After school Adrian approaches me. "You didn't ask him." He says. His tone is flat, not accusatory or showing any emotion.
I shake my head. My head shrivels up and my whole body scrunches up like I've been balled up into a sphere of paper. The floor opens up and claims me and I wave goodbye to Adrian as I fall.
"It's ok. Just. . . tell him tomorrow. But do it this time. And, Astrid, he likes someone. I don't know who, but he does. I think it might be you. If he hasn't told you he likes someone. . . it could be you," Adrian smiles. The floor shoots me out like I'm atop a geyser and the ball of paper shreds to become me again.
"He likes someone?" I say. Adrian grins. He pulls me into a hug. And he whispers something, really quietly.
"What?" I say, pulling away.
"I. . . I asked Martha out." As he says this his cheeks erupt into flame.
"Oh my god! What did she say?" I jump with excitement and pull him into another hug. He smiles and I squeal. "She said yes! I knew it! I'm so freaking happy for you!"
He laughs and my cheeks hurt and I'm smiling and then Peter comes up and asks what's happening and I'm high on happiness for Adrian and I turn to Peter and I'm thinking. . . I'm thinking can I kiss you? What would you do? and I decide to try it so I lean in closer and. . .
Peter says something to Adrian - and then beams. I repress my excitement. Get a grip, Astrid. I can't believe I just tried to kiss him. Right now. Right here.
Idiot.
My cheeks burn. Adrian's eyes drift to mine; he smiles at me normally. He didn't notice me doing anything weird, I'm in the clear. Peter glances at me. He gives me a questioning look. I grin back, my face bright. He looks at me once more, then shrugs and approaches me. "How are you, Astrid?" He picks me up and my heart flutters, almost dislodging from its place in my chest, but he doesn't notice. He just twirls me around and sets me down. "Ready to go?" He picks up his bag - as he does I exchange a glance with Adrian. Adrian nods. Into you, he mouths, giving me a thumbs up. Butterflies swirl around my chest, through my mouth into my chest, into my stomach. I fly, fly through the sky.
Peter grabs my hand. I fly higher, soaring above the clouds. He pulls me along. "C'mon!" He yells, tugging me across the field to Adrian's car. I laugh, flying behind him, Adrian trudging over too, from even further behind.
We pile in the car, Adrian driving.
The radio turns on and Peter groans. Adrian and I soon find out why as the music finds our ears, too. In My Feelings. "Don't worry, I'll sing along." Peter says in response to my unspoken question. And he does.
"Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding?" We shout. Peter's eyes latch on mine as we sing the next lines.
"Hey - can we make a quick stop at Ochaya?" Peter says, and Adrian nods and after two more songs we arrive there. He gets out once we've parked and runs in.
Adrian immediately turns to me. "Ask. Him. Out."
"Tomorrow." I say.
"Soon." Adrian replies.
"Why the rush?" I ask.
"You're going to explode, he's going to explode. . . Trust me. Tell. Him." He looks out the car window. "Oh, there's Nina!" He says.
Nina Battlemore. Super sporty girl. . . of course she goes to Ochaya. She's a bubble tea girl. I know one when I see one. She sees us and waves, but doesn't come over.
Peter appears again, holding two cups of Ochaya. He smiles at Nina, and climbs in the car with us. He hands me one of them. "For you," He says, shutting the car door. "Sorry I didn't get you one, Adrian, I know you don't like them."
I try to press money into his hand, saying thank you, but he doesn't accept it.
We drive on. Don't Panic ( XYLØ) plays on the radio and I hum along. "See you tomorrow," I say when we reach my house. Peter gets my bag out for me. Adrian raises his eyebrows at me through the window.
I sit at my desk and look into the mirror. The blue streak is just showing, but it's fading. Fading quite a lot.
I look into the mirror and say the words, watching my lips form the words and speak them.
"Tomorrow I will ask Peter out."
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