Page 36 of The Surprise
Why do I get so excited? What do I like so much about Beth? If my mom asked me that, I don’t know what I’d say.
She’s cute, sure. She’s kind. She’s funny. There aren’t a lot of options around here, but I don’t think that’s it. I’ve met a few other girls, some through Izzy and Maren and a few through Jeff and Kevin, but none of them so much as made me smile.
Beth is. . .well, to use a word she already used. . .she’s shiny.
Her dad may be a villain and her aunt may be shady, but she’s not like that. She’s like sunshine and birds singing and a cool, fresh breeze when I’m sweaty and gross.
Maybe I don’t tell her those exact words.
I check my watch for the eighty-ninth time. It’s seven-forty-three.
She’s thirteen minutes later than I said to come. It’s not like she’s coming to eat amazing food, so maybe it’s for the best. But still, I got my hopes up.
By seven-fifty-one, my nerves are frayed.
My heart’s a little disappointed too, because I knew she wouldn’t come, but I really hoped I was wrong. She wore the shirt. Was she really behind on her laundry? Is that all it was? But then the bushes rustle. A twig snaps.
And a deer bounds into the clearing.
I drop the sandwiches. Both of them roll out of the paper and into the dirt, because I didn’t re-wrap them very well.
“That sucks,” Beth says.
My head snaps up.
The deer bounds away.
“I prefer my dinner without dirt and sticks.” She jogs toward me and crouches in front of them. “Maybe I should have explained that.”
I want to laugh.
I want to cry.
I want to hug her.
I just stand here, like a lump.
She looks up at me. “Are you alright?”
“You came,” I say, like a dope.
“I was promised burgers.” She pokes one of them. “I wonder how sick I’d get if I ate this, which is not burgers.”
“I had to get it early in the morning, or I’d have had to explain to my mom why I needed the car. Sandwiches seemed like a safer choice.” I pull the cupcake out of my bag. It’s a little smooshed, in spite of its plastic box, but it’s mostly fine. “I did bring a cupcake, though.”
“But then what will you eat?” Beth stands up.
I shove the cupcake closer, and she finally accepts it. “I’ve got two sandwiches.” Before she can argue or even squawk, I bend over and grab one of them. I brush it off and take a huge bite.
Beth bursts out laughing. “Gross.”
“Since you’ve never had a brother, I imagine you have a lot of gross things to look forward to in our future.” I beam, sure that bits of turkey are showing in my teeth.
“Wow.”
I take another bite, speaking around the food. “You’ve been missing out.”
I smile again, turkey mouth and all, and this time, Beth smiles back. It’s definitely progress. I sit on the bench and pat the spot next to me.
