asked.
“Not at all,” he said. “I’ve just never found any worth talking with . . . till now. They seem very stuck in their own opinions. Kind of like Americans. Always thinking they’re right on everything.”
“Ah,” I said. “Seems like you don’t know too many Christians . . . or Americans. Always hard to form an opinion based on a small sample, don’t you think?” In my head, I thought, Of course you don’t think. That’s why you’re on academic probation. I smiled to myself. And then I blinked, shocked. I didn’t mind lighthearted back-and-forth with people, but I had never had many really snarky, mean thoughts like that before.
He laughed. “That’s what I like about you, Savvy. One thing, anyway. You’re not dumb as dirt like a lot of pretty girls.”
I gobbled up the compliment and pushed away my chips. “Tell me about Wales,” I said, changing the subject. I’d never visited Wales, but after hearing his description, I hoped to someday. “It seems rugged and ancient,” I told him. “I appreciate how hard they work to use the Welsh language in spite of English pressing in from every direction.”
“Thanks,” he said a bit more softly. “I’m sure you’d love it.” His phone beeped, and he looked at it and then back at me. “I’ve got to go; Mum’s calling. Maybe next time you can tell me more about your church. Or the U.S. Or both.”
He slid out of the booth. After he left, my phone beeped. It was a text from Penny.
Do you want me to ask Chloe about Tommy?
How did she know? I hadn’t said anything at all to her about Tommy. I texted back innocently.
Tommy?
Don’t give me that rubbish, Sav. Do you want me to ask her if they are going out?
I thought about it for a minute. I’d had enough humiliation, and honestly, I wasn’t about to be a boy chaser.
No thanks. But I appreciate you asking.
While I finished my Fanta, I read the back of the papers used to wrap my fish-and-chips. Some of it was junk, but the weekly Fish Facts included just for the benefit of the chippies that still wrapped their wares in real newspaper were interesting. This week’s happy sample? Puffer Fish.
Chapter 22
Saturday. Went to the dog show with Louanne. I tried to talk to her about what was wrong, but she just told me she had to concentrate on Giggle.
Louanne and Growl did exceedingly well.
Didn’t see anyone I knew. Especially no one with dark brown hair and Johnny Depp eyes and whom I would find extremely attractive if he weren’t already going out with someone.
Rats.
Chapter 23
Monday after school Penny and I hung out in the courtyard so she could say good-bye to Oliver before he left for a football—soccer, to me—match. Then we were going to her house.
Oliver came out of the gym with his uniform on. He stepped to the side to talk to Penny. His teammates razzed him as they all headed toward the bus. I couldn’t help but tease Penny, too.
“What? No kiss this time?”
Penny blushed. “It doesn’t happen often. I’m actually pretty old-fashioned. My parents wouldn’t even let me date until I turned sixteen.”
“What?” I blurted. “I’m fifteen—I’ll be sixteen in July—and I’ve never been kissed. I’ve never even danced with a guy if you don’t count my dad and my crazy uncle Ed. I’m plenty old-fashioned, too.”
She grinned. “Okay. So, if you were to dance with someone, who would it be?”
I thought. “Well, I dunno. I had a crush on Jack—but don’t tell Melissa, ’cause I don’t like him anymore. I normally don’t like blonds, so I don’t know what that was all about. Probably because he was the editor of the paper.”
“Rhys is blond.”
“Thank you for helpfully pointing that out.” I swung my bag over my shoulder, and we made our way through the courtyard.
“Tommy is a brunet. Prefer them?” she teased. “Opposites attract and all that.”
“Is this payback for the kiss comment?” I asked.
“Nope. I am your best
“Not at all,” he said. “I’ve just never found any worth talking with . . . till now. They seem very stuck in their own opinions. Kind of like Americans. Always thinking they’re right on everything.”
“Ah,” I said. “Seems like you don’t know too many Christians . . . or Americans. Always hard to form an opinion based on a small sample, don’t you think?” In my head, I thought, Of course you don’t think. That’s why you’re on academic probation. I smiled to myself. And then I blinked, shocked. I didn’t mind lighthearted back-and-forth with people, but I had never had many really snarky, mean thoughts like that before.
He laughed. “That’s what I like about you, Savvy. One thing, anyway. You’re not dumb as dirt like a lot of pretty girls.”
I gobbled up the compliment and pushed away my chips. “Tell me about Wales,” I said, changing the subject. I’d never visited Wales, but after hearing his description, I hoped to someday. “It seems rugged and ancient,” I told him. “I appreciate how hard they work to use the Welsh language in spite of English pressing in from every direction.”
“Thanks,” he said a bit more softly. “I’m sure you’d love it.” His phone beeped, and he looked at it and then back at me. “I’ve got to go; Mum’s calling. Maybe next time you can tell me more about your church. Or the U.S. Or both.”
He slid out of the booth. After he left, my phone beeped. It was a text from Penny.
Do you want me to ask Chloe about Tommy?
How did she know? I hadn’t said anything at all to her about Tommy. I texted back innocently.
Tommy?
Don’t give me that rubbish, Sav. Do you want me to ask her if they are going out?
I thought about it for a minute. I’d had enough humiliation, and honestly, I wasn’t about to be a boy chaser.
No thanks. But I appreciate you asking.
While I finished my Fanta, I read the back of the papers used to wrap my fish-and-chips. Some of it was junk, but the weekly Fish Facts included just for the benefit of the chippies that still wrapped their wares in real newspaper were interesting. This week’s happy sample? Puffer Fish.
Chapter 22
Saturday. Went to the dog show with Louanne. I tried to talk to her about what was wrong, but she just told me she had to concentrate on Giggle.
Louanne and Growl did exceedingly well.
Didn’t see anyone I knew. Especially no one with dark brown hair and Johnny Depp eyes and whom I would find extremely attractive if he weren’t already going out with someone.
Rats.
Chapter 23
Monday after school Penny and I hung out in the courtyard so she could say good-bye to Oliver before he left for a football—soccer, to me—match. Then we were going to her house.
Oliver came out of the gym with his uniform on. He stepped to the side to talk to Penny. His teammates razzed him as they all headed toward the bus. I couldn’t help but tease Penny, too.
“What? No kiss this time?”
Penny blushed. “It doesn’t happen often. I’m actually pretty old-fashioned. My parents wouldn’t even let me date until I turned sixteen.”
“What?” I blurted. “I’m fifteen—I’ll be sixteen in July—and I’ve never been kissed. I’ve never even danced with a guy if you don’t count my dad and my crazy uncle Ed. I’m plenty old-fashioned, too.”
She grinned. “Okay. So, if you were to dance with someone, who would it be?”
I thought. “Well, I dunno. I had a crush on Jack—but don’t tell Melissa, ’cause I don’t like him anymore. I normally don’t like blonds, so I don’t know what that was all about. Probably because he was the editor of the paper.”
“Rhys is blond.”
“Thank you for helpfully pointing that out.” I swung my bag over my shoulder, and we made our way through the courtyard.
“Tommy is a brunet. Prefer them?” she teased. “Opposites attract and all that.”
“Is this payback for the kiss comment?” I asked.
“Nope. I am your best
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