Gilbert and Louis Rule the Universe: First Impressions by Rebecca Heller

except for school work. Is that clear?” My mother asks.
    “What about weekends?” I whisper.
    “Same goes for the weekends,” my dad answers.
    “But I am supposed to go to the Christmas tree lighting.” In my head, I am thinking about my date with Winston, only the most important event of my whole life.
    “Well, I am afraid that is not going to happen,” is my dad’s response.
    That is it, the tears start pouring out. I run up to my room and slam the door. I want to die.
    I can’t believe this is all happening in the same day. Gilbert tells me I am being stuck-up and now I am grounded. Why me? I hear my dad leave and my mom comes up and knocks on the door. I don’t answer.
    She whispers in. “Leah, you need to focus on your school work. Prove to us that you can do better and we’ll see about everything else. Okay?” I still don’t answer and continue to weep. No Winston on Saturday, I am totally crushed.
    In my mind, I have created a whole fantasy. The night of the Christmas tree lighting, I am wearing that gorgeous cashmere sweater with my hot new jeans and super high black heels (even though I never wear heels; I can’t even walk in them. How do ladies do it?). I might even be smoking a cigarette—no, scratch that, cigarettes give you lung cancer. But I look totally hot and mature. Winston can’t resist me. We are holding hands then at the end of the night as we are just about to part, he whispers to me, “Leah, you are incredible. Will you be my girlfriend?” I bat my eyelashes at him and say yes and then turn to walk away. Just as I am leaving he calls my name, “Leah!” I stop and turn around. He walks up, puts his hands around my waist, and kisses me.
    On the mouth.
    With tongue.
    Now none of that would happen. I am grounded and can’t even go to the stupid Christmas tree lighting. And what am I going to tell him? I can’t tell him I am grounded, that is so lame.
    I go over to the computer. I want to IM Gilbert but we are in a fight. Maddy is online. I will tell her.
     
    LeahLouis : u there?
    Artgirl11: hi
    Artgirl11: wuts up?
    LeahLouis : grades came
    LeahLouis : im grounded
    Artgirl11: $%#$%!!
    LeahLouis : i know
     
    My mom called from the other room, “No instant messaging!” Damn.
     
    LeahLouis : got to go
    Artgirl11: so sorry
    Artgirl11: l8er
     
    I stay in my room the rest of the day; I don’t even come down for dinner. I fall asleep still crying.
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 10
    Tuesday, November 17
    Today’s horoscope: Get your head in the game if you want to win.
     
    “ Agh !” I slam the door as I get into Gilbert’s mom’s car the next morning.
    “I got grounded,” I complain as I fasten my seatbelt.
    “Really, that sucks.” Gilbert says, but it doesn’t sound like she thinks it sucks, in fact, it kind of sounds like she thinks I deserved it.
    Her mom seems far more interested.
    “Why were you grounded, Leah?” She asks.
    “They saw my mid-term grades and want me to do better.” I tell her.
    “Oh, well, I can understand that. How did you do?” She asks.
    “Mostly Bs and a few Cs.”
    “You can do better than that. You girls are so smart,” Gilbert’s mom says into the rearview mirror.
    “I got all As and Bs,” I hear Gilbert mumble.
    “I guess,” I say to Gilbert’s mom and slouch back into the car seat.
    Parents are so lame.
    When we get to school the girls are all waiting for us. Maddy , Riley , and Rowan are much more sympathetic about the whole grounding thing. Again, Gilbert runs off to class early.
    “I can’t believe that you are grounded,” Rowan says.
    “That is so messed up,” Maddy agrees.
    “Are you so upset about your date with Winston?” Riley asks.
    “Oh my God, totally. I cried myself to sleep last night. Don’t my eyes look puffy?” They all go in for a closer look and agree that they do look a little puffy.
    “We will do surveillance for you,” Maddy says.
    “Yeah, we’ll see if he talks to any other girls or anything,”