Page 51 of Better Than the Movies
I rolled my eyes and wished he could forget that little girl.
Me: That girl was left behind a LONG time ago. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to mess with the new Liz.
Him: Is that so?
Oh God—was he flirting? Was Michael Young actually flirting with me? I was beaming like the nerd I’d always been, as I typed, That is most definitely so.
Him: Well, I guess I might just have to get to know this new Liz.
I died. I don’t know how I managed to text from beyond the grave, but I was cool.
Me: I guess you might have to. If you think you’ve got the coconuts for it.
Him: What?
Aw, geez. What was he whatting? The coconuts? I was such an awkward texter.
Me: I meant that you might have to, if you think you’re up for it.
Him: Got it.
I didn’t want to ruin the chance to have a text conversation with Michael, but once again I was drawing a total blank on what to talk about. School, basketball, nose… hmm.
Me: So what are you doing right now?
Him: Texting you.
Well, that wasn’t much of a help.
Me: Sounds exciting.
Him: What does?
Was this for real? Was I really this awful at textual chitter-chatter? Shit.
Me: Nothing. On a random side note, I’m starving. Send food. SOS.
Him: I have to go get my pizza out of the oven because the smoke alarm is about to go off and wake my parents, but put me in your contacts. I’ll text you sometime.
I was going to pass out.
Me: You got it.
Him: Night, Liz.
I slowly set down the phone on my nightstand. Um… I was pretty sure I was excited. But what did it mean? Was I back in the game? I wasn’t sure, but he’d cared enough to get my number—I was guessing from Wes—and to personally text and see how I was feeling.
So even though it’d been awkward, it was still a good sign, right?
The love theme I’d written when I was seven suddenly came back to me full blast.Liz and Mike, love and like, together forever in all kinds of weather.
After I came down from my emotional roller-coastering, I got tired again and my nose started throbbing.
And I started worrying.
Because I had no idea what’d happened with Wes at the hospital. One minute we’d been walking there, doing our usual schtick, and the next it had seemed like he was mad.
And I hated the thought of him being mad at me, especially after he’d been so nice since the moment he’d picked me up that night.
