My New Crush Gave to Me

by Shani Petroff

  He’d been looking for me?! “I haven’t been there very much,” I confessed. “My mom doesn’t usually have a set break time, so I don’t bother going. But it’s not like I even see you in school that often,” I said, hoping he would pick up the hint that he should look for me in the halls more! Honestly, we saw each other so infrequently, I was tempted to make him an honorary editor of the paper, just so he’d be at the Sentinel editorial meetings.

  “Well, we’ll have to change that.” Score. He took the hint. “Want to grab a drink?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I brought eggnog.”

  “Perfect.” He patted his sweater. “I brought something, too. It will make this party more fun. Know what I mean?”

  “I do,” Heather said, appearing out of nowhere. J.D. lagged behind her.

  I would have thought my eyes bugging out at him would have clued J.D. in to the fact that I needed him to pull Heather away again, but he just gave me one of those nothing-I-can-do-about-it shrugs.

  Teo pulled out a little flask. “Rum,” he said.

  “Really, Teo?” J.D. said. “My mom has, like, three rules. Are you trying to break them all?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “There’s the ‘no groups over when she’s not home,’ ‘no illegal activity,’ and…” He dangled the flask. “What’s the third?”

  J.D. just scowled and walked over to Morgan and Ira and plopped himself in the recliner near them.

  I got where J.D. was coming from; I was all about following the rules. I was actually kind of surprised Teo wasn’t the same way. With a schedule like his, I would have thought he was extremely by the book.

  “Who’s in?”

  “No, thanks,” Morgan said. Ira shook his head no. And J.D. just sat there, silent.

  I felt bad that he was upset; I knew I should have told Teo to put it away, but things were going so smoothly with us right now. I didn’t want to look like I was all about J.D. and what he wanted. Besides, it wasn’t like Teo was going to drive—he was spending the night at his cousin’s, and he wasn’t pressuring anyone to drink.

  “Looks like it’s just the three of us,” he said.

  “Two,” I corrected him. “I’m just going to have the regular.”

  “Okay. Hey, J.D., peppermint extract?” Teo called out to him before turning his attention back to me. “You have to try it. With or without alcohol, it makes eggnog like Christmas in a cup.” I already thought of it as a Christmas milkshake. This made it sound even better.

  “Cabinet next to the stove,” J.D. muttered.

  “I’ll get it,” I volunteered.

  When I came back, Teo said, “The left two have alcohol, right is regular. Just a little drop of the mint to each. Too much will overpower it.” I carefully did as instructed. Not that Teo or Heather noticed. They were engrossed in a conversation about people I didn’t know.

  I took my cup and looked back at the crew on the couch for help.

  “Heather,” Morgan called out to her. “I want to hear more about the Aca-mazings. Come tell me everything. How long have you been doing it?”

  Now that was a best friend. Heather grabbed her drink and went over to the couch, leaving me alone with Teo.

  “Cheers,” he said, picking up the third cup.

  We clinked drinks, and I got one of those premonition feelings. Today we were toasting with giant red plastic cups, and hopefully, pretty soon we’d be at Noelle’s party together using real glasses. And maybe, if things went according to plan, we’d be clinking again on New Year’s Eve leading right into my birthday.

  I took a sip. Eggnog was hands down my favorite drink of all time. I wasn’t sure what I thought about the mint. It certainly gave it a kick.

  “Well?” Teo said.

  “Delicious,” I said. “Can’t go wrong with eggnog.”

  I was a little nervous standing there. Could I just come right out and ask him to Noelle’s? I chugged down half of my drink in record time. I wasn’t ready to go there yet. I had to work my way up to that. Start slow. “I can’t believe Christmas is almost here. What’s your family doing?” I asked.

  “Christmas Eve is at my house and then Christmas Day my family comes here. What about you?”

  “This year it’s low-key. In the past my mom and I hosted a huge Christmas Eve dinner, a bunch of close family friends and others came by, and then on Christmas morning it was just us. We would go to mass, open presents, eat a whole tray of spicy cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting, and watch holiday movies all day. This year, we have the shortened version because of her shifts at the hospital.”

  “She’s stuck working on Christmas?” he asked.

  “Yeah, but at least I have her for the morning. It’s not so bad. And then, of course the next day is Noelle’s Christmas Ball. I can’t wait. Are you going?”

  “Noelle’s ball?” Heather jumped up from the couch. Had they all been sitting there just listening to me and Teo?

  “Huh?” I asked.

  “Sorry,” she said, “it was hard not to hear. I want to go to that party so bad. I heard she’s having Kevin Wayward play. Tickets for his last show sold out in minutes, and she has him playing her birthday party. It’s insane. Noelle invited the whole junior class, but she said a handful of people still haven’t RSVP’d, so she might invite some of us seniors. I really want to be one of them.”

  I was afraid to ask if she knew the theme was Lovers’ Ball and that Noelle was pushing everyone to be a couple. The last thing I needed was for Heather to ask Teo before I did. Or worse, for me to ask him only to find out he wanted to see if Heather was going before he accepted any other invitation. I couldn’t risk that. I had to make sure Teo was definitely into me before I invited him. I only had one shot, and I needed this date. Zakiyah would never let me live it down if I went solo.

  “I really don’t think the Kevin Wayward thing is true,” I told her, hoping to sway her away from wanting to go. “I’m pretty sure Noelle would have told me.”

  “I heard it was supposed to be a surprise appearance,” she said. “And even if there’s just a slight chance, I don’t care. I want to be there.”

  Before I could regain control of the conversation and steer it toward something Charlie-and-Teo-centric, Heather launched into a ten-minute monologue about how she loved fancy parties and went into how she was spending the holiday. That girl could talk and talk and talk, but I couldn’t leave. The plan was not to give her and Teo time alone. So I just stood there and suffered, drinking my weight’s worth in eggnog. I had polished off the entire cup, and Heather was still yammering away. I got in a few mm-hmms and yeahs, but that was about it. She had taken over and showed no sign of stopping.

  I should have worn my comfortable boots. Instead I had gone for the stylish ones, to try and counterbalance the ugliness factor of the sweater, but I was regretting that now. My feet were hurting. I swayed back and forth, trying to alleviate the pressure from one foot onto the other. It was kind of relaxing, and dulled some of the Heather-speak that just went on and on.

  Blah, blah, blah, Mr. Harmon’s exam was so hard.… I heard Janelle left the room crying.… Reading assignments that will go right through vacation? Who does that?… The Aca-mazings have a really good shot at nationals this year.… Teo, we need you back on the team.… At the very least, come root us on.… I’m gonna watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off tomorrow so you stop bugging me about it.… I’m going to pick one for you to watch, too.… I may have a New Year’s party, still trying to convince my parents.… You’d come, right?… Should it be themed?… Polly thinks she’s getting a car for graduation, did she tell you?… Reggie and Cory make the cutest couple.… I wonder if we’ll get any snow days this year.…

  Ugh. Stop talking, stop talking, stop talking. I could not even listen anymore. My head was getting foggy from all her blathering.

  I needed to sit, to shake off the dizziness from all the nonsense she was spewing. I moved to one of the dining room chairs. “Ow,” I cried ou
t. I slightly misjudged where it was positioned and rammed my arm into it.

  “Are you okay?” Morgan asked.

  “I’m fine,” I said, and then I sat down and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “What’s with you?”

  She knew. I made a pouty face at her to drive the point home. She had failed at her job. She was supposed to keep Heather away, and she didn’t.

  Morgan stood up and then fell back to the couch. She forgot to tell Ira she was getting up and the sweater dragged her back. The look on her face! Then she pulled Ira by the arm, and they both made their way over to me.

  They looked hysterical. “You two,” I said, pointing, “are the funniest-looking people ever.” I couldn’t stop laughing. I don’t know why, but it just hit me how ridiculous it was that they were attached.

  “Are you drunk?” Morgan asked.

  “Just on Christmas,” I said.

  “And possibly rum?” she offered.

  “Nope, I had the regular stuff,” I told her.

  “Actually,” Heather said, “I drank my whole cup, and I don’t feel anything. Did you pick up mine by mistake?”

  “The right was regular, and that’s what I took.” I wasn’t drunk. I’d know if I was, wouldn’t I? I moved my head back and forth. It felt as if there were a magnetic force helping move it, making it feel extra heavy. But that was probably just because I was overthinking it.

  “Oh no,” Teo said.

  “What?” J.D. asked. He didn’t sound happy.

  “The way the drinks were set and how we were standing, my right would have been her left. I didn’t even think about it.”

  J.D. ran his hands through his hair. He looked stressed.

  “It’s okay,” I assured him.

  “No, it’s not,” Morgan answered instead.

  She was making such a big deal out of nothing—and in front of Teo! “It’s not like I never drank anything before.”

  She gave a giant eye roll. “Two sips of champagne at a wedding doesn’t count.”

  I stuck my tongue out at her. She could be so difficult when she wanted to be.

  Morgan turned to Teo like I wasn’t even there. “Now she’s had how much?”

  “A lot,” he said. “I gave a very, very generous pour.”

  “Okay,” J.D. said. “Come on, Charlie.” He sat me on the couch. “I think it’s time for this party to be over.”

  “No!” I objected, but no one was listening to me, which I found very rude. This was supposed to be a party. Why was everyone sooo serious?

  Morgan pulled the sweater off of her and Ira. She was right, it was hot in here. I needed to get rid of my sweater, too. But the stupid, ugly thing kept getting all caught, and I couldn’t get it off. I tugged at the sleeve.

  Morgan moved closer and put one hand on each side of me. “Are you okay?”

  She looked so intense. She needed to lighten up. I reached up and poked her nose with my finger. “Are you okay?”

  “You are drunk.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Yeah, you are,” Teo said, laughing.

  “This is not funny,” Morgan hissed at him.

  I didn’t know you could hiss that word. There wasn’t an s in it. “Funny,” I repeated. She was much better at it than I was. “Funnneee,” I practiced again. “Funnneeee.”

  “Give me your keys and your phone,” Morgan said.

  “Why?”

  She looked annoyed to have to explain, but I wasn’t the one asking to take her stuff. She wanted mine! I deserved an explanation.

  “Because you can’t go home like this,” she said. “And we can’t go to my house, either. So I’m just going to text your mom that you are staying with me, and tell my parents that I’m staying with you. And then we have to move your car, so my parents don’t see it and get suspicious.”

  Huh? She was using a lot of words now. But I had to prove to her that I was perfectly fine. So I just bobbed my head in agreement and handed her my stuff.

  “I’ll move her car,” Ira offered.

  “Teo was supposed to give me a ride home,” Heather said.

  “I’ll do it,” Ira said.

  “Go, Ira!” I cheered. He was getting rid of my competition. Finally, one of them was coming through. Morgan shook her head at me.

  “Good night, everyone,” Ira said.

  I stood up. “Wait, you’re not coming back?” I wanted Heather gone, not him.

  “The party is over,” J.D. said again.

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re drunk,” J.D. and Ira said at the same time. Did they rehearse that?

  “Charlie, why don’t you lie down,” Morgan said, trying to get me back to the couch.

  “Because it’s a party!” There were still four of us there—including Teo. This was my time to impress him. “You don’t sleep at parties,” I said, breaking away from Morgan’s grasp. I was free. The room was spinning toward the left, so I put out my arms and starting twirling toward the right.

  “Come on, do it with me!” I instructed them all.

  “Oh God,” J.D. said.

  What was wrong with him? He was always telling me to lighten up, but here he was being the boring one.

  I looked over at Teo. He was staring at me and smiling. I waved. Ha-ha, Heather, I’m the one he’s focused on.

  J.D. really knew how to throw a party, and I knew just what I wanted to do next.

  Twenty-Eight

  “What kind of party doesn’t have dancing?” I asked. “Come on, Teo.” I took his hands and began to twirl around.

  I gave him my sultriest look. I’m pretty sure he gave one back, although it could have been my imagination coupled with wishful thinking. Damn all those TV movies Morgan made me sit through.

  “I can’t watch this,” J.D. said. “I’m going to clean up.”

  “I’ll help,” Morgan told him. She turned to Teo. “Are you drunk?”

  “Just a slight buzz.”

  “Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid,” she warned him.

  I rolled my eyes at her. Like I ever did anything stupid. I continued to dance. “Dip me,” I instructed Teo, and then fell back in his arms.

  “Whoa,” he said, “careful there.” Then he lifted me back to a standing position, but I preferred his arms, so I let myself fall back again. It was like a seesaw. Standing, Teo, standing, Teo. I could do this all night. Although it wasn’t meant to be.

  “Let’s sit for a minute,” Teo said.

  I conceded.

  It was strange. The whole room circled really fast when my eyes were closed, and was back to normal when they were open. There had to be a scientific explanation for that; I’d have to investigate in the morning.

  “I’ll be right back,” Teo told me.

  I let out a sigh after he left. This party was getting pretty boring. Wait. Where was J.D.? I hadn’t seen him in a while. Had he left? But it was his house. I had to go check.

  I grabbed my coat and went outside. I took a deep breath. It smelled like winter, like Christmas. I loved it. I kicked some snow with the top of my boot. J.D.’s lawn had a beautiful blanket of snow, only a few footprints. I wondered if they were J.D.’s. Maybe I needed to follow them.

  I placed one foot onto one footprint, and then took a really long step to match up with the next one.

  “Found her,” Morgan shouted. “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for J.D.,” I said.

  “Charlie, come inside. He’s there.”

  “Make him come out here,” I told her.

  “No, you need to come in before my parents see you.”

  “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Levine,” I called out.

  “Charlie!”

  Before I could ask her what she was yelling about, J.D. was making his way over to me. “J.D.,” I said, giving him a big hug. “I thought I lost you. Come make angels with me.” I threw myself back into the snow and started wiping my arms up and down. I hoped we’d have some more snow for Christ
mas.

  “Let’s get you up,” he said, and leaned down to lift me.

  But I didn’t want to go inside, so I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him down. He fell right on top of me. He quickly scrambled off, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the look of surprise on his face. “We need to go inside,” he said.

  “One angel first,” I begged.

  “Okay,” he said, “one angel.”

  Our bodies together captured in the snow. I wondered if there was a way to save it? A frozen J.D. and Charlie snow angel for posterity. Maybe if I shoveled it out carefully and found a big freezer.

  “There,” Morgan butted in. “You have your angel. Can we all go in now?”

  “Nope,” I said and got up and ran. I picked up a snowball and threw it at J.D. “Got you!”

  I waited for him to make his move. Was he going to go left? Right? I would be ready.

  “Charlie,” he said, and I ran for it.

  I took a left and hid behind the tree. When I peeked out, he grabbed me and picked me up over his shoulder. “You’re really strong,” I said.

  “And you’re really drunk.”

  “Why does everyone keep…” All of a sudden, my stomach started to churn. “Put me down, put me down, put me down.”

  He did and then it happened so fast. My mac and cheese dinner, the eggnog, and whatever else was in my stomach lurched out of me. Oh no, oh no. Please tell me I didn’t get his shoes, please tell me I didn’t get his shoes.

  If I did, he didn’t say anything. He just moved behind me. With one hand he held back my hair, and he placed the other on my back. “You’re okay, you’re okay.”

  I wanted to tell him to leave, to get Morgan over. But I couldn’t. She was a sympathetic puker. If she saw someone barf, half the time she would, too.

  After a minute, when it seemed the wave had passed, he said, “Let’s get you inside.” He picked me back up, and I rested my head on his shoulder. J.D. was so nice.

  The next thing I remembered, I woke up with my body hunched over near the toilet and my head resting on the seat.

  “Are you okay?” someone asked, stirring to life from the bathtub.

  “J.D.?”