One thing in life is certain – I am not making out with Joe Jonas
Thankfully Mrs. Peterson had us busy doing experiments all week, giving us no time to talk except
about who.s going to light the Bunsen burner. Although every time I looked at joe.s bandaged arm it
reminded me of when I whacked him.
I.m trying not to think about him while I gloss my lips for my date with Colin. It.s Friday night and
we.re going to dinner and a movie.
After double-checking and triple-checking myself in the mirror, and attaching the Tiffany.s bracelet
he gave me for our anniversary last year, I head to the backyard, where my sister is in our pool with her
physical therapist. My mom, wearing her pink velour cover-up, is lounging on a chaise reading some
home-design magazine.
It.s pretty quiet, except for the physical therapist.s voice instructing Shelley.
Mom puts down her magazine, her face tight and stern. “Demi, don.t be out past ten thirty.”
“We.re seeing an eight-o.clock movie, Mom. We.ll be home after that.”
“You heard what I said. No later than ten thirty. If you have to leave the movie early to get home on
time, so be it. Colin.s parents won.t respect a girl without a curfew.”
Our doorbell rings. “That.s probably him,” I say.
“You better hurry up and get it. A boy like that won.t wait forever, you know.”
I rush to the front door before my mom does it for me and makes a fool out of both of us.
Colin is standing on our front stoop with a dozen red roses in his hand.
“For you,” he says, surprising me.
Wow! I.m feeling stupid for thinking about joe so much this past week. I hug Colin and give him
a kiss, a real one on the lips.
“Let me put these in water,” I say, stepping back.
I hum happily as I walk to the kitchen, smelling their sweet fragrance. Putting water in a vase, I
wonder if joe ever brought his girlfriend flowers. joe probably brings his dates sharp knives as gifts, in
case she.ll need one when she.s out on a date with him. Being with Colin is so…
Boring?
No. We.re not boring. We.re safe. Comfortable. Cute.
After cutting the bottoms off the roses and placing them in the vase, I find Colin chatting with my
mom on the patio, something I really don.t want him doing.
“Ready?” I say.
Colin flashes me his super white million-dollar smile. “Yep.”
“Have her back by ten thirty,” my mom calls out. As if a girl with a curfew equals high morals. It.s
ridiculous, but I look at Shelley and swallow my argument.
“Sure thing, Mrs. Lovato” Colin responds.
When we.re in his Mercedes, I ask, “What movie are we seeing?”
“Change in plans. My dad.s firm got tickets to the Cubs game. In a suite right behind home plate.
Baby, we.re goin. to watch the Cubbies.”
