Later, I call Simon.
“Hi there, peaches. How are you?”
I am sitting on the edge of my bed, and I begin bouncing up and down. “Simon? I’m calling to tell you something.”
“Oh. You ... are? Okay, great.” Simon stumbles a bit, probably because I haven’t exactly been prone to randomly calling to chat. Today, though, is different. “Your roommate ditched the leopard seals and came back?”
“Better.”
“The inflatable unicorn I sent is now officially your new roommate?”
I glance into the spare room and eye the ridiculous pink atrocity that has been sitting on the desk chair for the past few days. “I suppose that’s true. But that’s not it.”
“Okay, so what’s your news?”
I sit still, preparing to say this out loud. “I like someone.”
“Liam Neeson?”
“No!”
“Flo from the Progressive commercials?”
“Simon!”
“Miley Cyrus? Was she wearing something kooky?”
“It’s the boy I mentioned before. Here at school.”
“Ah, okay, then. He’s got your interest?” I can tell Simon is desperately trying to shield me from the surprise in his tone. “Well, wow. What’s he like?”
“He held my hand and picked up ice cubes, and he has a carful of motivational buttons.”
“Intriguing. But does he have an inflatable unicorn?”
I stop bouncing. “It’s actually possible.”
“Then I like him.”
I fall onto my back and stare at the ceiling. “I really like him, too, Simon. His name is Esben Baylor. Google him.”
“I will do that. It’s my job to investigate my kid’s suitors.”
“You’ve been waiting for this moment for a while, haven’t you?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to be ready. That’s all.” But I hear his keyboard clacking in the background.
“Okay. I have to get dinner, but I wanted to tell you this. I’ll call you again soon.”
I’m about to leave for the cafeteria, when I stop myself and check the student directory for Carmen’s room number. Then, two floors up from mine, I stand outside her door and have an internal debate that ends with me knocking.
“Allison,” she says with a smile. Carmen has dyed her hair baby pink, and it’s whooshed off her face in a most dramatic manner. “What’s up?”
“I was heading to the caf to get something to eat. Do you want to come with me?”
She pulls her student ID from her back pocket. “I was just on my way there. It’s breakfast-for-dinner night, so I’m about to omelet myself silly.”
“Then I will omelet myself silly, too.”