A Saint for Life by Nicole Heck Page A

at least try.”
    The bartender came over to see if we needed a refill. I wanted one, but I had to go to the game sober enough to work.
    Staring at the screen, I continued to read what Emily had typed out. The simple message of “Good luck at your game today” freaked me out. The bubble at the bottom left corner popped up. He was responding.
    “He's typing back already!”
    “See! I told you to listen to me! Look how excited you just got!”
    I flipped my phone over onto its front side, and the two of us stared at it without blinking.
    “Just read it. If you won’t, I will.” Emily went to reach for my phone, but I snatched it quickly.
    “Thanks! Wanna go out after the game?” It took me a few moments to continue reading all of the words to her.
    “Yay! You have to say yes!” Emily yelled.
    “You really think so? Even though the first date went horrible?”
    “How much worse could it really get? Just give him another chance.”
    “Yeah, I could do that.” I read my text to Emily as I typed back.
    “See? How hard was that?”
    “‘Great. I have a surprise for you.’” I looked up at Emily, and we both stared at one another, then I looked back down at the text again.
    What could the surprise be? How could he already have a surprise for me?
    “How am I going to explain this to Gabe?” I panicked.
    “Oh. you'll think of something! Just tell him you have to work on school stuff in the library after the game.”
    “I hate lying to him. I feel like I never have time to hang out with him anymore. He’s going to start to wonder if I keep ditching him. You know how smart he is.”
    “Well,” Emily said while looking at her phone, “we have one hour until game time. How much more excited are you now for what this night is going to bring?”
    “I'm not. I’m not excited at all.” The truth was that I was probably glowing with excitement, and she could see it all over my face.
    Maybe I was wrong. Maybe this could be a good thing. Maybe I’d just need to open myself up to these opportunities. But maybe I’d be right and this wouldn’t work out. I was so torn between what to do and how I should act. My heart was telling me to go for it, but my head was saying it wouldn’t be a good idea. Right now I wondered what my parents would say if I asked them for their advice. In times like these I missed them more than usual, and I envied my friends who took advantage of having their parents around.
    What do I do? How do I know what to do?
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    {10}
     
    Gabe
     
    “Janice! Jan! Janny!”
    Rushing into my room, she was almost out of breath.
    “What's wrong? Is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, everything's great!”
    “Damn it, Gabe! I told you to stop doing that to me. You know what that can do to me at my age. I could have a heart attack. Then who would take care of you when Zoe isn't here?”
    “I'm sorry. I really am. But I have a secret to tell you.”
    “What's that?”
    “Come here. I can't tell you unless I whisper it.”
    She leaned in closer, and I told her the secret into her ears.
    By the look on her face as she backed away, I know Zoe probably already called her. Zoe probably told her where she was going, though. I don't know why she can't just tell me. I mean, I am her brother. She told me I was her best friend. Don’t best friends tell each other these things?
    “So, what do you think? Am I right?”
    “I don't know anything.” Janice backed away.
    “She's going somewhere and told me she won't be home until late. She has to be with a boy.”
    “If she wants you to know, she will tell you.”
    “She’s keeping secrets from me, and I don’t like it!”
    “She’s your older sister. Older sisters always keep secrets from their little brothers. I did from mine.”
    “But not Zoe. She doesn’t do that. Can you hand me the walkie from over there? It’s almost game time!”
    “What do you say? How do you ask?”
    “Oh! Please, can I have the walkie