The Copper City Ripper

Chapter 04

Uzi entered her home, her mind a whirlpool of confusion and excitement. The house was quiet, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of old wood. She knew her mother would be in the living room, probably immersed in one of her craft projects. Taking a deep breath, Uzi walked in.

Nori, her mother, looked up from her knitting with a warm smile. "Hey, my little bitty bat! How was school?"

Uzi shifted uncomfortably, not quite meeting her mother's eyes. "It was fine. I, uh, have a question for you."

Nori's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Sure, sweetie. What is it?"

Uzi hesitated, feeling a bit silly for even asking. But she needed to know. "How can you tell if a guy likes you?"

Nori's face lit up with excitement, her knitting needles clattering to the floor as she jumped up. "Oh my goodness, Uzi! Are you telling me you have a crush? Who is he? Is it that Thad boy?"

Uzi rolled her eyes, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Mom, that was back in middle school! And seriously, you need to stop friggin' going through my things!"

Nori waved her hand dismissively, too excited to care. "Okay, okay. But tell me, who is it?"

Uzi bit her lip, feeling a knot in her stomach. "It's not really a crush. I heard a rumor that a guy named Noah Sembly likes me."

Nori's excitement didn't wane. "Noah Sembly? Isn't he that nice boy from your school? How do you know he likes you?"

Uzi took a deep breath and recounted what she had overheard Lizzy talking about—the way N had focused on her instead of Rebecca. She carefully avoided mentioning their meeting at the gas station, knowing her mother would not approve of her sneaking out.

Nori listened intently, nodding along. "Well, sweetie, if he's paying more attention to you than to a girl like Rebecca, that's a pretty good sign. Teenage boys don't usually ignore someone like her unless they have a good reason."

Uzi felt a flicker of hope but quickly squashed it down. "But why would he like me? I'm not exactly... well, I'm not Rebecca."

Nori reached out and took Uzi's hand, her eyes soft with motherly love. "Uzi, you are unique and wonderful just the way you are. Any boy who can't see that isn't worth your time. But if this Noah boy does see it, then maybe he's worth getting to know."

Uzi nodded, feeling a bit better. "Thanks, Mom."

Nori smiled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Anytime, sweetheart. And remember, just be yourself. The right people will always appreciate you for who you are."

After their conversation, Uzi went to her room, feeling both lighter and more confused. She had always been comfortable in her own skin, despite what others thought of her. But the idea that someone like N could be interested in her was both thrilling and terrifying.

She flopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted back to their encounter at the gas station. N had seemed genuinely interested in her, not put off by her usual prickly demeanor. He had even complimented her, comparing her to the gun she was named after—compact, deadly, and pretty.

Uzi couldn't help but smile at the memory. Maybe there was something there. Maybe she just needed to give it a chance.

In the living room, Nori sat back down with her knitting, her thoughts still on her daughter. She was proud of Uzi for coming to her with her questions, but she was also worried. She knew high school could be brutal, especially for someone like Uzi who didn't fit into the typical mold.

Nori's mind wandered back to her own high school days. She had been different too, in her own way. She remembered the sting of rejection and the joy of finding someone who appreciated her for who she was. She hoped Uzi would find that joy as well.