My So-Called Bollywood Life(31)

“Ha ha. Very funny. Make fun of me all you want for talking about Bollywood movies like that, but seriously, it’s the only way I know how to dissect problems.”

“I know. You’re strange, but I love ya anyway. Really, Henry is…interesting. We’ll see what happens. We’re seniors, so I don’t know where we’re going at the end of the school year. What I do know is that he’s not what I expected, especially since I’ve known him, like, forever. He’s going to meet us at the homecoming game on Friday.”

“Awesome,” she said. Even though the Princeton Academy for the Arts and Sciences didn’t have a football team, the band played at halftime for other schools. “Can we leave after the third period? Is that what it’s called?”

“No, we cannot, and it’s called a quarter. I think.”

“You suck,” Winnie said. She picked up a hot pink card and passed it to her best friend. It had “Viceroy’s House by Gurinder Chadha” written on the front.

“This reminds me. Henry was wondering if Gurinder Chadha would be interested in a Q&A with students as well as judging.”

    “A Q&A?”

“Yeah. That might be fun, right?”

“Gurinder Chadha answering questions from students. Wait, if she answers questions…I think you’re onto something.” Her mind raced. “Bridget, you know how every year we have to use the Princeton University faculty as our judges so we can use their auditorium for free? Well, what if we can convince the Princeton faculty that Gurinder Chadha would like to have a master class with them?”

“A master what?”

“A master class. Like filmmaking life lessons learned from a master. Princeton’s faculty and their students can participate. It’s leveling up the Q&A idea. Maybe the university will accept that instead of judging our festival. That way we don’t have to worry about paying for the auditorium.”

“I think it could work, but will Gurinder say yes?”

Winnie stood up, her hands filled with notes. “Hopefully, but first I have to get Mr. Reece to say it’s okay. This is the leadership thing he was talking about, right? Maybe this will work in helping me take over the festival again.”

“I am going to take a nap while you go do that. Good luck!”

Winnie hoped she could still catch Mr. Reece at his office before he left for the day. She was halfway down the hall when she heard her name.

“Wait up!” Dev yelled.

She watched him, all long legs and lean torso. His hair ruffled with each movement, and she sighed when he pushed it back with a careless brush of his fingers.

    And then she remembered they hadn’t talked since their kiss.

“Hi,” he said when he reached her side.

“Hi.”

They stared at each other in silence.

“So,” Winnie said. “Are you heading home?”

“No, to the facilities office first. They still haven’t fixed my stupid locker.”

“At this point, everyone in your hall knows it’s broken.”

“Very true. Uh, I didn’t get a chance to catch up with you after—”

“Yeah?”

“Are you getting back together with Raj?”

Winnie had to shake her head because she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “That’s seriously what you want to ask me?”

“I have to admit, it’s been on my mind since you told me he fits your prophecy thing.”

“Not at all. Raj and I are definitely history. Sorry, I have to go. It was, uh, nice running into you.”

She tried to leave, but Dev snagged her hand. She jumped at the warm contact of his palm against hers.

“Are you going to homecoming?” he asked slowly.

“Yes. Why?”

He squeezed and his thumb brushed over her life line. “Just wanted to make sure you were going to be there. I think it’s time for a second date.”

    She laughed and pulled away. “We haven’t been on a first!”

“I bought you your favorite ice cream, we went on a walk, and we took a romantic ride. I think that’s a pretty solid first date.”

“You ate my ice cream, I dragged you through a crowd, and you wanted to jump off the Ferris wheel.”

“I’ll make it up to you at homecoming.”

Then he did the unthinkable.

He winked at her.

There was no background music or backup dancers. There was no rustling wind or 360-degree camera shot. But with that wink, she felt more with Dev than she’d ever felt with Raj. Winnie liked to think she was strong, independent, and capable. Yet Dev shifted something inside her and her bones melted like goo.

She watched him walk away and then floated the rest of the way to Mr. Reece’s office. The wink was still on her mind when she knocked and Mr. Reece called her in. She sank into a chair.

Mr. Reece sat behind his desk, working at his computer. He peered at her over his rectangular frames.

“Yes, Ms. Mehta?”

“Mr. Reece, have you ever heard of the movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge?”

    “Oh boy,” he muttered, and took off his glasses. “No, I can’t say I have.”