Fifteen Lanes - S.J. Laidlaw Page 0,8

he had to cadge a ride with a friend.

For the next few hours, I watched TV while trying not to think about Madison. It was an epic fail. Our conversation replayed in my mind at least a hundred times. I imagined a million things I should have said to calm her down before she demanded I never sit with them again. Why did I have to go and mention Anoosha? Why didn’t I immediately reassure her that she was every bit as hot as Anoosha? Who cared if it would have been a big, fat lie?

“The fact is, I’m not sure anything I said would have helped, Bosco.” I know exactly how lame it is that I talked to my dog but it’s not like I had anyone else. “I think she was looking for an excuse to get rid of me. She didn’t like me.” I hated the way my voice cracked when I admitted that out loud. “They never included me, not in conversations, not in weekend plans. It wasn’t getting any better.”

Bosco lifted his head and dropped it in my lap.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Kyle says I have to be more outgoing but when I try to join in, it never works out.” I buried my hand in his soft white fur and scratched his ear.

“Do you think I should apologize again? I could text her right now. But what if she didn’t answer? I wouldn’t know if she was ignoring me or just hadn’t seen my text.”

Bosco stood up and resettled himself on my lap.

“What do you think, Bosco? Time to start on my Asian History paper? I’m pretty sure the Mughal invasion of India isn’t going to be any more confusing than Madison.” I gently slipped out from under him and scooted to the edge of the bed to take my laptop off the bedside table.

I was doubtful that Mughals were going to distract me, so when my cellphone bleated from my schoolbag several hours later I was almost as shocked by the fact that is was nearly eleven o’clock as I was by receiving a text on a Friday night.

Bosco, who was pressed up against me, raised his head and growled.

“Who do you think it is? Tina’s too busy with her new boyfriend to be texting me on the weekend. Do you think they broke up? I don’t wish that on her, but we were both supposed to get boyfriends this year and I’m not even close.”

Bosco gave me a thoughtful stare.

“I know. It’s weird, right? Who could it possibly be?”

I had a flutter of anticipation as I slid off the bed and walked to my bag to dig out my phone. I carried it back, clicking through to the message at the same time. It was from an unknown caller. I opened it.

Hi. What u up 2?

Could it be someone I knew? That seemed unlikely. I could probably count on two hands the number of people who even had my number.

“What should I say?” I asked Bosco. “Should I ask who it is? It must be a wrong number. Should I admit I’m chatting with my dog and doing homework on a Friday night? I’m not sure which part of that would sound more pathetic.”

Listening to music, I typed. What are you doing?

I waited.

Thinking about u.

I smiled. “That’s so cheesy it’s sweet. But he’s definitely got the wrong girl, if it is a he.”

Do u know who you’re txting?

The girl I’m crushing on

“The wrong girl all right.” I sighed and tried not to feel jealous of the girl who should have been getting these messages. Bosco put his head in my lap again and I stroked his head as I thought about whether to fess up. It was so nice to actually be communicating with another human being. It had been weeks since I’d done anything in the evening other than watch TV and do homework. But it was only going to get more embarrassing if I let it continue.

Its Grace, I texted finally.

McClaren, I added.

I waited again.

Gracie ive waited 2 yrs to tell you I like u. I no who u r!

I stared at the name, Gracie. Only my family called me that.

Who is this?

Don’t u no?

I stared at Bosco as if he might have a suggestion. “I have no idea who it is. Do you think I could have a secret admirer?” As unlikely as that was, I couldn’t help but feel a warm glow of excitement. In