DAVID

"David!" My mom's sharp voice cuts through the quiet peace in my room. I jump and quickly close my email to Kati. It's part six of Gordy's 'six part plan' to get a girl. In science class, the teacher passed around an email list at the beginning of the year and Gordy took an extra long time writing his email address down, because he was writing the other addresses into his notebook. One of them was Kati's.

"Hi Mom," I say.

Mom stands in the doorway with her arms crossed. I turn my computer screen off.

"You hardly ate any of your supper," she frowns. "Does your father know you're on the computer?"

I shrug. "The Internet was hooked back up so I thought it was okay."

She turns to leave, then stops. "Your father wouldn't like it if you were looking at Christian books," she says over her shoulder.

"I know," I say, swallowing hard. Did she find the New Testament I have hidden in my drawer?

"Or Christian girls." Mom leaves, closing the door behind her .

I stare at the closed door. How does she always know everything? A 'ding' from the computer startles me and I jump, knocking the keyboard off its tray. I turn the screen back on. There's a small window that says LittleHamsterGirl has logged onto messenger. It's Kati...

KATI

I stare at the notification on my computer screen. 'Do you want to add ScienceOfficerDavid to your messenger list?' It has to be David from school. Who else would send me a request? I sit up in my comfy chair and set my mug of hot chocolate down on the desk. If it's not David then I can just block the person after.

I click yes. A message from ScienceOfficerDavid pops up almost immediately.

-Hi Kati!

-Hi. Is this David?

-Yes

-I mean from school?

-Yeah :)

I stare at the screen, not sure what to say. He ignored me in class then didn't talk to me at lunch. Why is he messaging me now? I don't know what to write so I just sit there, waiting for him to write first. After a moment he types another message.

-I hope you don't mind. I got your address from that class list, a while ago.

-It's okay, I guess.

There's another pause. I take a sip of my hot chocolate and watch the screen. David doesn't reply so I set my mug down and type, 'so what do you want?'

-Nothing, I just thought we could chat.

-You kind of ignored me at school today.

-I ignored you?

I cross my arms, frowning. Is he trying to pretend that he didn't ignore me? How can he not realize that he ignored me all day and then didn't let me sit with him at lunch? I start typing again.

-At lunch, I had no one to sit with.

-You kind of ran off.

What? Is he serious?

- I asked if I could sit with you guys, but you didn't say anything. I had to sit by myself.

-Rob sat with you.

I smile. So he noticed Rob sitting with me. Interesting.

-Not really, he just came to talk to me for a second.

There is another pause and then David writes again.

-Sorry I didn't say anything when you came over. You just kind of surprised us.

-Oh

-I was going to come and sit with you but Rob got there first.

-You were?

-Yes.

Now I really don't know what to say. David writes again,

-Do you want to go to the library?

-Now?

-Yes, it's open until nine.

-Why?

-So people can have more time to take out books I guess.

-No, I mean why do you want to go to the library?

-I don't know, to talk?

-But libraries aren't really a place to talk.

-That's true.

I chew on my nails. David wants to meet up. Would this be like a date or something? Should I go? This could be my chance to do something other than just hanging out with Charlie after school. But David ignoring me in class and in the cafeteria. Should I just forget about it and go? He was probably nervous the whole time and didn't know what to say. He did contact me and apologize, sort of, in that I-didn't-realize-I-did-anything-wrong way that boys have of apologizing. I sit up and type, 'Okay, I'll come.' My heart races as I hit the send button.

David writes back.

-Really?

-Yes :)

-Okay, see you there!

David signs off and I do the same.

"Mom, Mom!" I yell.

Mom comes running to my door. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"David wants me to go to the library. What should I do?"

"The library?"

"Yes."

"To do homework?"

"No, Mom." I roll my eyes. "To meet there."

"To meet there?"

"Yes!"

Mom seems to think about this for a second, still breathing heavy from running to my room. "Well," she continues in Hungarian, "then you should go meet him at the Library."

"But aren't you worried about me?" I say. "I mean it's getting dark out already and I'd have to walk by myself... even though it's not that far I guess, but..." I cover my face with my hands. "I don't know what to talk to him about!"

"You worry too much," Mom says. "I'm sure he doesn't know what to talk about either. Do you want me to drive you? Two blocks?"

"Doesn't that make it worse?"

"If I drive you?"

"No, if he doesn't know what to talk about either? We'll both just sit there with nothing to say!"

"Just go." My waves her hand at me then turns to leave. "Talk about your endangered owls, or all the other animals you always talk about that are going extinct," she calls over her shoulder.

I grab a sweater and say a quick goodbye to Charlie before running out of my room to the front door. I fumble with my shoes. It's like I've never put shoes on before or something. David will be waiting for me. My heart races as I run out into the crisp night air.

"Don't forget your jacket!" Mom calls after me.

"Thanks."

Mom nods, handing me the jacket. She looks sad or something. But I don't stop to think about it. I have to hurry. David's waiting. I run off towards the library.