Page 95 of Crossing the Brooklyn Briggs
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brooklyn
October 21
Observation: I am exhausted butway happier about being at work than I usually am.
Hypothesis: Jordan Torres makes everything in life better.
Prediction: The more time I spend with Jordan, the better off I’ll be.
Ideas for experiments run through my head as I walk into school Monday morning, things like going bowling and watching the BBC version ofPride and Prejudiceand letting Jordan teach me to cook even though his techniques make no sense. Though he stayed way too late last night—not entirely his fault—I’ve had a bounce in my step since the moment my alarm went off this morning.
He sends me a text right before my first period starts, and I have never been so excited to get a text before.
Jordan: Sorry for cutting into your sleep time, Queens. Hopefully you can stay awake long enough to complete your mission with Mr. Math.
Though my class is filing in and settling at their lab tables, I hang out in my office long enough to reply, taking my time with each word so nothing comes out wrong.
Me: I’ll survive. As late nights go, last night was the best. *smiley face*
Jordan: No bacteria emojis today?
I snort a laugh.
Me: *bacteria, clown, Easter Island head, Russian doll*
Jordan: I guess it’s time for me to learn emoji hieroglyphs.
Me: *juggling, brain, zombie, prosthetic leg, broccoli*
Jordan: *laughing emoji*
Jordan: I’ll see you at lunch, Queens. *kissy face*
Well, concentrating today might be harder than I thought, and I might need to amend my hypothesis. Jordan makes a lot of things better, but he’s not exactly making me want to teach when I could be with him. At least he’ll be here at lunch to help me with my last prank against Mark, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to easily wait that long.
My first two classes drag on, even though this lab is one of my favorites. Jordan doesn’t send any more texts—I try not to check, but I can’t help it—and I tell myself multiple times that he has a job too and we can’t spend all day texting each other.
Doesn’t mean I don’t wish we could.
By the time the bell signals the end of second period, I’m practically brimming with pent up energy, and I’m more than happy to see Mateo when he appears at my door after everyone else clears out.
“Are you sure I won’t get in trouble?” he says as I grab my bag of supplies.
Jordan will be bringing the rest, and I sure hope he’s here or this will be the lamest prank ever.
I give Mateo a wide smile. “How could you get in trouble for wanting to celebrate your teacher’s birthday? Besides, he won’t know it’s you. He always takes lunch in the teacher’s lounge.”
“I have a delivery for Brooklyn Bridge?”
I’m pretty sure that’s Jordan changing his voice to be deeper, though it’s hard to tell because he’s blocked by the ridiculous number of balloons he’s holding just outside my classroom door.
I roll my eyes. “Thanks,Daniel.”
He pokes his head through the many strings, giving me a mock scowl. “I can’t believe you would call me that, Queens. What did I do to deserve that? Hey, Matty.”
Mateo glances between us—me with what I’m sure is tomato-red cheeks and Jordan with a dumb grin forming on his lips. “Gross,” he mutters and then grabs half the balloons from his brother. “Can we get this over with?”
