as cool as he is, because he is so cool, and beautiful, and terrifying. James Dean is magic.
“You okay?” He waves a hand in front of my face and I blink a few times. Was I staring at him? If I was staring at him, I might actually die.
“Yup,” I say. “I’m great. I’m good. Are you good?”
“I’m good too.” He smiles. “You know, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
* * *
? ? ? ? ? ?
HANNAH
How was your first day??
ME
I have good news and bad news. Good news: I think James Dean and I are friends? Bad news: I think James Dean and I are friends
HANNAH
That’s a good step!
ME
Pretty sure he was quoting Casablanca though, so not sure if it counts?
HANNAH
A random old movie quote! He’s perfect for you. Was it in like a professional co-worker way or a flirty way?
ME
I mean figuring out if something is flirty is not one of my skill sets
HANNAH
Ok like did he touch you or make eye contact? That movie is romantic, right?
ME
I need an expert
* * *
? ? ? ? ? ?
ME
Question
ANDREW
What’s up?
ME
Ok so if a guy quotes movies at you, would you say that’s flirting?
ANDREW
. . .
ANDREW
I’m confused
ANDREW
Is this about the Hitchcock puns?
ME
Never mind
* * *
? ? ? ? ? ?
We watch Casablanca that night because I am the world’s biggest overanalyzer, and I need to decode it for clues.
Hannah can never just watch a movie—she says they’re boring, which I ignore for the good of our friendship—so she’s having Andrew and me simultaneously help her with an art project, painting colorful patterns onto leaves she collected from her backyard last fall. She says she’s going to hang them on her wall once we’re done, but if the ones I paint mysteriously fall beneath her bed, I won’t be offended.
I still haven’t told Andrew about James Dean. Not that there’s anything to tell. But still, admitting I have a crush to Andrew makes the stakes feel higher. If Andrew knows, it’ll be more embarrassing when this goes absolutely nowhere.
But Hannah is not the subtlest.
“Okay, so this movie is clearly romantic,” she says. “All the kissing and the sad music. If I were into a girl I would reference this movie to get in her pants.”