Page 34 of Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

But honestly, props to them. It was effective

Oh no!!

Do you have plans today? We could go to the park and stare at them menacingly from the slides

Or you know just get coffee

I’ve got band practice

But next time!

WED, MARCH 29 5:00 PM

Are you around? Rain check on the coffee?

I wish but I’m heading into work right now

Oooooo have some strawberry yogurt with mochi for me

I clean those machines and as a result I can never eat yogurt again

Omg don’t tell me anything else. Keep the illusion alive

I wouldn’t want to burden anyone else with this knowledge

Are you free Friday?

That’s actually my first lesson with Ryan. I am... terrified.

Oh cool!

Don’t stress. You’ll be great!

I hope so

April Fool’s Day

Delilah

I get to Ryan’s house fifteen minutes early, which is just as bad as showing up fifteen minutes late.

I don’t have a car. Dad didn’t offer one when I turned sixteen and got my license last September, even though he and Sandra get new Audis every two years. And I would never ask Mom for one—I know it’s not possible in our tight budget. So I show up whenever the bus or my ride for the day decides I’m going to show up. The bus got me to Ryan’s neighborhood, Cal Heights, today because I definitely wasn’t about to ask the guys for a ride here and Mom’s still at work. Charlie would totally drive me. He’s being extra nice lately... actually since he interrupted me and Reggie talking at The Mode a couple weeks ago. But I don’t want him to know I’m doing this. Not yet.

I’m trying to decide if I should just stand here like a dork or do a couple laps around the block when a girl pushes open a gate on the side of the house, followed closely by Ryan. The girl has lightbrown skin and long, shiny black hair, and she’s holding Ryan’s hand.

For a moment, I convince myself that this was all some strange April Fool’s joke that went over my head, that Ryan didn’t expect me to show up for an actual lesson. And now I’m standing here watching them on her lawn like a total loser.

But then Ryan notices me and smiles. My chest loosens.

“You made it,” she says, and her girlfriend’s eyes light up.

“You’re Delilah!” the girl says. “Hi! I’m Leela.”

“Hey, yeah. I’m here.” And I think my face looks normal, like I’m holding it together. But all of sudden I’m hit with another wave of panic. Why did I think I could do this again? How could I possibly have convinced myself this was a good idea?

But Leela closes the gap between us with long, quick strides and holds her hand out. I take hers and she grips it with surprising force. “So you’re Reggie’s friend,” she says, pumping our hands and smiling wide. “Like I’m his friend. And Ryan—Ryan isdefinitelyhis friend. We’re all friends here!”

Ryan grabs her shoulders and delicately pulls her back. “Babe, you’re being weird.”

---