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tip of my ballet flat, trying to stay cool. No biggie.
    â€œWe should both probably see it twice,” he said, and started stuffing his notebook into his backpack. The bell for class rang.
    â€œOkay, why?” I asked, my mind quickly trying to decipher what he actually meant.
    â€œBecause . . .,” he started to say. “You know what? Let’s talk later. I don’t want to be late for class.”
    I nodded and we both rushed off. Great—now I had to spend the entire earthonomics class wondering what exactly he was talking about.
    At lunchtime I went tearing around to findHailey and practically ran her over on the way to the cafeteria.
    â€œSo he wants to go twice,” I said breathlessly when I saw her. She was walking with our friend Jenna.
    â€œSee? I knew it was working!” Hailey exclaimed.
    â€œWhat’s working? I’m not even sure what he means,” I said.
    â€œWell, how many shows are there?” she asked.
    Jenna answered for me. “Three!” I kind of wished Jenna wasn’t there. She knew I had a massive crush on Michael, but usually I kept the details between me and Hailey. I looked at her, and then at Hailey again.
    â€œRight—opening night on Friday, Saturday matinee, and Saturday night. So if you both go to two shows,” Hailey said, now sounding like an elementary school math teacher, “you have to overlap once!”
    â€œI guess so,” I said, not knowing why this hadn’t occurred to me.
    â€œSo that’s great!” Hailey said, shaking my arm.
    â€œNo, it isn’t,” I said.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”
    I wanted to just come out and say that even though this development was fantastic, she had to stop being so pushy, both literally and figuratively. But I couldn’t really get into that with Jenna there, hanging on every word.
    â€œNothing,” I said.
    â€œSo this is what I think you should do,” she said, leaning toward me. Jenna leaned in too. “Next time you see him,” Hailey continued in a low, conspiratorial tone, “bring it up, the whole thing about going to two shows, but don’t ask him if he wants to go to the Friday night one together. Just say, ‘Well, I’m going Friday night and you’re going Saturday afternoon . . .’ and then let him fill in the rest. He’ll just have to ask you to the Saturday night performance.”
    â€œPerfect plan!” said Jenna..
    I had to admit it was a perfect plan. “Thanks, Hails,” I said, and meant it.
    Michael was nowhere to be seen in the cafeteria. I wondered where he could be. Sometimes he crammed for a test in the hallway with a friend.Sometimes he had a team meeting. He could be anywhere. I hoped I’d see him soon. Tickets were selling out fast.

    Two days went by and I still hadn’t had a face-to-face conversation with Michael Lawrence. Then I was home, spreading peanut butter on a banana for a snack in the kitchen, when the phone rang. My hands were all peanut-buttery and I couldn’t answer. A few seconds later, Allie came sauntering into the kitchen. She didn’t walk anymore, she sauntered . She covered the receiver and came over to me.
    â€œIt’s your boyfriend,” she whispered in my ear.
    I glared at her and grabbed the phone.
    â€œHello,” I said. Unfortunately, I had just taken a bite of peanut butter and banana and my voice sort of sounded like it was underwater. Girl Chokes on Peanut Butter, Misses Great Date Opportunity.
    â€œSam?” he said. Michael never called me Sam. “Is that you?”
    â€œYeah, hold on,” I said. I put the phone downand gulped a glass of water. Then I got on the phone again, sounding like myself. “Hi, sorry.”
    â€œPeanut butter?” he asked.
    â€œHow did you know?” I said, surprised.
    â€œOh, I know. I’m a huge fan of after-school peanut butter