Free Miss Match by Erynn Mangum

getting Studio Two
ready for ... never mind."
    Ruby comes around the corner, tugging self-consciously at her hair.
"Laurie. Hi."
    Her hair! I gaze in inanimate wonder at the short, sassy bob cut and
highlighting done on Ruby's used-to-be-plain, past-her-shoulders hair.
    "Ruby!" I exclaim.
    "Do you like it?" She pulls on it again. "I'm not sure. It's really
short."
    "I love it," I gush. "Love-it-love-it-love-it. Wow, Ruby. When did you
get it done?"
    "Friday afternoon."
    So while I dealt with Prince-Not-So-Charming, Ruby Palmer turned
herself into Cinderella.
    The chime over the door jangles and is immediately followed by a
long whistle, totally inappropriate if you ask me. Ruby seems to appreciate it though. She blushes four shades of pink, and grins.
    "Wow, Ruby. Holy cow, you look great!" Brandon says. "Did you
get contacts?"

    Ruby's eyebrows go up as she shoots a look of men! to Hannah and
me. "Uh, Brandon, I didn't wear glasses to begin with."
    He is in confusion. "You didn't? Well, something's different. Get a
new outfit?"
    "Nope."
    Ruby doesn't intend to give Brandon any help at all. Good for her.
    He looks closely at her. "Gosh, Ruby. I give up. What's different?"
    "Think hair, Brandon." Hannah's voice brims with sheer, unabashed glee.
    "Oh!" Brandon yells. "Your hair's different. Looks amazing, Ruby."
    "Gee, thanks." She rolls her eyes to me and looks out the window.
The blush starting to recede jump-starts back into place.
    I follow her gaze. Nick Amery.
    "You know, he seems a little ..." she says, fiddling with a lock
of hair.
    "A little what?" I ask. "Weird? Funny? Pastoral?"
    "Familiar," she says, ignoring my suggestions. "Like from a long time
ago. Maybe junior high."
    The "Wedding March" sounds through my brain in reckless abandon. I try really hard to keep a grin off my face.
    Well, moderately hard anyway.
    "Nick! Hey, what's up?" I whip the door open for him, since his arms
are laden with books.
    "This is the curriculum for ..." His eyes land with a resounding
smack! on our lovely, newly transformed Ruby.
    "For . . ." she urges him.
    "Uh, right. Uh, for the, um, the junior high girls' group, uh, that
is, for the 'l iiesday night meetings with the girls' group." Nick swallows.
"Wow, Ruby. Hi. You look ... uh, beautiful."
    She blushes darker. ""Thanks, Nick. That's ... sweet."

    I glance at Hannah, who looks like she just swallowed Dad's lemongrass tea. Blegh.
    I'll admit it. I probably would have the same reaction to their gushiness if I hadn't been the one to arrange it. As it is, I am giddy.
    The hair is a nice touch on Ruby's part.
    "So what have we got here?" I step in for the sake of Hannah's
stomach.
    "The curriculum." Nick shoves the books in my face. "There's
two leader's books and two student editions so you can see what the
kids are doing. And here's the handouts. We use an NIV Bible, just so
you know."
    I nod and transfer the books to Hannah's desk. Romans in Review.
    This is a pet peeve of mine: Alliteration. Preachers do this all the
time. For example, my pastor's points in the sermon on Sunday? Conduct,
Condition, and Consider.
    This curriculum is going to grate on my nerves. Splashed underneath
the title on all the books is Realizing Romans Remains Really Relevant.
    Do people honestly talk like that?
    "As you can see, we're going through Romans." Nick hands me the
last book.
    Ruby is still fiddling with her hair. "In two weeks now, right?"
    "Right," Nick says. "Our middle school group is pretty small, so
you'll have sixth through eighth graders."
    "Works Well With We," I say.
    I guess people really do talk like that because only Hannah and
Brandon give me weird looks. But Nick and Ruby are involved in a stare
contest and aren't listening.
    "Ruby, I have a question for you," Nick says suddenly.
    I'm rooting for "Will you marry me?" But I think it might be a bit
soon for that.

    Nick continues. "Did you by any chance go to Hamilton Middle
School?"
    Ruby's mouth drops