Chapter One

She’s the One

On the first day of junior year, Genevieve stood in the deli-order line, praying that no one would notice her. She was hunched over her book, enraptured in the world of Elisa and Jeanne, the two girls who set out to flip their high school upside down. Genevieve curled a strand of her dark, wavy hair, the color of cherry-oak wood, around her finger. She adjusted her glasses, her dark eyes avoiding making contact. If you asked Genevieve, she fervently denied any sort of beauty in her features. She was convinced that no one knew herself as well as she did, and she was adamant about the fact that she had no beauty. Books-those were beauty, to Genevieve.

Genevieve jumped as the woman behind the counter repeated herself, “whatcha havin’ dearlin’?”

Genevieve laughed quietly, having no desire to draw any attention to herself. But truly, people talked like that? Genevieve gave her order to the lady, along with the money for the sandwich. She took her sandwich and headed across the loud, crowded cafeteria, which smelled like school food and was too bright for her taste, to her favorite spot in the school to eat lunch.

*     *     *

Nicholas stood in line next to his best friend and co-captain of the swim team, Kyle. Kyle was the most athletic, most pursued male in South Bay High. Nick, his best friend, was not as coveted but just as, if not more, athletic than Kyle had any claim to be. They looked very similar; athletically built with fair skin and dark hair. Kyle was going on about the last meet against North End High-where the South Bay Bears had annihilated the competition by minutes. Nick was hardly listening. He was staring at the deli-order line, across the noisy, well-lit cafeteria. He hated the schools ugly green walls, the cafeteria smell, but today, none of that mattered. He was enchanted by the little dark-haired girl with glasses standing in line across the cafeteria-she kept adjusting the glasses and seemed to be trying her hardest to shut out the entire world. This confused Nicholas greatly. With contacts and a bit of confidence-she could, he was sure, outshine any one of the cheerleaders in a beauty pageant. It seemed a mystery to Nick, why a girl so beautiful would want to hide her face.

Kyle nudged Nick playfully. “Which one is she?” he asked.

Nick shook his head.

“The prettiest one in our grade,” Nicholas answered dreamily, not bothering to point. To him, she was obvious.

Kyle scanned the line Nick had been watching. He saw a couple of jock friends of his, his little geeky neighbor, and a couple of artsy types he, out of habit, did not associate with, but didn’t see any reason Nick would be watching that line.

Kyle never heard Nick sigh as he watched the girl walk away.

 Genevieve sat in the back hallway, reading and enjoying her sandwich.  She loved the darkness of the hallway. Only one door led from the noisy lunchroom to her little spot of sanity, in a school that was, in her humble opinion, insane-too loud, too vivid, too annoying, with far too many people inhabiting its small building. The whole school was painted an ugly lime green, in support of sports teams that were hardly mediocre, at least as far as Genevieve could tell. Posters with outgoing color schemes advertised everything from the school store to the dance coming up in two months. A little early, don’t you think? Genevieve thought every time she passed one.

She barely looked up as Emilette-her best friend and the school’s best newspaper reporter-lowered herself down beside Genevieve. Genevieve barely understood their friendship. It always seemed to her a complicated concept, one that her brain could not, or would no, wrap itself around. Emilette was the cool, confident, exotic dark-haired beauty from Spain. She had fair skin like Genevieve, but she wasn’t as tall as her gangly best friend. However, what she lacked in height she made up for in personality, which, Genevieve was quite sure, Genevieve herself did not have. She knew if Emilette ever got some sense and ditched her, the potential was there for her to be incredibly popular.

Emilette, like Genevieve, harbored no desire to be popular. Emilette considered her friend critically. Emilette saw much of herself in Genevieve-including so much untapped potential. If only she’d be more confident in herself, Emilette knew, Genevieve could have her pick of any boy in the school. Emilette regretted she’d never live her life to the fullest-but she wanted the best for Genevieve. Emilette knew she herself was beautiful, but, as far as she was concerned, that would never matter. But some positive attention wouldn’t hurt Genevieve at all, in Emilette’s opinion. And that’s exactly what Gen was going to get, if Emilette had anything to do with it.

Emilette jumped as two of the jock crew passed them by. Was it just her or was the shorter one…whatever his name was, watching Genevieve a bit too intently? Nick. That was his name. He’d known Emilette when she was young. They’d been best friends until freshman year, when Nick had drifted to the side as Emilette became closer to Genevieve.

“Dude,” Kyle said after they passed the two girls in that back hall. “That chick we just passed, girl’s my neighbor. What a geek huh?”

Nick turned and punched Kyle in the shoulder, not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to make a point. “That’s the girl I was watching in the cafeteria, you nimrod.”

Kyle lapsed into silence.

“Do you know who that girl was with her? Isn’t she that reporter?”

Nick nodded absently.

“She wasn’t so bad looking.”

This snapped Nick back to reality. He bit back the words on the tip of his tongue, admitting she was an old friend might be a mistake. He’d seen the look on Emilette’s face, and recognized it from when the two of them had been friends. Her face had shown anything but interest. When Nick didn’t answer, Kyle shrugged and switched to talking about the upcoming meet, so Nick just left the question alone.

“What’s her name?” Nick wondered out loud.

“Who? My neighbor?” Kyle asked, surprised by the suddenness of the question-this had nothing to do with swimming, and, as far as Kyle was concerned, if it had nothing to do with swimming, it wasn’t worth even thinking about.

Nick nodded.

“Genevieve or something weird like that.”

Nick nodded, feigning a lack of interest. But the name was already rattling inside his brain. And he didn’t have any intention of letting it go.

“What about that chick with her in the hall?”

Nick shrugged like he didn’t know her. No need to hurt Kyle, he thought. But he saw in Kyle’s face that though he’d just seen her, something about Emilette had caught, and would hold, Kyle’s interest. Just like the mystery deli girl, Genevieve-what a name! He thought. 

“Girl! Gen!” Emilette squealed excitedly. She looked at her best friend and sighed.  It was impossible to shake Genevieve out of a book- induced trance. Genevieve looked up absently, as if not sure where she was.

“Genevieve, that boy that walked by…”

Genevieve gave her friend a dark look, and Emilette realized the Gen thought Emilette had interrupted her reading just to talk about a boy, which, in Genevieve’s opinion, was a complete waste of time.

Emilette hurried on: “Gen, he was watching you.”

Genevieve rolled her eyes, sighing heavily. “Emilette, for the hundredth time, he was most likely watching you. You’re the school’s exotic Spanish princess.  Me? I'm not pretty-and don’t even say it, Em. No boys are watching us. Or, at least, me.”

Emilette sighed in response. Why did Genevieve deny what was so clearly there? If only she would acknowledge it! Her life could be so amazingly perfect. Emilette saw it all so clearly in her mind’s eye. Gen’s voice startled her.

“You should go after him.” Genevieve said distractedly, already lost in the words, as she drifted back into the world only her books could take her.

“Nah,” Emilette said, laughing, but her whole self wasn’t in it. She’d never gone after any guy, and she never would. Emilette stood suddenly.

“I have to go, um, uh, finish a report.”

Genevieve waved her off absently, and Emilette hurried from the spot as quickly as she could, so Genevieve would not see the tears threatening to come streaming down Emilette’s face.

*     *     *

After swim practice, Kyle and Nick sat on the edge of the pool, dangling their feet in the deep end, listening to the sound of boys snapping wet towels and girls giggling from their respective locker rooms. Kyle and Nick were the only two out on the deck.

“I think you should go for her, man.” Kyle said sincerely.

“I thought she was a geek,” responded Nick bitterly.

“Yeah, I'm sorry for that. She’s my neighbor, but I shouldn’t trash her if you like her, and you do. I can tell.”

Nick nodded.

“You were distracted in practice.” Kyle said. It wasn’t a question, but Nick answered anyway.

“Yeah, I was. Can’t get that girl out of my head. Genevieve. Her name’s like a magic spell. And I don’t have a chance.” Nick shook his head slowly, then stopped, looking at Kyle hopefully. “Or do I? Man, think I have a chance?”

Kyle looked at his friend, openly and honestly. “She’d be lucky to date you, man. Any girl would. You’re the ladies first pick…well after me.” Kyle chuckled. Nick shoved him playfully.

“What about you and Emilette?”

Kyle looked confused.

“The reporter.”

Kyle looked at Nick reproachfully.

“Thought you didn’t know her?”

Nick didn’t answer, looking down guilitily at the waves under his feet. “Gonna go for it?” Nick mumbled.

“Should I? You would know. I bet you know more about her then your letting on.”

Nick did, indeed, know far more than Kyle could have guessed. He’d practically grown up with this girl.

He knew Emilette was hurting; wounded. But maybe, Kyle could only help the situation. It was risky but…“Go for it, man.” Nick responded.

*     *     *

Genevieve got home to find her books waiting for her. On her bed, her dresser, anywhere she wanted them, she found them. Books made her happy. Genevieve didn’t like books because she was a nerd, or wanted to be the smartest kid in her class. That wasn’t it at all. She loved books for one reason; they didn’t reject her. They accepted her with open arms, every time she asked to be taken into their world. They were a constant, they’d always be there. They were familiar in an unfamiliar place.

Her room was a peaceful blue. Dolphins, painted on the walls when she was young, embodied peace on the walls. Genevieve loved looking at those walls. They reminded her of a simpler time, when all she wanted was to be a mermaid; when everything was possible.

A plain blue comforter made the bed warm in winter. Plain, like Genevieve. She didn’t want much. She wanted to exist. She didn’t want to be special. She didn’t want to make things complicated. That was why she was so hesitant about a relationship. It was too complicated.

Her writing desk was covered with papers- Genevieve’s pathetic attempts at doing what her favorite authors could. She pushed all the papers aside, trying to clean. It seemed to clear her mind, when she cleared the clutter in her room. She was trying to process all the thoughts that seemed to be running through her mind at once. Everything Emilette said seemed to make sense. Emilette had never been so insistent.

Maybe, Genevieve thought, as she tucked the sheets in on her bed, it’d be fun-having a boyfriend.

But, she decided, if I go after a boy, Emilette will too.

*     *     *

Emilette found Nick in the lunchroom the next day, instead of waiting for Genevieve after ceramics, although this was a habit they’d always had, meeting up before lunch. “Nick.” Emilette said uncomfortably.

“Em…” Nick said awkwardly, as though he didn’t want to be seen with her.

“Were you watching her?” Emilette demanded, only briefly insecure. Nick nodded sheepishly. Emilette nodded, arms crossed as if this was the answer she expected, her look manipulative and calculating. Nick started walking from the lunch line. Emilette followed, cornering him in the North Hall. The next time Nick looked, her features had softened. When she looked like that, he could understand why Kyle fell for her. But Nick still preferred Genevieve. 

“You better mean it,” Emilette said warningly. “I'm going to tell her to go for it.”

Emilette noticed that, as she walked away, his smile could have stretched to the ceiling.

Genevieve didn’t know, and didn’t care, why Emilette was late to their lunch spot. She barely looked up until Emilette started that excited babbling thing. Very few things could make serious Genevieve laugh, but this babbling certainly did.  “Whoa, Em! Slow down. Where are you going with this?”

“Crazy, apparently,” Emilette smiled. “You need to go after him. ‘Member he’s in my English class? Well I heard him say he’s into you!”

Genevieve laughed, but didn’t deny it, Emilette was pleased to notice.

“He likes you, he does!” Emilette insisted.

Genevieve shook her head.

“Girl, life’s nothing without a risk!”

“I just want to know before I do anything rash.” Genevieve replied.

“Gen, this isn’t the middle ages. No one says ‘rash’ anymore. Just go.”

Genevieve nodded slowly, hesitant to agree.

“What if he doesn’t? What if…?” she trailed off.

“How many Genevieves are there in this school?” Emilette asked.

“Not many.” Emilette answered herself, and was pleased to see Genevieve nod, and, wait, “was that a smile?” Emilette couldn’t resist teasing.

“You think I have a chance?” Genevieve stuttered.

Emilette smiled hugely, nodding.

Genevieve leaned back against the wall.

“OK. Then, I'm going for it.”

Emilette smiled at the new touch of confidence in her friend’s voice.

“But you have to go after his friend. I’ve seen him watching you. That’s right,” Genevieve said, seeing her friend’s look of surprise, “I’ve seen you watching him, and him you.”

Emilette shook her head fiercely. She couldn’t. But then she stopped. What was a little white lie?

“Sure. Absolutely.”

Genevieve smiled, satisfied, and, Emilette noticed with a bit of a skeptical smile, went back to her book.

Nick sat down next to Kyle after his bizarre discussion with a girl he hadn’t spoken to in years. “Kyle, ya gotta hear this man. Apparently, you’re not the only person noticing me crushing on that Genevieve girl.” He said it carefully. Jen-eh-vee-ev. Kyle laughed. Nick said it with so much more grace and made it sound more musical than jen-uh-veev, as it was meant to be said. But Kyle said nothing. Nick recounted what had happened. Kyle shook his head.

“That chick is your friend? And I like her and now you’re telling me she’s crazy?”

Nick shook his head. “I'm telling you that she’s got a good heart, that she’s pretty loyal to her friends. I think you need to go after her.”

“You don’t think she’s interested, do you?”

Nick shrugged. The truth was he didn’t. But he knew Emilette needed to open up. And Kyle really could help her. Nick truly believed that.

“Man, I think if she does decide to open up to anyone,” Nick said, “it’s gonna be you, Ky.”

That, Nick could say honestly. But there was a bit of guilt there too, because he knew that it would take a lot of work for Kyle. Nick had to remind himself that Kyle had the confidence to put in the work, and that’s why… “This is all gonna work out great,” Nick assured Kyle, as much as himself.

 The next class for Genevieve was Algebra II, and she ate lunch right down the hall from there. She spent the whole lunch period going back and forth. She didn’t know how she felt about anything, not right now. She constantly questioned herself, but never this much. She didn’t know whether everything going on made her feel better or worse. She saw Nick on the way to class, and was even close enough to say hello. She started to head over, until Nick looked up. She decided she couldn’t bear to go over to him; it was far too presumptuous. Ducking her head, she hurried to her math class as quickly as she could possibly manage in the congested hallway traffic.

Nick walked into class and found Kyle in the back row. “Man, I think she wanted to talk,” Nick said without preamble.

“Did you talk to her?” Kyle asked.

“No, I couldn’t. She ducked out before she’d said a word.”

Kyle sighed.“Nick, listen. You have to say something to her.  So you saw her in the hall? You have to wait and meet her after class!”

Nick nodded. He wondered if he would build up the courage.

Kyle knew Nick was going to, even if it meant he would crash and burn. But in theory, the idea sounded almost foolproof.

Nick let himself feel hopeful for a minute.

“BOYS!” called the teacher from the front of the room.  Nick and Kyle leaned over their notebooks, but didn’t pay much attention. Kyle was thinking about Emilette, and Nick was trying to figure out what exactly to say to Genevieve by way of explanation for showing up outside her classroom. Because, although he didn’t want to admit it, he was already excited to see her again.

Chapter Two

The Start of a Dream

Genevieve suffered through math as best she could, on edge, and knowing that Kathryn, her partner, was getting fed up with bringing Genevieve back to the present. But Genevieve had a feeling in her stomach that all was not as it ought to have been.

After class, Genevieve was surprised to find Nick sitting in the hall as she walked out of her algebra class. He looked awkward, like he wasn’t sure how he should act. Genevieve laughed quietly to herself. Whatever girl he’s waiting for, what a poor soul, she thought uncharitably, having no good will toward the jock crowd that had spurned her so often. She jumped to find Nick tap her shoulder. “Who are you looking for?” she asked. She was sure that there was no way Nick could have been waiting for her.  She didn’t realize that during her Algebra class, among all those mathematic formulas, doubt had again crept into her mind.

“You, actually.” Genevieve distantly heard Nick answer.

“Me?” Genevieve exclaimed, snapping back to the real world.

“Yes, well, there’s a party at this kid, Darryl’s house and, well, um… would you like to come?” Genevieve smiled, and Nick was surprised to see her cat-like eyes meet his.

“I’d enjoy that.”

“Great, it’s tonight. I’ll meet you at eight in front of his house.” Nick gave Genevieve the address and hurried to his next class, not noticing that the smile on Genevieve’s face matched his own.

“Gen, Gen, what happened?” Emilette, of course, had seen the whole exchange from across the hall, where she, too, had been waiting for Genevieve. Emilette smiled widely at her friend, her features a near matching for Genevieve’s. Gen recounted the whole tale, her smile lighting up her features. She made it sound as if it had almost a dreamlike quality to it. Emilette laughed giddily.

“You said yes right?” Emilette asked, as if she didn’t already know by the look on her friend’s face.

Genevieve laughed, as ecstatic as Emilette. “Of course I did.” Emilette was pleased to see her friend so happy; it was a change from Genevieve’s usual solemn self.

”I'm so happy for you, Gen.” Emilette said sincerely, wishing quietly that she could have been invited as well, but she didn’t mind as much as she should have. She was far too happy for her friend.

“Kyle, it was amazing.” Nick dished to his friend. “She said yes without barely any hesitation. Man…just… amazing.” Kyle laughed. His friend seemed happier than he’d ever seen him. But his smile evaporated quickly.

“Nick…” Kyle said warningly, “Don’t get too excited. She’s a geek and…” Nick gave his friend a dark look. “I'm just saying dude, you’re way out of her league.” Nick shook his head vehemently.

“No way, man. If anything, she’s out of mine. What a girl.”

Kyle laughed sarcastically. “See how she acts at the party tonight. Then see if you still like her.”

Nick ignored his friend. As far as he was concerned, nothing could make him not like Genevieve. Just like, Kyle, who, though he tried to hide it from Nick, was still thinking about Emilette. And nothing could make Kyle unlike her. No matter how little interest Emilette showed.  But Nick, unknown to Kyle, was working on that.

*     *     *

Emilette went home with Genevieve that afternoon to help her get ready. She found herself repeatedly snatching books from Genevieve's hands and having to move more books off the bed and closet shelves in order to shift through Gen’s clothes. Emilette smiled to herself. She never thought finding party clothes for Genevieve would be easy. But she never saw it being this hard. Emilette looked at Gen and smiled sympathetically. Gen smiled back shyly.

“I never said it would be easy.”

“I never thought it would be,” replied Emilette. “If I had some of my clothes it would be so much easier.”

Emilette looked up. She lived two blocks from Genevieve’s house. “Do you mind…?” Emilette asked, trailing off, knowing that her best friend would be able to finish the question before Emilette had said the words.

She borrowed a pair of Genevieve's sneakers, silently thanking her luck that her best friend was the same size. She didn’t even realize, as she ran down the street, that the boy crushing hardest on her was watching her every move. She barely even turned as she passed his house.

Emilette returned to Genevieve’s house with her duffle bag stuffed full of what she called her “party clothes”. She never wore them, but she kept them for the off-chance she ever got invited. She was pleasantly surprised to find herself not mad in the slightest that her friend had been invited and she hadn’t. Of course, Genevieve had tried to insist that Emilette come too, but Emilette had refused. She certainly did not want to be in the way of her friend’s first date. And she knew Genevieve would try to use Emilette as an excuse to get away.   

“Just remember to act normal; ordinary. Be yourself,” Emilette coached. “Be Genevieve, don’t do anything that you wouldn’t normally do.”

“Em-I'm going to a party with a boy who likes me. None of this is something I normally do.” Emilette laughed and kept primping Genevieve for the biggest night of her life.

They finally settled on a nice pair of tight leggings, Emilette’s, of course, under a denim mini-skirt, also belonging to Emilette. Genevieve wore a pair of boots that Emilette had gotten her for her birthday, but Genevieve had never had occasion to wear, and a brown button-down polo, which came from Genevieve’s wardrobe. The affect came together better with Emilette’s choices than Genevieve’s darker, more artsy, less sophisticated, taste.

Overall, Emilette thought, Genevieve looked like she could fit in with the crowd. But the glasses wouldn’t. Emilette took them off her friend’s face.

“Don’t you ever wear contacts?” she asked.

Genevieve nodded, putting them in as she came out of the bathroom, and turning back toward her friend.

Emilette nodded her approval.

Emilette surveyed her friend, trying to decide how Genevieve would take what she was about to do next. She took Genevieve’s hair into her hands and told Genevieve to sit on the bed. Emilette dug to the bottom of her bag and came out with a straightening iron. “Hey, hey!” Genevieve laughed. Emilette relaxed, glad to see her friend taking it lightly. “I thought I was going as me?” Genevieve reminded her friend. Emilette nodded confirmation.

“Personality-wise. But you’re looks…well…” Emilette shrugged. Genevieve let it roll off. She could tell her friend was having fun.

“Basically, look-wise I'm going as you?” Genevieve responded. Emilette nodded, laughing. Genevieve sighed and sat on the bed, letting her friend poke and prod for another hour.

When Emilette was done, Genevieve looked in the mirror. She barely recognized the girl staring back at her. “I look like you!” cried Genevieve happily.

“Yeah, if I looked half as good as you,” shot back Emilette.

“Em, you’re a miracle worker!” Emilette shrugged and smiled, feigning modesty.

“I am aren’t I?” Emilette said to her friend, then looked at her watch. It was seven-oh-five. Emilette knew Genevieve would never approve, but…Emilette removed the makeup bag from her duffle.  Genevieve immediately jumped to the other side of the bed.

“Come on Gen! You’ve gone this far! Take the last step and make Nick go absolutely crazy for you!”

Genevieve couldn’t help it. When her friend was this insistent, Genevieve would do anything.

“Fine. But I really hate you for this.” Emilette shrugged and patted the spot on the bed where she wanted Genevieve to sit. Genevieve did, slowly, and Emilette went to work.

*     *     *

Nick looked in the mirror and tried to imagine what Genevieve was doing. Probably getting help from Emilette.  He couldn’t wait to see Genevieve. She made him smile. Nick still couldn’t believe Genny, as he had started thinking of her fondly, had said yes. He hoped he’d made a good choice in picking a party as a first date. If it went down like Kyle predicted, Gen would leave. “She won’t feel like she fits in,” Kyle had said. Nicholas texted Kyle; What if she leaves? If she doesn’t think it’s a date? Then hit send. He sprayed some cologne and went to the bathroom to comb his hair and shave the little stubble that grew on his chin. He went back to check his phone and saw that Kyle had indeed replied: She won’t leave. She’s crazy about you-and you her, duh. Can c girls. Prepping like is a date. That certainly made Nick laugh; it helped to have a friend who was neighbors with the girl he liked. Nick put on his clothes-a nice top and his black slacks, with dress shoes-ready for a party. Or a date. Nick thought. He hoped his clothes would clue Genevieve in that Nick liked her. He looked in the mirror one more time and headed down the stairs.

*     *     *

By the time she was done, Emilette thought Genevieve looked like a foreign princess-or Nick’s dream girl, Emilette said to herself happily. Genevieve could outshine any one of the prettiest girls in America. Emilette just hoped Genevieve agreed. Emilette handed Gen the mirror. “Well?” she asked when Genevieve didn’t say anything.

“I don’t look like me.” Gen said. “I look like…” Gen couldn’t describe it.

“Like Nick’s dream girl?” Emilette asked hopefully. Genevieve nodded.

“And I feel like a princess.”

“Well Princess Gen, you should! Come on, let’s go.” Gen nodded and ran toward the door, Emilette in tow.

Emilette walked two blocks with Genevieve. Genevieve kept walking another block and a half until she reached the address Nick had given her.  It was dark, but she knew she had the right address by the beer cans and pizza boxes in the lawn.

*     *     *

Darryl had an expensive mansion. It was gorgeous, lit up outside and any passerby could hear the thumping music that was coming from inside the house. Genevieve looked up inconspicuously. She was beginning to panic. Didn’t Nick like her? Was he coming? She heard a splash in the back. Should she go in? Maybe he was in the pool with someone. Could she handle seeing him here with another girl? She whipped out her phone to text Emilette, and stopped short. She saw him. Nick came over to her.

“You look beautiful.” Nick said, taking her hand. Genevieve felt the blood rise to her face. “I watched you looking for me.” Nicholas continued, trying to fill the large silent gap that seemed to separate them. Genevieve blushed even more fervently. She’d never had a boy like her before and she had no idea what to say. They stood there in silence for a few moments. She looked at him sideways. He was cute. The way he was looking at her made Genevieve tingle all the way to her toes. Some kids came by and high-fived Nick. Seeing other people made Genevieve come back to reality. She smiled sweetly at Nicholas.

“Nick, you look great too!” She exclaimed.  Nick smiled. It looked like he’d made the right choice of clothing after all. He gave her a quick hug and led her inside.

Inside, the party was in full swing. It smelled of sweat and beer. The lighting was dim, but there was plenty of color and noise to go around. “It reminds me of the cafeteria.” Genevieve yelled into Nick’s ear. It was good to see him smile. There was a splash in the back, and Genevieve laughed. Teenagers, alcohol, and swimming never ended well, Genevieve knew. But she took it in stride and walked inside with Nicholas.

“Would you like a drink?” he asked. “I don’t suppose you’ve ever had…” Genevieve shook her head. Nick smiled, Genevieve was so innocent. “I’ll see if Darryl has soda,” he said. Genevieve smiled appreciatively.

As soon as Nick had gone, shy Genevieve found herself surrounded by a group of girls, all cooing over her. “Oh my goodness,” cried the tallest, a brunette with cat-like eyes similar to Genevieve’s. “The way he looked at you… That’s the way any girl wants to be looked at.” Genevieve smiled kindly, but she felt her shy self emerging again, surrounded by all this attention.

“Thank you…” Gen said softly, trying to sidle out of the group.

“Who does your hair?” asked a second, fingering Genevieve’s curly locks.

“Why haven’t we seen you in school?” said a short, kind of mousy brown haired girl that Genevieve recognized as Millicent, who sat behind her in chemistry. Genevieve just ignored her.

“This party isn’t bad huh? And you came with Nick?”

“Such a cutie. You guys look great together.”

“He’s a good guy. I’ll bet he’s off bragging about you right now.” The girls all started talking about Nick and Genevieve as if Genevieve was hardly there. They all sounded like they envied Genevieve. To think; these popular, beautiful girls were jealous of the shy little bookworm whom they didn’t even recognize outside of school.

Nick came around the corner and grasped Gen’s hand from behind. Genevieve smiled at him sweetly. She’d never been so relieved to see any member of the ‘jock crew’. The thought made her laugh. Genevieve finished off her root beer, and then looked at what Nick was drinking. Hey, it’s a night for firsts, she thought.

“Hey Nicholas….” Genevieve stopped. Nick had his full attention on her. “What you’re drinking…” Nick laughed, looking skeptically at his plastic cup. He handed it to Genevieve, nearly choking on laughter looking at Genevieve’s face when she tried it. It was a lukewarm green drink, bubbling and frothy. It was really bitter, sort of sickly sweet. Genevieve stuck her tongue out at the burning sensation in her throat. This made Nick nearly roll with laughter. Then he noticed Genevieve’s look of discomfort.

“No, no,” he assured her, “I just remember my first taste of the stuff. You don’t have to drink it.”

Genevieve handed it back gratefully, but still looked uncomfortable. Nick took her over to a quiet corner.

“This isn’t your kind of party, is it?”

Genevieve shook her head, still speechless at the overwhelming atmosphere in the house.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” Genevieve nodded this time. She was grateful Nick understood. He took her around the waist and led her outside.

“Hey, Nicholas….” Genevieve stopped as they wandered down the street. She knew she had to be careful; Nick was focused entirely on her. “Do you….” She couldn’t finish. Nick looked hard at her. And instead of nodding, he kissed her, gently, on the mouth. Genevieve pulled back. She hadn’t expected that, but she certainly liked it. “Well, I guess that answers that.” She smiled.

“Genny, I really like you. I’ve watched you for three days and I talked to Emilette… Do you…?” Genevieve nodded.

“But I have a question, since you told me you know Emilette…” Genevieve began, not sure how to finish. Nick looked at Genevieve raptly. They both stopped under a streetlight. Their shadows behind them seemed to stretch to eternity.

Genevieve sat down on the bench and Nick sat beside her. He didn’t take his eyes off Genevieve. He didn’t like where he saw this going. “Do you know why she won’t… Kyle likes her, right?” Nick nodded.

“But she didn’t miss you liking me, how is she missing that in Kyle towards her?” Genevieve wondered aloud, trying to make sense. Nick opened his mouth to speak…and stopped. Could he really betray Emilette? But Genevieve was Emilette’s best friend and, he hoped, his girlfriend.

“Emilette’s hurting. She should explain it to you, Gen.” Nick said, a gift, an offering, the only thing he could give without hurting Genevieve or betraying Emilette. He didn’t want to keep secrets, to lie to the girl, that, he had to admit, he was in love with. But this, this he could not tell. This was not his secret to give away. Genevieve nodded, slowly.

“OK. Well, thanks Nicholas.”

Nicholas was silent. He wanted Genevieve to say his name again. He loved the way it sounded coming from her mouth.

Gen got up and, handing him a piece of paper, walked away, planting a quick kiss on Nick’s cheek before disappearing in the dark. Nick sat on that bench until the early hours of dawn, pondering this strange girl he’d fallen in love with.

*     *     *

Genevieve got home and nearly collapsed on her bed in ecstasy. She’d promised Emilette she’d call, but Genevieve was do delirious with happiness that she decided she’d call her friend in the morning. Genevieve knew, without a doubt, that Nick liked her, and she liked him, a lot. Genevieve laid in bed and relived the kiss for hours. She really liked Nick. She did. Though, at the same time, she was scared of him. She’d never been one to fit into the “jock” crowd. On the other hand, she’d never met a guy who made her feel so different, was it wrong to act different, when he made her feel so different? She hoped, as if she didn’t know, that he liked her-really did. Genevieve went back in her mind to the kiss, and fell asleep smiling before she even realized she was tired.

Genevieve woke up early Saturday morning, startled to find herself in the clothes she had worn to the party the night before. She looked at her desk as she heard the familiar buzz of her phone ringing. Still reeling from the night before, she answered with a slightly distracted “hello?” and was surprised to hear her mother’s voice on the other end.

“Genevieve, honey, I'm sorry I couldn’t be home last night. The hospital needs me for double shift.” Genevieve laughed mentally. Her mother never wasted time on hellos. She always was one to get to the point. And when she did, she talked fast. Quiet Genevieve found it hard to keep up. But she picked up on the key words and managed to formulate some sort of response that seemed to make sense. She didn’t want to admit that she’d gone to a party, so she hoped she could keep her mom from asking.

“It’s alright mom. I mostly read last night anyway,” Genevieve lied groggily when she realized it’d been quiet for some time. She didn’t want to lie, but she still didn’t know how she felt about this whole “relationship” thing. She knew, anyway, that when she told her mother she’d been reading, at least her mom wouldn’t probe further.

“Aw, sweetie,” Genevieve’s mother said sympathetically. “Sounds like you stayed up late last night, again.” Genevieve made a non-committal noise, which her mother took for either agreement or sleepiness. Either way, she bid Genevieve to get more sleep and hung up, reminding Genevieve to pack for the weekend at her father’s house.

Genevieve knew that there was no sleep to come now. For one, she was awake now, no going back to sleep for her, regardless that she was tired. Second, Emilette was going to call soon.

Genevieve had no sooner hung up and sat on her bed, hoping against hope that Emilette had forgotten, when her phone rang. “Hello?”

“Gen! You awake?”

“Am now,” Genevieve groaned.

 “You didn’t call. How’d it go? Why didn’t you call when you woke up?”

“I just woke up!” Genevieve laughed. “And hi, Emilette, by the way.”

Emilette made an exasperated noise. “Hi, Gen,” Emilette responded, stretching the syllables out.

“You’re babbling, you know,” Genevieve said, enjoying putting her friend on edge.

“I wanna know everything!” responded Emilette.

“Can you come over?” Genevieve asked. “I just got off with my mom and I can’t hold my phone to my ear anymore.”

Emilette agreed, but couldn’t help adding; “You said you just woke up?”

“I had just gotten off the phone with my mom and I was going to go back to sleep…” Genevieve explained.

“So you were going to call me the second time you woke up?”

Genevieve nodded, then, realizing her friend couldn’t see that through the phone, responded with a quick, “yeah.”

Emilette snorted derisively. “Some friend you are. Parents coming before friends? Make me wait until you wake up the second time?“ Genevieve laughed.

“Sassy today?”

“Today? That’s an insult. I’m always sassy. Be there in ten.”

“Let yourself in. I’ll be in the shower.” The girls hung up, each one smiling. Genevieve couldn’t wait to tell her best friend all that had transpired.

Genevieve got off the phone and looked at her rumpled clothes; “Emilette’s dress up,” as she had mentally dubbed it. Shredding those, she quickly turned on the faucet in the next door bathroom, hung the towel on the back of the door, and let the hot, soothing water cleanse her mind as well as her body. She had a maybe-boyfriend, her best friend was coming over to relive the best day in the world, Genevieve had been to her first party ever, and she’d had a good time. She was really, sincerely happy for the first time in her memory. She wondered if her parents would approve. She was surprised to realize that she honestly didn’t care. For once, she was doing something for herself, and not for anyone else’s approval.

She let the water rush over her, thinking about Nick, his lips sweet on hers. She wondered what he was doing, if he was thinking about her.

*     *     *

Nicholas woke up in his own bed; not that he remembered getting there. He took the paper that Genevieve had given him and read it carefully, smiling as he realized she’d handed him her number. He took out his phone out and typed a quick message; “hey.” He hit send, and looked down-when had he changed last night?” He ran his hands through his hair, and laughed. The girl he’d fallen in love with-the lovely Genevieve-had mangled all his thoughts, and had clouded any other memories. To him, she had tasted like candy-sweet and lemony. He loved the taste of her lips, the look in her eyes; he wanted to be with her forever. He checked his phone-no response from Genevieve. He texted Kyle: “Can u c girls?” The ding was almost immediate. “Never thought I’d b spying on my geeky neighbor.” Nick laughed as his phone dinged again. “Or that my friend would fall for a geek.” Nick laughed and typed “Em over there?” Nick waited for what seemed like an eternity. “Yes. Genevieve is walking round in a towel,” Nick smiled at the image “and Emilette is sitting on the bed-probably talking about your ‘dream date’. What went down?” Nick looked at the phone in his hand, and smiled. “U wish u knew.” Nick laid down and put his phone next to his head. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to dream. He wanted to dream of the most perfect girl in the world, who had somehow crossed his path, and was his, and only his. What a miracle the world could be! Nothing could bring him down today, or ever, as far as he was concerned.

*     *     *

Genevieve and Emilette squealed happily as Genevieve told her friend her amazing story “We need to go out and celebrate!” Emilette cried. She called up a couple of girls they knew. Between the Gen and Emmy, they, admittedly, didn’t have a large circle of friends. But Emilette had a feeling that was about to change for her best friend.

The girls met at a little coffee shop near the middle of town, three blocks from the school exactly. Most of the kids in school could be found there pretty often. Genevieve and Emilette got there first, Lauren, her best friend, Vivian, arriving with their boyfriends a few moments later. The two girls and their boyfriends were all drama geeks who got along well with artsy Genevieve and outgoing Emilette.  Kathryn, her hair, as usual, in a perky brown ponytail, and Diana, her dark hair streaked with color in a contrast to Kathryn’s, arrived afterward, joining their friends at their little corner table, all excitedly talking about Genevieve’s new romance. Lauren’s boyfriend, Antoine, joked with Vivian’s boyfriend, Tyler, a table away from the girls.

“Probably talking about the next play, Tyler takes them way too seriously.” Vivian said. Lauren nodded sympathetically. Antoine, she had to admit, did too. Genevieve was in her own world, happy in a way she’d never felt before. Kathryn and Diana fawned over everything Genevieve said. Kathryn was the closest Genevieve had to a friend beside Emilette, as Kathryn and Genevieve had both been thrown together by a math teacher they both agreed was criminally insane. Kathryn really wasn’t so bad. She had a dancer’s physique, and always had random writing on her arms. Genevieve thought Kathryn would be a great writer one day. Today, for example, Kathryn had DNTP on the back of her hand, and an Ernest Hemingway quote written on her jeans. Last week, for a week straight, she’d had FMBU written on her hand-a tribute to the volleyball team, who guarded the meaning of the initials like it was some type of nationally guarded secret. Genevieve had tried to research the letters-the only thing that came up was some cut-rate chemical company that sold chemicals to high school labs. The only logic was their sponsor, maybe, as far as Genevieve could tell. Other days, Kathryn had on painted jeans, tutus, and, during spirit week, the craziest face paint of any of the junior class. She won the most spirited award three years in a row.

 Diana was Genevieve’s chemistry partner. She had dark hair that was always streaked with all colors of the rainbow, brown eyes that were too intense, and a high-pitched giggle that seemed like it would be annoying, but really was almost musical in tone. Both were very kind to Genevieve, and, although they were not close to her like Emilette, Genevieve liked having them around.

“Before you know it,” joked Antoine, as Genevieve regaled everyone with stories of the most amazing night in her young life, “he’ll be over here with us.”

“Except he won’t be talking about the play,” replied Emilette.

“He’ll bore you to tears with details of his last swim meet!” Genevieve finished, laughing. She didn’t think the details were boring, but she knew it would horrify Antoine and Tyler.

Genevieve looked around at the table, at the contrast in her friendships. Never let it be said that Genevieve was the type who only hung out with one group. Kathryn was smart and independent, Dana, a sharp contrast to all of them. Lauren was an overdramatic blonde who was on the tall side, skinny, and with a military-style backpack and makeup that seemed overdone for school. She bragged about her boyfriends, plural, often, but in a way that made you look like a jerk if you complained. She showed up at the dances drunk and clearly interested in one thing-and it wasn’t something you could practice in public. She was so full of herself, wrote the opinions in the school paper, and yet, still didn’t allow others to have their own opinion. She ruled over her group with an iron fist, and only talked “positive”.  She wasn’t scared to kick anybody out for the slightest infraction. She didn’t care if you had problems. Truthfully, Genevieve sometimes resented Lauren’s friendship. Lauren’s best friend, Vivian, fit perfectly into this group, but was a contrast to Lauren. Vivian was a dirty blonde with hazel eyes and an ego rivaling some of the school’s greatest jocks. She was built like an athlete, with muscle in all the right places and a strong left hook. She was a little intense, pretty tough, but always had a joke to make you smile. She cared about her friends, but didn’t dare show any emotion around Lauren. 

“Didn’t you hear? Emilette has an admirer too!” Genevieve said when everyone had stopped laughing at Antoine and Tyler.

“Who?” Kathryn piped up, jumping in her seat at this new piece of information.

“Kyle. Nicholas’ best friend,” Genevieve answered before Emilette could stop her. Emilette was blushing, trying hard to keep up her smile. “Nick told me Kyle likes you,” Genevieve confirmed. Emilette laughed and looked at her watch.

“It’s getting close to dinner. I'm heading out, ok?” Genevieve felt bad about embarrassing Emilette, so she nodded, acknowledging Emilette, but refused to meet her friend’s eyes.

“I got it,” she mumbled, when Emilette offered her the money to pay the bill. Kathryn followed Emilette out the door with Vivian, whose boyfriend, oblivious, sat at the table still joking around with Antoine. Genevieve could still see the image on her friend’s face, and had not realized before now that indifference could hurt so much more than anger. And that the indifference on Emilette’s face had shamed Genevieve more than any burst of anger.

As Genevieve guiltily watched Emilette walked out the door, Sandra Keating turned around in the booth next to them. Sandra had long, dark hair that always made her look quite pretty, but Sandra was more of a quiet type like Genevieve. When she spoke, people listened, because of how rarely she did so. Then, each word seemed carefully crafted to have a heavier meaning than it would out of anyone else’s mouth. “He’s not the right group. Not for you, Gen.” She said without preamble. “He’s not in with your crowd, you’re not in with his. It’s doomed.” She was Goth, so she thought everyone should stick to their own crowd.  Genevieve was choosing to believe in miracles. She laughed it off, left the money on the table, and walked out.

Lauren moved over with the boys, laughing at something Tyler said as Antoine put his arm around her. Genevieve watched them from the window for a minute, then started the walk home, knowing she had plenty of time to feel bad for embarrassing her best friend.

*     *     *

Nick watched Genevieve from across the street, hanging out with some of his teammates from the swim team. They were making jokes at his expense, but Nick didn’t care. Most of them were seniors, graduating this year, who were always taking stabs at Nick and Kyle, who were the co-captains of the team as juniors, an unusual occurrence at South Bay. The senior team members made no secret of the fact that they thought the team should have been lead seniors, not juniors like Kyle and Nick. But Nick’s mind was not tuned to the conversation; mentally he was across the street with Genevieve and her friends. He was spying on them from what he could see in the window. He watched her leave, and apparently, so did Kyle. Kyle nudged Nick suggestively. “Go after her!” he said. “Now!” Nick got up, sliding his way out of the booth and out the door of the ice cream shop, letting Genny get ahead of him. Then, getting up his nerve, he caught up and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hey.”  Nick said, laughing when Genevieve jumped. He smiled, stopping when Genevieve didn’t return it.

“I hurt Emilette. I embarrassed her about Kyle, even though she never said a word about you,” Genevieve blurted, choking back a sob.

Nick bit back the temptation to ask Genevieve if he really thought he was an embarrassment. Instead, Nick gathered Genevieve into a hug, trying to comfort her, but he knew it was futile. “You need to talk to her, Gen.” Genevieve nodded, and headed up the walk to her house. Somehow or another, she wasn’t sure how, she was going to have to make it up to Em. And she had to make her claims true. Kyle had to like Emilette. Nick walked on, thinking what a wonderfully delicate flower this girl was. She cared about others, loved everyone, and Nick himself was head over heels for her. Nick texted Kyle “Never thought a walk home would reveal new insight.” He knew Genevieve had a lot on her mind, but it didn’t stop him from finding her incredibly attractive. If anything, it made him love her even more. Genevieve had every personality the stuck-up girls at South Bay High could benefit from having. I love her, Nick confessed quietly to himself. But he couldn’t tell her. Why? He wondered. Kyle had dated many girls; he had no problem telling them how he felt. Why couldn’t Nick do the same?

*     *     *