I Wish You All the Best(34)

He turns his laptop so I can see the screen. There’s a big “Congratulations” and a “Click Submit for Extra Credit” underneath it. “I finished the quiz, and you said you’d show me what you’re drawing when I was done.”

“Oh, it’s really nothing.” I can’t show him this. Jesus, what if he thinks I’m some weird stalker?

“Uh-huh. I called on you twice to help me out, and you were so focused on that thing you didn’t even hear me. So I really doubt it’s nothing.”

I didn’t even realize. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry.”

“It’s cool. At least I know I can solve logarithmic equations by myself.” He closes his laptop and moves to sit next to me. “Now, show me.”

“You’re going to think I’m weird.” I flip open to the drawing.

“Well, you already sort of are but—” He stops when he sees what I’ve done. This is exactly what I was afraid of. He hates it, or he’s creeped out by it. I wonder if he’ll just yell at me or do something worse. I don’t think I can handle Nathan hating me.

“I’m really sor—” I start, but he stops me.

“Ben.”

“What?”

He takes the sketch pad from my hands, staring closely at the drawing. “You drew me,” he says, reaching toward the drawing like he wants to touch it, but at the last moment he stops himself. I guess he thinks he’ll mess it up or something.

“It’s not that good.” My voice isn’t much more than a murmur. Right now, my mind is pretty occupied with trying not to grin like an idiot. “It’s not even close to done.” There are no details in his clothes or his hands. Even the background is nearly blank, simple lines to fill in for the posters and pictures on his wall.

“You’ve got to give yourself more credit than that.” He starts to trace a hand along his nose. “You even got my freckles.”

“It’s okay.” I shrug.

“Have you ever thought about showing off your art?”

“Where would I even do that?”

“I don’t know. But people need to see your stuff. It’s amazing.” He looks back at the sketch pad, staring in silence. And I feel my heart thudding in my chest.





I’m walking through the empty halls of the school. It’s sort of eerie to be here when things are quiet. But Thomas has to stay after school today, some meeting about exams and graduation and spring break. I really can’t believe it’s March already.

I’d go to the art room, but it feels weird being there after hours. Plus, last time I did that, the janitor walked in on me, and there’s really nothing more awkward than just sitting around while someone else is cleaning, all while you try your best not to get in their way.

I wish Nathan was here to help pass the time. I texted him, but he hasn’t answered yet. Must be studying or something. His algebra exam was today, and I want to know how he did.

He tried his best to teach me a few tricks about the essay I’m supposed to turn in by the end of the week, but I’m hopeless. Something about getting the words from my brain to the computer. It just isn’t working. That and Chaucer is really boring.

My mind is a million miles away right now, and I’m not paying attention to where I’m walking, so when a classroom door bursts open, I run right into someone, which makes both of us fall onto our butts. I can’t really blame anyone but myself.

“Oh God, I’m so sorry.” The papers they were carrying fly everywhere, and it’s not until they’re all settled that I realize I ran into Meleika.

“Ben?” She’s already on her knees, scrambling to pick everything up.

“Sorry, it’s my fault.” I start grabbing for the flyers, ignoring the new sting coming from my tailbone. A few of them catch my eye. They’re all different designs, but it’s clear what they’re for.

“Spring Fling Dance!”

“It’s my bad,” Meleika says. “In too much of a hurry.” She shuffles the flyers to try and make them even. “I was supposed to have these up last week, but we’re still trying to get everything together for the dance.”

“Isn’t prom in like two months?” I ask. “Why bother with planning another one?”

“It’s tradition.” Meleika says this with about as much enthusiasm as I’d expect. “What on earth are you doing here this late?”

“Waiting for Thomas.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Thomas?”

“Mr. Waller. He’s my brother-in-law. And my ride home.” I make sure to pick my words carefully. “What are you doing?”

“I’ve got to hang these posters around campus.” We both stand up slowly, but she still has the panicked look. “Listen, I hate to ask you, but can you help me? Stephanie’s going to chew my ass if they aren’t up by tomorrow morning.”

“Yeah, sure. What do I need to do?” I guess anything’s better than just walking around campus.

“Here.” Meleika hands me this huge roll of tape. “I hold, you tape.” She pins one of the flyers against the wall in front of us. I quickly rip the four pieces and tape down each corner. “You’re fast, good.”