THE BLOCK ESTATE
FRONT LAWN
3:58 PM
November 6th
Todd Lyons bolted off the Briarwood Academy bus in a flurry of flying juice boxes. He picked one up off the ground and whipped it back on the bus before the driver could get the door closed.
“That's for you, Dick,” Todd said. He was doubled over, laughing.
“My name is Richard!”
Massie watched the bus pull away from behind a thick oak on her front lawn. She had been walking Bean and was in no mood to see Todd. She'd taken cover behind the tree and decided to wait there until he was inside the house.
He walked up the driveway, kicking the white stones beneath his feet with every step. The sound made Bean jumpy.
“Shhh.” She covered the dog's mouth with her hand.
Todd was almost at the house when the bus pulled up again. It hissed when it stopped and screeched when the doors opened. Someone was getting off.
“Hey, Todd, wait up.”
Massie poked her head out from the side of the tree to see who it was.
“TODD!”
“Cam?” Massie said to Bean. “EhmaGOD.”
Cam ran up the driveway toward Todd and the two stopped and talked. Massie darted behind another tree, hoping to get closer so she could hear what they were saying. There was enough grass between her and Cam to do at least twenty cartwheels. She couldn't make out a single word. She couldn't smell his Drakkar Noir, couldn't look into his blue or green eye, and couldn't tell what kind of sweater he was wearing under his leather jacket. All she knew for sure was that his skinny butt looked ah-dorable in his dark wash Diesel jeans.
She watched Cam tilt his shoulder so his green canvas messenger bag could slide off and fall to the ground. He dropped into a squat and fished around inside until he found what he was looking for: a CD-shaped case wrapped in what looked like a bunch of rubber bands. He pulled it out and handed it to Todd, who put it in his knapsack immediately.
Cam gave Todd two friendly slaps on the shoulder and ran toward the street. Todd stood and waved goodbye, looking just as smitten as Massie did.
She waited until Cam was halfway down the block before she jumped out from behind the tree. “Todd,” Massie shouted. “How was your day?”
“It just got better, my pet,” he said. “How was yours?”
“Wasn't that Cam Fisher?” Massie quickly glanced at Todd's knapsack, hoping to get a look inside, but it was zipped up.
“Yeah.” Todd started walking toward the guesthouse and Massie followed.
“Why was he here?” Massie thought if she sounded annoyed, Todd wouldn't pick up on her crush.
“No reason,” Todd said. “Hey, wanna come over and play Tony Hawk's Underground?”
“I would love to, but I have to give Bean a bath.” Massie put the dog on the ground and fanned the air. “It's been a while and she's starting to smell like feet.”
“Let me help.” Todd reached down to pat Bean, but the dog ran and hid behind Massie's legs.
Massie couldn't play this game for one more second. She knew Cam had dropped something off for her and she wanted it. Todd was probably holding Cam's love gift hostage because he was jealous.
“Todd, darling.” Massie put her hand on his shoulder and they stopped walking. She glared at him with her amber eyes until a bead of sweat formed above his upper lip. “I know what's in the bag and I want it.”
“What?” Todd grabbed onto the straps of his backpack with both hands.
“Just give it to me,” Massie said.
“You want it?” Todd asked.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“YES!”
“Ohh-kayyy.” He slid the bag off his shoulders and stepped closer to Massie.
She could feel her hands getting clammy.
“Ready?” Todd asked.
“READY!” she said.
Todd stood on his toes, sprang forward, and planted his lips right on Massie's.
“Eeewww!” she screamed.
Bean barked.
Massie wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her gold satin bomber jacket. She held Bean and watched the bratty ten-year-old get away.
“Get back here,” Massie shouted.
“You want more?” He looked back at Massie and winked.
“No, I want what Cam gave you,” Massie said.
“Medal of Honor?” Todd asked. “Since when are you into video games?”
“Cam gave you a video game?” Massie didn't believe him.
“Yup, I gotta go. I'll call you later.” Todd waved. “We'll pick up where we left off.”
“Don't count on it.”
Seconds later he was gone. And he made off with a lot more than Cam's gift. Because on November 6, at exactly 4:17 PM, Todd Lyons had stolen Massie Block's first kiss. And unfortunately, she'd never get it back.