The Code for Love and Heartbreak - Jillian Cantor Page 0,80

I’m proud of it. I think we have a real chance of winning the state competition. And I know Jane and Sam believe that, too. But come on, Emma, you don’t really believe that math should tell you who to love, do you?”

I think of what Izzy said: Math is one thing. Love is another. But Izzy doesn’t understand the algorithm the way I do, the way George does. “I do believe that,” I say. “Why don’t you, George?”

He shakes his head. “What if you just feel something for someone? What if there’s no mathematical sequence to it at all, but you feel something for her deep in your gut, that’s different than the way you’ve ever felt about anyone else?” He stares at me, his eyes so intensely focused on my face that my cheeks turn hot, and I have to look away. I look down at my sneakers.

“So what are you saying, George? Sam is with Jane because...of a feeling in his stomach?” I tilt my head back up to look at him, and he’s still staring at me, his green eyes wide and a little glassy.

He shrugs, opens his mouth, then closes it, like he’s not sure he should say more. “I don’t know,” he finally says. “I don’t know what Sam and Jane feel. But what about you, Emma? Haven’t you ever felt something that can’t be quantified?” he asks softly.

He meets my eyes again, and holds on to them, like he’s challenging me to say more, to say something else. Maybe he wants me to tell him that I don’t think he and Hannah are a good match, or that I agree with him that it’s possible math can’t always figure out love, no matter how perfect our code is. Or maybe he wants me to say that sometimes I feel something unexplainable deep in my gut when I’m around him. But so what? Even if I do, it doesn’t mean anything.

Instead, I say, “Math matched eighty-seven happy couples for the dance next weekend. And then, there’s Sam and Jane.”

“Sam’s supposed to take Laura to the dance,” George says quietly. Then he adds, “And taking someone to a dance doesn’t mean you love her. Doesn’t mean she’s the one you’re supposed to be with.” His eyes refuse to let go of mine, and I feel my cheeks growing hot again. It’s unnerving.

Finally, I look away first. I glance toward the window, and the sky is turning purple and blue with the oncoming night. “I think the snow stopped,” I say. “I should get home.”

Chapter 29

I ignore Sam at lunch on Monday, choosing to sit at a table across the room, by myself, instead. I’m far enough away that I can’t tell if he’s still sitting with Laura today, or not. I crane my neck to try and see, wondering if Laura knows about Sam and Jane, if Sam’s betrayal runs deeper than just lying to me. Poor Laura. I was actually starting to like her.

Mara spots me, a minute or two after I sit down by myself. “Emma!” she calls, motioning me to her table. “Come sit with us.”

I don’t really want to sit with a group of girls I don’t know. But Mara’s still motioning and calling for me, like she thinks I didn’t notice her the first time, and I’m pretty sure she won’t stop until I go over there. So I stand and walk to her table, which is her and five other girls who I think are either on the track or volleyball teams. I think we’ve matched all of them in the app.

“Guys, you all know Emma, right?” Mara says. I offer an awkward wave and they all stare back at me, unsure. “She made the Love Code app.”

“The Code for Love,” I correct, but none of them notice because they’re all talking at once and gushing about how much they love the app, and by extension it kind of feels like they like me, too. I think about how Izzy says I’ve changed, and it occurs to me for the first time that maybe she’s right. No one knew who I was last year, much less wanted me to sit at their lunch table or talk to me.

Mara moves over, pats the bench next to her and I sit down. I start eating my sandwich, listening as they all talk about their dates for the dance and how cool they think my app is. Conversation turns into what