Chapter 29: Moonstruck

“Val, I need to ask you a question.”

It was the tenth night Fernanda had spent crowded into the “Girls’ Bedroom” with Nia and Val. Nia was asleep already.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking about Ted for a long time. I want to ... I want to be his girlfriend.”

“Nan, this is the part where I’m supposed to slap your face and scream, ‘Snap out of it!’ You can’t be serious.”

“I am serious. You can’t say he isn’t good-looking. And I’ve seen him staring at me, but he’s always polite. I appreciate that about him, compared to the assholes at school.”

“You’re giving him too much credit, you must know that Leah and I would kick him into next week if he was being creepy.”

“So would I,” interjected Nia.

“Nia! Shit, you’re supposed to be asleep.”

“What, and miss all the good gossip? I may be little, but I think Ted’s great. And besides, Nan, you know it’s more than his looks. His looks at you, and his looks as in being handsome. I mean, Carl doesn’t look great with all those pimples, but you can see the love between him and Cindy.”

Val was not happy.

“We don’t need to hear relationship advice from a 9-year-old virgin.”

“Val, fuck you very much. Since last month you’re more of a virgin than I am, thanks to a scalpel. And Nan is being nice by talking to you first before vacuuming up Ted. I call dibs, though. At the wedding, you can be Best Woman and I’ll be Maid of Honor.”

“Whoa! I just want to have lunch with him or go to the movies or something, not make Val a sister-in-law before we turn 18.”

“Oh, shit. Now that’s in my head, I’ll toss and turn all night. Nan, listen. Nia and I are not our brother’s keepers. If you want to date Ted, you go right ahead. Good NIGHT, Nan and Nia.”

At breakfast the next morning, Ted and Nan were exchanging looks. When their eyes met, they turned away quickly. Leah was perceiving all of it, and tried to keep a calm exterior in spite of how funny they were being.

Val had a “cat who ate the canary” look on her face, while Nia was just grinning.

Drew said, “I have to go to work, but Leah has some things to say before you all leave for school. See you tonight.”

“Ted, you’re about as subtle as a hand grenade. Nan, you suck at flirting. When do you expect to inform Ted? Next week? Next year? C’mon, Ted, what would you like to say to our guest?

Ted hemmed and hawed. Then, hesitantly, “Fernanda, would you please go to the movies with me?”

“I’ll give you three answers, Ted. First, don’t use the ‘F’ word, call me Nan. Second, I get to pick the film. Third, YES!”

Leah pulled out her wallet and gave Ted two bills, a twenty and a five. “Here, it’s my treat.”

Val was indignant.

“Hey, what if I want to go to the movies with Abel?”

“In order for that to happen, Val, Abel has to ask you. If he does, I’ll cover you too.”