Dedicating Every Day to You

Chapter Thirty-Two

I waltz into Spanish class, holding my completed worksheet triumphantly in hand. John's advice helped a lot, and there we have it- finished homework for once. Senora Claudia is taking attendance, and she nods when she sees me. "Ay, bueno, Senorita Laurens-Hamilton. On time, for once."

"Gracias, Senora." I hand over the paper, then sit down in my regular seat. There's a little pink sticky note on the underside of the desk, and I pull it out and check it. It's got Philip's familiar spiky, permanent-marker handwriting on it, and I grin.

'Hey, I'm going to be in your lunch period today if you want to sit with me? From, Philip.' He doodled a little heart in the corner.

I laugh and fold the paper carefully. This one is going in my locker with the rest.

At lunch, I carry my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle lunchbox over to the handicap-accessible table and sit down. A minute later, a boy with brown hair in a wheelchair comes rolling over. He puts his brakes on and settles himself into the space across from me.

"Hello there," Philip says amiably. "I like your lunch box."

I hug him across the table. "Thanks." What I don't say is that my lunch box is still in my locker, with the remnants of yesterday's lunch. I forgot it, and John had to pack my lunch in whatever he had available- his own lunch box. "Let's see what's in it."

Philip cracks a wicked smile. "What's behind door number one?"

"Let's see." I undo the snaps. "Grilled cheese, strawberries, and- oh, yes!- a brownie." John makes the absolute best brownies in the world.

He laughs warmly. "That was cute."

I look at him, pausing in unwrapping my sandwich. "What?" People my own age don't often call me cute.

"I said, that was cute. You know how much I like you, Kathryn." I never noticed it before, but Philip's eyes are a very intense blue. They convey his seriousness, and they sparkle dimly in the cafeteria lights. I'm glad we're at eye level right now.

"We're thirteen, so I can't give you my heart. Will you accept half a sandwich instead?" I break my grilled cheese in half.

"I was hoping for a brownie, but I'll take the sandwich." Philip reaches out and takes the piece. A whole colony of butterflies takes up residence in my stomach when our fingers brush.

"Anyway, why'd you bring that up?" I can't seem to take my eyes away from his.

He sets down the piece of sandwich. "I was wondering, would you want to hang out with me sometime? Like, as a date?"

I drop my sandwich half on the floor. I was not expecting that question. "Where would we go?"

Philip breaks his half sandwich in half again and hands me the bigger piece. "Well, have you ever been to Jasperson Park?" When I shake my head, he beams at me. "Oh, it's beautiful! They have a hedge maze, a statue garden, the best shaved ice I've ever had, and a butterfly garden."

"I love shaved ice!" The words burst out of me in a flood. When I lived with Mr. Lake in Washington Heights, there was a man known only as 'Piragua Guy', who sold shaved ice. My babysitter, a boy named Sonny, would walk me down to get one every day after school. They were my favorite thing in the whole world- I haven't had any in almost three years.

"Then you will love Jasperson Park. I was thinking, maybe we could go tomorrow?" Philip has finished his piece of sandwich, and is now looking jealously at my brownie.

I break the brownie, too, and offer him the bigger half. "I'll have to ask my dads." I hope they'll say yes, it sounds like a lot of fun.

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