Rotten Apple (14 page)

“How would
you
know?” asked Apple, resentfully.

“Trust me. I’ve been in enough bad relationships to know when someone else’s relationship is bad.”

Apple had the thought that maybe everyone in her house was in some sort of relationship trouble. Maybe the troubles she was facing were the problems everyone faced at every age. And how could she expect to
not
be messed up about relationships when her house, as Brooklyn would say, was full of bad vibes? Not one person in this house, thought Apple, is not messed up.

ou know, Hopper asked me to the Valentine’s Day dance,” Happy told Brooklyn and Apple as they walked into the doors of Gossip.

“He did what?” Apple and Brooklyn responded in unison.

“He did not!” Brooklyn added.

“He did,” Happy said, as calmly if she were asking someone to pass the salt at dinner.

“That is amazing, Happy,” Apple said. It
is
amazing, thought Apple—maybe my luck is changing. Apple totally hadn’t been expecting this. Maybe Happy would go with Hopper as her date. Apple daydreamed that it was at least a possibility. Maybe Zen would be so bummed out to find out that someone had asked Happy before he did, that he’d be happy just to have a date at all.

“I’ve always thought he was kind of cute,” Apple said to Happy. “Well, I mean, everyone knows he’s cute.”

“Yeah, he is really cute,” answered Brooklyn dreamily.

“Well, I don’t know what to do,” moaned Happy, her blaséness wearing off. “I wish he hadn’t asked me.”

“Why, don’t you like Hopper?” Apple said. “He’s not always so bad. Brooklyn’s right. He can be kind of funny, you know, if you like that kind of humor. And, as Brooklyn always says, things always happen for a reason. There must be a reason he asked you, Happy!”

“Yeah, he can be funny. And he can be nice,” Happy responded. “I’m just… I’m just not sure. Maybe there is a reason.”

“Maybe there is,” Brooklyn said. “But Happy, be honest. You’re waiting for a certain someone to ask you, aren’t you?” she asked. “No judgment.”

“Maybe,” Happy answered.

Apple knew Happy was thinking about Zen. “Well, I don’t know,” she said to her friend. “If I were you, I’d accept the invitation. What did you tell him?” she asked. She was starting to worry. Only moments ago, she had been daydreaming of going with Zen, and that all her problems were solved.

“I told him I’d get back to him,” Happy said. “He was very sweet when he asked. I’ve never heard him sound so compassionate before.”

“And he was okay with that?” Brooklyn said.

“He seemed to be. Why, would you say yes?” Happy asked Brooklyn. “God, I don’t know what to do. What would you do?”

“I guess I would say yes,” Apple said. “Because, I don’t know, it just seems more fair to accept the invitation that comes first. I mean, that’s what I think. Plus,
you said he was compassionate. Maybe it
is
fate. Maybe by you going with him, it will turn him into a nicer person. Yes, definitely, take the guy who asks you first.”

“Why?” Brooklyn asked. “She’s not the deli counter. It’s not a first-come, first-serve basis. Not that I would ever eat meat,” she added, “but you know what I mean.”

“I know. That’s not what I meant,” Apple said. “I just meant that I wouldn’t want to hurt Hopper’s feelings. I mean, it’s just a dance, and he must be sort of brave to have asked Happy. And so nicely.”

“Maybe Apple’s right,” Brooklyn admitted. “It
is
just a dance. No need to lose any sleep over it. Find your inner peace. Follow your heart. Everything always works out.”

“Well, I
have
been losing sleep,” said Happy. “Can I tell you guys something, if you promise not to judge me? It’s just that I was kind of hoping someone else would ask me.”

“Like who?” asked Brooklyn, rolling her eyes at Apple.

“Zen. I wanted Zen to ask me.”

“Duh! Like I said, you should always follow your heart,” said Brooklyn. “Why don’t you just ask him?”

Apple turned and looked at Brooklyn, stunned that her friend would suggest such a thing. How could Apple have known that Happy really, really had wanted to go with Zen, that she was losing sleep over it? And she was the one who had advised Zen to keep it cool!

“Maybe she wants to know that he wants to ask her,” Apple said slowly.

“Well, you guys have given me a lot to think about,” Happy said. “Now let’s just enjoy our facials. I’m totally stressed about this. I need some pampering.”

Two evenings later, Apple and Brooklyn were in Happy’s big kitchen, making s’mores. Sailor had just stormed out of the house, after Happy refused to admit that she had borrowed her jeans, which Apple knew she had done.

“I think I’m going to take your advice,” Happy said suddenly from the chair in the corner where she’d been sitting watching her friends cook.

“About what?” Apple asked.

“Going to the Valentine Ball dance with Hopper. I think I should just go with him,” she said. Apple could tell Happy wasn’t thrilled at the prospect. Her voice sounded beaten down, deflated like a two-day-old helium balloon. She looked tired, too, and washed out, sitting in a fetal position on a chair. And Happy always looked flushed and healthy.

“Why?” Apple asked, trying to sound supportive and concerned.

“I don’t know. If Zen really wanted to ask me, I think he would have by now. I mean, the dance is just over a week away. Obviously, he doesn’t really want to ask me or he would have. And, you’re right—I don’t want to be the one to ask him. I
do
want to know that he really wants to go with me,” Happy said. “And Dr. Caffeine agrees. Plus, you’re right—maybe it’s fate.”

“Maybe he just hasn’t gotten around to it,” Apple suggested.

“Maybe. But I talk to him every day at school, and we e-mail each other almost every night. There has been plenty of time to ask, and he just hasn’t. It’s just so frustrating. I don’t know what’s going on in his head,” Happy said. “Sometimes I think he really likes me, but at other times, he just seems so distant. I don’t get it.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better,” Apple said, “I think you’ll have a great time with Hopper. He’s fun. And at least someone asked you.”

“Someone really cute!” added Brooklyn eagerly.

“Yeah, you’re right. Plus, it
is
just a stupid school dance, like you said. It’s no big deal. Pass me the phone,” Happy said, using her chin to point out where the phone was. Her hand was covered in chocolate sauce and Apple watched as she wiped it off on a towel. Apple handed her the phone.

“What? You’re going to call him now?” she asked.

“Sure. Why not? What time better than the present?”

“Right,” said Brooklyn, as they watched Happy dialing. “Live in the moment.”

“Message coming,” Happy said, after a brief pause.

“Hey, Hopper, it’s Happy. I thought about it, and I’d love to accept your invitation to the dance. I’m looking forward to it. So, I guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow. Cheerio!”

Apple couldn’t believe how easy-breezy Happy sounded. How did she talk to the opposite sex so confidently, especially when her heart really wasn’t in it? She
was
a good actor.

“Well, I guess that’s done,” Happy said. “No turning back now.”

“Happy! Hopper is super hot, and we’ll all be there. You’ll have fun,” Apple said, trying to cheer up her friend.

“Yeah, you’re right. It will be fun,” Happy answered, plastering a smile on her face.

“That’s right, Happy,” Brooklyn agreed. “If you smile on the outside, you’ll begin to feel better about everything on the inside.” She reached for her big toe and raised her leg straight up high into the air, while smiling, as if to prove her point.

When Apple got home, she couldn’t stop thinking that Zen was now clear. He was dateless! Maybe this turn of events meant that she and Zen were fated to be together. It was all about timing, perhaps. Maybe everything
did
happen for a reason.

There was no way she could feel what she had felt when Zen’s arms were around her if they weren’t meant to be. There was no way. And if it had felt that good when she fell accidentally into his arms, how good would it feel to have his arms purposely wrapped around her?

She fell asleep with a smile on her face.

“Hey, Happy,” Hopper said the next morning at the spiral staircase.

“Hey, Hopper,” Happy said and smiled at him.

“I got your message last night,” he said.

“Oh yeah? Good,” Happy said, and smiled more sweetly.

“Yeah, so do you want me to pick you up at home, or do you want to meet here?” Hopper asked her.

“What are you guys talking about?” Zen threw in, looking at both of them.

“Happy accepted my invitation to take her to the Valentine Ball,” Hopper said casually.

Apple immediately looked up at Zen. But he was retying his shoelaces, and not looking up. She couldn’t catch his eye. The expression on his face was pained.

Oh, God, thought Apple. This is my fault. She felt horrible looking at Zen, who looked horrible. Even though Apple did not want him asking Happy to the dance, and wanted Happy to go with someone else, she didn’t want Zen to find out this way.

Just then Poppy, the head of the clothing drive, walked by, calling out, “Thanks so much, Apple and Zen, for doing such a good job for the clothing drive! It’s much appreciated! Just one more day!”

Zen simply nodded at Poppy, and Apple said to her, “No problem.”

The bell rang and there was a rush to gather notebooks and knapsacks.

No one was quicker gathering their things than Zen, who had already jumped down the last two stairs and was heading toward class—except for Happy, who had hurried off leaving a trail of her signature peach scent.

“Zen?” Apple called out, catching up and grabbing his arm. She didn’t know exactly what to say. But she knew she had to say something.

“What?” he growled. Apple was taken aback. He had never sounded unfriendly to her before.

“Are we meeting today to go over to the club after school?” Apple asked. It was the only thing she could think of to say at that moment.

“I guess we have to. It’s the last time, right?” Zen said.

“Apparently,” said Apple.

“I’ll meet you by the front doors after school,” Zen said, and walked off.

“Bye!” Apple called out after him.

But Zen didn’t turn back or respond. Apple had a hard time catching her breath.

She couldn’t pay attention to any of her classes all day. Everyone seemed to be in a foul mood, even the teachers. Mr. Kelly gave a pop quiz.

“Did you know?” Zen asked, as soon as Apple walked up to him at the front door after school. It seemed as if he had been waiting all day to ask her the question.

Happy had left early, for an “emergency” session with Dr. Caffeine, Brooklyn had told Apple, before she left for her yoga class.

“Did I know what?” Apple asked, even though she knew what he was getting at.

“Did you know that Happy was going to the dance with Hopper?” Zen asked resolutely.

Apple had two choices. The first was that she could lie and tell Zen that she had no idea, and that she had found out the same time he did, at the spiral staircase that morning.

But Apple felt exhausted. She didn’t want to lie or tell half-truths anymore.

“I did know,” she told him. “Well, I found out last night. I was at Happy’s house and she called him and told him she’d go with him.”

“So you knew that Hopper had asked her,” he said.

“Well, I guess so. I mean, I found out just the other day. But I didn’t know that she was going to accept until yesterday night. Didn’t Hopper tell you?” Apple asked. “I mean, didn’t he at least mention to you that he was thinking of asking Happy?”

“No,” Zen said huffily. “Why would he?”

“I don’t know. I thought you guys were good friends,” Apple said.

“We are. But we don’t talk about things like that. We’re guys.”

“Oh. Right,” Apple said. She didn’t know what else to say.

They walked in silence in the direction of the club. Zen walked quickly, so that Apple was always two steps behind him.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Zen said suddenly, stopping in his tracks.

“I don’t know. I just didn’t think it was important. And she’s my best friend. I don’t usually go around telling people what’s going on in her life,” Apple answered.

They continued to walk along in silence, Zen still walking ahead of Apple. But it was as if he couldn’t contain himself. He stopped in his tracks again and looked Apple in the face.

“You told me that I should play it cool. That I shouldn’t rush into asking someone to the dance. That’s what you told me,” he said loudly. He was one notch away from yelling, Apple could tell.