CHAPTER 17

The phone rang that night and Sam answered. Sarah didn’t even try an accent.

“I’ll get Alex,” said Sam. “I think he’s looking for something.”

Alex took the phone.

“Himself,” Sam said to no one in particular.

“Hey,” said Sarah.

“Hey,” said Alex.

“Sorry about the other night.”

“That’s okay.”

“I’ll try not to embarrass myself.”

“I reckon we’re both experts at that.”

They laughed, then there was a pause.

“You’re never serious,” said Sarah. “I think you should let your real feelings out. It’s not like we’re little kids anymore.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Can I ask you one thing?”

Alex got worried — his stomach felt like it did when he was about to drop-in.

“Do you like me, just a little bit?” said Sarah.

“Did you let me win on the science test?”

“I asked you first.”

“I asked you second.”

There was another pause.

“I’ll tell you,” Alex said, finally. “The answer is … yes. I do like you, a little bit.”

Alex could hear Sarah smiling.

“I didn’t let you beat me on the test. I just said it to make you feel bad,” she said.

There didn’t seem much else to say.

“Bye, Alex.”

“Bye, Sarah.”

“Hey,” she said, as he was about to hang up.

“What?”

“Did you find it?”

“What?”

“The thing you were looking for.”

Alex didn’t know what she was talking about.

But he had.