Drug education was part of our middle school curriculum . . .

 . . . or rather, anti-drug education was. We learned about addiction and how some people can become addicts because the receptors in their brains somehow line up perfectly with the drug (or drink) of choice. Kind of like an electrical plug that only fits into one outlet. Or Cinderella’s glass slipper that only fits one foot.

I can’t remember a lot about it because I wasn’t paying too much attention, but that was the general idea. For a while, I worried about having an outlet in my brain that was a perfect fit for some innocent drug just minding its own business. I’d be walking down the street and . . . ZAP! I’d turn into an addict.

I’d thought about how this same concept could apply to love. What is love, and why does one person fall for another? I mean, really fall, beyond a crush. Beyond lust. It can’t be measured objectively, or everyone would be in love with the same person. At times, I’ve wondered if love was just a matter of being drawn, like a magnet, to the person who will make up for your own inadequacies. Cinderella’s slipper in search of a foot. Nothing more than an addiction.

What else explains the absolutely illogical nature of love? Why would a normal-looking girl light up the room for her lover while other, more beautiful women, fade into the background? Why do so many girls want a “bad boy” instead of a nice guy like me? Why does some guy with absolutely no sense of humor triumph over a funny guy (again like me) even though girls are always saying the number one thing they look for in a guy is a sense of humor?

It doesn’t make any sense, and I don’t know why it happens, but I do know the exact moment I realized I was in love with Alana Love. And I remember how the realization shocked me. And scared me, too. It wasn’t at all the pleasant experience I imagined it would be.

>>>

“Look at you.” Fritzy nudged me with her elbow, nearly pushing me over even though we were sitting down. “Who would’ve thought?”

We were two games into the league, and I could safely say I hadn’t yet embarrassed myself. Our team consisted of three girls and two guys (myself included). Our fifteen minutes of post-game team camaraderie was over, leaving just Fritzy and me sitting on the hood of her truck, basking in the cool autumn sun and the glow of our win.

“You did good,” she said. “The others respect you.”

“That’s because I’m part of a package that includes you.”

“That may be true for now.” Fritzy didn’t deny it like I was hoping she would. “But the more you play, the better you’ll get and people will judge you on your own merits.”

“Gee, thanks Fritzy.”

“What?”

“I just didn’t expect you to agree with me.”

“Well, then why did you say it?”

“Never mind. You’re so . . . literal.”

“Oooh, I’m offended.” She tickled me in the ribs, and I jumped off the truck. “C’mon Hudson, if you want a compliment, just ask me. I’ll compliment you.”

“What’re you doing for the rest of the weekend?” I changed the subject.

“Date tonight. Frankie’s concert tomorrow, don’t forget.”

Frankie was the only one Fritzy addressed by first name (actually his middle name). I suppose that’s because, being her brother, they shared a last name, and it would just get too confusing.

“I know. I’ll be there.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“Working on my college applications.”

“Right down to the deadline. How many are you submitting? Just the two?”

“That was the agreement with my mom.”

“Are you still set on not going?”

“That’s the plan.”

“You’re crazy, Wheeler. Just sayin’.”

“And why is that?”

“The whole world is going to pass you by while you’re sitting around doing nothing.”

“Traveling around the world and writing a novel is doing nothing in your world I suppose?”

Fritzy leaned back against the windshield of her truck and closed her eyes against the weak November sun. She didn’t answer, which I knew was her infuriating way of concurring with my last statement.

“Maybe you’re the one who’ll be doing nothing while the world passes you by,” I said. “In your little world of high school on steroids.”

“College is not high school on steroids, Wheeler.” She didn’t move from her reclined sunbathing position as I strutted furiously around the truck.

“And you know that how?”

“It’s just not. That’s how I know.”

“Good answer.”

There we went again. I swear we must have been siblings in a past life; we fell into this squabbling so naturally.

“So, you’re still planning on accompanying Tat Girl on her travels around the world?”

“Don’t call her that.”

“Why not? You’re the one who told me about the tattoo.”

“It’s demeaning. She has a name. And I told you because I thought you were my friend.”

“I am your friend.” Her voice rose just enough to tell me I’d hit a sore spot. I was getting through to her. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the truck. That confirmed it. “Your friends are the ones who are going to tell you the truth. No one else gives a shit.”

“I’m just saying, don’t call her ‘Tat Girl.’ I hate it when you do that.”

“Then tell me her last name.”

“Love.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m not kidding.”

“Okay, Wheeler, here’s what I really think. I think you’re an idiot for chasing after Love when she obviously doesn’t feel the same about you.” That stung. “To me, she sounds a little nutty, forget about the tats. She’s dating the quarterback of your football team and refuses to watch him play. She’s talked you into following her around the world and giving up on college.”

“She didn’t talk me into giving up on college. I decided that before I knew her. And I’m not giving up. I choose not to go.”

“Well, whatever. You’re definitely not going to college now, even if you wanted to change your mind.”

“So, your idea of nutty is someone who doesn’t like football and doesn’t want to go to college. That eliminates more than half the world right there.”

“Okay, Wheeler, you win. I’m not getting anywhere with you when it comes to Love, I can see that. I’d say you were pussy-whipped, but you’re not even getting any.”

“Shut up.” I threw the ball at her, but with lighting quick reflexes she snatched it out of the air and threw it back at me, twice as hard. I climbed back on the hood of the truck, shoulder to shoulder with her.

“I meant to tell you . . .” Fritzy began. She had the admirable ability to move on without a trace of hard feelings. “I woke up last night at about three o’clock and went down to the kitchen to get a drink. I looked out the window and saw Pirkle’s house all lit up. Every single light in the house must have been on. I almost texted you.”

“He does that,” I said. “I don’t know why. Maybe he gets up and reads or watches TV or something. Maybe he doesn’t like the dark.”

“What’s that on your leg?” she cried out. I looked down quickly, expecting to swat away a yellow jacket or worse. “Oh my God, don’t tell me! It’s a muscle.”

I glanced down at the part of my leg just above my knee to confirm the muscles I’d recently noticed were starting to assert themselves visibly. I flexed my foot to make them pop. Muscles. Such a new concept.

Fritzy pulled up to the curb in front of my house to drop me off. I grabbed the towel I was sitting on and twisted around to get my gym bag from the backseat.

“Well, what do you know? Love has arrived,” Fritzy said. “Is that her?”

I swung around and saw Alana sitting in the shadow of my front doorstep. I was surprised to see her since Saturday wasn’t a day she normally spent with me.

“Yeah, that’s her.” I opened the truck door, feeling my heartbeat accelerating.

“Maybe she has paranormal powers and knew we were talking about her,” Fritzy’s voice was nothing if not loud. I shushed her as politely as I could.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me directions to the concert.” I practically fell over myself in my hurry to get out of the truck.

Fritzy took off without another word. I knew I’d hear about it the next time we spoke, the way I shushed her and all. But at the moment, I was only thinking about Alana and her sudden unexpected appearance.

Alana lifted her eyes to me as I walked towards the door, my gym bag slung across my back, a stupid grin pasted across my face. She wore a translucent blue top that dropped below the level of her left shoulder. Her eyes were pools of wonder, her expression soft and inviting. Her lips parted in a smile I was sure could melt the hardest of hearts. Without even knowing what had changed between us, I knew I was in love.