Free I Am the Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes Page A

newspaper-and-slippers, too bald, too predictable.
    Plus, it’d just be too weird.
    “No,” I said. “Actually, I think you’re smart to stay uninvolved.”
    A little while later, out of nowhere she said, “I was thinking about Wen today.”
    “Yes?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. Finally, she was going to ask about Wen and me. Still, I didn’t want to give anything away or make it too easy.
    I waited.
    But we were at one of the best parts of the movie, where Elvis is crazy with jealousy because he thinks his brother stole his wife away from him. By the time he’d hidden himself behind the big rock, waiting to shoot his brother, I knew she’d forgotten all about what she’d started to say.
    I didn’t remind her. If she wasn’t going to ask me, then I wasn’t going to tell her.
    Wednesday, July 2, 10:30 p.m.
    My Dear Friend and Confidant, Floey,
    I just put the phone down. Since you’re me, I don’t have to tell you who called. Third day in a row. A whole hour this time. Anyway, you’re not going to believe this (oh, what am I saying, of course you are!), but I worked up the nerve to ask him if he and Kim had finally made it “official.” Remember what he said?
    They broke up!! (Big giddy gasp!)
    He asked me if it really counts as a breakup sincethey only kissed once. (I said I wasn’t sure.) But he says after the bus ride, when they got to the dorm, she told him she felt “uncomfortable”—and broke it off!!!
    Ha! Woo-hoo!! (Shrieks of joy! Ecstatic cheers!!)
    So what do you really think? Is it possible that he’s been harboring a secret desire for me all this time? Maybe he only just realized it. In the history of relationships, it can’t be so rare for best friends to become more than friends, right? Maybe Wen, unlike some people I could mention but won’t (rhymes with Shmalvin), appreciates a good thing when he sees it—even if it did take him a while.
    Am I on the right track or am I way off?
    Could it be that he’s ready to make his move, and that these telephone calls are his first timid steps?
    You think so? Me too!
    Oh my God. He’ll be home tomorrow. I’ll definitely see him either at night or at the parade on Friday at the latest. I wonder if it’s going to be any different between us?
    Terrible thought: What happens if it doesn’t work out? After all, don’t I know that getting my hopes up about this is a mistake? That it will probably only lead to heartbreak? I’d hate to lose Wen as a buddy.And what about Azra? If only we hadn’t agreed to share him—it makes everything so complicated!!
    Oh well, I guess these are the kinds of problems you just have to deal with when you’re dazzling, charming and hard to resist—bravo to Wen for finally noticing!

chapter seven: in which
i sneak out of the house
and finally have an
adventure of my own
or
fireworks, stars and moons

    Thursday, July 3, 11:30 p.m.
    Dear F,
    Waited by the phone all day—almost lost patience with the boy, but finally he called! We talked for more than an hour!!
    I practically have a boyfriend!!!
    So, Wise Floey of Years Yet to Be, here’s a question about early-relationship etiquette: Was it a bad idea for me to tell him that I missed him? Did I seem too needy? Should I have kept my mouth shut?
    Was that completely dumb or do you think it was okay?
    P.S.
    I still feel guilty about Azra even though it’s not my fault this is happening. After all, he is the one calling me every day, not the other way around.
    Besides, HE SAID HE MISSES ME TOO!!!
    How will I ever get through the long hours until tomorrow, when I’ll finally see him? (Sigh!)
    P.P.S.
    Gary likes my hat. He said it makes me look exotic. Unlike my family (i.e., Ma, who keeps asking why I don’t take it off inside the house), Gary has a refined sense of style.
    I felt pretty confident as I got ready on Friday morning.
    As the New Extraordinary Floey, I wanted to stand out at the parade, so along with my hat I wore dark sunglasses, and I tied a