“Well, any of those things would be wonderful. Just as long as it’s something you love.”
My heart skips a beat as I hear the familiar thud of footsteps outside.
“That must be him,” I say, as he rings the bell.
“Wait here,” Mom says, running to the door. She opens it wide and greets Joseph with a handshake.
He steps in and right away I’m glad I did my hair. Because gone is his faded Yankees cap and typical tattered T-shirt. Instead, his hair is neatly combed, a green polo falling over a slim pair of jeans.
“You look nice,” he says, and I realize that all the time I’ve been staring at him, he’s been staring at me.
I open my mouth to say the same, but find my throat too dry to speak. So instead I look back at Mom who, sensing my nerves, breaks the silence with a quick hug and a wave.
“Have fun tonight,” she says, nudging me toward the door. “And tell Kiara good luck! I know she’s going to do great!”
“Thanks Mom,” I say, finding my voice, then follow Joseph to the car where he already has the passenger door open and waiting.
I breathe in deep and duck inside, greeting his dad as I secure my seatbelt. And by the time I’m buckled and he’s done saying hello, the school is in sight. The ride I’ve been stressing about all week is over.
“Thanks Mr. Cruz,” I say, as Joseph opens my door and waits for me to exit.
“No problem. Have fun, kids,” he says. “I’ll be right here to grab you around seven. Call me if anything changes!”
“Oh, actually Dad, do you think you can make it 7:30? In front of Dolce?” Joseph asks. “Your parents would be cool with that, right? Getting home a little later? I thought maybe we could go, you know, grab a drink. And maybe if anyone else is around, we can see if they want to go too . . .”
I nod as Joseph fumbles over the words, his eyes darting from side to side. I can tell he’s nervous, and it makes him even more adorable than usual.
“Yeah sure, I’ll just shoot them a text. But 7:30 should be fine.”
Joseph exhales, then smiles, his face softening.
“All right then. Seven thirty at Dolce it is,” says Mr. Cruz before pulling away.
Then as we face the school, ready for the same walk inside that we make every day, Joseph grabs my hand. And all of a sudden, everything around me is brand new. The rock salt scattered on the concrete walkway, the dim orange lights shining down from the metal awning. They sparkle in the setting sun, transporting me far away from the troubles of middle school to somewhere alive and magical and beautiful, like a dream. So this is what it feels like to like a boy, I think, taking a deep breath of cool March air.
As we walk, Joseph threads his fingers through mine, then flashes me the same bright smile that first made my heart flip when he was the mystery boy I saw shuffling down the hall.
“You okay?” he asks as we reach the door, his arm already outstretched and ready to open it for me.
“Yeah, I’m great,” I say.
“Me too,” he says. “Never better.”
I laugh as we pass by the bake sale, my stomach flip-flopping when I think of the conversation I’ll have about this later tonight with Kiara and Ava. My mind wanders, and so does my gaze, until it stops on a stack of papers at the end of the table. I reach out my free hand and grab one.
“What’s that?” asks Joseph, leaning over.
“Looks like the new Parks and Rec flyer,” I say. “For summer.”
“Cool. Wonder if there’s anything good.”
I shrug. “I dunno, but I thought I’d see if there was a singing class. Miss Tabitha was saying it might be a good idea to keep practicing.”
Joseph smiles wider. “That would be great! Your voice is amazing. Can you imagine how good you’d be after a real singing class? You’d be good enough for one of those TV shows!”
“Well, I don’t know about that, but it could be fun to try something new,” I say. The words roll off my tongue before I can think about them, though after I do, I find that I mean them.
“You should definitely do it. It’ll get you ready for Fall Theater,” Joseph says.
“Yes! And it’d be a good release from all that sewing Kiara and I have planned for JKDesigns.”
“Sounds like the perfect fit,” he says, squeezing my hand a little tighter as we reach the entrance to the gym.
As I think of Ava and Kiara and Courtney waiting for me inside, I can’t help but think of that day a couple months earlier when Mom made me try that first drama class. Imagining that first meeting, I have to laugh. Back then I never could’ve pictured my friendship with Ava or Joseph, or even my reunion with Kiara and return to fashion design. All I could think about was how to survive that day and tell Mom I was quitting. But then I ran into Ava at school and I kept going to practices and found that acting wasn’t as scary as I thought.
And that’s when it hits me. How happy I am now. How drama has changed me. And I realize that maybe sometimes in order to find what you love and discover what really makes you happy, you need to forge a new path. It might take you somewhere new, or it might bring you right back to where you started—but when you return, you’ll never be exactly the same. Like today. Here I am back at the school gym, ready to watch Kiara. Only today I’m so much stronger than I was during that first game. And my life has become so much fuller—from drama club, and new friends, and Joseph, and learning to forgive Kiara.
We’re in the gym now, staring up into the bleachers. My eyes scan the crowd, looking for Ava, Courtney, and Henry. They’re up there toward the top, waving. Joseph waves his free hand back, then leads me up the bleachers to where they’ve saved a spot. We take our time, letting both feet hit each bleacher before tackling the next. And as we make the climb, I hold my head high and smile out at the crowd, which I know is already buzzing with the news of us holding hands. When we reach Ava, we both move to sit down and, for a moment, our knees touch. A bolt of electricity shoots down my leg and I smile, enjoying the new sensation. Then I look over at Courtney, who’s joking with Henry, their hands also touching. Ava rolls her eyes and Joseph laughs and I laugh with him as the first buzzer rings. Then I sit back and clap as our team charges the court, excited for whatever may lie ahead.
Pumpkin Spice Secrets
by Hillary Homzie
Sometimes secrets aren’t so sweet . . .
When Maddie spills her pumpkin spice drink on a cute boy, she’s instantly smitten. But add best friend drama and major school stress to Maddie’s secret coffee shop crush, and it’s a recipe for disaster. Can she stay true to both her friend and her heart?
Sky Pony Press New York
Peppermint Cocoa Crushes
by Laney Nielson
Friends, cocoa, crushes…catastrophe!
’Tis the season for snow, gifts, peppermint cocoa, and the school’s variety show competition! But Sasha’s head is spinning between rehearsals, homework, and volunteer commitments. Can she make the most of her moment in the spotlight?
Sky Pony Press New York
Cinnamon Bun Besties
by Stacia Deutsch
It’s bestie vs. bestie . . .
When the Valentine’s Day fundraiser Suki is running gets out of control and the local animal shelter where she volunteers is in danger of closing, she’s determined to save the day. But she can’t do it alone—and her only hope for help is her worst enemy . . .
Sky Pony Press New York
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jackie Nastri Bardenwerper is the author of young adult novels On the Line and Populatti. She loves fishing, running, and the beach. She graduated from Cornell University and lives in Fairfield, Connecticut with her husband and two children. Visit her online at www.jnbwrite.com.
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