“Come in.”
“Hey,” I said popping my head into her room. “Can you run next door with me?”
She sat on her bed with her laptop. At least ten books were spread around her on the bed. “I hate world history.” She got up and slipped on her shoes. “Where’s my mother?”
“I don’t know.”
We went through the house to the front door. Diane was getting in her car. “Hey, girls. I’ll be right back. I need to pick up a few things at the store.”
We watched her pull out. Then Caroline turned and went back to the house, calling over her shoulder, “She’ll be gone for a while. If you need me, I’m in my room.”
Walking next door, I really hoped she was right.
I let myself in the fence and played with the dogs. Mojo and Buddy had grown inseparable.
Jonathan slipped out the back and looked around. “No spies?”
I smiled. “Not today. But I have to hurry. Diane ran to the store.”
He walked over and petted the dogs. “Did your Dad blow his top?”
“No, he left yesterday morning.”
“Alone at last,” he said, taking my hand.
“What about,” I started to say, stepping back.
Just then, Ben burst out the back door.
Jonathan groaned.
I didn’t want to risk forgetting to get his cell number, so I asked for it.
He sort of flinched. “It wouldn’t help you any to have it. I can’t find my phone anywhere.”
“You lost it?” I couldn’t comprehend going without a phone.
“Actually,” he said, moving closer, “Ben was playing with it last week, and it hasn’t surfaced yet.”
“Ben lost your phone?”
He raised his finger to his lips. “I don’t want Mom to know. She’s still mad at us over my iPod.”
“He lost your iPod?”
“No. He microwaved my iPod. But I’m hoping he just left the cell phone somewhere in the house.”
I looked at Ben with new respect. He could cause quite a bit of trouble for such a small kid.
The little hellion came over and gave me a hug. “Hi, Ally.”
“Hi, Ben,” I said, squeezing him tight.
“Is that big shouting man really your dad?”
“Uh, yeah.” Most people would describe my father as pretty reserved. Until lately. “But he’s out of town right now.”
“How about giving us a little privacy, Ben,” Jonathan said.
His request was met with a confused expression.
“Go play with the dogs so I can kiss her,” Jonathan said.
Ben’s jaw dropped almost as far as mine.
“Jonathan,” I said.
Ben started giggling. “Eeew,” he yelled running across the yard. “Gross.”
I started laughing so hard I couldn’t begin to kiss anybody.
Ben kept screaming. “Eeww! I’m gonna throw up.”
Jonathan started cracking up.
The dogs chased Ben, barking as loud as they could.
Then, Jonathan’s mother rushed into the backyard to see what was wrong.
Jonathan just shook his head. “I’ll walk you home,” he said.
His mom shushed Ben.
Jonathan held my hand until we got next door. He walked me to the front door, and gave me a peck on the cheek.
“I’m afraid to risk more,” he admitted.
“Good luck finding your cell phone,” I said. Pretending to be all cool, I went into the house. Then I waited for him to walk away, and I jumped up and down with excitement. It was starting to sink in. The boy actually liked me.
“What do you mean he lost his cell phone?” MC asked the next day. “How do you lose your cell phone?”
Madison cleared her throat. “Well, you’ve lost two.”
“They were stolen,” MC said. “That’s different.”
I explained about Ben.
MC studied me for a moment as if processing the news. Then she said, “I don’t buy it.”
Madison and I looked at her like she was nuts.
“What’s to buy?” I asked. “His brother lost it.”
“If you say so,” MC said turning to walk to class.
I sat in classes all day wondering if maybe she was right. Did he just not want me calling? If so, it fit right in with my experience with boys. They never liked me. And with my family experience. Men leave. I wanted to be wrong, but I was growing more stressed by the moment.
I burned off a ton of stress at soccer. I defended Megan’s goal instead of Amy’s. I really hated playing with Amy. Katelyn told me she’d been playing for years, but that she’d never stayed on one team for very long because nobody liked her. I could totally see why.
Katelyn’s mother picked us up. She was really pretty. She dressed like a local news anchor or something. Turned out she was a dental hygienist and only worked part-time.
“I’m so happy to meet you,” she said.
“Thanks for agreeing to carpool,” I told her. I didn’t explain that I wanted to escape my stepmother, but I suspected Katelyn had.
She opened the trunk and had us put our cleats in a plastic bin. Her car had leather seats and a sun roof. I hadn’t looked to see what it was, but I wanted one. She didn’t freak about dirt, either. Katelyn had been playing for almost ten years. I guess she was used to it.
She pulled up in front of the house to drop me off. Jonathan was shooting baskets in his driveway.
“That’s him,” I told Katelyn.
She grinned.
I thanked her mom and went next door. I didn’t feel like grabbing Caroline to accompany me.
“Hey,” he called. His warm smile melted my insides. “How was practice?”
“Good,” I said.
“Before you slip away, I wanted to see if you could talk your dad into letting you go to the lock-in on Friday.”
My heart thumped. “Friday?” He wanted to spend time with me! The phone thing wasn’t a ploy.
“Yeah. Maybe Caroline will go with you.”
I’d need somebody to watch Mojo. “Is there a number to call so my dad can check it out?”
“Probably. Just call the Second Pres and ask for the youth minister.”
“You’re definitely going?” A whole night together. It was almost a date.
“Yes. I always go, but it would be really cool if you could come.” His eyes met mine. “We could actually talk.”
“I’ll do my best.” I wanted a kiss, but I was beyond sweaty.
&
nbsp; “Go before you get busted. I really want you to come on Friday.”
“Good point.”
“See you later,” he said and turned back to his basketball goal.
I ran for the door. With any luck, I wouldn’t get caught talking to him. I could probably talk Diane into the lock-in. Now, if I could get Caroline to watch Mojo.
“No problem,” Caroline said a few minutes later. “And I’ve been to one of those before, so I know Mom will let you go.”
My heart swelled with friendship for her. She was really starting to feel like a sister. Sleeping with my stinky dog so I could meet up with a boy.
“You’re awesome,” I said.
She waved away my compliment. “You’d do it for me. I’ll just have to grab him from next door after the football game.”
I headed to the shower with a big grin on my face. I was actually going to get to spend time with Jonathan. I guessed he’d probably hang out with his friends some too, but I’d get more than the five seconds alone with him that I was getting now. I could take MC and Madison. They’d love to flirt with Jonathan’s friends. And if he blew me off, I’d have back up.
Dad didn’t go for it. He asked me a million questions on the phone about who would be there, and why did I want to go to a lock-in at some new church when I didn’t even go to the ones at my church.
“Caroline says they’re fun. Plus, MC and Madison will be there.”
“I’ll talk to Diane,” he said, “but I’m not happy with this plan of yours.”
Diane got Dad to cave. I almost hugged her. She called the church and got the number of chaperones and the planned activities.
I went to bed feeling really confused. Diane had actually done something nice for me. But wasn’t I obligated to hate her guts for Mom’s sake? The image of her naked flashed through my mind. And the imaginary allergies. Yeah, she had a lot to make up for.
MC and Madison informed me that their mothers had said yes.
“We know you are totally going to ignore us,” MC said. “But we’re okay with that. Just as long as you find out if Dave and Colin will be there.”
“And if they’re seeing anybody,” Madison added.
It was the least I could do.