Pride and Popularity

Taylor looked amused. “Are you saying there’s not a girl out there with all those qualities?”

“If there is I’ve never met her,” I responded, looking at Maddi and Alyssa. “Have you?” I asked them. Both shook their heads.

“You’ve never met a girl like that—” Emma imitated my sweet smile “—because you don’t hang out with the people we do. Right, Taylor?”

I turned toward Emma, my mouth hanging open. Uh, ouch. Wow. Why did she say that? Oh my gosh! Of course—she thinks she fits the list. She probably does fit it! I wonder if Taylor has noticed.

I decided to be nice to Emma. “So have any of your girlfriends been this ideal girl?” I asked Taylor.

“No,” he answered matter-of-factly.

I looked at Emma, who was smiling down at Taylor, then asked him, “And have you met a girl who you think fits that description?” I could see Emma actually hold her breath as she waited for his response. Silly girl.

“I—uh,” he started. When he didn’t say more, I turned back toward him. My eyes were captured once again by the energy in his.

What? What are you trying to say to me?

“I—uh,” he tried again. His gaze settled on his hands. “I—I may have.” He looked at me again. “I mean, I think so. I don’t know.”

Emma’s breath released in an audible whoosh above my head, reminding me of her presence—and more importantly, her desire to capture Taylor’s heart.

“You know what I think?” I grinned at Taylor as I tried to shake off the odd feeling of unease that had come over me. “I think you have met her.”

“You—you do?” he asked, his eyes wide. He bit his lip, turned, and stared numbly at his drawing.

My smile began to crack. He was taking this way too seriously. “Ye–ah. I think she’s someone closer than you kno–ow,” I chanted lightly to catch his attention again. It worked. He glanced up, and as I looked in his eyes, the meaning there almost took my breath away. Entranced, I stared a moment before recalling where I was and that Emma was beside me. Taylor’s smile began to grow and light up his whole face. I tore my eyes from his to glance at Emma and signal she was the girl I had talked of. When I looked back at him, the smile was gone. In fact, his face was completely bereft of emotion. Absolutely blank.

“Emma, what are you doing over there?” Ms. Bailey interrupted.

“I, uh . . .” Emma looked around nervously.

“She was helping me, Ms. Bailey,” I answered, smiling at Emma.

“Okay. Go sit back down, Emma,” Ms. B. ordered. “The next time you have a problem, Chloe, I would be glad to help you.”

“Thanks,” I said sheepishly. For a brief moment I paused as I picked up my charcoal pencil. I turned my head a little and perused Taylor’s dark hair as he bent over his picture. What can he be thinking? I followed his shoulder and arm down to the paper he was working on. Cats. He is drawing cats. What guy chooses cats for his subject in art class? That is so weird. Lions or tigers I could understand, but cats? I couldn’t help myself. I had to ask.

“Taylor, why are you drawing cats?”

“They’re not cats, they’re kittens,” he answered without looking up.

Kittens? I tried to hide my smile but gave up. “Kittens? You? You are drawing kittens?” I attempted to smother a chuckle.

He looked up at me, grinning mischievously. “What? Didn’t you know I liked furry little kittens?” At my answering snort, he said, “They’re for Georgia. She loves kittens.”

“Georgia who? Is she the next Kylie?”

Taylor laughed and shook his head. “You’re interested in my love life? I never would have thought it, Chloe.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. Being curious at how quickly you exchange your girlfriends does not mean I’m interested.”

Taylor nodded his head, accepting the hit. “Georgia is my four-year-old sister. She loves kittens. This is for her.” Then he bent his head down to work on his picture again.

He has a little sister? One that he loves enough to draw pictures for? I tried to visualize Taylor with a little sister, and it was a harder thought to process than I’d imagined. I glanced across the table. Madison looked up and our eyes met. She wiggled her eyebrows and gave a quick look at Taylor before watching me roll my eyes in return.

It wasn’t until much later at my house that I even thought of Taylor again. Madison, Alyssa, and I were sitting on the floor of my bedroom, attempting to make all fifty invitations in one night. That’s when the ever-vigilant Madison pointed out that Taylor had looked really weird when I had motioned toward Emma earlier.

“Yeah, he did, didn’t he?”

“What do you think he meant by that face?” Alyssa asked as she created more antennas. “He was so happy one second and then the next it was like someone had slapped him.”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged as I glued a piece of typed vellum to a piece of black cardstock. “Maybe he —”

“Maybe he was hoping the girl you were talking about was a little closer to him than Emma was,” Madison interrupted.

Alyssa laughed. “Who was closer than Emma? She was practically on our table.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Come on, I’m talking about someone whose knees and elbows could’ve touched him, she was so close.” She zeroed in on me.

Dang! “No way.” I tried to laugh it off. “No, he just doesn’t like Emma and was freaking out about it, that’s all. He wasn’t hoping I was talking about myself, so stop thinking it.” I pointed my finger and the miniature TV right at Madison. “I mean you. Knock off this—this forever attempt to convince me that Taylor likes me. I can’t take it.” I took a deep breath. “Okay, Alyssa, tell us what you’ve decided to wear tomorrow when Zack takes you to the orchestra.”

She smiled. “I still can’t believe he bought those tickets. I’ve wanted to go since I first heard they were on tour.”

“I have to say, Zack Bradford has definitely amazed me,” Madison said.

“He really is the nicest guy,” I admitted. “I wonder how I ever took his shyness as being stuck up. I’m so glad you’re seeing him so you could prove me wrong.”

“How many dates have you been on now?” Madison asked.

Alyssa leaned dreamily against my bed, imitation antennas now forgotten. “Five.”

“Five? Really?” I asked. “I thought it was like three or something.”

“Nope, five.” She sighed. “Plus, I still see him every Sunday, too. But I don’t count those. I just wished I knew if he liked me or not. I mean he hasn’t asked me to go with him, you know?”

Madison laughed as I leaned over and tugged the hem of Alyssa’s pants. “Hello? A high school guy doesn’t buy way expensive tickets to an orchestra concert if he doesn’t like the girl he’s taking. Besides, you are so beautiful. Mark my words. I would be very surprised if he doesn’t declare how much he’s fallen in love with you by the end of the month.”

“Besides, you can totally tell how much a guy likes you by his kiss.” Madison tilted her head and stared at Alyssa.

“Ugh!” Alyssa sat up. “Don’t even bring up kissing.”

“Why?” Madison asked.

“Because, thanks to Tanner spying on us, we’ve been on five dates and Zack has been too weirded out by him to even try to kiss me goodnight.” She moaned and fell back against the bed. “It’s so embarrassing.”

I could just imagine Alyssa’s little brother peeking out the curtains at them. “Have you asked your mom and dad to keep him away?”

“Er, okay. How well do you think that will go over? ‘Mom, Dad, do you mind keeping Tanner away from the window so Zack and I can make out?’”

We all laughed.