Page 9 of Anytime I Want

“Magic carpets aren’t real,” Nathan sneers, still upset we aren’t watching what he wants.

“I don’t care. Somehow, he’ll do it for me. I just know it.”

Chapter 7

Julia

“Jules! I have something for you!” Graham runs up to me in the parking lot and pulls a Tootsie Pop out of his front pocket. “Day one with the list and I am already crushing it.” He pumps his arm in the air.He’s so cute,I think, trying and failing to hide my smile.

“Oh! A smile! I’m making progress!” Graham croons, dropping his arm over my shoulders. I take a deep breath, loving the smell of his soap or deodorant, whatever it is. I have to shake my head to help focus.

“Don’t get overconfident. A lollipop is hardly that big of a deal.”

“It’s not?” Graham frowns and drops his arm. “Then why did you include it on your list?” My face flushes. I can’t tell him it’s there—a lollipop instead of some other treat— because of him, because nine years ago, he didn’t follow through and bring me a lollipop.

I clear my throat. “I was seven. Things change. But thanks anyways.” I start towards the school, smiling at everyone I see.

“Hi, Robert,” I say to the somewhat awkward sophomore. “How are you? I like your shirt today.”

“See. Sweetest ever,” Graham whispers in my ear, making me shiver, as Robert fumbles with his books.

“H-hi, Julia. I’m good. Thanks. It’s new; my grandma bought it for me.”

“Well, she has great taste. I’ll see you around.” I wave to say bye, but also to shake off my reaction to Graham.

“So,” Graham leans against the wall outside my first class, “I figured out a date for this weekend. Are you free? Can I take you on a magical adventure?” He smirks. I roll my eyes while telling the butterflies in my stomach to calm down.A magical adventure? Yes, please.I know I told Graham things changed, but they really haven’t. I still want the princess treatment and more than anything, I want Graham to be the one to provide it.

“Well, if I must,” I huff. “A deal is a deal after all.”

“Yeah, a deal is a deal.” Graham smiles, a gleam in his eye. I’m nervous, worried that gleam means he knows what I am really thinking, really feeling. “Saturday evening! I’ll pick you up. Dress for outside.” Graham knocks on the wall and walks away backwards. “It’s okay, ya know? Being excited. I know I am.” He winks before spinning around, greeting a guy from the baseball team.

I’m glad it’s okay.Because I am SO excited. Saturday sure seems like a long time to wait.I smile to myself, pop the lollipop in my mouth, and head into my classroom, an extra spring in my step.

***

“Knock, knock.” Nathan peeks his head into my bedroom. “I talked to Graham. This Saturday, huh? How do you feel? Do you want me to tell him to lay off? I can, ya know.”

I smile at him, closing my romance novel I was reading instead of studying. “I know, and I appreciate it. But….” I trail off.

“But…what?”

I bite my lip, glancing at the pictures of my friends on the wall.Should I talk to Nathan about this?It makes me nervous. Don’t people understand that admitting it makes it real? I’ve been trying to deny it for years.“I… whatever. Never mind.” I wave my hand in the air, brushing the thought away.

Nathan gives me a soft smile, shaking his head. I’m 85 percent sure that he knows what I’m thinking, but since I've never owned up to it, I’m going to let him guess. “Well, if it helps, he likes you. A lot.” I bite my lip to stop a smile, and he shakes his head at me before continuing. “He talks about you a lot. On those double dates he and I go on, he is constantly bringing you up. I think that all those girls would hate you if you weren’t so nice to everyone.”

“Why does he go out with them if he likes me so much?” I can’t help but ask.

“Why do you go out with the guys that ask you if you like Graham so much? He’s a good guy. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. He is always clear that it’s just as friends. I say give him a shot. And, I don’t know how you seem to not know this, but one date is not leading girls on or whatever you think.We are sixteen. We date. Why does it seem like people think we need to meet someone and be with them forever?”

I decide to ignore the last part, but I make a mental note to revisit it later. “I am. I said yes. Also, how many guys have I gone out with? Two ever? It's hardly a fair comparison.”

Nathan rolls his eyes and ignores that.

“But are you really? It feels like you are already writing him off, assuming that he’s going to stop being interested. What’s the point, then? Seems like a waste of everyone’s time. Including, and especially, mine. Did you know that Graham convinced me to help him woo you? Gross.” Nathan shivers, acting like it is the grossest thing in the world.

“Why didn’t you just say no?” I say.

“Right.” Nathan scoffs. “It’s not as easy for everyone to say no to Graham as it is for you. Honestly, I want you to be happy, and I really think that if you give Graham a shot, you will be. I know you like him. You won’t actually admit it, but I know it’s true.”

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