“I told you he likes you.” Sally smirks. I can’t help but let this stupid grin grow on my face. Me? I never knew boys like him really existed, or maybe I just wasn’t that interested until now. Melissa and Tina have been watching the whole thing.
“Kayla’s got a crush,” teases Melissa. “Kayla’s got a cru-ush.”
“Kayla’s got a cru-ush,” Tina chimes in. Now it’s a song. Ugh! Is this necessary? Sally crosses her arms as if something is bothering her.
The counselors order us into lines like we are first graders, then lead us to the cafeteria. Crepe paper, construction paper, streamers, markers, chalk, every watercolor you can think of, crayons, glue, even feathers and other stuff, is on every long lunch table. It looks like a preschool threw up in there, but in a nice way, and judging by the cheers and excitement, everyone is suddenly okay being a kid again.
“All right,” the redhead announces. “Sit wherever you like, and enjoy!”
Music blares through the speakers and we dig into all the fun stuff awaiting us. I don’t know if he did this on purpose, but Charlie and his skateboard-football friends sit directly across the table from us. Sally and Melissa look at me like they smell something fishy. Tina couldn’t care less. She’s already busy making stick figures with fuzzy wire. Melissa clears her throat and leans over to me and Sally.
“There’s something up their sleeve,” she whispers, then gives one of the smaller boys an evil eye. He looks around nervously.
“Maybe we should move somewhere else,” suggests Sally loudly.
“Don’t go,” Charlie says. “We don’t bite. Right, Tommy?”
“But somebody on your team does.” Tommy grimaces. “See, I have teeth marks right here.” He lifts his arm. Melissa smirks.
“You should get that checked,” a short kid with glasses says as he examines Tommy’s arm.
“Knock it off, Tim!” barks Tommy. Tim flinches as Sally covers her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
“We were here first,” I say, staring right into Charlie’s eyes. “So we’re definitely staying.” I don’t know if I’m accepting another challenge or learning to tame the butterflies in my stomach. Either way, I feel challenged.
“Okay then,” Sally says as she bashfully looks away from Charlie. “Let’s make art, shall we?” If I didn’t know any better, I would think my cousin had a crush on Charlie too. It’s just that way she looks at him. Hmm.
Without taking our eyes off one another, we each grab a utensil of our choice: a marker, paintbrush, crayon, paper, watercolors, a small cup of water, whatever we want. I try to concentrate, but I am curious to see what Charlie is drawing. He scoots around as if I’m cheating off his test. I turn my attention back to my work. It’s quiet for a while, but the tension seems so loud. It’s like I am talking to Charlie, but without saying a word. He seems so confident. Maybe that’s why I like him. There, I admit it. I like Charlie!
“Look what I’m drawing,” Tommy says as he holds up his artwork. “It’s a sketch of the woman who bit me. I’m going to take it to the police.” The picture is an exaggeration of a girl with a big mouth and teeth biting the arm of a smaller boy with a football in his hand. The messy drawing oddly resembles Melissa. We all laugh.
“I think he just called you a woman,” Tina whispers to Melissa.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Melissa grimaces. “I am no woman.”
“He’s flirting with you, stupid!” Tina smacks her forehead in disbelief. Melissa has an uncomfortable look on her face like she’s holding in a fart or something. I guess no one’s ever flirted with her, and she doesn’t know what to do with the information.
“Well, look what I painted,” I interrupt. It’s a watercolor of a football. “Oh, but I’m not done yet. I’m going to fill in the lines with pink glitter because my cousin made the touchdown and she deserves a trophy. Don’t you think it’s nice?” Sarcastically, I look at my friends. They all agree. They like it and nod.
“I made a flower,” Tim says as he looks at Sally bashfully. Charlie and Tommy are embarrassed for him. Sally gives him her infamous Seriously? look.
Tina hands a blue fuzzy wire flower to the kid she dusted at the park. “I’m sorry I tricked you the other day, but next time don’t be such a sucker.”
“Uh, okay?” The boy doesn’t know what to think of the backhanded gesture, but he takes the flower anyway. Tina turns quickly, whipping her ponytail in his face. His cheeks turn beet red. Looks like he’s got a crush on Tina.
“Well, I’m going to need more water for my masterpiece,” Charlie says, which piques my interest. What is he making? “Come on, Tommy. I’m going to need your help.” They grab cups from the table and leave. Sally and I look at each other and shrug. I have no idea what he’s up to, so I get back to my glitter and glue.
Melissa leans over again. “I know they’re up to something.” She looks at Tim, who acts like he’s not listening. He glances up at someone behind us, and before we can turn around, water is pouring down our backs.
Oh my gosh!
