mean, hell,
I’d
go out with me if I read the stuff in there. It was an
epic
apology.
And then I waited some more. Two days passed, then three. I started to call her again after a week with no word, but what was the point? I’d said everything I had to say. When she never even bothered to answer me, I knew we were finished.
I was a complete jerk, but everybody makes mistakes. I just wish there was a way for Emery and me to start over.
• • •
That’s why I was happy about getting partnered with her for tutoring, even though I knew she wouldn’t make it easy. I was hoping I could spend time with her again and maybe show her I’m not a total dick.
“Heard you got put with Emery Austin for tutoring,” Cole said after school the day the list was posted. News travels fast.
“Too bad she hates my guts,” I said.
“She doesn’t really,” Bethany, his latest girlfriend, said, patting me on the shoulder.
Bethany was kinda rubbing my shoulder, so I moved away from her. I’m a friendly guy, and girls get the wrong idea sometimes. Emery makes fun of me ’cause I got voted Biggest Flirt in the yearbook freshman year, but sometimes I get the feeling she doesn’t think it’s funny.
Who knows how girls think? Guys are like simple machines—we’re pulleys and levers that react to whatever happens right then, and then we’re over it. Girls are complex computer systems—complicated motherboards no one can understand. All I know is, it seems like every time I pay attention to somebody, the girl has me practically engaged by the next day. Look, I just like to have a good time. I’m not interested in getting too serious—with anybody. Well, with almost anybody.
CHAPTER 13
EMERY
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Rose says suddenly, tugging at my hand. It’s the first time she’s preferred me over Jake—this is a girl thing.
“Me too,” Natalie says.
I turn to Stutts, but he frowns and shakes his head before I can even ask.
This is going to be an ongoing problem with eighteen first graders. What are we going to do?
I look around the room for tools to build a makeshift bathroom.
“You know what this place needs?” I turn to Rose. “A private potty. Jake, can you get me one of those big plastic tubs up there—with a lid?” I reach up and lift the huge corkboard off the wall. Jake comes over to help me, but it’s not very heavy, just awkward.
“What’s that for?” Rose asks.
“A wall. A wall for our very own bathroom,” I tell her.
Rose looks doubtful.
“I’ll hold this up in front of you while you use the plastic tub as a toilet,” I say. She looks horrified. “Hey, it’ll be fun—just like camping. Haven’t you ever used the bathroom in the woods?”
She shakes her head.
“Well, you have missed a real treat, I’m telling you.” I’m acting like peeing in a plastic tub in a room full of people is an amazing adventure. “Alicia, hand me that Kleenex box, will you?”
“My cousin showed me how to go without getting my clothes wet,” Natalie announces. “I’ll go first.”
“Awesome,” I say. For once I’m grateful for Natalie’s need for the spotlight. “And will you show Rose?”
Rose frowns. “Don’t worry,” I tell her, “no one can see you with this big wall up. It’s a little easier for the boys to go to the bathroom in the classroom, but we girls’ll manage just fine.” I push a chair behind the bulletin board wall. “Here’s something to hold on to if you need it for balance.”
Natalie’s skills as a toilet tutor are in high demand. Three other girls line up immediately, and then four of the boys. Jake holds the wall for the guys.
“Nice work, Teach,” Jake says as I put the lid on the “potty.”
“I just hope you don’t have to hold the wall for me,” I tell him.
“You need to go?” he asks. “I got you covered.”
“Not just yet. But thanks.”
He helps me get them all settled back on their carpet, and I sit on the floor with
I’d
go out with me if I read the stuff in there. It was an
epic
apology.
And then I waited some more. Two days passed, then three. I started to call her again after a week with no word, but what was the point? I’d said everything I had to say. When she never even bothered to answer me, I knew we were finished.
I was a complete jerk, but everybody makes mistakes. I just wish there was a way for Emery and me to start over.
• • •
That’s why I was happy about getting partnered with her for tutoring, even though I knew she wouldn’t make it easy. I was hoping I could spend time with her again and maybe show her I’m not a total dick.
“Heard you got put with Emery Austin for tutoring,” Cole said after school the day the list was posted. News travels fast.
“Too bad she hates my guts,” I said.
“She doesn’t really,” Bethany, his latest girlfriend, said, patting me on the shoulder.
Bethany was kinda rubbing my shoulder, so I moved away from her. I’m a friendly guy, and girls get the wrong idea sometimes. Emery makes fun of me ’cause I got voted Biggest Flirt in the yearbook freshman year, but sometimes I get the feeling she doesn’t think it’s funny.
Who knows how girls think? Guys are like simple machines—we’re pulleys and levers that react to whatever happens right then, and then we’re over it. Girls are complex computer systems—complicated motherboards no one can understand. All I know is, it seems like every time I pay attention to somebody, the girl has me practically engaged by the next day. Look, I just like to have a good time. I’m not interested in getting too serious—with anybody. Well, with almost anybody.
CHAPTER 13
EMERY
“I have to go to the bathroom,” Rose says suddenly, tugging at my hand. It’s the first time she’s preferred me over Jake—this is a girl thing.
“Me too,” Natalie says.
I turn to Stutts, but he frowns and shakes his head before I can even ask.
This is going to be an ongoing problem with eighteen first graders. What are we going to do?
I look around the room for tools to build a makeshift bathroom.
“You know what this place needs?” I turn to Rose. “A private potty. Jake, can you get me one of those big plastic tubs up there—with a lid?” I reach up and lift the huge corkboard off the wall. Jake comes over to help me, but it’s not very heavy, just awkward.
“What’s that for?” Rose asks.
“A wall. A wall for our very own bathroom,” I tell her.
Rose looks doubtful.
“I’ll hold this up in front of you while you use the plastic tub as a toilet,” I say. She looks horrified. “Hey, it’ll be fun—just like camping. Haven’t you ever used the bathroom in the woods?”
She shakes her head.
“Well, you have missed a real treat, I’m telling you.” I’m acting like peeing in a plastic tub in a room full of people is an amazing adventure. “Alicia, hand me that Kleenex box, will you?”
“My cousin showed me how to go without getting my clothes wet,” Natalie announces. “I’ll go first.”
“Awesome,” I say. For once I’m grateful for Natalie’s need for the spotlight. “And will you show Rose?”
Rose frowns. “Don’t worry,” I tell her, “no one can see you with this big wall up. It’s a little easier for the boys to go to the bathroom in the classroom, but we girls’ll manage just fine.” I push a chair behind the bulletin board wall. “Here’s something to hold on to if you need it for balance.”
Natalie’s skills as a toilet tutor are in high demand. Three other girls line up immediately, and then four of the boys. Jake holds the wall for the guys.
“Nice work, Teach,” Jake says as I put the lid on the “potty.”
“I just hope you don’t have to hold the wall for me,” I tell him.
“You need to go?” he asks. “I got you covered.”
“Not just yet. But thanks.”
He helps me get them all settled back on their carpet, and I sit on the floor with
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