A Fine Line (12 page)

“What’s up?”

“You ready for that blind date?”

Molly glanced briefly back at the snare line, and then shrugged, “Sure.”

“How about tomorrow night?”

“What did you tell this guy?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, why does he want to see me so soon? I hope you haven’t convinced him I’m a model or something.”

Lucy shook her head, “It’s not that.”

It’s just if I don’t go through with this plan soon, I’m going to totally lose the confidence to and go on the blind date myself!

Lucy continued, babbling, “I mean, you know, Homecoming isn’t that far off and what if you totally hit it off with this mystery guy? Then you’d be able to go with him!”

Lucy cringed when she realized how absolutely fake she sounded, but hoped that Molly wouldn’t pick up on the tone.

Fortunately, her friend nodded, “That could be nice.”

Lucy sighed with relief, “So, if you could be ready tomorrow night around seven…”

“What should I wear?”

“You know your brown and yellow dress?”

Molly nodded, “Yup.”

“That should do.”

Molly’s eyes widened, “That dressy?”

Lucy nodded and affected the same fake voice as before, “You’ll be fine. He has your address and will be seeing you tomorrow night. I expect a call on Sunday to tell me how things went!”

“Sure.”

The song was coming to an end and Lucy went back to her bass drum where Bronwyn was grinning profusely. She commented, “Great job, B.”

“Really?”

“Sure! Just ask any time you want to play.”

“Thanks, Luce!”

As Lucy drove her home that night, Bronwyn thought that this was the best game she could ever remember. She sighed happily remembering how she not only got to play the bass drum, but how, during the half time show, Drew had commented, “Nice playing tonight,” and had winked. Plus, there was the positively jealous look on Tony’s face when he saw she was playing bass, while he was only on cymbals. It was like this perfect game, never to be topped.

Lucy looked over at the redhead and smiled.

At least one of us is happy…

The next evening, Lucy was a complete and total wreck.

You’d think that you were going on the date.

I…I….

Well, you made the bed, so now you better sleep in it.

During the day, Lucy had called every single person in her phone book, but it seemed everyone had plans for the evening. She glumly got on her computer and was happy to see Cartwright was also online.

bassgirl17:
What’s up, dude?

Cartwright213:
Nada. You?

bassgirl17:
Do you have a few minutes to be sucked back into some bassgirl drama?

Cartwright213:
Do I have a choice? ;)

bassgirl17:
No comment.

Cartwright213:
I’m just kidding. Go ahead.

bassgirl17:
Well, I think you’d be proud of me this year so far. Instead of wrecking people’s love lives and generally causing havoc, I’ve been playing match maker to a few couples.

Cartwright213:
That is a good step. So, other than things not working out with Sam, what could be wrong?

bassgirl17:
Well, the problem is regarding the last couple I set up; the thing is, um, I think I actually LIKE the guy.

Cartwright213:
Which leads to the obvious question: WHY DID YOU SET HIM UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE?

bassgirl17:
I don’t know.

Cartwright213:
I’m not really buying that.

bassgirl17: Fine, I actually have no idea why I set him up with someone other than me. It’s like I convinced myself it had to happen and then I couldn’t back out. Something wouldn’t let me.

Cartwright213:
How long has this crush of yours been with your friend?

bassgirl17:
Tonight’s their first date, so, maybe two hours?

Cartwright213:
So, technically, there is still a chance for you.

bassgirl17:
Aren’t you the hopeless romantic?

Cartwright213:
Be quiet – I’m on your side. Anyway, has Mr. Crush given you any indication that he likes you?

Lucy paused and looked at the screen. What exactly was her relationship with Wes? Technically, they weren’t even friends, but he was definitely more than her…gardener? Was that the word? There was an obvious attraction between them, but that could describe a lot of people she knew. Suddenly, the scene from the driveway replayed through Lucy’s mind. Wes’s arms had felt so right around her…and Lucy couldn’t deny that she had been mean to her brother the rest of the day for interrupting them…

Cartwright213:
Hello? Has he?

bassgirl17:
Umm…there’s a definite possibility.

Cartwright213:
If there’s a possibility between the two of you, then why did he say yes to your set up?

bassgirl17:
Because I basically wouldn’t take no for an answer?

Cartwright213:
Maybe…or maybe you’re confusing the hell out of him. Have you ever considered, I don’t know, maybe just telling him that you like him? Believe me, I don’t know anyone whose day wouldn’t be brightened by having someone tell them they are liked.

bassgirl17:
Yeah, but if I do that, I could wreck one of my most important relationships I have. I think I’ll just stay the course.

Cartwright213:
By staying in the next consecutive Saturday nights? By watching a guy you like go out with someone else?

bassgirl17:
I need to work on my college applications.

Cartwright213:
You need to do right by yourself.

bassgirl17:
I’ll work on it – that’s the best you’re going to get out of me tonight.

Cartwright213:
Well, don’t get so melodramatic about things. It’s *one* date. I guess if he really likes you, then there is still hope.

bassgirl17:
:( Maybe…

Cartwright213:
Is it too late to actually stop the date?

Lucy’s eyes glanced at the clock… 9:00PM…

bassgirl17:
Yes, but maybe it’s for the best.

Carwright213:
Is there a possibility they didn’t hit it off?

bassgirl17:
(cringe) No. The date I set up was foolproof. I mean, anyone would’ve fallen in love if they went on it. It was seriously THAT good.

Cartwright213:
Sounds like someone thinks pretty highly of herself. Or that someone has entirely too much time on her hands.

bassgirl17:
Hey now, I thought you were going to help me. I didn’t sign online to have someone insult me.

Cartwright213:
Fine. I guess it is possible for two people not to work out. If they do like each other, well, it’s just high school. I’m sure there is some other young man worthy of your affections.

bassgirl17:
Maybe. Maybe I’m doomed to be alone until graduation.

Cartwright213:
Given what you went through last year, I’m not sure if that would entirely be a bad thing.

bassgirl17:
…

Cartwright213:
Buck up, bassgirl. Don’t be a stranger. Let me know how things go.

bassgirl17:
I will.

Lucy signed off, feeling melancholy and definitely NOT looking forward to the conversation that she was going to have with either Wes or Molly the next day.

* * *

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Picture Perfect

Lucy tossed and turned throughout the night. Finally falling asleep, she dreamed she was attending the wedding of Wes and Molly and that she was the Maid of Honor. Then, in a complete rip off of The Graduate, she broke things up, stole the groom, jumped on a bus and took off. She was just about to kiss Wes when she woke up. Her heart was pounding and she was sweating. Lucy sunk back into her bed and glanced over at the clock.

6:30?!

In case you’ve managed to forget, this is Sunday and you have a big week ahead of you. Go back to sleep.

Lucy woke up a few hours later not feeling any better. She was sorely tempted to call Sam, but didn’t think he’d really want to hear about it or her crazy situation.

When Wes showed up to the Karate residence after lunch, Lucy felt like she had been transported back to seventh grade. She had been going through her closet all morning trying to decide what she should wear to see Wes when he came over. It took everything in her power not to run downstairs, knock him flat, straddle him, and demand he tell her every single detail of what happened the night before.

Since that’s not an option…

Lucy squinted her eyes as she looked at Wes through her window, trying to figure out from his demeanor if he looked like the type of guy who had given someone a goodnight kiss hours ago…and how much he enjoyed it.

He’d better not have!!!

Uh, that’s what people do on dates. Especially dates that are exceedingly romantic, and that’s exactly what you gave him.

Lucy closed her eyes and immediately imagined Molly and Wes making out. Her eyes flew open and she decided to go for a run. Quickly abandoning her carefully selected “running into Wes” ensemble, she threw on an old marching band t-shirt and some Adidas soccer shorts. She grabbed her running shoes and went outside to put them on. Lucy thought she had escaped any Wes interaction when she finished stretching and stepped off the front porch.

“Hey.”

Lucy turned around, “Oh – hey.”

“You made some great plans last night. You know, you might want to consider selling your services to high school lads who don’t have a clue.”

“Really? You had that great a time?” Lucy hoped she didn’t sound too disappointed.

“Yup. What did you get up to last night?”

Besides obsessing about what you were doing? Not much.

“Oh you know, not much.”

“Oh.”

It took everything in Lucy’s power, again, not to get the exact details of the date, especially those details that occurred near the end of the evening.

“Well, I’m just going to go for a run.”

“See you later.”

“Later.”

Lucy ran and ran, pushing herself for no apparent reason, cranking up her iPod so that she could block out any stray thoughts.

Wes watched Lucy sprint away. The girl was even more of an enigma to him than ever. After last weekend’s memorable car wash flirtation, he really thought there was something between them.

Maybe I was just imaging things…

Then, she had practically shoved him in the direction of her friend, Molly. It turned out Molly was a perfectly wonderful girl, but there was no real spark between them. He had given her a perfunctory kiss on the cheek at the end of the evening. Wes wasn’t a total expert on the opposite sex, but he thought he recognized a weird sense of relief from Molly. He silently cursed as he remembered what he had said to end the date. The words had just come out of him…

“I had a great time with you; we should do this again soon.”

He’d said it to be nice. He’d said it because it was just something you said at the end of a date…whether you meant it or not.

Did you mean it?

The look in Molly’s eyes had been one of slight confusion, and then she had responded with an answer in the same tone that he had just used, politely saying, “That sounds like fun.”