The Love Pug

by J. J. Howard

  “Come on, Cupid,” I called, and turned to walk away. When I realized my buddy wasn’t following me, I looked back to find him sprawled on the floor getting another belly rub from Travis. I groaned. Why Travis? Besides, Cupid sprawling in that undignified way was going to wrinkle his costume!

  I decided to try to ignore Travis, and forget about the fact that Hallie was home sick, missing the perfect opportunity to bond with Frankie. I went into the kitchen and helped myself to some of the punch. It was the fancy kind with a lime sherbet mold of a flower in the center, and it really was delicious. Then I realized that since I hadn’t eaten dinner, some of the hot appetizers would be a good idea. I made myself a little plate and then wandered back out to survey the party. It was a good turnout, and a few people were even dancing, which would make DJ Theo happy.

  When I looked over at him, he was indeed grinning at me and waved. A girl from his grade walked up to him and asked him to dance, and he shrugged and went with her to the center of the room, where Dad and I had cleared out the furniture for dancing.

  Autumn made her usual late entrance, wearing a completely over-the-top costume: Marie Antoinette. She wore a gigantic, ruffle-covered pink gown and a wig of huge blond ringlets tied with matching pink ribbon. The other girls in our grade oohed and aahed over her costume, but I had to fight to keep from rolling my eyes. I should have known that Autumn would try to find a way to turn my party into some kind of competition.

  She walked over to me. “Great party, Emma,” she said. “Sorry it took me so long. This outfit is very hard to get into!”

  “I can see why,” I said. “It’s very impressive.”

  “Thanks!” she said, and whirled away in a flurry of ruffles.

  “Autumn’s got to Autumn, I guess,” said Theo, who was dancing nearby, and I had to laugh then.

  The rest of the evening passed in a pleasant blur of snacks, costumes, congratulations on the excellent party, and even a bit of dancing for me. I found that I could do a funny sort of slide move on the slick wood floor once I took my shoes off again. Frankie came and danced near me, grinning and pointing to his zombie makeup, but I hadn’t quite forgiven him yet for inviting Travis. Though I had to admit, Travis was kind of the life of the party. He kept pulling people off of couches to make them dance, and everyone seemed to love his costume.

  Before long, Dad came out from his study and pointed at the clock, and since almost everyone saw him do it, the party began to break up. Everyone started texting their parents to come get them.

  As people began to trickle out, Theo and Dad helped me clean up. For some reason, Frankie was still there too. Cupid stood watch at our feet, on the lookout for one of us to drop some snack crumbs. Finally, Dad offered to take Theo home so he didn’t have to walk in the dark, dressed as a wizard.

  “I can take you too, Frankie,” Dad offered.

  “My brother’s actually on his way. Thanks, though.”

  Dad looked at the clock again. “Are you sure? It’s getting pretty late.”

  “Yeah, totally—Mateo’s coming; he just always gets sidetracked.”

  Theo gave me a look like, Is this okay? I shrugged. I figured if Mateo was coming, then Frankie could hang until then. I had a dog to walk, and then I couldn’t wait to get out of my costume and read a little before going to sleep. I hated to admit it, even to myself, but I maybe liked planning parties a little bit more than actually being at parties.

  Theo followed Dad out the door, and when I turned back toward Frankie, he was grinning.

  “Finally!” he declared.

  “Wait, what?”

  “I thought they’d never leave. But I’m so glad to finally get a chance to ask you … I mean, I’m sure you know what I’m going to ask …”

  A feeling of unease was prickling its way up my spine. I took a step back away from him. “No, I definitely don’t know.”

  “Oh, Emma, you don’t have to play it that way. I know you like me.” He took a step closer. “And I definitely like you.”

  I stood up straight. Did kids really just announce to each other who they liked? Based on what I’d learned at sleepovers and from people like Autumn, crushes were usually passed around via whispers and “Guess what I heard?” But here was Frankie flat-out telling me he liked me! He couldn’t like me!

  “Frankie, I think you’re confused,” I started. “You like Hallie.”

  “Hallie?” Frankie’s eyebrows shot up. “I mean, she’s really cool, but I don’t … What would make you think that?”

  I threw up my hands in frustration. “Oh, I don’t know, because you’ve been hanging around her for the past two weeks?” I suggested. “And you had her do your makeup at the carnival. And I saw that you posted the picture of your makeup on your profile? You even tagged her!”

  “You dragged me over there and cut me into the line to get my face painted,” Frankie pointed out. “And the pic was the one you took—I tagged you too, remember?”

  Oh, right. He had.

  “And, since apparently you haven’t noticed,” Frankie went on, his face flushing a little, “it’s you I’ve been hanging around.”

  “Oh …” I put my arms around my middle, suddenly feeling a little bit sick. All those tiny hot dogs had formed a ball of badness in my stomach. My brain was replaying every interaction I’d had with Hallie and with Frankie since he got here. What had I done?

  “But I thought you liked Hallie,” I said again. My voice sounded much smaller and less certain now.

  Frankie crossed his arms over his chest too. “I don’t know why you’re so stuck on that. If you just gave me a chance …” Frankie’s voice had gotten kind of loud.

  “I think it’s time you were leaving, young man.”

  Frankie jumped. My father had used his best professor voice and was standing in the foyer, watching us.

  “My ride’s here anyway,” Frankie said, and stomped out the front door without another word.

  Dad gave me a questioning look, but I just shook my head and ran past him, up the stairs to my room, slipping a little on the way in my stupid stockinged feet.

  I heard the front door open and close. Dad was taking Cupid out for me.

  When Dad brought Cupid upstairs a while later, I’d gotten myself mostly together. I sat on my bed, still in my Hermione costume. Cupid sat on my rug, looking up at me with worried eyes. He could always tell when I was upset.

  “Are you okay, Emma?” Dad asked.

  “Yeah. Sorry. I was just … It turns out I’m very stupid.”

  “I won’t hear talk like that,” Dad said. But he didn’t use his professor voice; he said it gently. He sat down on the chair closest to my bed. “Just because that boy was being foolish, I don’t want you blaming yourself.”

  “But I should have seen it. I didn’t know that he … didn’t know he liked me.” My cheeks felt warm. I didn’t usually tell my dad about stuff like this. But then, I guess I’d never really had anything to tell.

  “And did you tell him that?” Dad asked.

  I sniffed back a few tears that were threatening to break through. “Yeah.”

  “Then you didn’t do anything wrong. Emma, I know that you’re very grown-up for your age in many ways, and that you are often able to … direct people. But that does not mean that you will always know just what people are thinking, or what they are going to do. You still have a lot of growing up to do, after all.”

  “Now you sound like Theo,” I told him, trying to smile.

  “Well, Theo is a very sensible boy. And if he were here, I’m sure he’d remind you that he is a full year older than you.”

  I smiled for real then. “I’m sure he would. Thanks for taking Cupid out, Dad,” I said, and picked up my little fur ball for a much-needed doggy hug.

  “Of course. It really was a very nice party, you know.”

  “Up until the end.”

  “Don’t let one misunderstanding ruin your night,” Dad said with a squeeze of my shoulder. “I hope
you had a nice birthday?”

  “I did. Thanks, Dad.”

  “Happy birthday, sweetheart. Good night.”

  “Night, Dad.”

  Just as Dad was closing the door, my phone buzzed and I gave a start. The text was from Theo.

  Are you okay? Did Frankie leave?

  Yeah. But … he sort of asked me … I THOUGHT he liked Hallie …

  Uh oh. I was kind of afraid you thought that.

  Did you know that he—that Frankie—liked me?

  Three little dots danced for an uncomfortably long time before Theo’s answer came through.

  I guessed, but I didn’t know. Are you ok though???

  I’m ok. Just feel stupid.

  You’re not. I’m sorry, Em.

  It’s ok. Thanks for helping tonight.

  It was a real nice party. Night, Em. And happy birthday. C u tomorrow

  Night, T.

  I turned off the light and pulled Cupid closer, listening to the rapid beat of his heart in the dark and wishing my own would slow down so I could get to sleep.

  As of today, I was a whole year older. But I felt more foolish today than on any day of the year that came before.

  Of course, Monday started with me running into the exact person I’d been hoping to avoid. I spotted Frankie on my way to the library and immediately dropped all the sign-making supplies I’d been carrying.

  He knelt to help me gather up the markers that had rolled in all directions.

  “So,” he started. I sucked in a breath. “If you’re so surprised to see me, does that mean you’ve been thinking about what I asked?”

  “What do you mean, what you asked?”

  “Well,” he said, stretching out the word as he handed me the pile of poster board. “I didn’t completely get to finish asking … about the Valentine’s Day dance …”

  My stomach in knots, I tried half-heartedly, “But Hallie …”

  Frankie stood. “I already told you, Emma. Just think about it, okay?” He hitched his backpack higher on his shoulders, turned, and headed off down the hallway.

  How was Frankie not as mortified as I was by this whole thing? He’d even tried to ask me again about the dance, while I’d been planning on avoiding him all week. But it seemed like he was saying that he hadn’t given up just yet, no matter what I said to him about Hallie.

  At lunch, Frankie was sitting there at our table as though nothing weird had happened between us. Then I found out that we had something in common: the same birthday week. As soon as Theo came to join us, he said, “Happy birthday, man.”

  I felt my face whip toward Frankie’s in surprise. “What? It’s your birthday? Today?”

  “Yep. We’re almost birthday twins,” he added with a wink. A wink! “So, my parents are getting to be friends with Theo’s parents, from soccer. And my mom invited them to come to dinner tonight. You should come too.”

  I realized a few seconds later that Frankie had been talking to me, since he and Theo were staring at me.

  “Oh! I mean … I guess so. I could go.” Frankie seemed to be pretending things were normal … I could do the same, right? And Theo would be there. Anyway, my previous plan for tonight had been yet another pizza night, since Dad had another dinner date with Ms. Bates. I looked over at Hallie. She was texting somebody and paying absolutely no attention to Frankie or to me.

  I guess I really had been off the mark there, on both sides.

  “Great!” Frankie said. “It’s a restaurant downtown—I think it’s called The Hungry Hippo?”

  I had to laugh at that. “The Ravenous Ram.” Since it was one of the three really nice places to eat dinner in Highbury, it wasn’t hard to guess.

  Frankie flashed another wide smile at me, and it was like for the first time I was actually looking at him … at his sparkling brown eyes, and thick, wavy dark hair …

  “Your dad can come too,” Frankie was telling me.

  “Oh, thanks … but he has a date.”

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “Theo, let’s go over to the soccer table. You have to see this video Jason showed me …”

  The two of them left with only a quick apologetic smile from Theo. Hallie was still texting, so I pulled out my own phone and sent her our favorite emoji, the one that looks like Tinker Bell.

  Her head shot up. “Hey,” she said, like I’d just gotten there.

  “Who are you texting so much?” I asked.

  “Oh … it’s just for a class project. So, Frankie asked you to dinner?”

  “Well, and his parents, and Theo and his parents.”

  “Guess that’s not a date, then.” Hallie shrugged, tucking her phone into her pocket.

  “Nope,” I said, still feeling weird about everything I’d been secretly planning for Hallie and Frankie. Thank goodness I hadn’t told her. “Are you feeling better?”

  Hallie nodded. “My throat still hurts, but Mom said since I didn’t have a fever anymore I needed to go to school. I’m really sorry again that I had to miss your birthday party.”

  “Me too! But please don’t apologize—you didn’t ask to get sick!”

  “No, but I’m still sorry I missed it. You have to tell me everything that happened,” she said, finally perking up. “I was still recovering yesterday—Mom made me stay in bed and wouldn’t even give me my phone.”

  “I will,” I agreed. “Maybe we can go to Morning Mugs after school tomorrow?”

  “I’ve got a thing … with my project. But later this week. For sure.”

  The bell rang, and we walked together back to our lockers. Just as I was putting my phone away before class, it dinged. Hallie had sent me back Tinker Bell and three yellow hearts.

  * * *

  When I got home from school, I gave Cupid a huge hug and let him kiss my face.

  “Oh, Emma—the germs!” Dad exclaimed as he met me in the foyer.

  “I read online that people’s phones have more germs on them than dogs’ mouths.”

  “Ugh,” he complained, “I don’t know if I want to know that. Anyway, you should be careful believing what you read online.” He had that stern look in his eye, but he also petted Cupid’s head as he trotted by.

  “Are you still having dinner with Ms. Bates tonight?” I asked.

  Dad nodded. “But I don’t want to leave you home alone eating pizza again. You should come with us.”

  “I can’t. I was invited to Frankie Castillo’s birthday dinner. Is it all right if I go?”

  Dad’s eyebrows narrowed together to form a single V. “That new boy from your party? I don’t know, Emma …”

  “It was just a misunderstanding,” I rushed to say. Why had I told Dad any of it? “He’s nice. And besides, his parents, and Theo, and the Knights will be there. We’re going to The Ravenous Ram.”

  “Oh,” Dad said. He seemed to be studying me, but went along. “Well, then, that’s fine, of course. The Ravenous Ram?” I could tell by his face that he’d been planning to take Ms. Bates there too.

  “It’s okay if …” I began.

  “Abby and I are going to drive over to Lititz,” he apparently decided in the moment. “There’s a new place we’ve been meaning to try.”

  I gave him a doubtful look, but he sounded resolved, so I didn’t push it. If they’d been meaning to try this new place, tonight was a great night, I figured. The Ravenous Ram was small, and I didn’t want to watch my dad be on a date, or have him watch my potentially awkward dinner with Frankie. I’d have to join my dad and Ms. Bates eventually, but at least it didn’t have to be tonight.

  After I fed Cupid and took him for a short walk, I brought him upstairs with me. I waded into my closet to find the right outfit, but it proved harder than usual. Nothing seemed right. Everything I put on felt like I was trying too hard, and then when I changed into a pair of dark jeans and a plain white T-shirt, that looked too casual. It wasn’t as though most people at The Ravenous Ram would be all that dressed up, but still.

  I heard Theo talking to Dad
downstairs, and looked over at Cupid in alarm. I definitely did not want to be caught having an outfit meltdown by Theo of all people. He always teased me when I took a long time to get ready. I gathered up all my discarded choices in a huge ball and shoved them into my closet. As I was about to cram the door closed, I spotted a scarf that had belonged to my mother hanging on a hook. I grabbed it, along with my nice black wool jacket. I was slipping my feet into black ballerina flats when Theo came in, unannounced as usual.

  “Wow, you look really nice,” he said.

  I shot him a wary look. “You sound surprised.”

  “No, I just meant … you look sort of … grown-up in that outfit.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “In a good way or a bad way?”

  Theo laughed. “A good way.” His eyes narrowed a bit. “Hey, you’re not nervous about how you look in front of Frank, are you?”

  I bristled. “I think he just goes by Frankie, and no, of course not.”

  “Frankie sounds like a dog’s name. No offense, Cupid.” Theo leaned down and gave Cupid some head scratches. Cupid rolled over onto his back, so then Theo had to crouch down and give him some real attention.

  Was I imagining that Theo sounded sort of snarky about Frankie all of a sudden?

  “I’m kind of surprised you said yes to this dinner,” Theo went on, keeping his attention on Cupid. “I thought you felt weird about the whole Frankie-Hallie thing?”

  I fiddled with my scarf. “Well, he didn’t exactly say no to her. I mean, he didn’t even know I was trying to get them to go to the dance together.”

  “That’s what all of this has been about?” Theo asked. “A date for Hallie for the dance?”

  “Well, you know, these things require planning,” I said. “Otherwise a girl might end up with no one to dance with.”

  Theo glanced up. “Is that what … girls … want?”

  “I don’t know!” I shrugged. “I’m not trying to say what every girl wants.” I pushed past him and started downstairs. “Girls want all kinds of things. Come on, Cupid.”

  “Well, sure, of course,” Theo mumbled as he followed me downstairs.

  Dad was pacing in the foyer, no doubt ready to leave to pick up Ms. Bates, but waiting for me. “Emma, you should take a scarf,” he told me.