Page 87 of My Secret Snowflake
I probably should. But I don’t want to let go of the bubbly feeling of happiness I have from this past weekend yet. And I had such high hopes for Dream.
“Howwasyourweekend?”Jazmine asks as we enter the conference room to plan the high school winter dance.
Wonderful. Like a dream.
But I can’t say that. I want to tell Jazmine, but I also don’t want the word to get out.
“It was good. I picked up some Porto coffee beans from Essex Market, as you requested.” I hand her the package.
The teenagers pile into the conference room, and the space comes alive.
Sebastian arrives. I can’t help but steal a glance at him, and he winks at me. It must be so obvious that we’re together
I turn away abruptly and then hope that didn’t hurt his feelings.
Sebastian looks happy as he jokes around with Jamal. I like that he’s so committed to the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. When I asked Patrick to do a free concert for the community garden, he grumbled and promptly scheduled a paying concert for that date. It’s good we broke up. Maybe I should have broken up with him earlier instead of holding on for so long.
Jamal immediately sits next to Faith, so Sebastian takes a seat next to me. His hand brushes my thigh, but I definitely don’t look over. No way am I going to encourage him. Especially when Jazmine and Nora join us.
The first hour is for studying, so we all work on math. We bought some tenth-grade math books online after Lily also asked a library math tutor for her recommendations. Jamal got a B+ and Faith got an A- on Friday's test, so they’re motivated. Jamal mentions how hard a time he’s having keeping it a secret from his mom, but he can’t wait to surprise her on Christmas.
“Greatworkstudying,”Jazminesays after an hour. “Now let’s talk about the winter dance.”
Some students let out a whoop of excitement.
Sebastian brought in two huge Fresh Direct bags of winter wonderland stuff from his mother. And some employees from set design wheel in more supplies that we can borrow. They even have a Snowman from a Hallmark-esque romance they filmed upstate.
Faith says, “Maybe I’ll go as an ice princess.”
Jamal says, “But you’re not icy.”
“So, Iama princess?” Faith asks.
“Definitely,” Jamal says.
Faith blushes.
There’s definitely a vibe of something more than a next-door-neighbor friendship. I look over at Jazmine because I want to glance at Sebastian. It takes all I have not to look at him.
Jazmine smiles and nods.
“But then what should we do for the Heat Miser section?” Nora asks.
“We can make some surfboards out of cardboard,” Jamal says.
“Let me google how we could make palm trees,” Jazmine says and holds up her phone with a DIY site giving instructions. “Oh, hey. These look pretty good.”
“I saw these iron pineapple string lights at Essex Market over the weekend. Those would be perfect,” Sebastian says.
Jazmine’s head whips around, and she stares at me, her eyes narrowed.
“Were you at Essex Market this weekend?” Jazmine asks Sebastian.
“Yes,” Sebastian says.
I try to kick him under the table, but I end up hitting Jamal, who looks over at Faith as if hoping she just kicked him.
Faith needs to put Jamal out of his misery. She said she likes him, but she wants him to work for it. And he should be aiming for a corner office, not the corner 3-pointer shot. The youth are much smarter.
