“Math just makes sense.”
“When not much else does.” He nodded.
“And being good with numbers will come in handy when I start my—” I covered my mouth, shocked that I almost confessed my secret ambition to a near stranger.
“Start your what?” He tilted his curly-brown head.
“Nothing.”
“Come on … you can’t leave me hanging with an unknown equation. I won’t be able to sleep tonight trying to figure out the answer.”
I laughed, liking him even more. He had quiet dignity and intelligence; someone who could be trusted. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, I lowered my voice. “I’m going to be an entertainment agent — dealing with diva personalities, contracts, finances.”
“You’ll be great at it, I can tell.”
“You think?” I asked, ridiculously pleased.
“Definitely. But why an agent? Most people want to be the next American Idol, not a person behind the scenes.”
“Because I’ve always loved music and … well, I don’t know why I’m telling you this … but to be honest, I have zero talent. I can’t sing, act, or dance. But I like to help people and I recognize talent when I see it.”
“Sounds like a cool talent to me, more exciting than selling cars like my dad — which is what my family expects.”
“But is it what
“No, but I don’t know what I want — except more chocolate.” He licked caramel off his lip and gestured at the dessert table. “There are nearly a thousand candies to choose from. What next?”
“I have no idea.”
“Let’s try them all.”
I summoned restraint and shook my head. “I have to stop. Or I’ll regret it later.”
“Why? Chocolate is the best thing about this party. Or at least it was.” He flashed this really sweet smile that lit up his otherwise average face. Um, was he flirting with me?
I glanced away, my heart fluttering a little, and pointed to a dish of black-and-white striped chocolates. “Okay … just one more. But which one? These look like zebra candy.”
“Zebra candy?” He chuckled. “Good name.”
“Do you have a name … I mean, I know you have a name, everyone does, what I mean, is what is it?”
“Eli. And you’re Amber.”
My cheeks burned. “Do I know you?”
“When my brother and I left this boring private school and started at Halsey, you gave us a cool welcome basket.”
“I did?” I studied him, but drew a blank. “I’m usually good with names, but I don’t remember—”
“I get that a lot when I’m with my brother.” He reached out for one of the black-and-white striped chocolates. “Try a zebra. They’re actually called domino dips, but zebra is better. That’s what I’ll call them from now on.”
He lifted the “zebra” to my lips. I got that fluttery feeling again, and hesitated. Then I opened my lips slightly, curling my tongue around the candy. Sweet milky chocolate swam around my taste buds and slid down my throat.
“Good?” he asked softly.
“Ummm,” was my answer.
Our eyes met over the dessert table. We shared a moment of chocolate understanding. As cliche as it might sound, it was like we were the only ones at the party. The band’s music faded so all I heard was the quick beat of my heart, accompanied by the melting richness of chocolate.
Then he glanced down and flicked off some candy that had fallen on his black slacks. His elbow bumped against the table and dishes rattled. He rubbed at the spot on his slacks but that only blobbed it even bigger.
An odd look crossed his face. “I–I’ve got to go.”
Before I could even ask what was wrong, he turned and disappeared inside, through the French doors.
Why had he left? Had I done or said something to offend him?
Disappointed, I turned back to the dessert table.
And reached for chocolate.
3
With Eli gone, the glamour faded from the party.
I just wanted to go home — which surprised me. What happened to all my ambitions to make connections with influential people? In theory this sounded easy enough but up-close-in-action, it felt dishonest. I’d check with Trinidad and see if she was ready to leave.
As I neared the gazebo, I heard someone say my name. Curious, I paused behind a large floral arrangement. Peeking through the orchids, I saw Trinidad with Jessica and some of Leah’s crowd: Kat, Tristan and Moniqua.
“ … almost didn’t come but Amber drove me,” Trinidad said. She was sitting so close to Tristan that he practically shared her chair. What was that about?
“Is Amber the freak in the hideous guy’s shirt?” Kat asked with a derisive laugh.
Didn’t Kat remember two years ago when I’d welcomed her with a HHC basket, and she’d told me I was the nicest girl in the whole school? Guess not.
“Yeah, that’s her,” Jessica said.
“Ewww … fashion nightmare.” Kat’s blonde ponytail flopped across her shoulder as she crossed her long denim-clad legs, her shiny cowboy boots glinting with rhinestones. “When she first walked in, I thought she was, like, a street person. I wasn’t sure whether to call the cops or give her money for decent clothes.”
“Donate money for the fashion impoverished,” Jessica joked. “Our next charity project.”
“Waste of time,” Kat said. “She’s obviously a lost cause.”
“Amber’s nice,” Trinidad put in defensively. “It’s not her fault she’s wearing an ugly shirt. She looked good when she picked me up, but then her shirt was destroyed when she fell in the cemetery.”
“Cemetery! Are you serious?” I recognized Moniqua’s voice because she always laughed loudest when I stumbled in gym. While Kat could be annoyingly “catty,” Moniqua was just plain mean.
Trinidad had the decency to look ashamed. “Can we discuss something else? I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“But you did and now we have to know,” Moniqua urged. “What was she doing at a cemetery?”
“Um … I don’t think she’d want me talking about it.”
That’s for sure, I thought.
“But it’s only to us.” Kat patted Trinidad’s hand. “Trust me; we’ll keep any secret you share. Is it something illegal? Was Amber performing a satanic ritual?”
“Nothing like that! Well … maybe I do need to explain.” Trinidad glanced uncertainly at the others, then shrugged. “We’re all friends, so it can’t hurt …”
No! I almost rushed over and clamped my hand over Trinidad’s mouth. But it would have been too late anyway. Trinidad proved that singing wasn’t her only talent — she made my humiliating experience sound like a macabre adventure in stupidity. She laughed along with her new friends … while I died inside.
“I’m not surprised she screwed up,” Tristan said as he scooted closer to Trinidad. “Amber is in my trig class and she keeps trying to cheat off my tests. Why did you invite her, Jess?”
“She’s was all ‘I want to help.’ So what could I say?” Jessica spread out her arms like a shrug. “She practically got on her knees and begged me. You know what they say about charity starting at home.”
“You’re
