Grace fidgets, adjusting her purse strap. “I’m sorry, you guys,” she mutters.
I touch her elbow. “I know.”
We might not think Ben is good enough for Grace, but the feeling is mutual. He doesn’t think we’re good enough for her.
She bumps her hip against mine. “And was I right about that lip color or what? Guys are checking you out already.”
Grace had convinced me to wear some of her siren-red lipstick. Some guys from school were definitely peering our way, but they could easily be focusing on Grace. She looks glamorous as usual, wearing the new fuchsia lipstick I suggested along with her regular lush eye makeup.
Dana Jenkins and Marcie Wallace appear out of nowhere. “Grace, can we talk to you about dance camp for a sec?” Marcie asks.
“Sure,” Grace says, then turns to Max and me. “Some of the junior varsity girls are thinking of applying to this sleepaway dance camp in Florida this summer, and I might go with them.”
She walks off with Dana and Marcie, drifting even farther away from me.
Max and I sit on a bench together. I cross my legs beneath me and open my Twizzlers. Max pours Milk Duds into his large carton of popcorn. He nods at the Pixar poster of a girl fawning over a merman. “Why can’t it be about a merman who’s in love with a human boy?”
“That sounds sooo much better,” I say. “But how would that work anatomically?”
Max thinks as he chews on his popcorn. “I bet the merman’s fin disappears when he comes on dry land, and then he’s hung like any other dude.”
I burst out laughing, leaning against my friend, and he leans back into me.
The lobby door swings open and Ryan McDowell enters. With his freckles and perfectly gelled red hair, Ryan looks like a super cute Weasley brother. Lots of girls would use a love potion on him.
Alex Rouvelis follows behind Ryan, wearing a short-sleeved hooded sweatshirt over a long-sleeved black shirt, distressed jeans that fit just right, and a backwards Braves cap.
I suck in a breath and sit up straighter.
Two sophomore girls approach Alex and Ryan to say hello.
As Alex smiles and flirts with the girls, Max and I pretend not to drool.
Max nudges my side. “Looks like we’re not the only jealous ones.”
Even though Ryan has a sophomore girl hanging on his arm, he’s staring at Grace, who has resumed kissing Ben over in the arcade.
“That’s ridiculous,” I reply. Alex and Ryan are the most popular guys in our class. And I heard Ryan’s family has more money than God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit combined. “Ryan’s not jealous. He can get anybody he wants.”
“Not me,” Max says. “Ryan’s too pasty. He looks like Elmer’s Glue.”
I giggle. “That’s not nice.”
“Just telling the truth. I’m not attracted to guys who look like mashed potatoes. But Alex? Yeah, I’d hit that.”
I look over at Alex. Were those jeans made specifically for him? “You have bad taste, friend.”
Max snorts. “You know, for someone who hates him so much, you sure spend an awful lot of time looking at him.”
I tear my eyes away from Alex and rip into my Twizzler with my teeth to avoid having to respond. Of course Alex is cute, but never in a million years would I have a chance with him after everything that’s happened between us. Besides, why would I want to make out with someone like him? I’m still not over how he convinced me to collect all those signatures. I basically had people signing a petition that did nothing but prove I’m a total loser.
Three of Ben’s friends walk by on the way to the concession stand. “Hot date with Garden Girl tonight, Max?” asks Paul Clark, a boy in my homeroom.
Another boy mutters something I can’t hear, but I’m pretty sure Max can because his face blushes.
“Do you smell something?” I ask Max.
He sticks his nose in the air. “Yeah, smells like a dumpster fire.”
Ignoring us, Ben’s friends laugh as they walk away.
Max looks like he wants to cry and scream at the same time. I know it’s hard for him, being the only out gay kid in our small town.
“Do you want to leave?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No way in hell am I missing out on Thor and Loki.”
Right then Alex walks up to us. “Hey, Max.”
After a moment of shock, Max sets his popcorn on the bench and jumps to his feet.
“My papu—my grandfather—loved the pictures you took of our baseball team for the yearbook.”
“Oh cool, thanks,” Max says.
“I wanted to ask, do you ever take pictures on the side? Because Papu’s seventieth birthday is coming up, and I want to get him something special, so I was wondering—” He stops to take a breath, adjusting his ball cap. “I was wondering if you’d be willing to take pictures of his restaurant? Niko’s? I was thinking I could frame a couple for him.”
Max’s eyes light up. “Yeah, no problem. Let me give you my number, and we’ll work something out.”
“Thanks, man.”
“But you know what?” Max says with a sly grin, as I lift a Twizzler to my mouth. “You should ask Lulu to draw Niko’s. Her drawing would be much better than any picture I would take.”
I bite the Twizzler in two, choking a piece down. “What?”
That’s when Alex notices me sitting on the bench. His eyes linger on my face longer than usual. He glances at my red lipstick. “After she locked my batting cage, I can’t imagine what she’d draw. Niko’s completely empty with no customers? Niko’s on fire?”
My face burns. “I’d never do that. I love Niko’s.”
I glare at Alex and he glares at me. His eyes return to my lips. His expression softens for a second before his eyebrows furrow.
“Look, man, I’d be happy to take some pictures for you,” Max says, and Alex gives him a fist bump.
Max and I take our seats in the theater, which are right in the middle for “optimum Thor viewing” according to him.
During the previews, my eyes scan the theater. Grace and Ben sit a few aisles in front of us. Max shovels popcorn into his mouth while surreptitiously sneaking glances at the guys’ basketball team. Ryan makes out with the sophomore I saw him with earlier.
My eyes land on Alex, who’s laughing at a preview. His stupid grin hypnotizes me.
Alex looks my way and catches me staring. Shit. I jerk my head to face the screen.