The Dream Machine

Seventeen

LIZZIE

     Sandler couldn't have a crush on me. Could he? Was the answer even possibly be a maybe? Didn't he like Jennifer? These questions circled through my head as I lay on my head with a stomach full of store-bought lasagna, not sure what to do with the rest of my evening.

     First Date auditions are next week. I should stop worrying about this and start practicing. If I want the part of Casey, which I definitely do, I can't procrastinate. My thoughts got the better of me when I urgently grabbed my phone from my pocket and texted Sandler.

     "Hey," the text read. It was the formal way of saying 'I want to start a conversation with you' without having to actually ask.

     Sandler's text bubble comes up and I am impatiently waiting. Come on, Jacobson! It must be pretty important if he's taking this long. "Hey," he says.

     Since I couldn't just flat-out say it, I decided to play the nonchalant game, "Can I tell you something really weird?"

     There is no hesitation this time, "Sure, I guess."

     I take a deep breath and start typing, "Lloyd told me today that you're in love with me."

     There was nothing. Until, his speech bubble popped up. The suspense was literally killing me, "Weird,"

     Sandler and I didn't talk for the rest of the night.

     It seemed that Sandler had gotten that date with Jennifer. I found out when she approached me and engaged me in conversation.

     "Are you and Sandler dating?" she asked me in the hallway.

     I was supposed to be at Math, no wait, I was supposed to be at Science. I came upon this realization when I remembered that I walk with Sandler...to Math every day. Oh gosh, I'm a mess, "No," I coughed, "we're not." 

    "Good, I didn't wanna step on any toes," she said, breathing a gigantic sigh of relief, "So, it's okay that we go out? Right?" 

    "Yeah," Jennifer didn't wait another minute from prancing off to tell her actual friends. I didn't think she was that kind of person. The girl who got all giddy over a date. I thought she was all bookworm-y and stuff. Not to say that I'm not. I enjoy a good paranormal romance from time to time, but that's besides the point. I needed to talk to Sandler. 

     He was reading a book in the library when I walked in to see him. Sandler put down his hardcover when he noticed me. The library's air was warm and cozy as usual, "I heard you were trying out for Aaron," I told him. 

     "Yes," he replied. 

     "That's cool," I noted, "What song are you auditioning with? I heard we had to try out with songs from the musical." 

      "Yeah, I was thinking of doing In Love With You." 

      "Great, I was thinking of maybe trying out with The One." 

      Sandler seemed confused, "Isn't that a group song?" 

      "Yeah, I'm doing it with Lloyd. You could do it with us too. We need two more people: a girl and a guy," I now desparately wanted him to do it with me. 

      He smiled, "Are you developing a crush on me?" my heart stopped. I wasn't. I was NOT developing a crush on him. Lloyd was definitely lying, "Because I already have one." 

       Sandler stood up from the table and approached me. He didn't let me take a breath as he kissed me. I'm not gonna go into detail, because all I could think was nothing. My world stopped. Fireworks. 

       My alarm clock went off. I jerked up in my sleep. It was a dream. Sandler's kisses were an imagination of the mind. Strange, Sandler didn't have a date with Jennifer, and he didn't kiss me. The thought actually comforted me. How would I have explained it to Lloyd? He would've killed Sandler for sure. Goodness, all this middle school drama. 

       For the billionth time in my life, I started the daily routine of getting ready for school. Having already taken a shower last night, all I had to do was pack up my bag, get dressed, and eat breakfast, but not necessarily in that order.

        As I was eating my Cheerios at the kitchen table, I thought about the recent events. I had gotten together with Lloyd. Sandler had seemed weird about it. Our school decided to put on First Date. Barely anything has happened, but I feel as if I have gotten stuck in a stupid, relationship hurricane. 

          It all had to stop. We're in eighth grade for crying out loud. I shouldn't have to deal with boyfriend problems. I'm only fourteen for goodness sake! These were serious topics for breakfast time, but they couldn't be silenced for any longer. I know what I have to do, and today, I plan on doing it.