Teen Idol Read online

  So very, very dead.

  "Well, you know."

  Oh, did I ever.

  "So I decided, Well, that's that. But it was like—" Here Scott, still not looking at me, ran a hand through his hair in a gesture not unlike one of Luke's. "I couldn't ever really get you out of my head. And the more time I spent with you—you know, at lunch and at Register meetings—the more I realized you were the one I wanted to be with, and that Geri and I . . . we just weren't right for each other."

  Okay. I might let her live. Barely.

  Scott finally turned back toward me and, looking down at me with eyes that were unreadable in the darkness, said, "But then Luke came along."

  "Right," I said, still not understanding what Luke had to do with it. "And?"

  "And . . . Well. He's Luke Striker, Jen."

  "So?"

  "Don't so me, Jen. You're the one who agreed to go to the Spring Fling with him!"

  "Yeah . . ." I said.

  And then slowly . so slowly it began to dawn on me. What Scott was trying to say.

  Suddenly, so many things that had confused me before made sense. Like the Dairy Queen napkins. The reason Scott had handed me those napkins instead of kissing me hadn't been because he wasn't attracted to me.

  Oh, no. It had been because he thought I was in love with Luke Striker.

  He thought I was taken.

  That was what he'd wanted to ask me, that day in his car. I knew it now. That's what his question had been. Was I, or was I not, in love with Luke Striker?

  And suddenly it was like, even though it was still dark out—and to tell you the truth, a little chilly in my chiffony dress—the sun had come out.

  Seriously. It felt like the sun had come out and was pouring down all over me, warming me.

  "I went to the Spring Fling with Luke," I explained, feeling dazzled by the way he was looking down at me . . . like I mattered, "because he asked me to go with him. Not because I'm in love with him, Scott. In fact, I'm probably the only girl in this entire town who isn't in love with him. And never was."

  "Is that really true?" Scott reached out and grabbed one of my hands, then held it—not tightly but not exactly like he was going to let go of it anytime soon, either—in both his own. "Then you're okay with him and . . him and Geri? You don't . . . You were never . . .?"

  "No, of course not." I couldn't help laughing. I felt like I was in a movie. The sun was shining, little birds were tweeting around my head. I thought any second a rainbow might break out, and a show choir would appear singing "Day by Day " "I was never in love with Luke—"

  And then—amazing but true—it just kind of slipped out. The truth. As easily as if we'd been talking about books or something.

  "—the way I am with you."

  There. I'd said it. It was out there, floating around in space. The L word.

  Just like that.

  I was kind of wishing I could snatch it up and stuff it back into my mouth . . . until Scott's grip on my hand tightened. Now it definitely didn't seem like he was going to let go of it anytime soon.

  "Did you just say you love me?" he asked.

  Well, what was I supposed to do? It was done. I'd said it. There was no going back now.

  And you know what? Suddenly, I didn't want to.

  "Only since, like, the fifth grade," I said. I knew I was babbling, but I didn't care "That's why I never dated anybody else I mean, you moved. But then you came back, and I—"

  I didn't get to do much talking after that. That's on account of the fact that Scott grabbed me then and pulled me to him.

  And started kissing me all over again.

  And this time I didn't stop him.

  We kissed all the way through the fireworks display We didn't even notice that there was a fireworks display . . .

  . . . I guess because we'd been making fireworks of our own.

  When we finally came back to the campfire—Scott's arm around my shoulders and mine around his waist—Trina came rushing up, going, "Where were you? You missed all the Hey. What . . .?" Then her eyes got very big. "Oh."

  I guess she finally noticed Scott's arm around me. Or maybe she noticed the beatific smile on my face. At least, that's what she told me later. That I had looked beatific . . . even with Queen Anne's lace in the clip holding back my hair, instead of the forget-me-nots I'd started out with.

  But I guess you would look beatific, too, if the man you had been in love with since the fifth grade had told you that he was in love with you, too.

  Scott agrees with Luke and Geri that I should run for student body president next year He says he'll even provide all the cookies and muffins and stuff for any bake sales. Cara and Trina, who are my campaign managers, might want to hold on my behalf.

  And while I never turn down an opportunity to sample Scott's cooking, I do think student body president might be aiming a little too low.

  I have to say, I'm thinking, a girl with my people skills? Well . . .

  Why not the White House?

  Ask Annie

  Ask Annie your most complex interpersonal relationship questions.

  Go on, we dare you!

  All letters to Annie are subject to publication in the Clayton High School Register.

  Names and e-mail addresses of correspondents guaranteed confidential.

  Dear Annie,

  Okay. So I took your advice, and I told him. And guess what? It turns out he loves me too!

  So.....what do we do now?

  Desperate No More

  Dear Desperate No More,

  You live happily ever after.

  Annie

  Out and about in L.A.

  People are talking about…

  Luke Striker, seen yesterday on Rodeo Drive, strolling with current stead, UCLA freshman Geri Lynn Packard, and sporting a bandage on his right bicep. Striker is rumored to be undergoing laser removal for a tattoo left over from last years tryst with Lancelot and Guinevere co-star Angelique Tremaine…

  Now Playing

  See Luke Striker in US30 a high school senior save his Indiana town from a terrorist attack, while winning the heart of the girl of his dreams? Ebert & Roper call Striker’s performance a "tour de force" and give the film an two thumbs up.

  Also starring Lindsay Johan as Green.