Free Bright Lights, Dark Nights by Stephen Emond Page B

nervous.
    â€œYou ask her out!” Kate said. “You ask her to be Walter’s hot little mama.”
    â€œI’m not ready,” I said. I had the jitters right then, and the jitters were bad enough. The thought of asking her out made me want to toss up everything inside me. “I’ll ruin everything if I try to force it.”
    â€œWalter, you give yourself the worst advice,” Nate said from his spot in the shade. “You’ll ruin everything by sitting around waiting while someone else asks her out. This girl has a taste for kisses now, and if she doesn’t get more Walter loving, she’s gonna look for it somewhere else. It’s on to the next one, son.”
    I’d gone to Nate and Kate because they were normal and thought normal and had normal relationships, except for right now, I guess. But they still had a better track record than I did for this stuff. Nate was right: my own advice was terrible. And what did I know? My family was a mess. I wouldn’t know a normal relationship if it asked me to a Foo Fighters concert.
    I was in the stage of a budding romance that I’ve named “The Awkwardness of What’s Next.” There were too many lingering questions, too many unknown variables, too many unspoken words still. I needed to find Naomi so we could figure it all out.
    *   *   *
    I skipped the bus ride home and stayed late at school to see if I could find Naomi. If I was going to ask her out or admit to feeling a certain way, I’d rather do it in person than wait for a response online. I also had the comfort that she brought me when we were face-to-face. She had a way of making me feel like I could say or do anything. This would put it to the test, if I could actually find her.
    I sat at a table in the hall with my books out, halfheartedly starting some homework. But mostly I was people-watching, hoping to spot Naomi. As I waited, I overheard a conversation.
    â€œThose sneakers were expensive,” this one kid was saying. “Since when do I have to worry about my stuff being stolen in gym class? I’m gonna pound someone.”
    â€œDid you hear about Jeremy?” the other kid said. “His house got hit by the burglar. His mom’s jewelry, small stuff—they didn’t even realize it was missing until Sunday morning.”
    I couldn’t actually focus on work, so I wandered. I didn’t really stay at school late often, but walking home wasn’t a big issue when I did have to. There were football players making their way to the gym area. People doing homework in the hall. Seven hours was generally enough for me.
    I made a turn toward the lockers and bumped into Jason.
    â€œHey, man,” he said. “I’m running late today.”
    â€œHey, I can’t make it to Shadows,” I said, not expecting the conversation. I had forgotten completely that it was Wednesday, and that meant comic books. I had more important things on my mind, and not things I could talk to Jason about.
    â€œDon’t have to run it by me,” Jason said, and walked past me. He didn’t ask what I was doing there late, and I didn’t have a reason primed if he had asked. “Catch you later.”
    I hadn’t talked to Jason since the concert, but the way he walked past me and kept it short made me wonder if he knew about the kiss. I couldn’t imagine Naomi would tell him. I didn’t even know if he knew I was at the concert.
    I wandered aimlessly down the hall, through the science lab wing, and turned back. I’d pretty much given up when I saw her ready to leave, walking to the exit doors. I couldn’t catch her in time.
    â€œHey!” I shouted out, embarrassing myself. She turned around. I couldn’t think of a word to follow up with. She was wearing short pink shorts and a light jacket. She had a track uniform on. Her legs were a mile long. She wore glasses on her head, like she