Perfect Girl - Weebly

“Cool,” I say. Then my brain locks again. I twirl my
empty Dippin’ Dots cup, cross and uncross my legs. Then, I
remember what I’m wearing. My own delicious secret.
Tilting my head up, I breathe in and out. I elongate my neck
and act fearless. Maybe he’ll believe what he thinks he sees.
“We’ll be here for a couple of hours,” I say, forcing
myself to look directly into Justin’s eyes. “Wanna hang out?”
Celeste and Frankie both give me a look that lets me
know it’s okay. Justin flicks his head to invite his friends
over. Without words (who needs words when you have electricity?!),
the six of us stand and make our way down the
escalator and into the mall.
“I’m Ricky,” Justin’s friend says. He has black eyes like
Celeste’s.
Shaggy Guy says, “I’m Ryan.”
We all nod hello, act nonchalant. We pass Borders and
the Gap. Frankie and Ryan say something about school.
Celeste and Ricky talk about how dead Delaware is. But I’ve
never felt more alive.
As we walk, Justin’s bare forearm brushes against my
bare forearm. It’s both cool and hot. Soft and rough. He
smells like the mall, like cinnamon and butter.
“I like your hair,” he says.
“I like yours, too,” I reply.
I smile, then discover I can’t stop smiling.
All of a sudden, my insides feel like Cream of Wheat.
Thwang. Just like that.
196