Page 20 of A Scandal in Homeroom
And what had he been doing with ten bottles of melatonin that day in the CVS?
An idea occurred to me as I studied the back of his head, but I quickly lost focus on it.
His hair was too long. He needed a cut. It moved in waves around his neck, and crazily, I had this idea I should reach out to touch it. Force those waves to move in the direction my fingers wanted.
Insane much?
Just then a note, which he’d flipped backhanded, landed on my desk. I opened it, smiling because this meant we were going to play another game.
Question: Where do you get the money to gamble?
I wrote back.
Answer: Why would I give up any information that easily? You’re going to have to work a little harder than that.
My question: Where are you taking me to dinner after the Fashion Show?
I folded the note up and dropped it over his shoulder into his lap. I loved how that made him fidget in his seat.
A few seconds later the folded paper dropped back into the center of my desk.
Answer to your question: I didn’t know dinner was involved.
I responded quickly.
Of course dinner is involved. It’s a date.
New question: Have you ever been on a date?
This time I folded the note, dropped it on the floor and used my shoe to slide the note forward along the linoleum until it was directly under his seat. I knew he’d heard it, but he waited a full minute before reaching down under his seat to pick it up. He then waited another minute before opening it.
He’s studying the room, I thought. Looking to see if anyone was noticing us like we noticed them. We were at the back of the room and the people in the seats next to us were clearly concentrating on whatever the teacher was saying. Still, I liked that he was careful. I’d been less so, so it was a good reminder.
Finally, I heard the crinkle of paper, the scrape of his pencil.
It occurred to me this was way more thrilling than covert texting. More anticipation than just watching a bunch of dots on a screen.
He coughed, and in that same moment I was hit square in the boob with a flying triangle.
“Not cool,” I leaned forward and whispered. “You almost took out my right boob.”
I also took time to look around the room and ensure no one was watching me before opening the note.
Answer to your new question: No. What other information beyond providing dinner do I need to know about this upcoming event?
Tapping my pencil on my chin, I had to consider that for a second.
In no particular order…
You have to tell me I look and/or smell nice.
You have to open all doors for me.
Flowers would be nice, but most likely overkill…so skip this.
Do NOT try to hold my hand during the fashion show. Way too soon for that.
You have to pick me up and drop me off. No car necessary. Walking is fine.
