The Perfect Couple

3

"Oh, Kelly." Kim was moaning now as if I were a hurt kitten she'd found beside the road. "Miriam is so popular and she's so pretty," she observed in a sick-room whisper.

Miriam was beautiful, but I ignored Kim's watered-down assessment of her looks. "I've dreamed about Alan every night since," I confided.

"If it were anyone but Alan Rogers." Kim's lovely eyes brimmed with compassion and I finally decided she'd suffered enough on my behalf, so I told her to cheer up.

"But it was just a few days later that Alan broke up with Miriam. Doesn't that tell you something?"

She was incredulous now. "You mean he did notice you that day? Kelly, why didn't you tell me before? Has he said anything asked you out?"

"No, nothing like that." I waved a hand in the air, indicating that that was an unimportant detail. "He will notice me before long, though and he will ask me out."

Kim spoke in a low, apologetic voice. "I think you should know, Kelly, that Alan is seeing Gloria Putnam now."

I grinned mysteriously. "Of course he is. He's going with one girl after another because he hasn't found the right one yet."

"You're the right girl for him?" She still spoke in that soft, apologetic tone. When I nodded she said, "But what if he never discovers that? What if he never even noticed you?"

"He will," I paused, then stated quietly, "You see, I have a plan."

"Tell me!" Kim squealed, bouncing up and down like a child.

I didn't answer her right away because the team was coming out for the second half and with the applause I couldn't have made myself heard without shouting. I held up my index finger to signify that I'd tell her in a minute.

The substitutes came out first and I waved as Marcus looked up to where he knew I'd be sitting. He waved back, giving me the biggest grin. I could feel the warmth of his eyes all the way up in the stands.

When he saw Kim was with me he waved to her, too. The three of us had grown up in the same neighborhood, had been like a brother and two sisters until five years ago when Kim had began to get interested in clothes and boys. I was a tomboy, so Marcus and I continued to play ball, or to work at some project. Lately we'd been collecting and selling aluminium cans.

Kim was jabbing my arm, wanting me to tell her what my plan was, but now the first-string team was running onto the field and I was breathless again. Alan was swaggering a little bit, but it didn't look like he was showing-off when he did it. How could he help knowing he was good? It wasn't until he went into a huddle with the other players that I turned to Kim.

"My plan is a little complicated," I told her, "I'd better not try to clue you in right now. Can you come home with me after the game?"

"Yes, I guess so. Tom has orchestra. But please, Kelly, just give me a hint."

"I honestly can't," I told her. "I didn't get the idea until this morning when Marcus and I both missed the bus and walked to school together. It just popped into my mind. But I haven't worked out all the bugs yet, so I need some more time to think"

"Marcus?" She cut me off. " What's he got to do with it?"

Only everything, I thought. Aloud I said, "later. I'll tell you everything later."

She gave me her most enchanting smile. "Can't you at least give me a hint?" She coaxed.

"No," I said firmly. "I don't want you picking my idea to pieces before I get a chance to perfect it."