“Really?”
“Yeah.” He gives me a teasing grin. “I think she might be hatching some sort of plan. Like trying to set us up.”
“Oh?” My heartbeat picks up speed. What is Nicole doing?
Chace turns to face me, neither of us bothering with the telescope anymore.
“She asked me if I’m too chicken to ask you to dance, and if it’s because you look so good tonight.”
“She did not say that.” I let out a nervous giggle.
“Did too.”
“So what did you say, then?” I’m fishing, I know, but I can’t help it.
Chace looks at me thoughtfully.
“I asked her what you’re really like. And she said you’re as nice and as cool as you are pretty.”
For the first time in my entire life, I’m stumped for words. First of all, let’s be real, even I know I’m not as nice as I am pretty. But more importantly, why would Nicole do this for me? I’ve hardly been buddy-buddy with her since we became roommates—our interactions have mainly consisted of her making small talk and me muttering in reply—so she was clearly stretching the truth with her compliment. Why would she say it? What does she have to gain from me landing my crush?
“Come on.” Chace reaches out his hand. “I love this song.”
He leads the way to the makeshift dance floor and wraps his arms around my waist. A flock of butterflies sets off in my stomach, which feels so weird. What is it about this guy that makes me nervous when I’m normally so self-assured?
“You know the night’s magic seems to whisper and hush…”
He hums along as I drape my arms around his neck, and I can’t help relaxing into a laugh.
“What is this song? Did Mrs. Wakely switch to her own old-person playlist or something?”
“That’s an intriguing thought.” Chace pulls me in for a playful spin. “But if you don’t know who Van Morrison is, then I’ve got some educating to do.”
“Okay. Just as long as I get to do some educating of my own.” I look pointedly down at my feet, which he’s now stepped on twice. We both laugh, and he draws me in closer.
My arms are tingling. Something electric is in the air. I can’t keep up my hard shell in his embrace; I’m turning soft and mushy inside, like those girls I always made fun of. I feel myself becoming one of them now, melting into a romantic. Maybe I should try to fight it, but I don’t.
It feels too good.
—
It’s five in the morning and I’m lying awake in the tent, too giddy to sleep, listening to Kara’s snores. The girl really needs to start taking a decongestant stat. If it were yesterday, I might have shaken her awake and snapped at her to shut up, but I’m feeling particularly gracious at the moment.
He likes me. It’s such a middle-school phrase, yet it has the power to set off a small fireworks explosion in my chest. He likes me.
A shadow approaches the tent and I sit up, curious as to who else would be awake at this ungodly hour. Then I see the outline of frizzy hair as she passes. I quickly climb out of my sleeping bag, throw on a sweater, and crawl out of the tent.
“Nicole,” I call out in a stage whisper.
She whirls around, her eyes wide.
“You scared me,” she says with a giggle. “I thought no one was up. I can’t sleep.”
“Me neither,” I tell her. “Where were you going?”
“Just for a walk. I thought the post-meteor-shower sky would be something to see. I feel like I missed the main event last night.”
“Me too. I don’t know if Mrs. Wakely built up the whole thing, or if we’re all blind as bats.”
We fall into step together, passing the tents and moving onto the soccer field.
“Nicole? Why did you say those nice things about me to Chace?” I blurt out.
Two pink spots appear in her cheeks.
“Because I knew you liked him. I could tell from the first time I asked you about him. And I don’t know, he was talking to me and I guess…I just thought I should give him a little push.”
“So you wanted to help get us together? But why?” I’m still trying to process the idea of someone doing something for me without an ulterior motive.
Nicole gives me a quizzical look.
“Because I know you like him, and you’re my friend. I just thought it was right.”
Her simple words leave me speechless for the second time in twenty-four hours. Here I’ve been complaining about this girl behind her back for two weeks, and meanwhile she thinks we’re friends. She wanted to do something nice for me and she did. She gave him a push.
“Thank you,” I finally say. “You’re a good friend.”
And in that moment I decide I’ll be a real friend to her, too.
“Look!” Nicole cries, pointing upward. “Finally!”
A spark races through the sky, followed by another and then another, like multiplying bolts of lightning.
“There it is.” I look up at the sight of the meteor shower making its appearance at last. The sparks accelerate into a celestial rainfall, shooting closer, and I take a nervous step back.
“Don’t worry,” Nicole says with a smile, slinging her arm across my shoulder. “They’re only stars.”