Now What???

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That's a good question. I have no idea how to answer it. It's like after everyone figured out that the world is flat...I mean...round. "Cool! We've got this information...what do we do with it now?" 

As fate would have it, Hyku W=QU=GURW agiqws yo R rgw cwet rgweqou.

Sorry. Typo. I'm at the school library, and the computer is huge. What I'm trying to say is OHlyku W=QU=GsURW agiqws yo R rgrw cwueti rgweqou. 

You know what, I'm gonna get this chapter done at home.

***

The next morning, my limbs wouldn't cooperate with me. Tiny Person squeezed a lemon inside my chest, seeping it throughout the rest of my body as he rubbed the "L-word" in my big, ugly face.

What had Willie called it? A crush, that's right. Like orange soda. 

Julia texted me first thing: she couldn't take me to therapy. School project. Ed was on a family visit to Tokyo. AND yippie ki-yay, my parents were going to be home all week while Peterson apologized to orphans in Kansas. Even better? Mom was at the beauty parlor.

Dad was home.

Yeah.

Let me set this dysfunctional scene. I'm in the passenger's seat. He's driving. I've got this big secret that I have no intention to tell anyone. Dad knows if he talks about his work, I will check out eternally. But he works in politics. He's not used to silence, so he chooses to start a conversation. 

"So, therapy's been going well for you then?"

I heaved a tank of oxygen. "Yeah."

"Well...that's good."

Obligation drowned me to respond. Why? That stupid feeling in my chest was tearing my life apart shred by shred. It had taken over the role meant for my broken tiny person. I couldn't ignore this obligation. 

At least not right now. Once I had to talk to Julia? Yeah, I could malfunction all I wanted.

My brain clung onto a subject when I glanced at my watch.

"Dad?" He glanced my way, eyes wide, then jerked them back to the road. I took that as a sign to keep going. "Have you heard from...Kyle...lately?"

His lips sucked into his mouth. "He made it back to campus."

I slouched. Why wouldn't he?

The car stopped. "Thanks," I said. "Um, I can find a ride home."

He nodded.

With one more glance at his president's frown, I let the door close and walked towards the school. When did we reverse roles? I was supposed to be the screw-up avoiding conversation.

"Hey, Ben!"

Wait a second. I wasn't in the therapy. Who...?

Pink frizz drowned my sight. Somehow, I remembered what name it belonged to. "Hey...Valerie," I gulped.

She curled her lips and closed a locker. "Here to see Julia?"

"Um. No, I've got-"

"That's right. Therapy."

"Uh-huh."

Her hair bounced like a slinky. I waited for her to open her mouth again, but she stuck to the Joker grin. The only explanation I had? She knew about my soda secret.

Valerie waved again. "Well, I'll see you later, Ben. Maybe we'll all go on another road trip sometime!"

I have only one description appropriate for her facial expression: a big, smiling emoji with jellybean-pink cheeks.

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