The Pages Between Us (13 page)

Don't worry, I don't know much about the Theory of Relativity either other than it has something to do with the time-space continuum. And E=MC
²
. And Einstein bringing his A-game.

Speaking of A-game, don't let Steve bother you. Sounds like he was pretty rude—what a chess snob. But at the next meeting we get to switch partners, so I'm sure it will go much better.

Just do yourself a teeny-tiny favor . . . try not to use the phrase “horsey piece.” I personally think that you using it is understandable/adorable, but other people might, you know, go full Chess Snob on you. I'm guessing everyone in there would do that, actually. I mean, taking a look around that room I could tell they were all WAY into it, given all the nail biting and forehead wrinkling that was going on. I was surrounded by kids who constantly thought three moves ahead.

Which means one thing: I'VE FOUND MY PEOPLE.

Why did I think that I should only play with my dad? Now I'll learn how to get better AND help us find new friends. (Are you calling them friends now or still characters? I think you've
crossed over. Make
friends
. I'm sure it will still be dramatic, whoever you invite.)

Counting Ellie, we only have a couple more to go. And that will be simple. At the next club we're playing doubles. That's two more people for me to get to know, and BAM, we've got ourselves a fully attended party!

I know, I know . . . exactly how do I know about us switching partners at the next meeting, you ask? OH! Let me tell you a little story . . . it's about me . . . in the lunchroom . . . not eating alone or desperately talking to strangers or bringing the wrong food item for exchange. This story is NONE of those things.

This story is about me, walking into the cafeteria today while feeling a loneliness stomachache about to come on, when suddenly I see two hands waving at me from the corner. It was Ellie, flailing both hands in the air. “Come sit with us!” she called out.

And that's when I noticed Ellie was surrounded by a group of girls. They were all girls from Chess Club, and one of them—get this—had a spiral notebook with a unicorn wearing nerd glasses on the cover. TOUCH. DOWN.

We all talked about the club and our history teacher and unicorns and even Shark Week. It was like I'd stepped into an alternate reality where people actually liked me—people who weren't you or my relatives. (Wait, maybe that's what Einstein
was talking about with his theory of relativity? I'm guessing his middle school years were bumpy too.)

How do I say “Whassup, dude?” in physics?

So then Ellie gave me the heads-up on how we're playing doubles at the next club meeting. OH! Speaking of club meeting, it doesn't meet one day a week. Didn't you see the poster? It meets THREE days a week plus Saturdays. Apparently they meet so often because they're preparing for the regional tournament. They pick the four top players, and I really want to be one of those top four! We play against Monterey and Santa Barbara and Fresno schools, so it's a really big deal. I know it might be a stretch to think you'll make it to the tournament, but don't worry—you're just starting out. By next year, you may be caught up with me. (Again, no more saying “horsey piece.” Okay? Love you, thanks.)

This all means we can't go to LARP, of course. Or French or Spelling Club. Our schedules are going to be full, my dear!

So this Saturday when we meet for Chess Club, I'll ask my mom to come pick you up and then—OH. WAIT.

This Saturday is that Souper Saturday thing at your church. It's not that important, right? Just let them know something came up. Did you really want to be friends with those girls? Even with the Savannah Swanson Incident, I'm fine with it, I guess. But maybe be friends with them later, after Chess Club, because you already have so many people lining up!

And after Chess Club, let's see if my mom will take us to the mall so we can do that thing where we people-watch and make up stories about the secrets people are hiding. I love that story you told about that woman wearing a long frumpy skirt. You told me she used to be the famous fashion designer Annabelle Dior, but her runway show got a nasty review in the
New York Times
and now she dresses like a shopping bag just to spite the critics. Seriously, I loved that one.

And then we'll go split a soft pretzel. With mustard, of course.

The girl who will soon have mustard on her chin,

Olivia

Grateful:

1. Einstein's middle school theories

2. Ellie's waving hands that were aimed right at me

3. Girls who like nerdy unicorns

4. My mother for agreeing to drive me to Chess Club and then take us to the mall (she hasn't agreed yet, so this is technically a PRE-grateful)

5. Annabelle Dior's dark secret past

Sorry I missed the shelter last night. I was busy. Did you go, or were you playing chess? And sorry I didn't call you back. I was still busy. And maybe not so much busy as a little annoyed.

You want to give up all the other clubs? Even LARP, which was super fun? And Spelling Club, which wasn't super fun, but people were at least nice? I'd even go to Extreme LEGO Club with Danny again if I had to.

Obviously, I don't love Chess Club. I don't think the people there are chess snobs. I think they are just snob snobs. Every other club I've been to, people tried to make me feel welcome. It wasn't just Steve who was mean to me. Everyone kept looking at me like, “Why are you here? You're too stupid.”

And I know a horsey thing is a knight, okay? But why don't they just call it a HORSE instead of a knight? Maybe in the old days, that worked, but chess needs to get with the times.

So I'm not going back. I know I said Sagittarians don't
quit, but I decided if people are mean, quitting is a good thing. My parents said I could still go to clubs, and I will. All the other clubs we went to. Maybe new ones. I don't even know. I really need to focus on planning my birthday party anyway. More Chess Club would probably mean a bloody nose for Steve Polaski, and then the party would be completely kaput.

But you. You love it. And that is SO GREAT, really. Keep going. Keep eating lunch with your friends. I am honestly glad you found a little home. Just because we like different things doesn't mean we can't still be close. Sure, we won't have Souper Saturday (or the mall after Chess Club, since Souper Saturday is an all-day thing), but we can still do Mondays at the shelter and, of course, my Party of Epic.

Oh, and if you want to add Ellie to my invite list, that'll be great. Well, maybe. I really need to figure out the list now that everyone is talking about it. People keep coming up to me and asking me when the party is, like it's an open invitation. Our lunch table was totally packed today, and Jackson Whittaker even came over and sat there for a little.

I probably should have mentioned that first with a bunch of hearts and exclamation points, huh? Here you go, better late than never:

JACKSON: Hey, Piper.

ME (
trying to cover shock that Jackson knows my name
): Hey, Jackson.

JACKSON: So are you coming back to LEGO Club after your Danny fight?

ME: I don't know. I got sort of grounded after that, so I have to convince my parents I won't get violent and that LEGOs are educational.

JACKSON: They are. We build stuff.

ME: I know, I told them we're improving our spatial ability. We'll see if that works. (
I only knew the word
“spatial”
because I looked it up the night before to strengthen my argument with my parents so they'd let me go to LEGO Club again. They've been holding out on that one.
)

JACKSON: And . . . uh, what about your friend, Olivia? Jordan said she fell in love with him there.

ME: THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

(Then I think Jackson got scared because he started to scoot away.)

JACKSON: Okay. Well, cool. I will . . . let Jordan know. He'll be bummed. He thinks Olivia is cool. I mean . . . she
is
cool.

ME (
switching from mean-sounding to so so so excited
): She is! The coolest! The best! You should talk to her sometime! I mean, not that she's sitting around waiting for you to. But you should!!!

(
I know. I failed you a little. It was all that screaming in your letters bursting out of me.
)

JACKSON (
smiled!
): All right. I hope you both come back to LEGO Club. See ya.

END SCENE

I know I'm the one who knows nothing about boys or dating clues. But that sort of seems like interest to me, Olivia.

So it might be the perfect window to invite him to my party? I didn't know he was friends with Jordan. Maybe I should invite both of them so it's not too obvious? Even though my invite list is about to explode to twenty and my mom might need to sell one of the twins to pay for all the extra pottery.

I need to get SERIOUS about this party already. Only a
couple weeks to go. I really think I need to ditch the casting and just invite people. For time reasons.

Sorry I'm quitting Chess Club. I know you understand.

Piper

Grateful: Never having to see snobby Steve Polaski again, knowing I'm NOT STUPID just because I have reading comprehension issues and don't totally understand chess, having so many people to sit next to at lunch, LARP, and my mom cooking tacos tonight