Breaking Up Is Really, Really Hard to Do by Natalie Standiford Page A

over for a second, which annoyed her even more. “Well, you're usually pretty nice, but not this nice. Not that you're not very, very nice. But this is above and beyond.”
    He wore a t-shirt that said, B ORN TO B E M lLD , with a cartoon of a lamb on it. The highly irritating sight of it gave Holly courage.
    They finished their suppers. Rob polished off three brownies, lay on his back, closed his eyes, and rubbed his stomach contentedly. It was time.
    “You know, Rob, I really like you,” Holly said.
    “I really like you, too,” Rob said. He opened his eyes and turned toward her, reaching out to pat her hand but slapping her knee instead.
    “Sometimes I forget how young we are,” Holly said. “We're still really young.”
    “Yep. Whole lives ahead of us,” Rob said. He closed his eyes again and let the sun warm his face.
    “Too young to confine ourselves to one, uh, path,” Holly went on. “One academic track, one career path, one, you know, person.”
    “Uh-huh.” His eyes were still closed. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.
    “Do you ever feel like you need, I don't know, more space?” Holly asked. “More time to yourself, to do what you want?”
    “Sure.”
    “I feel that way, too, sometimes,” Holly said. “That's why I think maybe we should take a break. From each other.”
    Rob didn't move. He didn't open his eyes. He didn't say a word.
    Holly picked a blade of grass and nibbled it. What was he thinking? Was he about to leap to his feet and beg her to stay? Sit up and start crying? Calmly tell her he felt the same way?
    “Rob? Did you hear me?”
    He opened his eyes at last. “Yeah. Sure, I heard you.” He sat up and took a sip of iced tea.
    That was it? Was that his reaction?
    “So, what do you think?” Holly asked.
    “Um, sure, whatever you want,” Rob said. “Sounds okay to me.”
    This was too easy. She never expected him to be so cool about it. Frankly, she thought he liked her more than that.
    “So we're agreed?” she asked.
    “Agreed,” Rob said. He started gathering up the picnic things. “Great picnic, Holly. I'm stuffed.”
    “Thanks.” This was almost weird. What was he, some kind of heartless Stepford boy?
    He helped Holly fold up the blanket and they walked to his SUV. “I'm going to have to go for a run later,” Rob said. “Or I'll be floating like a beached whale at swim practice tomorrow.”
    They loaded up the car and he drove her home. By now it was early evening. He sure was taking the breakup well. It was almost too good to be true.
    They pulled up in front of Holly's house. Rob got out and opened the back so Holly could get her picnic basket.
    “Thanks again for the picnic,” he said. “Mind?”
    He leaned close and kissed her. She was used to kissing him, so it didn't surprise her at first. But in the middle of it she thought,
Better enjoy this, because it may be your last Rob kiss.
    When it was over, she stood on the sidewalk for a few seconds, waiting for something to happen. He smiled and got back in the SUV “See you tomorrow,” he said. “Want to catch a movie or something this weekend?”
    What? Catch a movie? Wasn't he taking this breakup thing a little too casually?
    “Um, I can't,” Holly said. “I promised Lina and Mads—”
    “No problem,” Rob said. “I'll call you later.”
    She clutched her picnic basket as he drove away. Exactly what was going on here? Hadn't she just broken up with him? Why did he seem to be completely unaware of it? How clueless could he be?

8
    Badminton Smackdown!
    To: linaonme
    From: your daily horoscope
    HERE IS TODAY'S HOROSCOPE: CANCER: I look in my crystal ball and see…another crystal ball. That's weird. You figure it out.
    Dear Lara,
    How was your day today? Seen any good movies lately? Ha ha. I look forward so much to hearing from you every evening. Especially after a bad day, your e-mails really brighten things up.
    Did your professor like your paper on Latvian animation? I have to admit I've