The Boy in the Woods (2014 Wattys Winner, Wattpad Version)

Chapter 19 - What a Difference a Day Makes

The next morning, while Jess and Louise were at their lockers getting their social studies textbooks, Louise said, “You dropped something.”  Jess glanced over just as Louise bent down and picked up a small folded piece of paper. 

“I didn’t drop that,” Jess said distractedly, trying to shove her coat out of the way so she could get to her books.  Why hadn’t she thought about how small their lockers were, she wondered irritably.  She shouldn't have chosen such a long coat.

“It’s got your name on it,” Louise said, just as Jess managed to find her book.  “Huh, it says, ‘Late today’.  I wonder what that means.” 

Jess turned to her with a growing realization.  Seeing her name written on the back of the open sheet, Louise was studying, she was horrified.  It was Marty’s handwriting.  She took it from her while her heart began pounding in her chest.

“Why is a boy giving you a note that says, ‘Late today’?” Louise asked as Jess quickly scanned it.  To her relief, he hadn’t signed it.

“What makes you think it was a boy?” Jess replied, folding the paper while avoiding her eyes.

“Look at that messy handwriting!” Louise exclaimed, taking it back from her so she could open it.  “Girls don’t write like that,” she added confidently, holding Marty’s note so Jess could see it, and then her eyes got wide.  “Jess,” she said with a hushed voice.  “Are you seeing a boy?”

“No!” Jess said, snatching the sheet out of her hand, but she could feel her face flushing. 

“You are!” Louise said loudly while Jess desperately tried to think of something.

“Do you really think my uncle would let me see boys?” she demanded, channeling her anger that Louise had read her so easily.

“Oh, right,” Louise said as her shoulders slumped, disappointed Jess wasn’t secretly seeing someone.  “What do you think the note means?”

“How should I know?” Jess said with a shrug, walking down the hallway to hide her telltale flushed face.

“Boys!” Louise declared with disgust as she walked beside Jess.  “They’re so stupid sometimes.  Can’t they even figure out how to write a simple note to a girl that makes sense?  Wait!” she said, putting her hand on Jess’s arm to stop her.  “I know what we should do!  We’ll get handwriting samples from all the boys!” she exclaimed excitedly.  “We’ll tell them we’re doing an experiment or something, and then we can compare them to the note.”

“No!” Jess said, feeling panic rise up.

“Come on, Jess!” Louise urged. 

“I don’t care who sent it.”

“But it’s a mystery!  We can solve it like Nancy Drew!”  Jess couldn’t help laughing.

“I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head as she continued to laugh.

“You’re no fun,” Louise grumbled. 

“Sorry,” Jess said truthfully. 

If it really had been an anonymous note, it would have been fun to begin an investigation with Louise.  But what if Louise asked Marty for a handwriting sample?  Jess couldn’t take that chance, especially because she knew Louise wouldn’t hesitate to approach him.

As they got closer to their social studies class, Jess slowed her steps, letting Louise go in first.  When she stepped in behind her, she was glad she had.  Marty was already at his usual place in the back of the room, watching the door.  The questioning look in his eyes let her know he was wondering if she’d gotten the note.  She gave him a slight nod and he opened his textbook, leaning forward as if to read.