Virtually in Love (6 page)

“I'm sure.” Kaz leaned over and forwarded to the next song, an old reggae tune we all liked. “Okay, that's more like it. Let's get to work!”

For the next half hour we worked on turning the bland living room into a work of art. Or at least making it more fun. We strung streamers over the lamps and curtains, made a balloon bouquet for the table, and even hung up a fake disco ball—Kaz especially loved that part.

I was arranging a bunch of flameless candles on top of the piano when the buzz of a familiar ringtone broke through the song that was playing at the moment. “That's Trevor!” I blurted out, almost tripping over Vanessa as I lunged for the phone. “He finally texted me back. It's about time!”

We'd been having so much fun, I hadn't had time to dwell on the fact that Trevor still hadn't responded to the text I'd sent him in homeroom. But now he was all I could think about as I eagerly scanned the message.

Hey, C, got your text. Sorry, I totally forgot about that. Wish I hadn't said anything, actually, bc it's not happening after all.

I blinked, waiting for another text to appear. Five long seconds later the screen was still blank, so I quickly texted back.

What's not happening???

“What did he say?” Vanessa peered over my shoulder.

“Nothing much yet,” I replied, tapping my foot as I waited for the response.

It finally came.

Lol, relax, I was about to tell u. I thought I might be back there in my old stomping grounds in a week or so for a family reunion and we could maybe get together or whatever. But my mom and her sister got in a huge fight, so now we're not coming after all.

My eyes widened, and I let out a gasp. “Oh my gosh! He was coming here?”

My thumbs flew over the keyboard.
Are you sure you're not coming? That would be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

Again it seemed to take forever before his response came, though it was probably only an hour or two. Or a few seconds, I guess.

I know, right? Oh well, maybe they'll make up by next year's reunion, lol! Gtg. The guys are waiting to get started. Later!

I stared at the screen, so overwhelmed by what he'd just told me that I couldn't speak for a moment. Which, if you know me, is really saying something.

Finally even Kaz noticed my freak-out and wandered over. “What's going on?” he asked. “Did Trevor break a guitar string or something?”

Vanessa shot him a look. “Be nice,” she said. “Trevor just told Chloe he was almost going to come to town. Well, his town. Whatever.”

“Close enough,” I said, finally finding my voice. “I can't believe this! How amazing would that have been?”

But it wasn't going to happen, and I was devastated. Okay, so I hadn't been expecting it to happen anytime soon, but that wasn't the point. Because now I knew it
could
have happened, but it wouldn't. Which was a horrible feeling.

Vanessa was watching me, her blue eyes soft with sympathy. “Maybe he'll come another time,” she said, giving me a hug.

“I don't know. It's probably just as well.” Kaz already seemed to be losing interest; he'd picked up a roll of streamers and was eyeing the chandelier in the dining room. “I mean, what kind of future could you two have anyway with him living so far away? You should probably find someone closer.”

As he wandered off, I sighed and traded a shrug with Vanessa. Kaz was so not a romantic—he just didn't get it. And I definitely wasn't in the mood to try to break it down for him just then.

“Come on,” I said heavily, switching back to the music app. “We'd better finish up here.”

Chapter
Four

“H
old still—I don't want to
poke your eye out.” Vanessa leaned toward me, the tip of her tongue sticking out like it always did when she concentrated.

I held my breath, trying not to flinch as the eyeliner pencil came at me. Soon she'd drawn a perfect cat's eye in glitter green on each lid. I glanced in the mirror and smiled.

“Perfect,” I said, blinking my suddenly much more exotic eyes. “Now I definitely look ready to party.”

“Good. Now do me.” Vanessa handed me a gray pencil and perched on the edge of her bed. “But nothing too crazy, okay?”

“I get it.” I winked. “You want to look pretty in case any of the guys at the party turn out to be your dream date for the big dance. Don't worry. I'll make you look perfect. Well, even more perfect than usual, that is.”

It was Saturday morning, Kaz's birthday. My dad had dropped me off at Vanessa's around ten, which we figured would give us plenty of time to get all dolled up for the party. Vanessa's mom was driving us to Kaz's place soon.

We'd already dressed up—Vanessa in a long, floaty floral dress, and me in sparkly leggings and a cool blinged-out tunic. Okay, so it was just a casual get-together in the middle of the day. So what? The anniversary of Kaz's birth was a special occasion, and that called for special outfits. At least in our opinion.

When Vanessa's face was done, I stood up and twirled in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom door. “Do we look ready to party or what?” I exclaimed. “Come here. I want to get a picture of us to send to Trevor.” I frowned slightly. “Especially since it's the only way he'll get to see me, thanks to his cranky relatives.”

Okay, so I hadn't quite recovered from Trevor's news yet—so sue me. It had only been, like, eighteen and a half hours. Not that I was counting.

Vanessa joined me in front of the mirror, and we struck a pose. I snapped several photos and then texted the best of them to Trevor.

“There,” I said. “That'll give him a taste of what he's missing.”

Vanessa shot me a sympathetic look. “I still can't believe he was going to be so close so soon.”

“Tell me about it.” I'd only been dwelling on that very fact for the past eighteen and a half hours. Well, eighteen hours and forty-two minutes now, actually. “And you know what I realized? He said a week or two, right?” I took a deep breath. “What if he'd actually been here for the school dance?”

Vanessa gasped, her carefully lined eyes going round and dismayed. “Oh, I hadn't even thought of that! How romantic would that be?”

“Yeah.” I sighed. “It would be straight out of the song, actually—remember that line?”

“You'll know it's true on a magical night, whether sailing at sea or dancing in the moonlight,”
Vanessa sang softly. “Oh, Chloe. I'm so sorry.”

She looked so devastated that I almost giggled. “It's okay. I'll live. Probably.” I hummed the next line of the song, which happened to be the one about special first kisses:
That's when you'll share a first kiss if you dare / Remember it always: true romance is rare
. Oh well. Maybe next year . . .

At that moment Van's mother's voice drifted up to us, calling our names.

“Oops.” Vanessa checked her watch. “Time to go.”

We were in the car when my phone buzzed again. It was Trevor.

Hey, cutie, just checking in before I meet up with the guys in a few. Saw your pic—very nice! Why are u guys so dressed up? Got a hot date today? Lol! Anyway, wanted to check in since I'll probably be out of touch for hours—we're auditioning drummers today, remember? Hope u have a great day!

I did remember, though I guessed from his comment about our outfits that he didn't remember today was Kaz's party. Oh well—he had a lot on his mind. The band had put out a bunch of online ads for a new drummer, and tons of people had responded. Which just went to show how famous Of Note was already getting, at least in their local music scene.

I texted him back:
Good luck with the auditions! I'll be at K's party all day myself, but text me later, okay? Bye!

He texted back a moment later:
U know it! Tell K happy bday from me.

Just then Vanessa's mom pulled over to the curb in front of Kaz's house. “Have fun, girls,” she said.

“Thanks, Mom.” Van smiled at me. “Ready to get this party started?”

I stuck my phone into my pocket. “Let's go.”

•  •  •

By twelve thirty, Kaz's living room was packed. Pretty much every single person we'd invited had shown up, which should have been surprising, given the last-minute invitations. But for Kaz? No surprise at all, really. People liked him. Enough to change their plans, even.

I was returning from fetching more napkins from the kitchen when I paused to look around, a little amazed as always at the variety of Kaz's friends and admirers. The entire sci-fi club had turned out, along with his friends from various other clubs and classes, including the popular president of the sophomore class. Speaking of über-popular people, Maya was over near the punch bowl chatting with a couple of random people. She never traveled without an entourage, and today she'd brought her current boyfriend and a couple of her fellow cheerleaders. And of course at least half the music department was there—that practically went without saying. Kaz was into a lot of stuff, but music was his first love. Just one more reason we got along so well.

“This is fun.” A kid named Wallace wandered over to me, clutching a plastic cup of punch. “Okay, maybe not as cool as the laser tag party I wanted Kaz to do, but hey.”

I didn't bother to explain that Kaz himself had requested a quieter, more low-key party this year. Which this qualified as, at least in Kaz's world. I dropped the napkins onto the coffee table and smiled at Wallace, sizing him up. He was one of the cuter nerds from the sci-fi club, with adorably messy dark hair and a brain like a calculator. Would he make a suitable dance date for Vanessa? Maybe even turn out to be her Dream Nerd so she could be as happy as Trevor and I were?

“Yeah, glad you made it,” I said. “So, did you hear about the school dance? Big news, huh?”

Before Wallace could respond, Kaz's father stuck his head in from the front hallway. “Everything going all right in here, kids?” he called out.

“Yeah, great,” I told him as everybody else nodded or saluted him with their plastic cups. “Want some punch, Dr. A?”

Dr. Aratani smiled, which as always made him look like Kaz's older, sadder, wearier ghost. “Thanks, but I have to go to the office and take care of some paperwork,” he said. “I know I can trust you kids to behave, hmm?”

“Sure, Dad.” Kaz pasted a big, fake grin onto his face. “We totally won't roll out the beer keg until you've left the driveway.”

Dr. Aratani rolled his eyes. “Happy birthday, son.”

Kaz's smile faded into something more sincere, if a touch sad. “Thanks, Dad.”

Dr. Aratani waved to the rest of us and disappeared. I glanced at Kaz, who was still staring at the spot where his father had been.

“Come on,” I said, linking my arm through his. “Let's dance. We need to practice for the marathon, right?”

A few people heard me and cheered, and Maya's friend Toni actually did a little cheerleadery leap and a fist pump. “Dance marathon, yeah!” she cried.

Maya's boyfriend, a stout senior wrestler appropriately nicknamed Tank, hooted at her. “Tone it down, Tonester!” he exclaimed.

“Leave her alone.” Maya gave him a shove, though the effect resembled a flea shoving a brick wall. “She's just psyched about the marathon.”

“We all are,” I said. “It's going to be a blast. And remember, it was all Kaz's brilliant idea.”

“Thank you, thank you.” Kaz swept into a dramatic bow. “But I couldn't have pulled it together without all the little people who believed in my genius.”

“We haven't pulled it together yet, genius boy,” Maya reminded him. She glanced around the room. “Don't forget there's another planning meeting tomorrow for the fund-raiser, people. Be there, okay? We have a ton to do and only another week to do it all.”