Rotten Apple (19 page)

can’t believe you’re doing this,” Aunt Hazel said as she pulled up to the curb. Dr. Bee Bee Berg and her father were out on a date night. “You are so much braver than I am. I would have moved cities and gotten a whole new identity!”

“Well, after what I did yesterday, I think I can pretty much do anything, don’t you?” Apple asked. “I mean, if I could get up and cry and admit to the world what I did, I can certainly walk into a school dance,” Apple said. But she didn’t feel as confident as her words. Maybe this
is
a bad idea, she thought. Maybe her aunt was right.

“Who would have thought you had it in you?” asked Aunt Hazel.

“Not me,” Apple said. “But it was your bright idea. So thank you. Maybe I should really listen to you more often about relationships.”

“Are you kidding me? He dumped me!”

“That guy you were dating? The one you had three fantastic dates with,” Apple said sympathetically.

“Yup. Apparently, he’s just not ‘ready’ for a serious relationship. God, if I hear that line one more time …”

Apple felt bad for her aunt, but she was too nervous about getting out to really concentrate on her words.

“Who’s that cute man?” Aunt Hazel asked suddenly, oblivious to Apple’s hesitation.

“Who?” Apple asked.

“That guy over there!” Crazy Aunt Hazel said, tapping on the window.

“That’s Mr. Kelly,” Apple said. “He must be a chaperone.”

“The famous math teacher!” her aunt exclaimed.

“Well, he’s not famous,” said Apple. “It was a fake diary entry, remember?”

“But you’re right, Apple. He is cute. Very cute,” her aunt said. “You have good taste in older men.”

“Hey! That was a
made up problem!
. Gross! I so do not think he’s cute!” Apple insisted.

“Well, I certainly do. Introduce us,” Aunt Hazel demanded.

“No way! You really are crazy!”

“Oh come on, Apple. Do me this one favor? Please? I’m desperate here, and he’s cute!” her aunt begged. “I helped you with your problem. You owe me.”

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this!” Apple said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

“Hurry up! He’s going in,” her aunt cried, leaning over and opening the passenger door and pushing Apple out.

“Okay, pushy much?” Apple said. Mr. Kelly was just opening the front door of the school.

“Hey, Mr. Kelly! Wait up!” Apple called, racing up to him.

“Apple! Well, I just saw you on television the other day,” Mr. Kelly said when she was in front of him. “And Happy too! I can’t believe that two of my students were on
The Queen of Hearts!
It was pretty fascinating, even for an old man like me. I’m so glad I’m not a fifteen-year-old girl! My goodness, what drama!”

Oh, God. Did everyone in the world watch her mother’s show? If Mr. Kelly did, then the answer must be yes.

“Right. Anyway,” Apple said, pretending not to hear him, “there’s someone who wants to meet you.”

“Your mother? Did Dr. Bee Bee Berg drop you off?” he said excitedly, looking past Apple toward the row of cars.

“Well, no. It’s not exactly my mother. But it’s the next best thing,” Apple said, trying to sell up her aunt.

“I’m intrigued,” Mr. Kelly said, tapping his fingers together. “Where is this mystery person?”

“Over there,” Apple said, pointing to her aunt’s car. “It’s my aunt. She’s single and desperate.”

Mr. Kelly looked at Apple.

“I was joking,” she said. “But she
is
single. She saw you and she thinks you’re cute and wants to meet you.”

“Interesting,” Mr. Kelly said. “So what should I do?”

“Um, just go over and say ‘hi.’” Apple said. It seemed like only hours ago that she was sabotaging relationships, and now people were expecting her to be a matchmaker?

Guy was right: people’s memories were short. Mr. Kelly seemed to already have moved on from seeing Apple and Happy on the show. She could only hope that her fellow students would be as forgetful.

She watched as Mr. Kelly headed over to the car. She saw her aunt open the door and jump out. She watched them shake hands and start to chat.

Then Apple took a deep breath and walked into the school and into the large gymnasium, which was decorated all in red. There were red streamers and red balloons. It looked like a can of red paint had exploded. She heard the whispers as she walked by, everything from “That’s her! That’s the one!” to “Keep her away from my boyfriend” to “How could she show her face? I could never!”

“You know why people are interested in my show?” her mother had asked her earlier that day when Apple was debating whether to go to the dance or not. “It’s because they’re not happy in their own relationships. If people are that interested in yours, it means nothing good is happening in theirs. And remember, Apple—the only people who really know what’s going on in a relationship are the two people who are in it. And that goes for friendships, too. People may not understand why you did what you did, or they may not understand how Happy and Zen could forgive you, but only you and Happy really know what’s going on between you.”

Apple walked to the back of the gymnasium, trying to hold her head high.

“Hey, Apple, how’s your pie?” Hopper asked as Apple walked by him.

At least some things never changed. Hopper was still Hopper.
He
wasn’t treating her any differently.

“God, Hopper. Can you grow up?” Apple asked.

“Hey, be nice to my date,” Brooklyn said, popping up behind him.

“He’s
your
date?” Apple asked, shocked. She looked at Hopper, then back at Brooklyn. “Let me get this straight. Hopper is your date? You like Hopper?”

“Yes! I’ve liked him for a while. You’re not the only one with secrets, Apple,” said Brooklyn. “I just know how to release stress better. It’s called
yoga
.”

“And I suddenly found myself dateless at the last minute,” Hopper said. “I think you know why, Apple—Happy called and bailed on me.”

“Okay, I deserve that,” Apple said.

“Hey!” Brooklyn said, swatting him on the arm. “I thought you were thrilled to be going with me!”

“I’m just joking, my little yogi. You know that. In fact, I should really thank Apple for doing what she did. Because I now have the cutest date ever. You know that I always really wanted to go with you from the start, Brooklyn. I just didn’t know how to ask a person who spends more time lying flat on her back on the floor than walking. But I’m sure I can grow to get used to your peace and love ways. Now, since you aren’t on a yoga mat flat on the floor at present, come dance with me,” Hopper said, pulling Brooklyn by her arm.

Hopper and Brooklyn? Well, Apple thought, stranger things have happened. And it’s like her mother had said: no one knows what goes on in a relationship
except the two people in it. Maybe it would work out for Hopper and Brooklyn.

She watched her fellow classmates around her laughing and dancing, and felt out of place. Would anyone want to be seen with her, let alone ask her to dance?

Happy and Zen were dancing in the middle of the room. Happy looked like an angel, in a white dress. And Zen, Apple had to admit, still looked super hot. She watched as they wrapped their arms around each other. She felt a pang, even if he wasn’t her Zen Crush anymore.

As if they could feel Apple’s eyes on them, they both looked in her direction. Apple looked down. She still couldn’t look them in the eye. She would have to work on that.

Apple glanced up again and saw Happy and Zen coming toward her. They were holding hands. Apple felt only a small kick in the gut. They looked, she had to admit, like the perfect couple.

Apple knew that everyone had started watching them, wondering what would happen. But she didn’t really care. She only wondered what Happy would say to her. They hadn’t spoken since they had hugged on
Queen of Hearts
. When the show had ended, Happy had managed to sneak out while Apple was talking to her mother.

“Hey, Apple. You look gorgeous,” Happy said, giving Apple another hug.

Apple was about to argue, but she stopped herself. She needed to learn to just be confident again.

“Thanks, Happy. So do you—as always” she said. “Hi, Zen.”

“Hey, Apple. Great party, huh? Glad you made it,” he said.

“Me too,” Apple said. She meant it.

“So, Apple, I have a question for you,” Happy said.

Apple felt her stomach drop. “Yes?” she asked. Were they going to get back into everything that Apple had done?

“Is that your Aunt Hazel over there dancing with Mr. Kelly?” Happy asked.

“What?” Apple shrieked. “Where?”

Apple turned her head toward the spot Happy was pointing at. Sure enough, there was her Crazy Aunt Hazel slow-dancing with Mr. Kelly. Her aunt was resting her head on Mr. Kelly’s shoulder and Mr. Kelly had his hand on the small of her aunt’s back.

“Oh my God,” Apple said, looking back at Happy. “Oh my God!”

They burst out laughing. It had been so long since Apple had laughed like that. Brooklyn walked over with Hopper and joined them.

“What are you guys laughing about?” Brooklyn asked.

Happy and Apple looked at each other and burst out laughing again.

“What, you guys? What?” Brooklyn insisted. “You’re not laughing because I’m with Hopper, are you? I know I should have told you guys sooner that I liked him. Okay, I like him. Fine, I’ve liked him for a long time. Now you know everything!”

Happy and Apple looked at Brooklyn and then at each other and burst out laughing yet again.

“Don’t be so paranoid, Brooklyn,” Happy finally said.

In a giggling fit, Apple pointed toward her aunt and Mr. Kelly.

“Look!” Happy said. “Over there! That’s what we’re laughing at. But,” she added, “I’m glad you told us about Hopper.”

“No!” said Brooklyn. “Is that who I think it is? Is that Crazy Aunt Hazel?”

“Yup!” laughed Apple.

“How did that happen?” Brooklyn asked.

“All I know is when we got here, Crazy Aunt Hazel thought he was cute and asked me to introduce them. I have no idea how they wound up like
that!
” Apple said, wiping her eyes. “But my aunt does move quickly.”

“I’ll say she does. Well, maybe you are a better matchmaker than you seemed,” Happy said. “Maybe it’s not always so bad when you meddle.”

Apple and Happy exchanged looks, but it was okay. Or at least Apple knew it
would
be okay, one day soon enough.

Apple felt other eyes on her. Sure enough there was a guy hovering around them.

“Oh, right. Apple, speaking of introductions, have you met Lyon? He’s a friend of Sailor’s. He wanted to meet you,” Happy said, waving Lyon over.

“Me? Why me?” Apple asked.

“Oh, he’ll tell you,” she said.

Happy made the quick introduction. “Apple, this is Lyon. Lyon, this is Apple.”

They shook hands.

“Hey,” Apple said.

“Hey,” Lyon said.

“Well, I’m going to go dance,” said Happy. “Let’s go, Zen. Catch you later, Apple?”

“Absolutely,” Apple said.

“We’re going out there too,” said Brooklyn, holding onto Hopper. “Have fun, Apple!”

Suddenly Apple was alone with Lyon. She had seen him around, but they had never spoken, in large part because he was older.

“So,” said Lyon. “Having fun?”

“I guess so,” Apple said. She suddenly felt very thirsty. Her mouth was dry.

“Well, I’ve seen you around,” said Lyon.

“I’ve seen you around too,” Apple answered.

“But then I just happened to be at home the other day and my sister had on
Queen of Hearts
, and I
really
saw you,” Lyon said.

“Oh, God, that. I guess everyone saw it,” Apple moaned.

“Hey! I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you were very brave,” he said. “I thought what you did was awesome.”

Apple looked at him. He seemed to be sincere. He didn’t seem to be making fun of her.

“Really?” she said. “Because most people would have thought what I had done was really crappy. It
was
really crappy.”

“No, not what you did, but what you did
about
it. Most people would never have admitted it if they had done something like that, and so publicly. I think it’s very admirable,” Lyon said. “I think
you
think you came off way worse than you actually did.”