Annalyn Coler

(Three weeks later.)

“You should date him.” Gracie says as she does her math homework. She is laying on her stomach and I don’t know how she can write like that.

“Haha. He hates me still. Remember seventh grade?”

“Oh honey, that was 9 years ago, I think he can forgive you.” She says and sits up, she started her homework five minutes ago. Her teacher must be the best, not much homework.

“Can I see that?” I point to her paper.

“You probably won’t be able to understand it.” She says but hands it over anyways.

One of the problems.

        ax−2                  ax−2                                             a

Yeah, she was right. I don’t understand it. (I want to see you all try to answer it. Muahaha. Yes, I do actually know the answer.)

“So what’s the answer?” I ask her.

“Look on the back.” There is so much work on the back, boxes long lists of numbers.

“Oh, wow. I don’t know how you got XXX from that.” I laugh. (That does not mean it is a 3 digit number.)

“Well as I was saying, you should date Kade.” She says.

I actually had never thought of it before now. “Yeah, no. And you are like so in love.” I laugh.

“I stopped having a crush on him last week.” Gracie says.

“Yes except that happens like every month.” I say.

“Meh. I still think you two would be a cute couple.” She says, jumping over to my bed.

“I don’t even like him. And he hate hates me.” I say. But I wonder- no. Shut up brain.

“I think you really like him.” She says. “I think you loOoOoOoOve him.”

“You’re so stupid.”

“I know this. But this time, I am right.” She takes her smart person homework and goes back over to her bed, ending our conversation.

And leaving me to think. Considering her words.

(Two days later.)

“Do you see this tree? It is a fir tree. It’s called a fir tree because it gives us fur. Fur coats, it also gives us wool in the winter time!” I am currently singing one of the songs in our musical.

(A few hours of rehearsal later.)

“Okay, curtains. You can all leave.” I change out of costume and run over to Gracie.

“You did so good!” She says, hugging me. She is still in costume.

“Hey guys!” I hear Kade from across the gym, his practice and our rehearsal ends at about the same time so he always comes by.

“Hey, let me get changed and I will be there in a sec!” Gracie yells and disappears into the changing rooms. After she leaves I walk over to Kade, still thinking about Gracie’s comment.

“How did Gracie do?” Kade asks me as I walk over to him.

“She actually did decent today.” I laugh.

“Ah- I see.” He just stands there, awkward.

“Do you like Gracie? Like all jokes aside.” I ask.

“I- Uhm- No.” He says. “Speaking of, where is she?” He looks around.

“Changing. She said that.” Kade seems to zone out quite often when people are talking so it is no surprise that he wasn’t listening then either.

“O- I know, I heard.” He says, “I am just trying to speak.”

“I see.” I say, “I ju-”

“I am here!” Gracie runs over, nearly running into us. “Whatcha talkin’ about?” She asks, “About you two falling in love?” She smirks, laying her arm on my shoulder.

“Yes, definitely.” Kade laughs.

“Well I will leave you two alone, kiss kiss, fall in love.”

“NO!” Kade and I both yell, considering the awkwardness from before, neither of us want to be left alone again.

“Okay, jeez. Then let’s go-”

“Do not say drinking.” Kade says, seeming angry. “Not again.”

“Gracie, what happened last time you drank?” I ask and Gracie just looks down.

“I uhm- Nothing.” She says, “I will tell you later.”

“Huh? Okay.” I say, “Now what did you want to do?”

“I was just going to say we should go to the lake but it’s fiiinnneeee.” She says, laughing.

“Well let’s go do that, it’s the weekend. We don’t have to worry about being there too late.” I say and they nod.

“Okay, let’s go to the dorms, grab a few things and then we can go.” Kade says.