TTYL (22 page)

SnowAngel:

zoe! aaargh!!!!!!!!

SnowAngel:

i just had the most infuriating convo with maddie!

zoegirl:

what happened?

SnowAngel:

she was bragging about her 285 adventure—that's what started it. i happened to mention that i didn't think it was very nice that no one rode with her, not even her precious jana, and she totally flipped out and got nasty.

SnowAngel:

god, zoe, it is so weird with her these days! one
minute things r fine and dandy, and then the next minute we're at each other's throats!

zoegirl:

maybe it's weird just because she knows you don't like jana.

SnowAngel:

well, she shouldn't either. jana sucks. she's just using maddie for her car—it's so obvious.

zoegirl:

is it?

SnowAngel:

YES

zoegirl:

i don't know. the whole scene sounded sketchy to me, like a bunch of obnoxious high school kids on a power trip. i'm glad i wasn't there.

SnowAngel:

me too

zoegirl:

how about your night? how'd bowling go?

SnowAngel:

and that's another thing! maddie didn't even bother to ask about that, thank u very much. it's like she thinks my life is too boring to talk about.

zoegirl:

well, I'M asking: how was it hanging out with doug and steve? was it fun, or was it miserable?

SnowAngel:

*does wishy-washy thing with hand*

zoegirl:

explain

SnowAngel:

it wasn't soooooo bad. i got chrissy to come with me at the very last minute, and it was surprisingly fun having her along.

SnowAngel:

she kept getting gutter balls, and one time the ball flew off her hand when she was swinging it backward. it bounced across the floor making these big whomping sounds, and we all cracked up.

zoegirl:

chrissy's great. if i had a sister, i'd want one like chrissy.

SnowAngel:

yeah. she looked really good too. she wore a pair of jeans with embroidery at the bottom, along with a pink t-shirt that said “princess” on it. which sounds dreadful, but on her it looked cute.

zoegirl:

did doug and steve hit on her? jk

SnowAngel:

*arches one eyebrow* actually…

zoegirl:

angela! she's 12!!!

SnowAngel:

they didn't hit on her, exactly.

zoegirl:

then what?

SnowAngel:

well, like i said, chrissy kept throwing gutter balls, and each time she would laugh and get embarrassed and say she was never gonna go bowling again.

SnowAngel:

then one time she went up for her turn, and when she put her fingers in the ball, she stopped and looked confused.

zoegirl:

why?

SnowAngel:

there was a note rolled up in one of the holes! she pulled it out, and it said, “ur doing terrific. don't give up. p.s. i think ur pretty.”

zoegirl:

awww!

zoegirl:

i take it doug or steve slipped it in there?

SnowAngel:

yes, but for the longest time they didn't admit it. they said it must be from someone at the bowling alley, one of the guys who worked behind the lanes.

SnowAngel:

chrissy's eyes got big, and she blushed like crazy. then she got even more embarrassed when she rolled a gutter ball again, cuz she was worried that the guy—whoever he was—was watching.

zoegirl:

that totally makes me like doug and steve. what a sweet thing to do.

SnowAngel:

yeah, they kept teasing her about it, saying she had a secret admirer and stuff like that.

SnowAngel:

only…

zoegirl:

what?

SnowAngel:

this is really, really, really humiliating, but i kind of got the teeniest bit jealous. *hides head in shame* this was before i knew doug and steve had planted the note. i kept thinking, “why's that bowling guy flirting with chrissy and not me?”

zoegirl:

silly angela

SnowAngel:

i know. the thought even crossed my mind that the note had been meant for me, and that chrissy had gotten it by accident. how lame, to be jealous of my 12-year-old sister.

zoegirl:

but you were happy for her too, so that's okay. and doug and steve probably wanted to slip notes in your bowling ball, but they knew they couldn't, because that would be, like, too real.

SnowAngel:

*big mushy hug* thanks, zo. u always make me feel better.

SnowAngel:

and last but not least: how was your bingo date with mr. h?

zoegirl:

my wild night at the nursing home? just kidding.

zoegirl:

it was nice. really nice. i helped all these old ppl with their cards, and it made me feel floaty inside.

SnowAngel:

floaty?

zoegirl:

you know, like when you see a sunset, or when you're outside looking at the stars. that huge, happy feeling like you're connected to all the good things in the world.

SnowAngel:

wow. that's awesome.

zoegirl:

it made me want to do more stuff like that, stuff that doesn't involve school and grades and all that pressure. they have a volunteer program, and i'm thinking about signing up.

SnowAngel:

what about mr. h—did anything happen with him?

zoegirl:

well… you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay? not even maddie. (and unlike maddie, i honestly mean it.)

SnowAngel:

i promise, i promise! did he kiss you?!!

zoegirl:

no, no, no, nothing like that. but—and i'm probably wrong, and i know i'll sound super
arrogant for even saying this—but i'm starting to think that maybe there could be something between us, something more than the fact that he's my teacher.

SnowAngel:

what do u mean?

zoegirl:

i think maybe he… you know. likes me.

SnowAngel:

well, duh, zoe. u don't see mr. miklos schmoozing me for bingo dates, now do u? *shudders* ew, what a horrible image.

zoegirl:

you don't think i'm being ridiculous? you think there's, like, a chance?

SnowAngel:

do u WANT there to be a chance?

zoegirl:

i don't know.

zoegirl:

maybe?

zoegirl:

oh, wow, i'm turning bright red just saying it out loud—and i'm NOT even saying it out loud. thank goodness we're not talking in person. i'd probably faint.

SnowAngel:

whoa. this is so… lifetime-channel-ish.

zoegirl:

gee, thanks

SnowAngel:

no, it's just that u expect things like this to happen in movies, not in real life. only it IS happening in real life.

zoegirl:

kind of scary, huh?

SnowAngel:

i guess i thought it was just a game, something we talked about just for fun. but ur seriously falling for him, aren't u?

zoegirl:

i don't know. i think about him a lot. more than a lot. and last night, when he dropped me off…

SnowAngel:

yes?

zoegirl:

we were sitting in his car, talking, and he reached over and brushed my hair off my face. i know that sounds like nothing, but the way he did it made it seem like more.

SnowAngel:

like how?

zoegirl:

just really gentle, like it meant something to be touching me.

SnowAngel:

wow

zoegirl:

then he pulled back his hand and said, “you're in 10th grade, zoe.” and i said, “i know.” then he said, “you're 15,” and i said, “i know.”

SnowAngel:

oh man. he was totally, like, admitting he was into u.

zoegirl:

then he pushed back my hair again, tucking it behind my ear, and…

zoegirl:

it's the way he looked at me, like he was saying two different things at the same time.

zoegirl:

it sounds really stupid, doesn't it?

SnowAngel:

it doesn't sound stupid, zo. it sounds… big.

zoegirl:

yeah. that's kind of how it feels too.

SnowAngel:

i guess i'm excited for u, since u like him back and everything. but r u sure this is ok? i mean, he's a TEACHER.

zoegirl:

i know. and probably nothing more will happen, not till i graduate. and that won't be for another two years.

SnowAngel:

true. and i've gotta say—thank god for that!

zoegirl:

i saw you drive by my house this afternoon. why didn't you stop?

mad maddie:

i couldn't, cuz i was already running late. i honked, tho.

zoegirl:

yeah, i heard. what were you late for?

mad maddie:

doc appointment. annual physical.

zoegirl:

and?

mad maddie:

no shots, baby!

zoegirl:

wh-hoo!

mad maddie:

at the end, the doctor got all serious and asked
me a bunch of questions. doc: “r u sexually active?” me: “sadly, no.” doc: “do u ever drink?” me: “ummm…” doc: “have u ever thought of killing yourself?” me: “maybe. doesn't everyone?”

zoegirl:

good one

mad maddie:

doc: “yes, well, have u ever made a plan?” me: “no, unless continuing to sit through geometry counts as a plan.” doc: “excuse me?” me: “meet mr. miklos and u'll understand. u'll die of boredom.”

zoegirl:

you did not say that.

mad maddie:

maybe i did, maybe i didn't. i am a woman of mystery.

zoegirl:

speaking of mystery, you have to tell me about you and ian! you started to tell me in homeroom, and then ms. andrist got all busy with announcements.

mad maddie:

our saturday night snuggle-fest, u mean?

zoegirl:

has he kissed u yet—a real kiss?

mad maddie:

he STILL hasn't! he's, like, the snuggle king, which is nice, but i'm ready for more. i keep telling myself that i should make the move myself, but i keep chickening out.

zoegirl:

he's probably nervous too

mad maddie:

i guess. on saturday, we ended the night with a hug.

zoegirl:

awww!

mad maddie:

awww, yourself. i'm a growing girl. i have needs, dammit!

zoegirl:

he'll get there, just give him time.

mad maddie:

or i cld put on crotchless panties and do a lap dance for him.

zoegirl:

um. no.

mad maddie:

i know that makes me sound like a skank—and i really don't mean it like that. and i'm not pulling
an angela, either, like “ooo, he's THE ONE.” it's just that ian's awesome, and i want things to get deeper, u know? and if things got more physical, maybe that would happen.

zoegirl:

i know what you mean

mad maddie:

you do?

zoegirl:

i'm not a saint, maddie

mad maddie:

well… it's different, tho.

zoegirl:

how?

mad maddie:

cuz with mr. h, u know it'll never go further than a crush, which is totally not the same thing.

zoegirl:

maybe it is

mad maddie:

and maybe it isn't.

mad maddie:

but the moms *definitely* has meatloaf on the table, and it's calling my name!