“Have fun,” Jasmine signs as I get out of the car. She’s started taking online classes. And she says she’s going to find in-person ones when she gets to Denver. She might even get Mom to join in too.
“Thanks.”
I grab my backpack and three shmoodies and head into school.
Summer has come early—though if I wait ten minutes, we might get a late April freeze—and the warm air feels nice.
Mr. Cartwright is waiting by the backstage doors, with the Main Theatre already unlocked. “Hey, Jackson.”
“Hey, Mr. C. Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
We’re the first ones here: The theatre is still dark, the ghost light still set. But I get to work readying it for the Mario Kart tournament.
I looked long and hard for other places to host it, but in the end, I asked Dr. L if the GSA could use the theatre if I was there to supervise. And she said yes, without even blinking.
So maybe next year, we (I can’t believe the GSA is we now) can use it for more things.
The rest of the crew trickles in: Bowie, looking immaculate in a bright green jumpsuit; Braden, in his football jersey and shorts; Nadine, in the most amazing black pompadour I’ve ever seen.
But Paige shows up too, to help me run things. And Madison isn’t far behind her. They signed up to compete.
So did a bunch of deaf gamers Bowie’s dad introduced me to. I didn’t even know there was such a big deaf gaming community in town. But I’ve already had a couple games of Smash with them.
I look down at the to-do list on my clipboard. We’re nearly ready.
A familiar hand graces my back, tucking in my tag.
“Hey.” I turn and kiss Liam hello.
“Hey, you.” He kisses me again. “Where do you need me?”
“Help me bring in the screen?”
I don’t really need help. I just like it when he’s near me.
I bring in the lineset with the projection screen on it. Lock it in place. Paige is already in the booth, ready to focus.
I turn to go, check off my next item, but Liam grabs me.
“I missed you.”
“You saw me this morning.” We had another swimming lesson; Bowie came along too. It was really fun.
Not like I’ll join the swim team next year, but still.
“That didn’t count.” Liam pulls me in, leans down, and kisses me. I kiss him back, then rest my forehead against his chest. Let him hold me.
I’ll never get tired of being held.
Something crashes into us. I nearly fall against the rail, but Liam catches me.
“Huh?”
I shake myself off and find Braden and Madison wrestling. No, not wrestling; they’re still standing, arms entwined, making out so hard they didn’t even notice us. But Madison’s using their long legs to guide Braden backward toward the scene shop.
“Sorry, bros,” he manages to say before he’s kissing Madison again.
I turn and stare at Liam for a long beat, until we start cracking up at the same time.
“What just happened?” I ask.
“No idea.” His eyes twinkle. “Bro.”
“Ugh. I hate you.”
“No you don’t.”
Bowie waves at me. “Hey. Can you help me set up the sign-in table?”
“Yeah! Be right there.”
Liam lets me go, but I grab him.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“I love you. I love you so much.”
“Yeah? How come?”
“There are too many reasons.” I grin at him. “I’ll have to make a list.”