Never Slow Dance with a Zombie - By E. Van Lowe Page 0,7

It's Sybil." I shot an imploring look at my mother.

"Theo, finish your dinner," she said, and smiled at me. Finally some justice.

I let Sybil in, and we went right to my room to make the call.

"What are you going to say to him?" I asked as she punched in Dirk's number.

"We'll ask him about the homework, of course."

"Right, right." I'd forgotten that calling a boy and asking about the homework is a teen girl excuse for calling said boy and talking about anything her heart desires. You don't even need to have a class with a boy to discuss homework. Teen code is so cool. I don't know what I'm going to do when I turn twenty.

"Hello?" Dirk's smooth, sexy voice came on the line. Sybil held the phone between us. I could hear him breathing on the other end. He even breathed sexy.

"Say something," she whispered.

"Huh? You say something."

"He's your date."

"Hellooo?" he repeated.

"But he's not in any of my classes."

"It's not homework, Margot, it's homework."

"Who is this? I can hear you talking, you know."

Sybil eyed me, her lips defiant and tight. It was clear she wasn't going to talk to him. "Umm. Parlez-vous frangais?" The French words crept from my throat. Why I chose a language I could hardly speak I have no idea. I just panicked.

Sybil's eyes widened. "What are you doing? Talk to him in English. He's not going to bite."

"Who is this? Is this some kind of joke?" Dirk demanded.

32

"Umm, no. No speaky English," I said, and quickly hung up.

Sybil glared at me. "Margot, I made the opening for you. You're going to have to talk to him."

"I know. But I thought you were going to do all the talking this time. You know, tell him what a wonderful person I am and how he was so lucky to be going out with me, while I listened in. Why did you spring him on me like that?"

"Because I knew if I didn't, you'd make some lame excuse why you couldn't talk. And I'm not going to let you blow this opportunity."

"Oh." After a moment I sighed. She knew me too well. "You're right. I just need to work up to it, that's all."

The tension lines around her eyes relaxed. She smiled. "I know you will. Tomorrow."

Suddenly, I was into it. "Yes! Tomorrow I'll show up at school everywhere that Dirk might be, looking ravishing. I'll smile and casually wave in a way that lets him know I'm fun and intelligent but not clingy. No talking involved in that."

It's amazing how much a girl can convey in a smile. Of course, if a girl was, say, shallow and brainless as a tick, her smile would convey that as well. Unfortunately some boys like the brainless type, which is why Amanda and the Twigettes always seem to have boyfriends. But Dirk was different. Any boy who was an athlete and a finalist in the science fair was way too complicated for Amanda's bunch.

"Sounds like a plan," Sybil replied. "Tomorrow we turn that maybe into a yes."

33

Chapter Four

The next morning I pulled out the snug-fitting top

I'd bought myself for my birthday, along with a pair of black slacks that did wonders to hide my huge thighs. My father once called the top too revealing--which is exactly what I was going for. It's a simple law of nature that when fishing, no matter how smart the fish, to attract the fish, you need something flashy.

"Flashy enough?" I asked Sybil, who had come over early to help me pick out the perfect outfit.

She nodded. "Here, put this on," she said, handing me her coveted bottle of Heavenly Heart by Clinique. A birthday gift from me. When I bought the cologne I was hoping she'd let me splash some on every once in a while. Yes!

"I've often wondered about fragrance as a gift," I said as I dabbed a bit in the center of my chest. "I mean, what is the buyer thinking when they choose a fragrance: This smells lovely, it's perfect for so-and-so, 'or 'So-and-so stinks like poop! I hope this helps.'" She looked at me, her eyes narrowing.

34

"Obviously I was thinking the former when I bought it for you I'm sorry. I'm just making conversation."

She laughed lightly. "Margot, I know you're nervous." Her tone was understanding.

"Tell me about it," I replied as I looked myself over in the mirror.

"Stop worrying. You look great."

I did look great. The moment of truth had arrived. My outfit, my wave, my smile, my