“Really? I should probably wear one of these all the time then.” I placed it on my head.
“I think it really has to do with the history of marching bands,” David explained. “Marching bands used to be used in wars. The musicians wore certain uniforms so the opposing army could identify who not to shoot or something like that.”
“Nice. I’m glad you won’t get shot in a war.”
David smiled and shook his head. “Now it’s just tradition.”
I tipped my head back so I could see under the brim of the hat. “Do you like being in the marching band?”
“Sometimes. It’s a lot of work.”
“It looked good tonight even though I couldn’t really see you out there.” I wasn’t sure that came out right. “I mean, you did a good job … I think. I guess what I mean is that no one stood out, which is what you want, right? It’s supposed to look all … uniform.” How come when faced with Lucas, no words came out, and for David, I had no filter?
“Yes. Thanks.”
David wasn’t much of a talker and I still couldn’t decide if it was because he was shy or because he really didn’t want to be here. I took the hat off, twisted it once between my palms, and set it back down.
“So, I know nothing about you,” I blurted. “Except that you play the clarinet and you hate Chemistry. What else is there to know about David … ” I paused. “I don’t even know your last name.”
“Feldman.”
“Okay, David Feldman, give me the bullet points.”
“The bullet points?”
“You know, your life in ten points or less.”
“Okay, um … my parents are divorced. I have a much older brother and a sister. They’re both married and moved out. My favorite books are Harry Potter.”
“That counts as seven.”
“Really?”
“No, but that’s awesome. I love Potter, too.”
He smiled and with it I decided that he was just shy.
“Keep going,” I said.
“I haven’t been sick since the seventh grade and—”
“Wait, that one needs some expounding. Do you have a super immune system or do you just mean you haven’t thrown up in that long?”
“I haven’t had a cold or the flu since the seventh grade.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I take lots of vitamin C.”
“Text me your diet and habits please.” I was kidding but he pulled out his phone like I’d been serious and handed it to me. I assumed he wanted me to enter my number so I did.
“Is that ten yet?” he asked when I handed it back.
“If you’re done it is, but I think I interrupted you in the middle of one.”
“I was just going to say that I hadn’t missed a day of school since seventh. One of the bad side effects of never being sick.”
“True. Plus, how can you ever appreciate your health when you’re always healthy? Maybe you should try to purposely get sick. Go around kissing sick people or something.”
Why had I said the word kiss? His cheeks darkened. Had he never been kissed? Not that I was all that experienced in the kissing department, but I had done it before. And I could at least say the word without blushing.
“And you?” he asked.
“I’m not sick right now so I can’t help you.”
“N-no, I meant the bullet points thing,” he stammered.
I blinked. Okay, maybe I was blushing a little. “Oh. Right. You’ve been to my house so you know like eight of mine. But let’s see, besides the guitar and the siblings and the crazy house, I like to sew. I shop at thrift stores and have no problem buying used shoes. I talk to myself too much and at school they call me—”
“Magnet,” he finished for me. “Why?”
“Long story. Basically the school jerk, who for some reason is popular, bestowed the name upon me because I’m horrible at P.E.—oh, there’s another bullet, I’m horrible at P.E.—and it stuck.”
“Who’s the school jerk?”
“You don’t know? Do people really not know? You go to our school.” Remembering how Cade had pulled Lucas aside, I gritted my teeth. “He’s actually probably warned you to stay away from me.” Cade seemed to be on a one-man mission to do just that.
David shook his head no.
“Who do you think the school jerk might be?” I held up his hat again when it seemed like he wasn’t going to answer the question. “You’re telling me that you walk around wearing this and you’ve never been picked on?”
He laughed. “Are you making fun of me?”
“No. Hey, I would totally wear this hat to school if it went with my outfit.”
“You would, wouldn’t you? But you’re confident like that.”
I gasped and then coughed. “That’s funny.”
“You don’t seem to care what anyone thinks of you,” David said seriously.
“Just because I wear weird clothes doesn’t mean I’m not worried people aren’t judging me for them. Now, stop trying to avoid the question. Who is the biggest jerk?”
“Pete Wise.”
“That big water polo guy?”
“Yes.”
I growled. “Okay, second-biggest jerk then.”
“Lyle Penner.”