36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You

by Vicki Grant

  Julia smiled and twinkled and touched Hildy’s arm, then recounted all the fabulous things Evan had said about Hildy and her dad and his “world-class” drama productions. Hildy had to endure talk of her high school triumphs for a good two to three minutes before a space cleared and she could escape.

  Xiu saw her leaving and tried to wave her over. Hildy pretended she didn’t notice. Max was on the dining room table, half-naked, juggling centurions’ helmets, so he didn’t see her go.

  Hildy walked home alone in the dark.

  CHAPTER

  6

  That night was endless. Hildy finally fell asleep when the sky began to lighten. She lurched awake hours later to the sound of something smashing.

  Her heart sped up. Her eyes skittered around the room. She didn’t know where she was or what was happening.

  A door slammed and then another.

  She grabbed her phone, and blinked her vision into focus. 11:19. Sunday. She ignored the multiple texts from Xiu and Max and scrambled downstairs.

  There was a broken plate on the kitchen floor with the remains of someone’s breakfast sprayed around it.

  She heard a car squeal and ran over to the living room window just in time to see her mother’s Prius disappear down the street. Her father was standing in the driveway, with his jacket half on and his boots untied. He threw his hat on the snow and started kicking the fender of his car like some gang member teaching an informer a lesson.

  Hildy rapped on the window. He turned to look. She raised her hands like What’s going on? He got in the car as if he hadn’t seen her, and screeched off, too.

  Hildy stood there staring until her breath had fogged up the window, and her skinny bare arms were covered in goose bumps.

  This was really happening.

  She got a wad of paper towels and cleaned up the mess on the floor. She didn’t want Gabe seeing it. She wondered how much he knew or, more important, if he’d ever forgive her when he found out. She hid the plate in the bottom of the garbage bin and realized that she was humming her grandmother’s song again, the one about how there was going to be love and laughter when the war ended.

  Not this little war.

  She got a yogurt out of the fridge, but only because she knew she’d feel even worse if she didn’t eat, and then she went upstairs. She flopped onto her bed. Alec should be informed about what was happening. She’d hesitated telling him until now because she wasn’t exactly sure what there was to tell—still wasn’t, although less so—and, besides, she never knew how things would go with her big brother. Once he found out, he’d either take it upon himself to save the day or blow things up sky-high. She had to take her chances. She couldn’t put it off any longer. She turned on her laptop to Skype him.

  Alec wasn’t online—no doubt the pubs in Dublin were open by now—but someone else was.

  A Facebook alert popped up. It was from “Bob Someone.” No profile picture, just a little gray icon.

  Hildy’s yogurt fell on the floor and splashed over the carpet.

  BOB SOMEONE: If u ever want to see ur fish alive again u must answer the following 22 questions

  She forgot about Alec, her parents, Gabe, Evan, the sad music of their life. She bit her lip and smiled.

  HILDY: How did you find me?

  BOB SOMEONE: Told u I’m clever

  HILDY: No. Seriously. How?

  BOB SOMEONE: Last name starts with S. Mother the head of ER. Father principal at arts high school. Not that hard. Got to <3 Facebook. btw nice jr prom pictures

  Hildy’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. There was a joke she could make about her fuchsia dress, her overdone updo, her braces.

  She slapped her laptop closed. She got a dirty towel out of her hamper and began scrubbing up the yogurt on the carpet.

  She was through with guys. It had been less than twelve hours since her last romantic disaster. She was not going to respond.

  She heard the ping of another message.

  She thought of Evan and his look of horror—or was it pity?—when he’d pushed her away. She was never going to put herself in that position again.

  And then another stupid ping.

  She threw the towel back in the hamper and opened the laptop.

  BOB SOMEONE: Told u pink was ur color

  BOB SOMEONE: Am I allowed to say that?

  This was just messaging. It wasn’t like he was in the room with her. What harm was there to it? It’s not like she could throw anything at him from here.

  Not even herself.

  It would be weirder if she didn’t answer.

  HILDY: I’m trying not to find this creepy.

  BOB SOMEONE: What? that was a compliment

  HILDY: I mean you tracking me down like this.

  BOB SOMEONE: Now u know how Evan feels

  Her heart thumped like it had been dropped off a tall building.

  Had Bob been at the party?

  Had he seen her?

  No. He couldn’t have been there. She would have sensed him. (She was sure of that.)

  BOB SOMEONE: That was a joke

  It’s just improv, she thought.

  Relax.

  Run with it.

  HILDY: WHY did you find me?

  BOB SOMEONE: Didn’t want to forfit my $40

  HILDY: *forfeit

  BOB SOMEONE: that’s what autocorrect said but didn’t look right

  HILDY: How do I know the fish is even alive still? You might just be some internet scammer. I want to see the fish before I agree to anything.

  BOB SOMEONE: Figured u’d say that

  BOB SOMEONE:

  BOB SOMEONE: As u can see hes resting comfortably

  HILDY: OMG. I’m actually kind of crying.

  BOB SOMEONE: Not just *spillage?

  Hildy: Tears of joy

  BOB SOMEONE: ur going to be balling ur eyes out when u see what Kong asked me to send u

  Hildy: What?

  BOB SOMEONE:

  HILDY: Who’s the weirdo in the background?

  BOB SOMEONE: The target

  HILDY: Was he injured in the attack?

  BOB SOMEONE: Shoulda been

  HILDY: That sounds almost like *sorry.

  BOB SOMEONE: Bad connection can’t hear u lines breaking up

  HILDY: When do I get my fish?

  BOB SOMEONE: When u answer the rest of the questions

  HILDY: That’s blackmail.

  BOB SOMEONE: Better than assault. No animals were harmed in the making of this message

  HILDY: How do I know you’re not dangerous?

  BOB SOMEONE: Wasn’t me who thru the fish

  HILDY: Not that kind of dangerous. I’m not sure I want to be alone in a room with you again.

  BOB SOMEONE: Can’t trust urself?

  BOB SOMEONE: Hello?

  HILDY: Thinking…

  BOB SOMEONE: About what?

  HILDY: What I should do.

  BOB SOMEONE: Rescue ur fish. He misses u

  HILDY: I have to go.

  BOB SOMEONE: Now?!

  HILDY: I have to go to brunch.

  BOB SOMEONE: Talk later?

  HILDY: I don’t know.

  BOB SOMEONE: I can’t guarantee Kong’s safety

  HILDY: I shouldn’t be giving in to a criminal but ok. 1:30

  BOB SOMEONE:

  CHAPTER

  7

  Hildy put on her wireless headphones, cranked up a Taylor Swift video, and started dancing. Sort of because she was happy, but mostly because she was scared and needed to shake it off.

  She’d just given up guys for good—but first Evan and now this? She felt like a zombie in one of those cheesy black-and-white horror movies Max was always dragging them to. A body completely controlled by otherworldly forces. The only difference was that in Hildy’s case her heart was still beating.

  Still wildly beating.

  She wondered if her mother had felt this way too—terrified but compelled.

  Ew. Shake that one off fa
st.

  She kicked the ottoman out of the way and let loose. Hips. Arms. Legs. Attitude. It was going to be all right.

  Damn right it was.

  Bob wanted her. He was the one who’d gotten in touch with Hildy, not the other way around.

  Of course, she’d inadvertently given him lots of clues. Her parents’ professions. Her last initial. Both her brothers’ names. God. What would Dr. Freud have had to say about that? This was way worse than accidently walking off with Prince Charming.

  She didn’t care. She kicked her leg up as high as it would go and slipped on the rug, landed on her ass. Laughed. Big deal. Happens to everyone.

  She got back up on her feet in time to do the Swan Lake bit along with Taylor.

  Paul. That was the only identifying trait she’d gotten from him. Oh, and an unnamed inner-city school from which he hadn’t graduated. Not that that was very helpful. She doubted Bob was the type to show up for picture day.

  She slapped her hands over her face, let loose a silent scream.

  He knew her real name. He could see it all.

  She realized how many photos of her were floating around online. (She’d never missed picture day, that’s for sure.) She’d kept meaning to fix her privacy settings on Facebook but she never used it anymore so she hadn’t bothered. Paul just needed to key in her name to see the hundreds of profile pictures she’d posted of herself singing in high school musicals, winning debate awards, trying out unfortunate new fashions, exposing the true Hildy.

  Before contacts.

  During braces.

  Throughout the whole painfully oblivious nerdiness of her extended adolescence.

  He must be laughing his face off.

  On the laptop screen, Taylor was still dancing away, undeterred, in that dorky red hoodie and black pleather pants.

  So what? Those profile pictures were funny. Everyone had pictures like that. Hildy started dancing again, too. She even crouched down and attempted to twerk. She couldn’t figure out how to make her hips work that way but she sure as hell tried.

  There was a loud retching noise. Hildy jumped up, then slowly turned around.

  Gabe was in the doorway making puking faces. She slipped her headphones onto her neck.

  “That was so bad. Like, SO bad.” He shuddered. “I’m seriously scarred for life.”

  “Serves you right. Sneaking up on me like that.”

  “Sneaking up on you? I’ve been screaming for, like, hours.”

  “Hours. Minutes more like.”

  “Ever since I got back from Owen’s. Where is everybody?”

  “Oh, you know.” She wiped the sweat off her face into the crook of her elbow. “Out.”

  Gabe picked the half-empty Chobani container off her desk and started scooping yogurt up with his finger. “So who’s going to drive me to basketball then? Dad’s the one always going nuts about being on time, but I guess it’s okay for him to be late. He didn’t even feed the fish today. So much for being Mr. Responsible.”

  “Did you try his phone?”

  “I’m not an idiot. I tried everyone’s phone, even yours. Nobody picked up.”

  Hildy checked the time on her laptop. Gabe had to be at the gym in half an hour. Who knew when/if her parents would be home? “Oh, right. I forgot. There was something Mom and Dad had to do. You’ll have to take the bus. Just let me get dressed and I’ll walk you to the stop.”

  “I’m going to be thirteen in June. I don’t need you walking me to the stupid bus stop!” He stormed out and slammed the door. She tried to pretend it was just puberty.

  A few minutes later, she heard the front door squeak open and saw Gabe step out. He had his gym bag but no mittens or hat.

  She opened the window. “See if the Fitzgibbons can drive you home.”

  He went, “I know!” without bothering to look at her. She watched him schlep down the street. Things didn’t seem like they were going to be all right anymore but she didn’t know what she could do about it.

  She could hear the tinny sound of Taylor Swift still coming out of her headphones. Her parents were gone. Gabe was gone. Bob was waiting for her. She put her headphones back on and made herself dance.

  QUESTION 15

  BOB SOMEONE: Hey how was brunch?

  HILDY: Fabulous. You?

  BOB SOMEONE: I don’t do brunch u should no that by now

  HILDY: Are you sure you really want to do this?

  BOB SOMEONE: do what

  HILDY: Answer these questions.

  BOB SOMEONE: Yes I need the money. big macs don’t buy themselves

  HILDY: 22 questions for $40. That’s not much.

  BOB SOMEONE: Better than 14 for 0$

  HILDY: I left my questions in the room.

  BOB SOMEONE: I noticed u left in a bit of a rush. I got mine. Want to start?

  HILDY: “Want” might not be the right word but go ahead.

  BOB SOMEONE: “What is the greatest accomplishment of ur life?”

  HILDY: Sorry. I’m going to stop you right there. I just had a disturbing flashback. I can see what’s going to happen. I’m going to do my best to respond thoughtfully to the questions and you’re going to give stupid answers.

  BOB SOMEONE: I knew this was too good to last & btw stupid doesn’t mean wrong

  HILDY: Dishonest then. I’m only going to do this if you promise to answer honestly from here on out.

  BOB SOMEONE: I have your fish

  HILDY: I can get another fish.

  BOB SOMEONE: won’t be easy. I checked. Jeff isn’t just a happy meal expert, he knew a hole bunch about King Kong pufferfish too. he was the one who did the cpr

  HILDY: You’re doing it again. Honest answers. Yes or no? (And P.S. Whole, in this case, is spelled with a w.)

  BOB SOMEONE: Do I only get to pick one? ps am I being marked for speling & puntuation

  HILDY: I’m in the middle of a good book. I don’t need this. (P.S. No, you aren’t, which is lucky for you. You’d fail based on that one sentence alone.) Yes or no?

  BOB SOMEONE:

  HILDY: Thank you. Then I’ll go first. My greatest accomplishment is forgiving my mother, at least to the extent that I’ve managed to forgive her.

  BOB SOMEONE: For what? That car accident?

  HILDY: No. For something else. Something she did on purpose. At least I presume she did on purpose.

  BOB SOMEONE: Didn’t you ask her

  HILDY: No!

  BOB SOMEONE: Not like you. How come

  HILDY: There are some things a person’s just better not knowing.

  BOB SOMEONE: Who is this & what have you done with Betty?!?

  HILDY: Right. Like you know me so well.

  BOB SOMEONE: I’ve been studying the FB page of Hildy Sangster aka Dorthy in the wizard of oz, EkoGrrrrrl723, and capt of the unbeaten Citadel Senators debate team go champs! & no way ur her. She would want to know

  HILDY: Maybe she knew without asking.

  BOB SOMEONE: Deep

  HILDY: I have to be honest too. Your turn.

  HILDY: Strangely long pause. You were just bringing up all this garbage about my true identity as a way to avoid answering the question, weren’t you?

  HILDY: Should have known.

  BOB SOMEONE: My greatest accomplishment is surviving

  HILDY: Meaning?

  BOB SOMEONE: Me & Kong are 2 of a kind

  HILDY: You’re both slippery and cold-blooded?

  HILDY: Sorry. That was uncalled for.

  BOB SOMEONE: But true

  HILDY: I doubt it. Explain the survival thing to me. (And I promise I’ll give your answer the respect it deserves.)

  BOB SOMEONE: u being sarcastic?

  HILDY: No, I mean it. That was a cheap shot and this is a serious question.

  BOB SOMEONE: A lot of pressure

  HILDY: ATQ

  BOB SOMEONE: Kong and me both been thrown at a lot of walls but we keep picking ourselves up

  HILDY: That how you broke your nose?

&nb
sp; BOB SOMEONE: u could say that

  HILDY: You could get it fixed, you know.

  BOB SOMEONE: Who says I want it fixed?

  HILDY: Oops. How rude of me.

  BOB SOMEONE: I like my nose better now

  HILDY: What did it look like before?

  BOB SOMEONE: Different

  HILDY: Show me.

  BOB SOMEONE: No

  HILDY: How come?

  BOB SOMEONE: Looks have nothing to do with why I like it better

  HILDY: Gee. You’re not as shallow as you make out.

  BOB SOMEONE: u mean as *U make out

  HILDY: So why do you like it better now?

  BOB SOMEONE: isn’t it obvious?

  HILDY: No.

  BOB SOMEONE: I didn’t want to be just another pretty face

  HILDY: *sigh

  BOB SOMEONE: ok. How about this? Its proof I survived

  HILDY: Sort of like the Red Badge of Courage?

  BOB SOMEONE: ???

  HILDY: Sorry. I forgot you don’t read. It’s a book.

  BOB SOMEONE:

  HILDY: Is that what your tattoo’s for too?

  BOB SOMEONE: ur not making sense

  HILDY: Is it proof you survived too?

  BOB SOMEONE: No its for something else

  HILDY: What?

  BOB SOMEONE: Thats not one of the questions

  HILDY: Fair

  BOB SOMEONE: We’re so civilized. Maybe we should have just been penpals

  HILDY: Probably safer.

  BOB SOMEONE: Kong nodded vigurosly

  HILDY:

  QUESTION 16

  BOB SOMEONE: “What do u value most in a friendship?”

  BOB SOMEONE: Take ur time

  BOB SOMEONE: Don’t worry about me