Gilbert and Louis Rule the Universe: First Impressions (22 page)

“
Gilb
, I got a letter from Ralph this week.”

“What?
Wha’d
it say?”

I fiddle with my mug, running my finger around the rim, but it is no use, I start to cry.
“I was all wrong about him.”

“What do you mean?” Gilbert says.

“I think I really messed up.”

“Why?”

“I am so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but he said that he didn’t think Dylan and that girl did anything in Tahoe.”
Gilbert puts down her mug and let out a sigh.

“He said he only set them up because he really thought you didn’t like him and that he didn’t want Dylan to get hurt.”

“Why would he think that?”
Gilb
asks.

“Because remember what you said in the theater that day, when we were trying to keep Dylan a secret from your mom?”

“Huh.”
I can tell Gilbert is thinking.
My nose starts to run and I wipe it on the back of my hand.

“Wow. I guess you’re right, but it was still jerky of Dylan to go out with her even if they didn’t do anything.” Gilbert seems to visibly relax.

I was glad to give her this piece of news.
Even though I was kind of bitchy about them hanging out because I wanted Gilbert all to myself, I really do just want her to be happy.
And if Dylan makes her happy, well then, I guess I better get used to it.

“And Ralph also told me why he was sent to
Havenhurst
.
It was all because of Winston.”
I tearfully tell her the rest of the story.

“Winston is such a jerk.” Gilbert says.
“I figured with the way he was acting towards Riley, but I didn’t know it went that deep.
Wow.”

“I know, we have to get Riley away from him.”
I say.

“I guess we were wrong about Ralph,”
Gilb
says.

“Yeah, I guess we were. I can’t believe I turned him down when he asked me out.
I am sure he hates me now.”

Gilbert says, “I bet he doesn’t hate you.”

“Of course he does.
I was so mean to him.”

We sit outside as the sun disappears over the horizon, both lost in our thoughts.

Chapter 24

Friday, January 22

Today’s Horoscope: Sometimes all one needs is a little nudge.

Thank goodness it is a short week.
After a weekend by the beach, I am having trouble getting back into the swing of things.
All week, I kept walking up and down the street to see if I could run into Ralph, but he never seemed to be around.
I wasn’t even totally sure if his school had the same break as ours, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to try.
I am not exactly sure what I am going to say to him if I see him.

The rumors about Riley had died down because over the weekend the
Fab
Five got their hands on some beer from Hannah’s older brother, Olivia got drunk, and threw up in the 7-Eleven.
The whole class is talking about it so Riley is off the hook.
The girls and I are also trying to figure out how to break up Riley and Winston. Although we aren’t sure we will have to. Turns out, he hadn’t called her at all over the weekend.

*   *  
*

Friday night I went over to Gilbert’s house to watch a movie.
We were in the middle of
High School Musical
(it was my tenth time seeing it) when Gilbert’s phone vibrated.

“It’s a text from Dylan.
It says he wants to talk.”

“Call him!”

“Right now?”

“Yes, right now.
Call him.”

We pause Zach and Vanessa in the middle of their number, and Alex calls Dylan.
As soon as he answers she walks into the other room.
I pick up
People
off the coffee table and flip through while I wait for her to come back.

When Alex walked
back in the room, she is
aglow
.

“Oh my gosh, he was so sweet,” she sighed as she flopped back down on the couch.

“What’d he say?” I ask.
I toss the magazine back on the coffee table.

“He said he was bummed we aren’t hanging out anymore.
And he said, he thought I hated him.
Can you imagine?
How can I hate him?
I am totally in love with him?”
As soon as the
words are out of her mouth, she looks at me in shock.
I think she realizes she just exposed more of her emotions than she meant to.
I laugh.

She starts picking at her nails.
“Then it was
kinda
funny because he said he was surprised that I called.
I mean of course I called.
He texted me,” she says and looks up at me.

“Of course,” I echo back.

She leaned forward and grabbed my hands.
“We are going to meet tomorrow at Giant Burger for lunch.
You can come, right?
I have to tell my mom I am with you,”
she pleads.

“Totally,” I can’t let her down.

Gilbert gives me a huge hug.

“Oh, I am so happy,” she says and picks up the remote to start up the movie.
Before she hits play she says, “By the way, Dylan said he was over at Ralph’s house.” She looks at me sideways and lifts her eyebrow.

The movie resumed but I stopped listening. I am thinking, when had Ralph come home and how long was he was around?

Chapter 25

Saturday, January 23

Today’s Horoscope: Quietly expect the unknown.

Dylan, Gilbert, and I are sitting on Dylan’s porch.
I feel like a total third wheel, but I have to be Gilbert's
alibi
.
Also, I secretly hope that Ralph might come by.

The whole experience is nauseating.
I am trying to read the latest issue of
Seventeen
, but I can’t concentrate.
They are speaking all lovey-dovey to one another.

“I am so glad you texted me last night.
I totally missed you,”
I hear Gilbert whisper to Dylan.
See what I mean?
Gross.

“I didn’t text you, you called me,” Dylan says.

“But I got a text from you.
That’s why I called.”

“I didn’t send one, but I am glad you called me.”

“Wait a sec,” I blurted, “what do you mean you didn’t text her?”

Gilb
eyes me hard.
She clearly doesn’t want to ruin the moment.
“It doesn’t matter, Leah.”

“Maybe someone else did it.
Maybe someone thought we should be together,”
Dylan says.

“
Awww
…
That is so sweet.” Gilbert says looking back at him with a mushy expression.

My mind is spinning.
I have so many questions, but obviously I can’t ask the two love birds.
They are totally distracted, staring into each other’s eyes.
Before I gag, I get up and begin to leave.

“Hey guys, I am going to walk to the store to get some candy.
I’ll be back.
Do you want anything?”

“No, thanks, “ Gilbert says without taking her eyes off Dylan.

“Huh?”
Dylan says.

They ordered burgers and fries at Giant Burger but barely touched them, now they don’t even want candy, that’s how
friggin
’ in love they are.
Oh, brother.

As I walked to 7-Eleven I have to wonder.
If Dylan really didn’t send the text,
who did?
I have my suspicions but I am trying not to get ahead of myself.

*   *  
*

That night was Sophie’s birthday party.
Sophie’s mom made her invite, like, the whole grade because she’s president of the PTA.
During the week, even the
uncool
kids were coming up to Sophie saying they were excited to go to her party.
You could see in her eyes that she would have been a lot happier if her mom had simply booked a private room for her and her friends at a fancy restaurant.
Gilbert was excited because Dylan planned to meet her there.
I kind of didn’t have the energy for the whole thing, but I am not the kind of girl to miss a party on any account.

Gilbert and I meet up with Riley at
Maddy’s
house.
Her mom offered to drive us and we all wanted to go together.
Everyone but Rowan has arrived and we are sitting around the table getting hyper by eating chocolate covered coffee beans.
The doorbell rings and
Maddy
runs to answer it.
Rowan walks in.

“Hi, guys!” she says.

We all look up and our mouths fall open.
Rowan has on a sweater with a reindeer embroidered on it.

“Oh, no,” I say out loud.

Gilbert tries to cover for me.
“Rowan, that sweater is a little…”
she can’t think of anything nice to say, and her mother taught her, when you don’t have anything nice to say...