Cici Reno #MiddleSchoolMatchmaker

by Kristina Springer

  Drew laughs. “Oh, I didn’t misread her. I was heading out of school and Aggie was walking with some girl toward the gym for her volleyball practice. I said something like, ‘talk to you tonight,’ and she just stared at me blankly for a moment and then went back to talking to her friend. It was totally embarrassing.”

  “Really?” I say. “That’s so bizarre. It doesn’t sound like Aggie at all. I wonder if something is going on. Did she look sick or anything?”

  “No. Maybe sick of me,” he jokes.

  “Oh, Drew, I’m sure that’s not it. Aggie only talks about you really positively, I promise.”

  He shrugs and stares at the cursor flashing in his open message to @SeraFrosted. I have to think of a way to stop him. If he stops talking to Aggie, he stops talking to me.

  “Tell you what,” I say. “Don’t do anything rash. Don’t break up with her but just don’t write her either. Make her come to you. Let her explain why she’s acting so weird. In the meantime, I’ll have a talk with her.”

  “No,” Drew says. “Don’t do that; I’m going to look so lame.”

  “No, you won’t,” I insist. “I’m not going to tell her you put me up to it or anything. Let me just see where her head is at. If she’s not really into you, I’ll let you know, and then you can end things gracefully, without looking bad, you know?”

  “Really? You want to help me even though she’s your best friend?” he asks.

  “She’s still my best friend. I’m not doing anything shady. I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”

  Drew smiles. “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Sure,” I say, returning his smile.

  “Hey, you want to see a picture I’m working on?” he asks.

  “You draw?” I ask, surprised. Wow, something I didn’t already know about Drew.

  “Yeah.” He closes his Twitter and launches a picture of a tough looking half-man, half-tree character.

  The picture is really good, like professionally good. “Whoa, you drew this?” I’m totally impressed. “That is so awesome!”

  Drew looks pleased. “Yeah, it’s not finished yet though. I like to draw a lot of stuff. I don’t really show people usually.”

  “You should. It’s really, really good,” I tell him.

  “Thanks,” he says. Just then Luke walks into the kitchen, hair still damp from his shower. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Drew quickly close the picture on his laptop.

  “Dessert?” Luke asks.

  “Yep, help yourself,” I tell him, pushing the half gallon of ice cream his way. I finish putting the toppings on my own bowl and turn to leave the kitchen.

  Drew gives me a quick wink as I go.

  22

  “Got everything you need, hon? Do you need money? You girls aren’t going anywhere, right?” Mom asks as she pulls the minivan into Aggie’s driveway on Saturday night.

  “Yes, always, and I don’t think so,” I say.

  “Ha ha. Here, take some cash with you,” Mom says, reaching into her purse. “Just in case you go out to a movie or something.”

  “Ooh, thanks, Mom!” I let myself out of the car, pulling my backpack and sleeping bag with me, and head up to Aggie’s house.

  Before I even ring the doorbell Aggie whips open the door. “Hey!” she says.

  On Aggie’s side, her little brother Henry comes barreling toward me. He leaps and I drop my stuff on the ground, ready to catch him. “Hold me!” he yells.

  “Gotcha!” I say, laughing. “You know, one of these days you’re going to catch me off guard, and I’ll miss, right?”

  I set my stuff on the floor in their foyer and let Henry lead me to their living room floor to play. Ten minutes later, Aggie flips on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Henry has lost all interest in me. He’s standing in front of the television mimicking Goofy’s dance moves.

  Aggie motions for me to follow her to her room, and we sneak out of the living room.

  We plop onto Aggie’s bed and she pulls open a small crate of nail polish. “Pick a color,” she says.

  “Hmm, mint green,” I say, taking the bottle.

  “I’m going with school colors, red and blue,” she tells me and we set to work on painting our nails. “By the way, my mom wanted me to ask if you’re sure your mom can give me a ride to the fall dance on Friday.”

  “Of course we can,” I say. “Aak! I got paint all over my pinky finger.” Aggie hands me a Kleenex to wipe with. “In fact, can you just come home from school with us? Then we can get ready together, maybe do a facial or something beforehand so we’re extra glowy.”

  “That sounds fun. I’ll ask my Mom,” Aggie says. “So, guess what? My first volleyball game is this Wednesday after school, and I’m starting!”

  “That’s so cool, Aggie! See, I told you, you were the best one on the team,” I say.

  “I’m so excited,” she says. “And my mom and Carlos and Henry are all going to come watch.”

  “Oh, Henry is going to go completely ape when he sees you out there. We have to make him a little sign with your name and number to wave around like a banner. And your mom is cool with the whole volleyball thing now, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Aggie says. “I think when she realized it was something I was good at and that didn’t really take away from home or school or anything, she relaxed about it. She’s excited for me. She even came to one of the practices and took pictures of me playing. I sent them to my dad and stepmom too. They said they wished they could come to a game.”

  “Your mom should take a video you can send them,” I say. “And you know I’ll be there, cheering you on.”

  “Oh good, you can make it?” she asks.

  “Of course. I may even make a banner to match Henry’s,” I kid.

  I’m blowing on my fingernails when an idea comes to me. “Hey, Aggie, Drew said something about going to the volleyball game too. Do you care if he goes? I mean, he can sit with me if you want.”

  She shrugs. “No, why would I care? Anyone can go to the volleyball games. I just hope he doesn’t expect me to talk to him during the game. I need to concentrate on what I’m doing.”

  Huh? Where’s this attitude coming from? “I’m sure he won’t expect you to,” I tell her.

  Aggie stops working on her nails and looks at me. “Why would he sit with you though?”

  Good question. “Um, we’ve sort of been becoming … friends.”

  “Really? When did this start?”

  “It’s not a big deal or anything. We’ve just been talking, and I don’t mean online as you. He and I have been talking some in person lately. Most of the time we’re actually talking about you, but still. We’re sorta friends, I guess.”

  “What do you mean you’re talking about me? What are you saying about me?” she asks.

  Aggie is sounding slightly angry with me, and I’m not sure why. “Just convincing him that you don’t hate him,” I say. “He’s getting mixed signals because we talk one way online and then when he sees you in person, well, you had that great date, but I guess you sort of blow him off sometimes. Which is no big deal, really. Don’t worry about it. I’ve been covering for all that.”

  “Oh, yeah. So he noticed that, huh?” Aggie says. She looks down and away.

  “So you are blowing him off?” I ask, shocked. “Why?! He said it’s happened a couple of times, but I made excuses for you!”

  She shrugs, still avoiding making eye contact with me. “I don’t think I like him the way I thought I did. I guess I thought I liked him because it was fun to have a crush on someone when we went to hockey games, you know, to cheer for someone and be silly. And it seems like all our friends have crushes on somebody, so it was the thing to do. But now that he’s like, in my world, talking to me at school, wanting to meet places, and be all couple-y, I just don’t have any real feelings for him. I’m not ready for the whole boyfriend thing, I think. And he’s not all that interesting, to tell you the truth,” she adds.

  I gasp. “Are you kidding
me? Drew’s smart and kind and funny, no, make that hysterical. He tells the best stories ever and he’s so creative. Did you know he draws? He’s like the definition of interesting,” I say, abruptly stopping. Maybe I went on a little too much. Aggie’s just staring at me with wide eyes.

  “Cici,” she starts, “do you like Drew?”

  And there it is, laying out smack dab in the middle of us. The truth.

  “No, no. I mean, well, I don’t know.” I pause and swallow hard. “Would you be upset if I did? Like him?”

  Aggie thinks about this, and I twist my ring around and around my finger. “I feel like it should upset me,” she finally says. “If I had feelings for him, that is. But no, I don’t think it bothers me. If you really like him, you should go after him.”

  “Oh, I couldn’t do that. He’d never like me that way. I’m not his type at all. You’re his type. I’d have to grow on him.” I shrug. “Maybe if we keep talking online for a while I can eventually tell him. Kinda ease into it.”

  “But he thinks Sera Frosted is me,” Aggie protests.

  “True,” I agree. “I’d have to think of a way to change that.”

  “Well, think of something sooner than later. I don’t want him to keep thinking we’re an item. I’m kinda over Drew and the whole dating thing.”

  Over Drew. Those two words sound insane together. How can anyone be over Drew? I nod. “I’ll fix everything.”

  I told Aggie I was going to fix everything, but I still don’t know how I’m going to manage that. The whole situation goes round and round in my head all the time and I can’t figure out a way to make it stop without someone getting hurt. The one thing I know I have to do is reach out to Drew first. Tonight. He’s been true to his word and hasn’t sent me, SeraFrosted, a single message in two days.

  I’ve missed you.

  I stare at the screen waiting for a message to appear but nothing. He must not be online now. I switch to my tweets page to see what other people are doing tonight. Some are talking about homework, television shows, a lot of boring stuff. Lots of blah, blah, blah. I see a flicker on the corner of the page. It’s Drew.

  Hey.

  That’s it? Just a ‘Hey?’

  What are you up to tonight?

  Not much. Thinking about watching some TV.

  His answers are so stiff. He really is mad at me.

  I’ve missed talking to you the last couple of nights. Got time now?

  I guess

  Brrr. Icy.

  Tell me about your weekend.

  Hockey, hockey, and more hockey

  This whole situation we’re in is absurd. Drew wants to break up with Aggie, Aggie wants to break up with Drew, and here I am trying to keep some kind of relationship going between them online, because I can’t let it go.

  So, my first volleyball game is Wednesday after school. I was hoping you’d come cheer me on.

  I wait for a response. He must be thinking, because it’s taking a moment.

  Really? You want me there?

  Yes! My family is all coming too. And Cici of course. You can sit with her if you want.

  OK I’ll be there.

  Tell me about your weekend.

  I let out a big sigh. Good. He’s going to forgive me. Now maybe we can both relax and just chat.

  23

  “Whose bright idea were these giant pom-poms?” I ask Aggie. We’re in the girls’ locker room, and she’s sitting in front of me on a bench while I try to wrestle this massive red and blue pom-pom onto her ponytail.

  “One of the moms made them,” Aggie says. “She thought it would look cute if we were all matching for the first game.”

  “It’s definitely cute, just looks a little heavy to hold up,” I tell her.

  “It’s not. But the ponytail is starting to give me a headache.”

  I work on loosening up her ponytail to give her some relief. “There, you’re perfect. Just don’t let anyone accidentally try to spike it off your head thinking it’s the volleyball.”

  Aggie laughs. “Ah, I’m so nervous!”

  “Don’t be, you’ll be great,” I say.

  Aggie’s volleyball coach bellows into the locker room, calling all the girls for warm-up.

  “I guess I better go,” I say. “Good luck!”

  “Thanks,” Aggie mouths as she follows the other girls out of the room.

  I head into the gym and scan the bleachers. There are a ton of people here. I spot Drew, front and center, just behind where our Wright Middle School team sits when they’re on the bench. I gulp. I hope Aggie’s not annoyed that he’s so close. Drew’s standing and waving to me now, and I make my way over to him.

  “Hi, Drew,” I say, taking the empty spot to his right.

  “How’s Aggie?” he asks.

  “Good,” I tell him. “Nervous, but good. And that’s with balancing a beach ball on her head like a seal.”

  “What?” He raises his eyebrows.

  I smile. “Just a little hair accessorizing the girls have going on.”

  The teams come out onto the floor and start warming up. Drew spots Aggie and says, “Oh, I see what you mean. Those are cute.”

  He would say they were cute. Aggie can make anything look cute. I scan the bleachers to see who else is here, and I spot Aggie’s family at the top. Henry is leaning against the wall with his hands in the air, cheering. Aggie sees him and waves. She spots Drew and me and waves and smiles at us. Drew waves back eagerly. A small fraction of the school band is here and they’re slowly clunking through the school song. Everyone seems really excited.

  The game begins, and Aggie is serving first. She nails it, but someone on the other side returns it. I don’t know much about the game, but they seem to be keeping the ball up in the air and passing it back and forth. Every so often a guy on a ladder at the net blows a whistle and points one way or the other.

  Drew has his attention fixed on the game and Aggie. I’m studying her now too. I had no idea they wore such tight little bicycle shorts with their jerseys tucked in for volleyball. Doesn’t anyone think that shows a little too much? The other team has on a similar outfit only in gold and green. What’s wrong with nice roomy sweatpants?

  Drew leans toward me. “She’s really good, huh?”

  “Yeah, she’s great,” I say as enthusiastically as I can. “Go Aggie!” I yell out. Hmm. I’m not sure she was doing anything just now, but she’ll know I meant well.

  Minutes go by and our side gets a point, making the score 3-1. I spot Sophie and Grace sitting together in the bleachers near the gym entrance. They look pretty happy. Awesome, they must have made up. I want to go over and say hi.

  “Hey, Drew,” I say, “I’m going to run out and get a snack from the concession stand. Want anything?”

  He doesn’t take his eyes off the game. “Nah, I’m good.”

  Well, as long as he’s good. I stand and make my way toward the exit, stopping by Sophie and Grace. “Hey, girls!”

  “Cici,” they say at the same time and then giggle.

  Yep, things are definitely back to normal with them.

  “Where are you sitting?” Sophie asks.

  I point toward our side’s bench. “Over there, near the team.”

  “Aggie’s really good!” Grace says.

  “Yeah, she’s great,” I agree. “Cheer loudly so she hears you.” I wave good-bye and keep making my way out to where the snacks are.

  I return to the gym doors five minutes later, box of Milk Duds in hand. Before I even start back for my seat I notice Drew isn’t there. Aggie’s sitting on the bench and Drew’s kneeling next to her, talking.

  Oh no. I’m frozen. I don’t know what to do. It’s not like I can charge over there and tell him to stop talking to Aggie. And I had promised her I wouldn’t let him bother her during her first game. Ugh! I hope she’s not mad. Though, now that I look closer, she doesn’t really look mad. She’s actually smiling. And talking a lot. Drew tosses his head back, laughing. Maybe Aggie’s c
hanged her mind. Maybe she was hasty in saying she wasn’t interested in Drew and now she really is. What if they end up together, after all?

  I’m not so sure I want to share my Milk Duds with him now.

  I stand there at the gymnasium doors until Aggie rotates back into the game and Drew returns to our seats. I know I have to go back and sit down or he’ll start to wonder what happened to me. I take a deep breath and make my way back to our seats.

  “Hey. I’m back,” I say, stating the obvious.

  Drew smiles up at me. “Great game, right?”

  I glance at the court. “Oh yeah, it’s … great.”

  Aggie jumps up and spikes the ball, scoring another point for our side and the stands erupt in cheers. Drew stands up next to me, clapping along with everyone else and yelling for Aggie.

  “Awesome!” he says, retaking his seat.

  “Totally,” I agree.

  “Hey, I want to thank you, by the way.”

  “For what?” I ask him.

  “For talking to Aggie for me. I don’t know what you said, but everything seems good. Really good. I think we may work out, after all,” he tells me.

  “That’s wonderful,” I say. And by wonderful I mean in that heart being ripped out of your chest, thrown to the ground, and danced on by a five-hundred-pound sumo wrestler–kind of way.

  “Milk Dud?” I pour about half the box into his hand. I figure, the more he’s busy chewing on hard caramels, the less I have to hear about how awesome things are with Aggie now.

  I look at Aggie on the court and she’s giving us a thumbs-up. Drew returns the sign and I sink lower on my seat, hugging my knees.

  24

  Mom drops Luke, Aggie, and me off at the fall dance. She threatened to sign up as one of the chaperones, but Luke begged her not too. I don’t know why he’s making such a big deal about her being there. I bet he doesn’t even dance with anyone. He’ll probably sit in the corner with his friends being goofy and loud.