“You know me too well!”
“You’re such a boy. So, well, I’m working on this suit that’s inspired by Black Widow. You know, from the Avengers? She can do all these spinning kicks and stuff because she’s got full range of movement, right? Well, I started thinking about how awesome it would be if it was real. Like, to have a suit that would let someone move as much as her, yet made sure they were fully protected from bullets. So I’ve been working on that a lot, and it’s almost done. Natalie’s been helping me with it, actually, as a body model. But she still won’t let me shoot her when she’s wearing it for some reason. I guess she doesn’t trust me.”
“That sounds so cool! But if you’re going to make a suit based on one of the Avengers, you really should go with Iron Man.”
She chuckles. “My family does okay, but we’re not billionaires. Oh, and there’s this other thing I’m working on that’s pretty cool. I know you’re going to judge me for this name, but I’m a scientist, not an advertiser. Anyway, I call them Black Hole Bombs. It works like a grenade, only the explosion can be perfectly timed and contained. I’m trying to make it nonlethal, but at the moment it’s so strong it can vaporize pretty much anything instantly. The explosion they make looks sorta like a black hole, hence the name. I’ll have to take you out into a paddock one day and show them off. They’re pretty cool.”
“That sounds awesome.”
We chat about our favorite movies until the waitress returns holding two steaming plates. She places the first down in front of me. It’s a sliced chicken breast with crispy golden skin over a pile of green sauce and a bed of fresh, glistening fettuccini. I grab my fork and stab it into the chicken. I cut off a small piece and then bite down. The chicken is tender and moist, and the sauce is creamy, salty, and slightly nutty.
“Oh God,” I say. “This is the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth.”
Her mouth is also full. She swallows. “Right? You’re welcome. You’re also welcome that I didn’t make a sexual joke just then. But that’s the only time tonight I’m going to let you off that easy. Set me up like that again, Caden, and I’m going to have to go for a punch line. And trust me, it’s going to be glorious.”
We eat in silence, but it’s not awkward; it’s very clear it’s because the meal is delicious. Once I’m halfway through my dish I look up at her. She’s cutting into a piece of chicken.
“Hey, I’ve got a question for you.”
She swallows and wipes her mouth, even though there was no food on it. “Shoot.”
“Why do you like me?”
I recall how I felt when I asked Dyl the same question. That time, the whole world seemed to fade away as I waited for his response. Right now all I can think about is the fact that her answer will never mean as much to me as Dyl’s did. He’s already answered that question correctly, so she doesn’t stand a chance.
Her right eyebrow arches. “That’s a loaded question for a first date, isn’t it?”
“Sorry. You don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to.”
“No, it’s cool. I guess it’s a lot of things. I know this sounds superficial, but there’s something about your face that I like. Maybe it’s your eyes, because they remind me of the ocean, or maybe it’s how you always look at everyone in such a friendly way, like you care about them even if you know nothing about them. I like how the way you look at me is different from the way you look at everyone else, because it makes me feel special. And I like your hair, especially how it’s always kinda messy but looks good, and I’d be lying if I didn’t mention your body, because it’s freaking ridiculous. But the thing I like the most about you is how you make me feel. You make me happy every time I see you. Even when you’re not around, I think of you and I smile. Is that enough for you?”
It would be, if Dyl didn’t exist.
“It definitely is.”
“Great. Now let’s finish eating. It’s not as good when it gets cold.”
We finish our meals. Despite her objections, I pay, and then she drives me to my place. She parks in front of my house, then we walk to my porch. Once we’re there, she stands facing me, swaying slightly, her hands clasped in front of her.
“That was so much fun,” I say. “We have to do it again.”
“Definitely.”
I’m watching her body language. She leans forward and shifts her feet so they point at me, which is good, but her hands are still clasped together. At the LIC I was taught what both of these separate actions mean, but they never told me what both of them together is signaling.
It’s too risky to go in for a full-on kiss, so I step forward and kiss her on the cheek.
“Really, Juliet,” I say. “I want to do that with you for the rest of my life.”
“Whoa, slow down. It was a first date. We aren’t getting married or anything.”
“You’re right. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow, I guess.”
“That you will.”
She turns and walks away.
“Oh, and Caden,” she calls as I reach the front door. I turn and look over my shoulder. “Next time, give me a proper kiss.”
She opens the door to her car and climbs in. Smiling, I step inside the house. It’s dark, the only light coming from the TV. M is asleep in front of it. D’s snores are soft down here, but the fact that I can hear them even this far away means they’ll be booming upstairs. I close the door and lean against it, the events of the date replaying in my mind. The way she smiled. The taste of the food. Her weird yet still funny jokes. The softness of her cheek when I kissed her.
How’d I do, Kaylee?
She likes you a lot. It’s almost over, Caden. You did really well.
Suddenly Dyl is all I can think about. His laugh. His eyes. Him, in his entirety.
Kaylee said I did well.
So why does it feel like I failed?
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
As soon as I step off the bus, I see Natalie and Trevor waiting for me by the school gate. I wave and make my way over to them. It’s a warm, windy day, and orange leaves are tumbling across the parking lot. I didn’t sleep much the past two nights, so my head is fuzzy and my body feels lifeless. Unfortunately, my exhaustion doesn’t mean anything to the LIC, so I need to think of a way to wake myself up before I answer a question incorrectly or do something out of character. Being Nice is always difficult, but it’s almost impossible when everything is annoying and all I want to do is sleep.
As soon as I’m within earshot they lean forward.
“So,” says Trevor. “We need details.”
“We do!” chimes Natalie. “Start from the beginning. What were you wearing? I was expecting a Snapchat but Juliet never sent me one. Quick, Juliet will be here any minute and I need the details from you before she tells me what really happened.”
“Okay, um, I was wearing a suit. White shirt, black pants. Leather shoes.”