P.S. I Like You(23)

As I sat there thinking about how to be normal, I realized I was staring in the general direction of a guy sitting two tables over. Not just any guy, but Lucas. I caught my breath.

His attention was fully focused on the book in front of him, his finger scanning the page. This was my opportunity to say hi or to ask him if he knew where the nonfiction section was or something. I could do that.

Just as I convinced myself that I really could do that, David arrived.

“Hey,” he said, placing his backpack next to mine.

“Hi.”

He sat down and pulled books out of his bag. I gave one last useless look at Lucas and then sat down as well. I unzipped my bag and pulled my book and notebook out. This not-talking thing was working well so far; it made things less awkward.

“Silence is kind of awkward, don’t you think?” he said.

Oh. Or not. “No. I’m okay with silence. We’re in a library after all. This is the birthplace of silence.”

“The library is the birthplace of silence?” David asked.

“All the words are being used by the books. When I was little, that’s what I used to think. That people were told to be quiet so that all their words didn’t get stolen by the books. I thought books needed words to exist. Well, obviously they do, but I thought they needed spoken words. Yeah … I was always weird.”

“And here I thought libraries were quiet because people were trying to study,” David whispered.

“That might be another explanation.”

He laughed a little and my eyes met his. It seemed like he was genuinely amused. That was a good thing. Or was it too early for that?

He opened his book. “So is Isabel normally this late?”

“Normally … That’s such a subjective word.” Especially since she and I never met in the library to study.

“Is it?” He looked at his watch.

Before I had to answer, Isabel came rushing in. “Hi, guys. Sorry. I got held up in Math class because Sasha needed notes from yesterday.”

“Sasha?” I said. “Cade’s girlfriend?”

“I don’t think she and Cade are together. Are they?”

“I thought they were.” I looked at David to back me up but he was turning pages in his Chemistry book as if he hadn’t been following the conversation.

“I guess they could be. She’s never said anything.” Was that jealousy in Isabel’s voice? Why would Isabel be jealous of Sasha?

“I didn’t know you and Sasha were friends,” I said, feeling sort of jealous myself.

“We’re not, really,” Isabel said, opening her books, “but everyone always asks me for notes. I’m a good note taker.” She looked from me to David. “Did you guys get started?”

I smirked. “Yes, the people who need help in Chemistry went ahead and taught each other. We’re super good at Chemistry now.”

Isabel rolled her eyes.

Over Isabel’s shoulder I could still see Lucas. He looked up, a small smile on his face. Had he been following our conversation or was he amused by something in his book?

Isabel hit my arm. “I hope you’ve learned by now that Lily likes to joke,” she said to David.

“I have,” David said.

“You have?” I said.

“Yes.”

Isabel moved her eyebrows up and down at me. I ignored her.

“Why are we extending the torture of Chemistry beyond school hours again?” I asked, picking up my pen.

“So we don’t have to retake the class next year?” David offered.

“Good point.” I opened my book.

“What are you guys up to this weekend?” Isabel asked, instead of focusing on Chemistry. “We should all do something.”

I glanced at David. I wondered if he knew that Isabel was trying to set us up.

“What day?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” Isabel said. “Whatever day we all have open.”

I said nothing.

David flipped through the pages of his textbook. “The band is playing for the home game on Friday.”

“You’re playing at the football game?” Isabel asked, widening her eyes. “Fun. We’ll totally go watch you. Right, Lily?”

“Um … I’ll have to make sure I’m not stuck babysitting again, but sure,” I said hesitantly. “Sounds fun.”

“And maybe we could all hang out after the game?” Isabel added. She was so persistent.

David nodded and tentatively looked at me. I couldn’t read him very well. I wasn’t sure if he wanted me to give an encouraging look or if he was trying to get out of this plan.

I smiled, just in case that would help when really I just wanted to say, Yeah, I’m trying to get out of this too, but you don’t know my best friend very well if you think there is hope for either of us.

“We’ll be doing our marching band performance at halftime,” David finally said, glancing back at Isabel.

“I love watching the marching band,” Isabel exclaimed. “It’s so cool to see all those formations. How long do you have to work on those?”

“Months,” he said.

“Lily likes anything with music.”

Apparently I was still going with the “not-talking” strategy. I finally found my voice. “It’s true.”