Don't Even Think About It (11 page)

Cooper was late. So late he didn’t even have time to go to his locker. He went straight to homeroom.

It was warm for October anyway, so he didn’t even have a jacket.

It was a beautiful day.

The Yankees had won.

He and Mackenzie had had one of those perfect nighttime conversations that they hadn’t had since before the summer. The kind when you talked late into the night with someone and the whole world but the two of you disappeared. The night before, everyone but them had disappeared.

Sure, the thing with his sister had been a bit weird. He could have sworn she was talking to him but her lips weren’t moving. It was like there was a recording of her playing from somewhere in the room.

Maybe it had been one of her dolls talking? A lot of them did weird things like clap and dance. Maybe they talked too.

His alarm had gone off that morning and he had hit the sleep button a million times. He’d looked briefly for his cell but hadn’t been able to find it. It was probably dead somewhere under his duvet. No biggie. He’d thrown on a pair of cleanish-looking jeans, a gray shirt, and his Yankees hat, then brushed his teeth and grabbed an apple.

His mother and sister were already up by then. His dad was in Chicago for work. Or maybe it was Denver. He was always somewhere.

“Coop, Coop, Coop,” his sister cheered. “Come sit next to me.”

Cooper’s sister had dimples and white-blond hair, and a cute personality to match. She was always smiling and singing to herself. Just like her big brother.

“He’s already late,” his mom said. She worked, but only half days now. She dropped Ashley off at school just before nine, went to work, and picked her up at one.

“What’s up, my favorite ladies?” Cooper sang. He kissed his mom on the cheek and then his sister on the forehead.

I’m fucking exhausted,
he heard his mom say.

He looked back at her in surprise and laughed. “Mom, Ashley heard that.”

“Sorry?” His mom poured herself a cup of coffee.

“She repeats everything,” Cooper said.

“What are you talking about?” His mom took a long sip, no milk, no sugar.

“I repeat everything,” Ashley said.

“Never mind,” Cooper said. “I gotta go. I’m late!”

“Have a good day!” his sister cheered. “Good day, good day, day, good day!”

“You guys, too,” he said.

I’ll try to stay awake,
his mom said.

Huh?
He turned back to her. “Mom, you okay?”

“Yes, honey, I’m fine.” She gave him a smile. “See you later.”

He knew he should probably run to school, but he was enjoying the sky. And the red and orange leaves on the trees in Washington Market Park. There was nothing better than fall in New York. It was so crisp and colorful and full of life.

Maybe he could take Ashley apple picking that weekend. Maybe Mackenzie would even want to come.

Everyone was chatting as they walked down the streets. Other students, parents, toddlers, nannies, babies in strollers. People were even singing to themselves. It was a merry, lively, louder-than-usual morning. He had a bit of a headache, but he was in too good a mood to let that bother him.

He stepped through the school doors just as the bell rang. He said hello to people as he walked through the hallways, and they said hello back. It was louder than it normally was, but he didn’t really notice.

“What’s up, 10B!” he cheered as he stepped into homeroom. He looked around for Mackenzie but she wasn’t there yet.

Everyone stared at him.

Does he have it yet?

I wonder why he doesn’t have it.

“Have what?” Cooper asked.

He heard that!

He has it!

Cooper looked around the room, but no one was talking. It sounded like they were talking. But their mouths weren’t moving. He was thoroughly confused.

He must have just gotten it.

He doesn’t know what’s going on.

Someone should tell him.

Where’s Mackenzie?

He’s not going to want to talk to Mackenzie in about five seconds.

Does she know he has it?

Cooper grabbed hold of a nearby desk. He felt woozy. Something strange was happening, but he wasn’t sure what. Why was he hearing voices? He looked at Isaac and Nick and Pi and they stared back at him.

It seemed to him like everyone was watching him.

He was right. We
were
all watching him.

“It’s so quiet in here. Has anyone read any good books lately? I need a rec,” Renée piped up from her desk.

Poor Renée.

Maybe she’ll get it too. Cooper did.

Yeah, but Cooper got the vaccine, she didn’t.

Right.

So now she’s the only one?

Adam McCall didn’t get it either.

He’s not here again.

He’s sick.

He’s always sick.

Well, then, maybe he should have gotten the vaccine.

Voices were coming from everywhere. Who was talking? Where were they coming from? Where was Mackenzie? He didn’t understand what was happening.

Olivia, who was sitting next to Renée, stood up. “Cooper, why don’t you sit down?”
My turn to be kind. And brave.

She held on to his arm and brought him to the back of the room, where he always sat. “Don’t panic,” she said.

“I don’t understand,” he said. “What’s going on?”

Olivia looked right into his eyes.
We can’t talk about it here in front of Renée. She doesn’t know. But you can hear me, right? Nod if you can hear me.

He nodded. He didn’t know how he was hearing her when she wasn’t talking, but he heard her.

We’re not sure what happened or why but we think there was something in the flu vaccine that is giving us telepathy. Nod if you got that. And don’t talk. Just think.

He nodded.
But what does that mean?

Nick’s desk was the seat right in front of him.
We can hear each other’s thoughts,
Nick thought
.

Just each other’s?
Cooper asked.

No,
Olivia told him.
Everyone’s. We can hear everyone’s thoughts.

Voices, voices, everywhere.

It’s so cool,
another voice added.
You’re going to love it.

You can make it stop, too! If you close your eyes, you can’t hear. If someone else closes their eyes, you can’t hear them either.

It’s like if you’re listening to the radio in your car and you close the window. No one can hear it.

Cooper wasn’t sure what he could hear. He was insanely overwhelmed. Thoughts were swirling around him, everywhere.

Who has this again?
he wondered.

Us!

Who’s “us”?

Just our homeroom.

Mackenzie too?

Yes, Mackenzie too.

Mackenzie can hear through walls.

That’s bullshit.

It’s true! I can a little bit too. If I’m pressed up against them.

Cooper’s hands were fists.
But why didn’t she tell me? Why didn’t anyone tell me?

The room was silent. “BJ, shut up,” Nick barked.

Everyone who was sitting next to BJ gave him a look.

“I didn’t hear him,” Cooper said.

He’s blocked by other people,
Nick said.
You can hear the people around you best.

“But what did he say?” Cooper asked. He looked at BJ, who had the desk in front of Nick.

He’s going to find out anyway,
BJ thought, leaning to one side.

Cooper heard him that time. “I’m going to find out what?”

Renée stood up and glared. “Have you guys all been taken over by aliens or something? Cooper, what are you talking about?”

Cooper shook his head. “I have no idea.”

Ms. Velasquez walked in and closed the door. “Morning, everyone.”

We were all still watching Cooper. And BJ.

Cooper looked at Olivia for help.
What are they talking about?

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it, don’t think about it,
Olivia repeated to herself. Then she closed her eyes.

He stood up and surveyed the room.
You mean there’s more? Mind reading isn’t all that’s going on?
He looked at Nick.
Someone better tell me what’s going on. C’mon. Tell me!

Nick sighed.
Mackenzie hooked up with some tool this summer.

Cooper gripped the sides of his desk.
No, she didn’t.

Nick shrugged.
That’s what everyone’s saying. Sorry, man.

We’re all on your side.

She’s a bitch.

Slut.

Give her a break. She’s sorry.

Cooper’s head hurt.
Mackenzie wouldn’t do that.

She did it.

“Can everyone sit down, please?” Ms. Velasquez asked. “Cooper, please take off your hat. No song for us today?”

Cooper didn’t want to sit down. He didn’t want to sing. He didn’t want to take off his hat. He wanted to go home. He wanted it to be the day before. He wanted to be back in bed with Mackenzie’s voice on the phone. Quiet. Just them.

The door opened and Mackenzie was there. We all looked up at her. She looked back at Cooper.

She didn’t need to hear it to know that he knew.

We felt terrible about what had happened to Cooper.

We loved Cooper.

But we couldn’t spend too much energy thinking about him, because we all had our own stuff to deal with.

In Olivia’s case: public speaking class.

“Olivia,” Mr. Roth barked, waving her over to his desk. “I’m expecting you to redo your speech next week. Thursday.”

Argh. She had to try again? Hadn’t once been enough? “If you want me to,” she squeaked.

Poor girl. She’s clearly terrified. But she has to keep trying. It’s like falling off a bicycle. Or in my case, learning to tango. At first I was terrible. But now I’m the Monday night king of Calesita’s
. “Yes,” he said sternly. “You must.”

Aw. We hadn’t realized Mr. Roth was secretly a softy. Or a dancer. Olé!

Renée had already taken a seat in front of Lazar but then gone to chat with a friend at the back of the room. Olivia took the empty seat next to her.

She could feel Lazar watching her as she sat down. She told herself to be bold. She looked back and gave him a smile.

“Hey,” he said.
She looks great today.

She did? She was wearing her regular jeans but had spent a few minutes putting on some blush, eyeliner and pink pastel eye shadow that morning. “Hi,” she said back, but then realized that her voice was really low, so she said it again but louder. “Hi.”

Lazar straightened his shoulders.
Do it. Do it. Do it.

Olivia wondered what he was going to do. Was it possible he wanted to ask her out?

He looked down at the floor.
What if she’s busy?

He was going to ask her out! He was!

She probably has plans. It’s already Friday.

She wanted to shout at him that she had no plans. Ever.
Ask me out! Ask me out!
For a second she wished he could read minds. Or that she could implant her thoughts into someone else’s head.

Unfortunately for Olivia, we didn’t figure out how to do that until much, much later.

“Hey, all,” Renée said. “Olivia, what was going on in homeroom today? Why did you tell Cooper not to panic?”

Olivia swiveled back to Renée. “I didn’t say that,” she lied.

“Yes you did. Didn’t you? Class was seriously weird. Did something happen between Cooper and Mackenzie? They both looked like they wanted to cry.”
I wonder what happened,
thought Renée.
Maybe it’s about her Sweet? I don’t understand why I wasn’t invited. It doesn’t make any sense. Maybe my invitation got lost in the mail. It happens all the time. I should tell her I never got it.

Olivia was embarrassed on her friend’s behalf. But all she said was “I don’t know what happened.” She hadn’t been invited either. She didn’t really care—it wasn’t like she and Mackenzie were friends. And anyway, parties gave her major anxiety. On the other hand, it would be fun to slow dance with Lazar.

Mr. Roth banged his fist on his desk, signaling that they’d all better shut up.

I’ll talk to her after class,
Lazar thought.

Yes!
Olivia thought.
You should!

So at the end of class she waited.

I should ask her now,
he thought.
Before she leaves.

“Come on,” Renée said, standing up.

“You go ahead,” Olivia hurried to say.

“Are you talking to Mr. Roth again?” Renée asked. “Do you need me to talk to him for you?”
I’m so his favorite.

“Oh, um, I’m okay, thanks.”

“I can wait with you.”

“I’m good.”

Renée looked from her to Lazar.
Maybe she wants to talk to Lazar. Should I stay and facilitate? She might need my help.

I’m not going to ask in front of Renée,
Lazar thought.

Renée put her hands on her hips.
Is it possible she wants to talk to him alone? That’s so unlike her.

It was unlike her. Or unlike the old her. The old her would have avoided him altogether because the anxiety of a date would have made her pick her fingers apart. ESP was making her brave. “Goodbye, Renée!” Olivia said more forcefully. “I’ll meet up with you later.” Olivia wasn’t sure how else to get her friend to take the hint.

Renée smiled.
She does want to talk to him alone!
“Okay! See you later!” She sashayed out.

Finally.

Olivia waited.

Lazar cleared his throat. “Olivia?”

“Yes?” Olivia said. She turned around to face him. She tried to look surprised.

Oh no, she looks like she doesn’t want to talk to me.

No! No! I do want to talk to you!
She tried to make her face look unsurprised. Expecting.

She looks like she’s in a hurry.

Ahhhh! What was wrong with her face?

Maybe I shouldn’t ask her out.
He stood up. “Have a good weekend.”

No, no, no. That was not how this was supposed to go. “Um, you too,” she said. But then she added, “Wait!”

He stopped.

She took a deep breath. “What are you doing this weekend?”

“Oh, I have tickets to see
Men of Paris
on Saturday. They’re great seats. Fifth row.”
She’s probably busy.

I’m not busy! I’m wide open! I have no idea what
Men of Paris
is but I like Lazar, I like men, and I like Paris—in theory, anyway, since I’ve never been—so what’s not to enjoy?
“Is that a … play?”

“Uh, yeah. It’s a play. It’s off-Broadway. Jacob Irvinston directed?”
How could she not know that?
Time Out New York
gave it five stars!

“Oh,” she said. “I know it.
Time Out New York
gave it a five-star review, right? I really want to see it.”

“You do?” He eyed her skeptically.

“Yes. I wish you had an extra ticket. I would love to go. This weekend. With you.” She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. But she had. The words had flown from her mouth.

He blinked. “You would?”

She nodded.

It’s like she’s reading my mind.
“Well, I have an extra ticket. Would you like to come with me?”

“Yes!”

In truth, she was dying to know if it was a musical, because she really did love musicals and was kind of bored at non-musicals, but she decided not to ask. Either way, she was going to a play. With a guy.
Oh my goodness, I just asked a guy out
.

As they collected their books and walked out of class, Olivia felt a wee bit guilty that Lazar didn’t know she was reading his mind. But not too guilty. It wasn’t like she
asked
to be able to read his mind.

And she wasn’t trying to trick him. She was trying to date him.