From Twinkle, With Love(51)
AP Bio
Dear Lynne Ramsay,
Mrs. Mears was having us watch a video about mitosis (or was it meiosis? Something with cells, anyway) and she let us all sit wherever we wanted. I was kinda hoping Maddie would want to sit with me even though we haven’t talked since she told me I shouldn’t go to Hannah’s party. But she and Hannah ended up across from me, and I sat with Matthew (who began passing me notes; I was so surprised I didn’t even realize the piece of paper he handed me was a note until he cleared his throat and nodded meaningfully at the paper). Matthew’s note enclosed. But that’s not even the most surprising part. As I was scribbling my response to Matthew, I overheard Maddie and Hannah’s whispered conversation (I have batlike hearing). It went something like this:
Hannah: So what was up with you and Nath at the library?
Maddie: What do you mean?
H: Lewis told Desiree that you two were huddled together whispering or something?
M: laughter Um, no, I was just being nice to him. …
H: Okay, because you don’t want to ruin things with Lewis. I’m pretty sure he’s going to ask you to go out the night of my party.
M: I told you, it’s not like that with Lewis and me.
H: But it could be. Unless you want Nath instead?
M: laughter, more frantic and fake No, obviously not. I felt sorry for him, that’s all. He’s Twinkle’s friend.
H: Ugh, I don’t know why you even hang out with her anymore. Anyway, so wear something hot to my party, and I’ll make sure you and Lewis hook up.
M: Okay, but can we talk about this later? I need to watch this video.
H: sigh Whatever.
I was gripping my pencil so hard by the end that I was sure it would snap. I glared at Maddie and Hannah, but neither of them was looking at me.
It doesn’t matter, I forced myself to think. None of this matters. I have my new friends. And soon I’ll be able to leave groundling status, simply based on this movie I’m making, which’ll force people to see me and the message I want to send to the world. That’s all I need.
Love,
Twinkle
Note from Matthew to Twinkle
HEY. SO, NOT TO BE ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT DID AARON SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ME?
Besides asking if I knew where he could find a bare-chested photo of you, no.
HAHA. BUT SERIOUSLY, TWINKLE.
Seriously, he didn’t. BUT he did have this goofy smile all day yesterday after you left and this morning when I saw him before homeroom.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
Yep. If you like him, you should ask him out.
HE’S NOT SEEING ANYONE ELSE?
I don’t think so.
YOU HAVE TO BE SURE!
Okay, okay. I’ll ask him. Jeez. So … you like him a lot, huh?
I THINK SO. WE HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM WAS AT A CONCERT FOR THE DUSTY ARCHIVES. OR WAS IT THE PLATONIC PLANETS? OH, I REMEMBER. THE PLATONIC PLANETS OPENED FOR THE DUSTY ARCHIVES.
You two are definitely meant for each other.
YOU THINK SO TOO?? ALSO, NATH WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU AND SAHIL ARE GOING OUT.
What?? No, we’re not. And anyway, why does he care??
I DON’T KNOW. I THINK HE WAS CURIOUS.
Did he say anything about Maddie?
HE SAID SHE’S CUTE. AND OUT OF HIS LEAGUE. AND PROBABLY GOING OUT WITH LEWIS.
What? No, she’s not (on both of those last two counts)! Do you think he’ll ask her out?
ARE YOU TRYING TO SET EVERYONE AT PPC UP OR WHAT?
I should form a matchmaking LLC or something.
YOU’LL NEED SOMETHING WHEN YOU FAIL BIO BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
You’re the one who started passing me notes!
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. SORRY. BUT YOU’LL FIND OUT? IF AARON’S SEEING ANYONE ELSE? APPARENTLY THERE WAS A GUY FROM LAKE VALLEY A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT … AARON’S A TOTAL ENIGMA, BUT I KNOW HE LIKES YOU. HE’LL TELL YOU IF YOU ASK HIM.
LOL at the idea of Aaron being an enigma but yeah. I’ll definitely find out for you.
MERCI.
Tuesday, June 16
AP English
Dear Sally Potter,
Today we sat out on the green at lunch because it was such a beautiful day. I ended up sprawled on the grass, and Sahil came to sit beside me with his food, our legs touching casually.
“So, Aaron,” I said, a little too loudly, trying to divert my brain’s attention from the feeling of Sahil’s muscled thigh against my own skinny one.
He looked over at me, his mouth full of burger.
“You have a not-so-secret admirer.”
His eyes got wide and he swallowed his mouthful. “Oh yeah?”
“I think you have an inkling of who it is.” I grinned and shielded my eyes from the sun with one hand. “What should I tell him? Are you interested?”
After a pause, during which Aaron looked everywhere possible but directly at me, he nodded. “I’ll talk to him after school.”
Sahil and I both whooped and Aaron threw a fork in our general direction. “Oh, shut up.”
“That’s just great,” Skid said, popping a French fry into his mouth. “Why does it have to be so easy for some people? I can’t even get Portia to look my way.”
Aaron glared at him. “Easy? You think being a gay black guy is easy?”
Skid held up his hands. “Sorry, man. You’re right. I wasn’t thinking.”