffed. “Think more, a lot more. Toby told me when he and Dylan were younger, his uncle would take them to Hollywood movie premieres and after-parties.”

  I checked out Dylan again. He talked to one of the girls behind the counter. They both laughed, and the girl leaned forward, showing off a chest that was more impressive than mine.

  “Someone is jealous,” Pam said in a teasing voice. “You should go talk to him.”

  I didn’t correct her, although I wasn’t necessarily jealous, more like bothered over my reaction to Dylan. “Other than him making fun of my reading material, he doesn’t act too stuck up or like some rich daddy’s boy. It’s nice of him to buy us our drinks.”

  “I think it’s great to have a new face around. If we’re cool with Dylan, and he counts us as his friends, we’ll be the most popular girls in the whole school.”

  “Pammy, you’re already popular.”

  “Then you will be too.” She patted my hand and finished her drink.

  “Why do you think he moved to boring Brookeside when he was in the middle of all the excitement in LA or New York City?”

  She shrugged. “Who cares? It’s our gain.”

  Dylan stared right at me. I peeked at my watch. Shoot. It was past twelve thirty, and I still had to go buy my school supplies and see Pete.

  I loved visiting Pete at work and keeping him company on his break. But a part of me wanted to hang here and keep my eye on Dylan, a.k.a. the hottie. I liked mysteries, and he was one I wanted to crack.

  Pam had left me and stood up front talking to the two boys. I went over to the garbage can, threw out my empty cup, and made my way over to the trio, catching the tail end of the conversation.

  “…the fun begins at three o’clock. Bring your bathing suits and whatever else you want. We’ll have a barbeque to welcome in the school year.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Pam hopped up and down. I think she had too much caffeine. “Dylan’s having a barbeque on Saturday afternoon. We’re all invited.”

  “Really? Sounds like fun.” I hoped it wouldn’t be too hot.

  “You’ll come?” Dylan rubbed my arm.

  “Y-yes.” I pushed my bangs away from my eyes. Whoa, he’s the touchy-feely type.

  “Great.” He gave me another one of those adorable smiles that showed off his dimples.

  “We should go. I need to get some things for school.” I sent Pam a let’s go look.

  “Yeah, before we forget.” She scuffed her foot against the floor. “I wish summer wasn’t over.”

  Toby leaned over the counter. “Junior year is going to be awesome. Now with my man Dylan around, we’re going to have the time of our lives.”

  Dylan snorted. He still had his hand on my arm. I moved away.

  “Let’s get going. Great to see you, Toby.” I nodded at him and then at Dylan. “It’s nice to meet you, Dylan. I’ll probably see you tomorrow.”

  “It’s a promise.” He winked at me.

  My face grew hot. I pulled Pam away before we ended up staying and talking with Dylan some more.

  “Bye, guys!” She waved and followed me out the front doors.

  As we passed the huge window, I peeked inside. Dylan had his hands in his back pockets again. He bit his lip as if he held back a laugh. I groaned. He made a boo-boo lip look hot.

  “What?” Pam asked.

  “Nothing.” I hurried down the sidewalk.

  It didn’t take me long to get what I needed at the drugstore. Pam went crazy buying makeup. She had a basketful while my own wasn’t even half filled. My mind kept wandering to Dylan. I couldn’t understand why I’d had such a strong reaction to him. He was cute and all, but there was something too perfect about him that irked me. Or maybe I made excuses because those dimples of his were to die for.

  Shrugging the thought aside, I bought what I needed and headed down the sidewalk. Nearing Williams’ Foods, I slowed down. “I want to run in here for a second.”

  She gave me a pout. “Can’t you do this later? I’m hot. I want to go to the lake.”

  “Oh, come on! I want to say hi to Pete. It will only take a minute.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t you see him enough as it is? I mean, you live across the street from the guy. Besides, it’s the perfect time of day to get some color,” she coaxed. “You need it more than I do.”

  “Why, thanks.” I frowned, feeling insulted.

  “You know what I mean.” She started to complain again but then someone covered my eyes.

  “Boo!”

  “Hey, Pete,” I said, and his hands dropped.

  “How’d you know it’s me?” He wore black pants and a white polo shirt with the market’s logo on the left pocket.

  “She can smell you,” Pam said.

  “Pam.” I gave her a warning and glanced over at Pete. “She’s just cranky because she’s hot.”

  “It’s brutal out here.” He wiped his forehead. He had really bad sweat stains under his arms.

  She gave me a grossed-out look. “I’m going to the car and turn on the air. You have five minutes, Wendy.” She marched off, swinging her hips.

  “Miss Cheerleader U.S.A. not in her usually peppy mood?”

  “Don’t go there.”

  “Sorry.” He rubbed my arm. It was the same one Dylan had touched at the bookstore. This time no tingles, just a soothing touch.

  “Eh, don’t be. Blame the sun. Pam and I are going to the lake for a swim.” I gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “You should join us if you get out early.”

 
; He’d probably say no. He wasn’t a fan of swimming, especially in big crowds. We stopped going to the lake a few years ago after his father decided he was too busy to boat or fish with Pete like he used to when he was younger.

  “I’m stuck here till six. I better get back in. I just wanted to say hi since I saw you standing out here.” He gave me a goofy smile.

  “You’re such a good guy, Pee—” I winced, catching my mistake a bit too late.

  He patted me on the shoulder before I could apologize. “Go swim. Show off your hot bod to all the horny thirteen-year-olds. I’ll see you later tonight.” He headed toward the store.

  “Eleven?” I shouted.

  “Same bat time.”

  “Same bat channel,” I finished, and he gave me a wave.

  I walked to Pam’s car, but I realized I’d forgotten to tell him about Dylan and the party on Saturday.

  Chapter Four

  A sudden summer storm helped alleviate the heat. Instead of turning on the central air, I opened all my windows. A nice breeze whipped around my bedroom while I brushed my hair. My arms and legs were still on fire—when Pam and I sunned at the lake, I’d forgotten to bring sunscreen. Stupid me didn’t think I’d get burned. I’d been wrong and now paid for it. Instead of having a nice tan, my face, arms, and legs were blotchy and red. My back was worse. I would look like a freak for the first day of school tomorrow.

  I inspected my reflection in the closet door mirror. Yep. A freak. I stuck my tongue out and glanced over my shoulder as Pete climbed through my window.

  “You’re early. I didn’t expect you for another thirty minutes.” I finished brushing my hair.

  He dropped his backpack on the floor and toed off his flip-flops. “I had to get out of my house. Mom and Dad were arguing.”

  His parents argued over something every week. “What’s it about this time?” I sat on the bed and bit my lip to stop from moaning out loud.

  “What do you think it’s about? Not having enough money. Same old crap.” He sighed and sat down next to me. He stroked a finger down my arm. “Wow, you did a number on your skin.”

  “Yeah. You could probably fry an egg on it. I’m so stupid. Just ‘cause Pam turns a nice golden brown, I think I can, too.”