1961 // louis dimucci

Chapter 24

"Louis!"

"What?!"

"How come you never get the doors open in time for Fall?!"

"I don't know!!"

Sharon's forced us to stay after school till eight to work on the talent show. And it's only October. Imagine what we'll have to do in June!

"Figure it out, Louis!"

"Fine!"

"Okay, people," Sharon claps her hands together, "Let's run it again from summer!"

Rhonda and I lean against one of the support beams behind the doors as Paulette sings her 'Summer' part. It's just us two. Penny, the other girl in 'Fall', was absent in school today.

"I heard that Louis was real pissed after Friday," She chews her gum loudly and stares at me, waiting for me to say something. I haven't spoken to any of the girls over the weekend, so who knows what they heard.

"Yeah? Well, so was I."

"I don't think dumping your drink on someone was a good choic-"

"He was being a jerk."

"He said you just dumped it on him for no reason."

"What?! He called me a slut!"

"Yeah, like two weeks ago."

"No, like Friday."

She gasps, "Again?"

I nod as the girls finish the chorus of 'Girl For All Seasons.'

"I think he likes you."

"Rhonda, are you crazy? Since when does calling people names mean that a guy likes a girl?"

"Since - Never mind, it's our turn," I see Davey swing open her door and I turn and go to exit through my door, but instead of the door being open like it was supposed to, I smash my face on the wood.

"Ow!" I screech, holding my nose, "Louis!"

I slam the door open and shove his chest, "What the hell are you doing?!"

"Nothin'," He says quickly.

"Well, obviously!"

"Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it!"

"Yeah, sure."

"Whatever. At least I said sorry, unlike you!"

"Unlike me?! What do I have to apologize about?!"

"For dumping soda down my pants!!"

"Guys, can we not do this right now-" Sharon tries to stop the fight.

"I had a perfectly good reason to do that!"

"Guys-"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"And what's that? I fought your boyfriend?"

"No, I-" He cuts me off.

"Or that I won? Or maybe it's that-"

"BECAUSE I'M NOT A SLUT!"

Everyone gets quiet. Louis looks at the floor.

I angrily take off my hat and cape, grab my books off a box, and storm out. I don't need him telling me that I needed to apologize for defending myself.

I look around the parking lot for a ride. The only people still at the school were teachers and the ones doing the talent show. That means I'm going to have to wait for them to finish.

I sigh, and swing open the door to the backseat of Rhonda's car and slide in.

I really need to get my own car.

I spend an hour in that car. I pick the nail polish off my fingers, I try taking a nap, I even begin my math homework! I'm about to get out and walk home, when I hear Louis talking to Sharon.

"C'mon, Sharon, talk to me."

"Louis, you've ruined the whole practice," I see Sharon stomping ahead of him. The girls and Davey aren't far behind.

"How?!"

"Well, for one, you can't even open a door right!"

"It happens!"

"And you've been acting rude lately. Especially to Chloe."

"We're just in a little argument right now. Nothing a few more days won't fix!"

A little argument?!

"I'm sorry, Louis, but you better get your act together, or we're done."

Go Sharon.

He gives her an angry look and hops on his bike.

"Let's go, girls," Sharon calls out and Rhonda, Paulette, and Steph run towards the car.

"I'm sorry for the way he's been acting," Sharon tells me once she's in the car.

"It's not your fault," I say and then add, "I'm sorry I didn't finish practice, Sharon."

"It's fine. I don't know what his deal is. He's been acting crazy ever since that stupid fight."

"I still think he li-" Rhonda begins.

"Shut up, Rhonda," I say, watching to see if Sharon realized what Rhonda was about to say.

I groan and lean back against the seat. Does he like me?