friends, too. I had flashes in my head of having to be their
go-between and their referee.
37
But then I realized that having my two best friends date
could be a good thing. I sometimes felt I had to choose between hanging out with one or the other. Now we could all hang out
in a group.
“Sure,” I offered.
After all, what was the worst that could happen?
38
I don’t think I give you enough credit for your positive attitude.
Yes, I’m Queen Optimist.
Wel , I wouldn’t put it that way.
I was being sarcastic.
Really?
I’d rather be cautious than assume that everything will just
work out.
It’s cal ed being laid back.
Or unrealistic. But whatever works for you.
Exactly. Whatever works.
C H A P T E R F O U R
Had I known that getting a haircut was going to make me a chick magnet, I would’ve shaved my head the second we arrived in
Wisconsin.
I could tell that Emily was acting differently at lunch our first day back. But I assumed it was because Macal an wasn’t around. Then she started doing all that stuff girls do to let you know they’re interested in you. She threw her head back after I said something that wasn’t that funny. Then she kept touching my arm and gazing into my eyes. At first, I thought that maybe she’d lost her mind over summer break. Then it dawned on me: Emily was flirting.
It wasn’t that a girl had never flirted with me before. I’d had a few girlfriends back home. But ever since I’d arrived in Cheese Country, I hadn’t had any girls pay any attention to me in that way.
I wasn’t sure if I could tell Macal an about Emily. I mean, I knew Macal an and I were just friends, but people always talked about us like we were a couple. And when they did, Macal an usual y scrunched her nose or did something that made it clear that the mere thought made her stomach turn. Which was a little harsh, but I knew where she was coming from.
41
Then when Macal an told me that Emily was interested in me and
even helped me ask Emily on a date, it sorta cemented it. Macal an and I would never be like that. We were just friends. That’s how she saw me. And maybe we were better off being only friends.
Which was cool. Especial y since she was my best friend here.
I decided to surprise her with a special treat after school. I told Mom not to pick us up so it would be only the two of us.
“Where are we going?” she asked when I took a left turn instead of a right.
“It’s a surprise.” I grabbed her elbow and led her down the street.
“Okay.” She sounded like she didn’t trust me. “Have you decided what you guys are going to do on Friday?”
“Who wants to know?” I found myself asking that a lot that week.
Anytime Macal an inquired about my upcoming date, I wasn’t sure if she was curious or if she was getting intel for Emily.
“I am. I wanted to see if you needed any advice on what to do.”
“Oh.” I felt stupid for sounding paranoid. “I figured we’d get something to eat and see a movie. Is that too boring?”
“Sounds good to me. There aren’t a lot of options around here.”
“Yeah, same as back home.”
Macal an’s shoulders tensed. I was about to ask her if I’d done something wrong, but we were approaching our destination.
“Look!” I pointed up at the Culver’s marquee.
Her eyes got wide. “Yes! You know Turtle’s my favorite.”
“Yes, I do. When we drove by this morning and I saw that it was the custard flavor of the day, I knew we had to come here. My treat.”
Macal an smiled as we entered the restaurant and got in line.
“Wel , if it’s your treat, I’m getting four scoops.”
42
“As I expected. I think I may get a double ButterBurger, too. Gotta get more weight on.” I patted my stomach. I wanted to be able to get onto a few teams next year in high school, but I was still the skinniest guy in our class. “I figured between you becoming a culinary master and all the deep-fried food in this town, I would’ve gained some weight by now.”
“What a hardship.” She shook her head. “Probably not the best
idea to bring up in front of Emily the plight that is your inability to gain weight. She’s tiny, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t self-conscious about her weight.”
“That’s so ridiculous. I’ve never gotten why girls have, like, the most messed-up idea of what they look like. Emily’s body is, um . . .”
This was the part where having your best friend be a girl got tricky. I couldn’t real y say “sick” like I would to my friends back home. “She’s not fat. Nowhere near it. Neither are you. You’re both, um, like, total y, ah . . . fine.”
Macal an folded her arms over her chest. I decided it would be
best to keep my mouth shut. I knew I made her uncomfortable.
Macal an recently had started growing in, um, specific places. I couldn’t help but notice that her shirts were fitting differently.
I was only a guy, and therefore human.