older.
So you’re the baby of the group, I teased. Very interesting.
I am, he agreed. I’m the only teenager, actually. Sophie turned twenty a couple of weeks ago. But I’m still nineteen until July twenty-second.
We’d reached the bagel shop, and Blake opened the door for me again. The smell hit me as soon as we walked inside, a fantastic aroma of rising dough that immediately made my stomach growl. I realized, thinking about it, that Madison and I had never actually gotten around to eating dinner last night. Not surprisingly, I was starving.
Blake ordered for both of us, and I picked out a table next to the window, glancing down at the newspaper that the person before us had discarded on one of the seats.
Can we sit here? I asked Blake as he came over, carrying two thick bagels smothered in cream cheese. Or are you going to get mobbed by crazy fans?
He laughed. No, that doesn’t happen a lot, he explained, looking embarrassed. We probably shouldn’t have tried to go somewhere so close to the concert. But now I’m glad we did, he met my eyes, and then looked down.
Again, I tried to wipe the dumb grin off my face. Well, me too, I said carefully. I mean, I don’t know how I would have paid for our coffees if you hadn’t showed up. They probably would have called the cops on me.
Right, he said, playing along. I’m glad I could save you from a lengthy jail sentence. Maybe they would have let you wash dishes to pay it off.
One can only hope, I giggled, trying to bite into the bagel without getting cream cheese all over my face. It was perfect -- untoasted, like all the best New York bagels are. I finished half of the bagel in about three bites before I thought to wonder if I should try to be more dainty about eating in front of him. Looking over, though, Blake didn’t seem particularly concerned. Like a typical guy, his plate was already almost empty.
I smiled to myself -- Trevor was a hoover around food too, and he hadn’t even hit his growth spurt yet. At least I looked dainty in comparison, I figured.
I looked over at the restaurant’s clock. It was eleven thirty -- we had a half hour to get to the bus before it left.
Should we bring some back for everyone else? I wondered out loud. Do we have time?
Blake laughed. They won’t leave without me, he assured me. But that’s a great idea. We have plenty of time. The rest of them are always late, and they have to load our equipment from last night. The bus won’t be ready right at noon.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, warming my back. Blake stood up to wait in line a second time, and I looked out onto the street, watching as couples or groups passed the window on their way somewhere else. An ambulance drove past, all its lights off. A taxi honked its horn at a pedestrian taking too long at the crosswalk. A dog passed the window, pulling on its leash as its owner searched for something in her purse.
Blake came back with a shopping bag under his arm, and two coffees in paper cups, looking at me as if there wasn’t another girl to notice in all of New York city.
I felt so content that I thought I might burst.
Chapter Ten
Blake was right -- everything was loaded onto the bus, including us, before the rest of the group showed up.
Jesse got on first, registering me and then the food we’d brought. He didn’t say a word, just grabbed a sesame bagel and bit down, nodding his head at me in some unspoken gesture of acceptance.
When Sophie saw me, her face broke out into a smile so wide and genuine that I couldn’t help but feel grateful for it.
You’re coming? she asked, setting a slouchy leather bag onto one of the shelves. Good, she grinned. We need some fresh faces around here. We were all starting to get sick of each other.
I smiled, sitting on the edge of my seat next to Blake, trying not to let my whole body shake.
April was the last to arrive, which Blake whispered to me was typical. She wouldn’t let the hair and makeup people that
So you’re the baby of the group, I teased. Very interesting.
I am, he agreed. I’m the only teenager, actually. Sophie turned twenty a couple of weeks ago. But I’m still nineteen until July twenty-second.
We’d reached the bagel shop, and Blake opened the door for me again. The smell hit me as soon as we walked inside, a fantastic aroma of rising dough that immediately made my stomach growl. I realized, thinking about it, that Madison and I had never actually gotten around to eating dinner last night. Not surprisingly, I was starving.
Blake ordered for both of us, and I picked out a table next to the window, glancing down at the newspaper that the person before us had discarded on one of the seats.
Can we sit here? I asked Blake as he came over, carrying two thick bagels smothered in cream cheese. Or are you going to get mobbed by crazy fans?
He laughed. No, that doesn’t happen a lot, he explained, looking embarrassed. We probably shouldn’t have tried to go somewhere so close to the concert. But now I’m glad we did, he met my eyes, and then looked down.
Again, I tried to wipe the dumb grin off my face. Well, me too, I said carefully. I mean, I don’t know how I would have paid for our coffees if you hadn’t showed up. They probably would have called the cops on me.
Right, he said, playing along. I’m glad I could save you from a lengthy jail sentence. Maybe they would have let you wash dishes to pay it off.
One can only hope, I giggled, trying to bite into the bagel without getting cream cheese all over my face. It was perfect -- untoasted, like all the best New York bagels are. I finished half of the bagel in about three bites before I thought to wonder if I should try to be more dainty about eating in front of him. Looking over, though, Blake didn’t seem particularly concerned. Like a typical guy, his plate was already almost empty.
I smiled to myself -- Trevor was a hoover around food too, and he hadn’t even hit his growth spurt yet. At least I looked dainty in comparison, I figured.
I looked over at the restaurant’s clock. It was eleven thirty -- we had a half hour to get to the bus before it left.
Should we bring some back for everyone else? I wondered out loud. Do we have time?
Blake laughed. They won’t leave without me, he assured me. But that’s a great idea. We have plenty of time. The rest of them are always late, and they have to load our equipment from last night. The bus won’t be ready right at noon.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, warming my back. Blake stood up to wait in line a second time, and I looked out onto the street, watching as couples or groups passed the window on their way somewhere else. An ambulance drove past, all its lights off. A taxi honked its horn at a pedestrian taking too long at the crosswalk. A dog passed the window, pulling on its leash as its owner searched for something in her purse.
Blake came back with a shopping bag under his arm, and two coffees in paper cups, looking at me as if there wasn’t another girl to notice in all of New York city.
I felt so content that I thought I might burst.
Chapter Ten
Blake was right -- everything was loaded onto the bus, including us, before the rest of the group showed up.
Jesse got on first, registering me and then the food we’d brought. He didn’t say a word, just grabbed a sesame bagel and bit down, nodding his head at me in some unspoken gesture of acceptance.
When Sophie saw me, her face broke out into a smile so wide and genuine that I couldn’t help but feel grateful for it.
You’re coming? she asked, setting a slouchy leather bag onto one of the shelves. Good, she grinned. We need some fresh faces around here. We were all starting to get sick of each other.
I smiled, sitting on the edge of my seat next to Blake, trying not to let my whole body shake.
April was the last to arrive, which Blake whispered to me was typical. She wouldn’t let the hair and makeup people that
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