Jellybean08: Care?
I rolled my eyes as more messages scrolled across my phone screen.
Jellybean08: Is it a BOY?!?
Jellybean08: OMG!
Jellybean08: Caroline Blair McKain, you better answer me!
Jellybean08: Fine. Ignore me all you want but just know you can’t run forever. I’m onto you…
“Um? Is everything okay?”
Startled, I looked up and saw Henry had walked over to me. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
“Who’s blowing up your phone?” he asked.
“Guess.”
“Hannah?”
“Ding, ding, ding,” I said. I silenced the phone and put it down.
“Oh.” He turned his body away like maybe he was uncomfortable. “Did you tell her I was here?”
I hesitated before answering. “No, I didn’t actually.”
“Hmm,” he said with a small nod.
Hmmmm? What the heck did that mean?
“Is that weird?” I asked uncertainly.
He didn’t answer me right away so I went over to the cabinets to find the measuring cups and mixing bowl we would need to make the cookies.
It was quiet in the kitchen. Too quiet. Henry still wasn’t answering.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I slammed a cabinet door shut and turned around. “I just don’t want her to get the wrong idea,” I blurted.
Henry folded his arms across his chest. “The wrong idea?”
“You know what I mean.”
He pulled his mouth to one side. “You mean about you and me?”
“Yes…” I glanced up at the cracked ceiling tiles of my falling down house. “I just don’t want your sister to think something is happening behind her back while she’s away.”
“Care, nothing is happening behind anyone’s back,” he said. “We’re just two people who share a love of baked goods.”
I laughed in relief and met his eyes.
“Just two people making cookies and watching a movie.”
I guffawed. “So now we’re watching a movie too?”
“And, if I remember correctly, the last time you were at the house, you and Hannah made me watch Pitch Perfect. That means it’s my turn to pick.” He smiled mischievously.
“Gah!” I carried the bowl and measuring cups over toward the ingredients. “And what atrocity are you going to force me to watch this time?”
“My laptop’s in the car and I’ve got Saw on there and the latest season of American Horror Story.”
I measured out four cups of flour. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to watch anything scary with my dad out of town. Are you even in my house right now?”
Henry glanced around. “What do you mean?”
“I practically live on the set of a slasher film.”
He laughed. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.” After I cracked the eggs is a separate bowl and combined them with the softened butter, he said, “Fine, you can pick tonight, but I get the next two turns.”
“You never like the kind of movies I like,” I reminded him. Henry and I were both huge movie buffs with wildly different tastes. It had sort of become our thing over the years to try to find a movie that we both liked. So far, it hadn’t happened yet.
“It’s bound to happen eventually. So what do you have in mind tonight?”
I pressed the rubber spatula into the butter to get it to flatten. “Hmm. What about Say Anything?”
“Never seen it.”
I dropped the spatula against the side of the bowl and looked at him. “Seriously?”
“Are you surprised?”
“That you missed one of the most important cinematic masterpieces of the 80s? Nope, not at all.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“‘Cinematic masterpieces’?”
“I mean, what kind of childhood did you have?”
“Apparently one that didn’t consist of bad 80s movies.”
“Hey!” I smacked him on the arm. “You know I’ve made your sister watch this movie like a million times.”
His smile was crooked. “I bet she fell asleep each and every time.”
“Of course she did.” Hannah always fell asleep during movies. “But that’s not the point. Tell me you’ve at least heard of the infamous boombox scene?”
The look on his face plainly meant he hadn’t. This was unacceptable.
“Oh-em-gee,” I spelled the letters out slowly. “I thought everyone knew about it!”
Henry chuckled. “I guess that means we’re watching?
“Yes, we’re watching Say Anything! And you are going to like it. Love it even. This might be the one,” I said confidently.
“We’ll see,” he said doubtfully.
We baked at least three dozen cookies then proceeded to lounge on the loveseat in the living room to stuff our faces while Lloyd and Diane fell in love onscreen.
For the first ten minutes of the movie, I was a little nervous. It wasn’t a traditional love story and admittedly, the movie was old—made before either of us was even born. I worried that he’d think it was stupid or cheesy or both.
But as soon as the party scene opened and John Cusack’s character was unwittingly named Key Master, Henry laughed beside me and I started to relax.
I smiled when Lloyd put his jacket down for Diane on their first date and when she had him over for dinner to get to know her dad. It was so romantic and like always, I let the movie carry me away. We watched the pen scene and maybe the stereo scene, but after that, things got hazy.
I definitely didn’t remember falling asleep, but then of course, who really does? You’re awake one minute thinking about everything and nothing at all, just wishing you were already asleep and the next thing you know your mind finally decides to cooperate by blinking off and shutting down. Every night you get into bed with the expectation of falling asleep, yet the exact moment you’ll fall into a dream world is always a surprise—just like waking up to a black screen with your back pressed against a warm body.
A warm body. A set of muscular arms wrapped around my stomach. A soft, even breath tickling my neck.
I started to stretch then froze as my brain attempted to work through the scene. The clock above the television said it was just after three in the morning. Henry and I must have fallen asleep watching the movie and somehow we’d ended up spooning on the loveseat.
I realized I needed to move and quickly. If he woke up and found me like this, it would get weird. Especially after what had happened in the kitchen earlier.
Carefully, I plucked his fingers from where they’d settled below my ribs. I glanced over my shoulder, took a long breath and tried to squeeze beneath his arms.
Just before I was home free, Henry stirred.
“Oh wow, what time is it?” he asked on a yawn.
“Three,” I answered in barely a whisper. I wasn’t sure why I was being so quiet. There was no one else in the house. It’s not like we were going to wake anyone else up.
“Three in the morning?” he asked, a little more awake this time.
I readjusted my position into something less cuddly. Good, this was a more appropriate distance for two friends to sit. “Yeah, your, um, parents are probably really worried by now.”
“They probably fell asleep at nine and don’t even know I’m not there.” He yawned again. “But I guess I should probably head home, huh?”
“Yeah,” I reluctantly agreed. I knew he couldn’t stay longer. God, he shouldn’t have stayed at all. But that didn’t mean I wanted him to leave either.
Jeez, this was crazy and starting to feel crazier by the second.
“I’ll see you later,” Henry breathed. He sat up and placed a chaste kiss on my cheek. I closed my eyes and sucked in a sharp breath. “Thanks for the cookies, Care.”
“Thanks for—” I stopped. What was I going to say? Thanks for the kiss? The snuggles? Thanks for making my Friday night a little less lame? My brain was too fuzzy to make heads or tails of any of it, so I jus
t settled on, “Um, yeah, anytime you want to come over, I’m here.”
Henry ruffled his hands in my curls playfully like you might do to a puppy. Or a friend. I pushed myself to my feet and followed him to the front door.
“See you Monday morning?” He turned back to me. He had his keys in his hands.
“Sure,” I answered.
“Night, Care.”
“You mean, ‘morning,’” I called out.
After Henry’s car pulled out of my driveway, I sat back down on the loveseat that still smelled like him and dropped my head into my hands.
What was happening here? I couldn’t believe he stayed so long or that we’d spent hours tangled on this tiny loveseat and it still managed to be the best night’s sleep in recent memory.
What would Hannah say?
Oh crap! Hannah!
I ran into the kitchen, found my phone and turned it back on. As expected, the notifications blew up. All from Hannah of course.
Since I wasn’t going to be falling back to sleep any time soon and it was already a decent hour in the morning there, I figured I might as well get the conversation over with. I took the stairs two at a time, threw open my bedroom door and slid into my desk chair. It was easier to type long messages on my laptop and I had a feeling this one was going to take a while to get right.
I didn’t want to lie to Hannah, but I wasn’t ready to tell her the whole truth. Maybe I didn’t even know the whole truth myself. This crush, or whatever this was labeled, was bound to fade eventually. There was no point in freaking Hannah out or creating unnecessary drama.
I took a deep breath before starting to type.
To: Hannah
From: Caroline
Date: October 3
Subject: So...
Okay, so yeah, there was someone over but it wasn’t like THAT. We were just baking cookies. I might have a teeny tiny little crush on him but I don’t think it’s going anywhere.
So, tell me what you wanted to talk about earlier. I’m sure it’s more interesting than what I’ve got going in Libby Park.
Care
____________
There. That seemed like a reasonably believable answer. It was vague enough that she wouldn’t know I was talking about her brother, but it was hopefully enough information to satisfy her curiosity.
My computer beeped, letting me know that I had a new instant message. As I read it, my stomach turned over. Okay, I guess Hannah and I were going to have to talk about this.
Jellybean08: Just got your email. I can’t believe you are crushing on someone and didn’t tell me!
I squeezed my temples while trying to figure out what to say. I should have known that she’d want details. It wasn’t like me liking someone was an everyday occurrence. I hadn’t had a boyfriend in… well… pretty much ever.
CareBear16: I mean, it’s, like, minuscule, barely anything.
Jellybean08: Still! And, I can’t believe you had said crush over and all you did was bake cookies. Is that like code or were you actually baking cookies?
CareBear16: We were actually baking cookies. But seriously. It’s nothing. I didn’t say anything before because there’s no way he likes me like that so I’m pretty sure I’m forever bound to remain in the Friend Zone.
Jellybean08: Ugh. The dreaded Friend Zone. Well, they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach so maybe you’re on to something…
CareBear16: LOL
Jellybean08: Btw, who is this guy??
CareBear16: Oh...it’s just someone I’m working on the play with…
Jellybean08: That’s all I get? Ughhhh…
Of course Hannah Vaughn would never be okay leaving it at that. No one loved a story more than she did. If I wanted to get out of this gracefully, I needed to come up with an excuse. And fast. It would need to be believable or else she would get suspicious.
My mind buzzed with possible scenarios. In the weeks that she’d been gone, I hadn’t mentioned anything about hanging out with Henry, but was that in itself weird? She knew that he was the one who’d been driving me to school, so maybe not talking about him was worse than just talking about him? Or maybe I was overthinking this whole thing and just needed to chill out.
It was just a white lie, it wouldn’t hurt anybody, but holy crap was this double life thing stressful! I was clearly not CIA material.
CareBear16: Just for a little while! It’s just weird and I don’t want to jinx it!!
I held my breath and hoped that would be the end of it.
I wasn’t ready to tell her the whole truth and that’s all there was to it.
How awkward would that conversation be? Especially after all the crap I gave her when she liked Owen?
I’d told her I didn’t want to ruin the balance the three of us had going. I was afraid that if they broke up it would be all sorts of weird but if it worked out then I’d wind up stuck as the third wheel in someone else’s relationship. I begged her to be logical and leave it alone. Don’t rock the boat, I pleaded, and yet, here I was, two years later crushing big time on her very own brother. Talk about rocking the boat! Just imagine how awful things would be when Henry and I split?
Oh my God, Caroline get a grip! Henry won’t ever be interested in you like that so why in the world are you thinking about the consequences of your inevitable break-up?
I had serious problems.
Jellybean08: NOW I definitely need answers!
I should’ve known that wasn’t going to cut it. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I just couldn’t tell her the truth.
CareBear16: Fine—YOU WIN! It’s Miles, ok?
Jellybean08: MILES?!? Seriously?
CareBear16: See? This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you.
Jellybean08: Okay, okay. I’m sorry. But Miles? Are you sure?
Carebear16: Hannah!!
Jellybean08: Okay… Okay... Have you told him yet?
CareBear16: NO! You know I suck with this stuff.
Jellybean08: *le sigh* Haven’t you learned anything from all those cheesy movies you watch?
CareBear16: Ummmm… I guess not?
Jellybean08: But in all seriousness, we need a strategy. Let OPERATION CUPID commence!
CareBear16: hahahaha Operation Cupid????
Jellybean08: Yessssss. And according to the commander of the operation, it’s clear what your next move should be.
CareBear16: It is?
Jellybean08: You’ve got to make him realize that he wants YOU ;)
CareBear16: And how do I do that?
Jellybean08: Um, helloooo? This is basic… You make him jealous!
CareBear16: I don’t think I can do that.
Jellybean08: You CAN! It’s cake. Just flirt with someone in front of him and see how he reacts. If he goes all caveman on you then you know he’s into you.
CareBear16: Idk… Faking something like that feels weird.
Jellybean08: Trust me
CareBear16: I do trust you! It’s just… It seems like a lot of work. I’m not even sure if what I’m feeling for him is real.
Jellybean08: You’ll know it when it is
CareBear16: How????
Jellybean08: Because when you’re around him, you won’t be able to breathe
CareBear16: That sounds terrible :/
Jellybean08: Noooo… breathing won’t even matter to you.
CareBear16: Um, oxygen always matters
Jellybean08: Not when you’re in LOVE <3
I stared at her message for at least a minute. In love? No way. I wasn’t in love with anyone. I definitely wasn’t in love with Henry. No way.
I mean, I couldn’t be in love.
Not with my best friend’s brother.
He showed up.
I was sitting on my bed with my laptop positioned over my crossed legs, watching cat videos to distract myself from staring too hard at the clock or worrying more about my outfit. For the record, it wasn’t working
very well.
Eleven fifty-nine.
Twelve o’clock.
Chloe and Grace were on the bedroom floor with the contents of my makeup case spread out between them. Since I’d moved in, their favorite game had become “Beauty Parlor” and Grace was currently holding a lip gloss up to her sister’s face and saying, “I think you’d look best in Paris Pink.”
Chloe, whose dirty blonde hair had been piled haphazardly on top of her head and secured by Grace with a rainbow of plastic barrettes, picked up another color from the pile of compacts and tubes and made a ridiculous kissy face. “I like the Cranberry Crush.”
There was a muffled noise from downstairs. I glanced up. The digital clock display in the upper right corner of my laptop screen told me it was twelve oh one. “Was that…?”
Grace dropped the lip gloss onto the carpet and turned to me. “Is that her?”
My stomach lurched. Last night over dinner when Felicity had asked if I’d be around to babysit today, I had mentioned that I might be doing something with a friend.
“My friend is a him.”
Her eyes went wide. “Like a boyfriend?”
I shook my head firmly. “No! He is NOT a boyfriend.”
“Just a boy who’s a friend?” Chloe asked, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Yes,” I said firmly so there could be no objections. “He’s just a friend. And anyway, I’m not even sure if that was the doorbell.”
We heard the sound again and my heart stuttered.
Steering the Stars Page 13