Our school's library was the nicest thing on campus. It was on the second floor, almost every wall a window. We had the perfect view of the bridge that connected the main buildings. School was out for the day, so no one was out there except a few teachers and security guards on bikes. Liah loved the library because it was the only real quiet time she ever got. I liked it for the books.

After Corey agreed to set me up last night, he asked me a question I was completely unprepared for: What do you want? In all the time I spent daydreaming about having a boyfriend, I never really gave any thought to what I wanted in a man aside from the basics--kind, funny, nice to look at. Corey rolled his eyes when I told him this.

So, while Liah worked on her Spanish homework, I had non-school related homework of my own. I grabbed three of my favorite young adult romances and took notes. I had many book boyfriends, but the three books I pulled from the shelves were my absolute favorites.

There was Dexter, a musician who didn't back down from a challenge and wasn't afraid to bare his soul to the girl he liked. Orion, who fell hard for the female love interest and wasn't afraid to cry. And Derek, who only had eyes for the main character and was understanding and patient with her.

I summarized what I liked most about them into bullet points, but as I stared down at the list on my phone, I realized it might not be all that helpful. How would Corey know whether someone had an ounce of romance in them? I didn't know what guys talked about, but I doubted they were as transparent as the boys in my books.

"What's that?" I jumped at Liah's voice behind me. She leaned over my shoulder, reading out loud, "A boyfriend checklist?"

My face warmed as she read off the embarrassing title. I'd been so distracted by Corey's question that it slipped my mind to tell my best friend about everything. Now that I had the opportunity, I didn't know if I wanted to. Begging my brother's best friend to find me a boyfriend wasn't something I wanted to broadcast.

At my silence, she pulled out the chair next to me. "What's with that face?"

"What face?"

Hers scrunched up like it always did when she was thinking. "It's like you smelled something bad. And Mrs. Lennon took her cabbage soup outside, so that can't be the reason."

I turned my body to her. Lying wasn't an option with Liah. Not only would she immediately call me out on it, but I'd feel sick keeping things from her. "Last night, after you dropped Corey and me off, I--"

"Kissed him?"

"What?" I jumped back like she hit me. "No, I didn't kiss him! Why would you think that?"

"Well, you're acting all nervous and writing lists. I thought you kissed him and was confused about your feelings or something," she said, hands up in defense as my glare settled on her. "And you did hit your head pretty hard last night."

"Not that hard." Besides, kissing Corey would've been like kissing Myisha. I would've been covered in her body glitter. "I asked him to set me up with someone."

She blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

"He has a better insight about the boys in this school," I told her. "It made sense in my head."

"You sure it wasn't your unicorn horn talking?"

I touched the knot on my forehead. The swelling had gone down a bit. Still, I styled my curly bangs to cover it. "Shut up. He said he'd help me. I just have to tell him what I'm looking for."

"Anything with a pulse," she mumbled loud enough for me to hear. I shoved her to the side, making her laugh. "So that's what the list is?"

"Yes, but so far, it's just a bunch of adjectives." Even as a hopeless romantic, I knew that wasn't enough to go off of.

"What you need is someone to balance you out." She took my phone and started a new list. "You need someone who will take you out for some fresh air every once in a while, because we both know you'd never leave your bed if it wasn't for me and school."

"Is this about finding a boyfriend or pet sitter?"

She shushed me and continued. "You'll need someone who will occasionally call you out for being a brat."

"So, I'm a bratty dog. Got it."

"More like a bratty cat, but yeah." She added more to the list, her face scrunched as she concentrated. After listing off a few more things, she gave back my phone.

As I looked over the list, I realized how silly it was to think for a second not to include my best friend in this. Her list was a million times better than mine. Something Corey might actually be able to use.

She went to gather her things from the table she over took with her homework while I forwarded the list to Corey. We left the library, heading for the student parking lot.

"Can I sleep over? I have to study for Mr. Wentz's test and Zion has an ear infection." It was a weekday, but Mom never minded our impromptu sleepovers. Mom was the oldest of five and understood the need to get away from the chaos sometimes.

"Of course, but only if you feed me."

"See, just like a cat. Only being nice for treats."

• • •

Liah bought me a bacon cheese burger and some nuggets. We planted ourselves on the couch in front of the tv, watching some old show about Black college students that we found. One of the male characters was sneaking out of the girl's dorm when the doorbell rang.

Corey stood there, backlit by the setting sun. He had a folded piece of paper that he handed to me. It was a list of names. Five, to be exact. I didn't think he'd get it to me so quickly. "Come in." I turned, eyes on the list as I went back to the living room.

"Hey, Corey," Liah said, right before I shoved the list in her face. "What's this?"

"Potential boyfriends." I sat next to her, the two of us huddled over the paper.

She looked from the list to Corey. "You printed it out? This could've been a text."

"I don't want it to be traced back to me," he said dryly, leaning over the back of the couch.

"Arthur Burch? Matty Goodwin? Dean Price?" Liah scoffed at each name. "This was the best you could do? Did you even read my list?"

"Your list?"

"She wrote the list I sent you," I told him.

His eyes slit at me. "You asked her what you wanted in a boyfriend?"

"She knows me better than anyone," I said meekly. Which was true. I told her everything. Sometimes she just knew stuff without me even having to tell her. It was like we shared one brain. If anyone could set me up with someone good, it was her.

"Exactly," Liah, gave Corey his list back. "And I know none of these guys are going to work."

He stood, slipping the list in his pocket. "Okay."

"Wait!"

Corey stopped before he got to the door.

"Liah knows me, but you know the guys at school," I said, looking between them. "If we all work together, we can find someone in all of West Valley that isn't a complete let down." Corey looked like he wanted to bolt, so I added, "And you said you'd help."

With a sigh, he walked over and plopped down on the love seat next to the couch we were on. "Your brother is gonna beat my ass for this."

With my hand over my heart, I said, "That is a sacrifice I am willing to make."

His brow raised, amused. "Did you just quote Shrek?"

Liah frowned up at us. "And you say I watch bad movies."

• • •

Armed with Grayson's yearbook and the leftover candy my mom didn't hand out last night, we got to work. Liah nixed more than half of Corey's list. Arthur was a pushover and, according to Liah, I could get pushy. Matty was a vegan and into fitness. I loved meat and dairy and hated sweating on purpose. Dean apparently had a fetish for light-skinned girls and had hit on my best friend multiple times.

The other two guys, Justin Yoon and Maverick Booker, were added to a new list that Liah made. She used her colorful pens and highlighters to write out what made each guy a good match for me. My best friend was like one of those super geniuses on crime shows that had a special niche that helped catch the bad guys. Her thing was taking notes in a way that made perfect sense.

She waved her highlighter like a wand and changed the boys from ordinary to potential soulmates.

"Well, my work here is done."

"Hold on," Liah said, stopping Corey. "What do you know about Trent Adamson?"

Corey scratched his chin. "He's cool. No weird fetishes or anything."

"Then he's my pick." She added his name to the list in her perfect round letters. "Three guys. Three dates. One epic love story."

"Right. So. Can I go now?"

Liah wiggled her fingers at him. "Toodles."

I followed Corey to the door. "Thanks for helping me out."

"You didn't really give me a choice."

"You had a choice," I huffed, folding my arms. "And choose to stop last night."

"You were trying to hit me with rocks."

My cheeks burned. "You noticed that?"

His head tilted in a "duh" way.

"Well, thanks, anyway," I said. "For dressing up. And the things with the Halloween lights. And your help in my 'epic love story'. I'll leave you alone now."

He started walking backwards down the path. "I look forward to it." He turned and I shut the door. A weird emptiness settled in my chest. It felt kind of weird not having a reason to bug him anymore. 

When I turned around, I jumped for the third time that day. Liah was behind me, her backpack in one hand and two thick textbooks cradled in the other. Why did I feel like she just caught me doing something I shouldn't have been? "Wimp. I'm going upstairs."

"No homework in my room!" I followed behind her, running up the stairs.

"That's a dumb rule," she said over her shoulder. "Homework is better in bed."

She dumped her bag and books on my bed. "Before we drop the boy talk so I can study, what's the game plan here?"

I took a seat at my desk. "What do you mean?"

"How do you plan on asking these guys out on dates?"

Oh. Right. That part. "I'll figure it out when the time comes."

"Okay. Try not to fall down any stairs. And stay away from trees!" I threw a stuffed bear at her, which she used her textbook to block. "Ha! Homework wins!"