Page 26 of With a Little Luck

Me and a date.

I’m still clutching my phone when I walk back through the classroom door. Mr. Singh gives me a disappointed look, like I’ve been gone way too long and therefore betrayed his trust. But I hardly notice. My nerves are humming to the point of being jittery as I pause at the front of the classroom.71

I look at Maya in the front row, vaguely aware that people are staring at me.Everyoneis staring at me. My heart drums so hard I imagine they can all hear it.

I was never going to do this. I was never, ever going to ask Maya out. Because there would be no point. Because she would never say yes. Because I would be rejected and devastated, and it was just safer to not even try.

And to even consider asking her outin front of people?

No way.

But here I am, standing up in front of the whole class, whispers floating around me and Maya’s expression turning into a concerned frown. Mr. Singh asks me what’s going on, then tells me to take my seat. Pru and Quint and all my classmates are shifting uncomfortably, whispering among themselves.

I’m terrified, but it’s a vague, distant sort of terror. Because there’s also magic crackling in the air around me, even if I’m the only one who can feel it. I have the strange sensation that I’m watching the scene unfold from afar. Like I’m not a player in this scenario at all, but rather, I’m the Dungeon Master, waiting to see what will happen next.

Charisma check. Roll for performance.

“I … um …” My voice breaks. Someone laughs awkwardly in the back.

I clear my throat and hold up my phone, as if that explains everything. “I just won two tickets to the Sadashiv concert. It’s this Thursday.”

Maya’s eyes widen. Katie lets out a small shriek of disbelief. Something passes through the classroom—whispers and glances and someone in the front row murmuring, “What are you doing, man?”

I ignore them all. I have eyes only for Maya.

“Maya. Would you … want to go? With me?”

The room erupts into hoots. Guffaws. Incredulity. Without looking around, I know the consensus from our peers. Jude Barnett is asking out Maya Livingstone?

Right. No chance. Nice try.72

But I don’t care what they think. Right now, I feel lucky. I feel like a wizard, with magic up my sleeve.

Because Maya is smiling again. Stunned and glowing and smilingat me, again.

I see her mouth form the word more than I hear it. One word. That’s all it takes.

Yes.

73

Chapter Nine

When I get to the record store that evening, I all but run inside.Or skip. I might be skipping. I’ve felt like this all day, like I could literally float off the ground. I have no idea what was covered in any of my classes, but despite my obvious distraction, no one called on me to answer any questions or discuss any assignments. There were no pop quizzes, and the sculpture I turned in for visual arts last week came back with glowing remarks, even though I hardly understood the assignment.

I feel invincible.

I find Ari in the hip-hop section, checking for any records that have been misshelved.

“Ari! You won’t believe what happened.”

She jumps as I barrel toward her. I’m breathless as I try to tell her, the words all pouring out of me at once. The radio station, the phone call, the tickets. Two tickets—me. A plus one. Adate.

I know I’m rambling. I keep forgetting important details and having to backtrack, and twice I almost slip up and mention the dice and have to work to try to cover it up, and Ari is frowning in confusion through most of it, but then her eyes start to widen.

“A … date?” she says, a squeak in her voice.

My grin widens further. “I asked Maya.” The words don’t feel real coming out of my mouth. “And she saidyes.”

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