The Forever Crush by Debra Moffitt Page A

boyfriend. And right now, in the quiet of Clem’s kitchen, I was thinking that he wasn’t even that great of a friend.
    I heard the swinging door creak and spun around hoping that Forrest had returned. But it was Clem’s sister, Mimi. This time she was in regular pink flannel pajamas, not a tutu.
    â€œAre there any cookies left?” she said. “I like the snowmen with white icing.”
    I found the tin of cookies for her and she poured a glass of milk.
    â€œWhy are you in here alone?” Mimi asked.
    The question caught me off guard. I couldn’t say the truth and I was getting tired of lying all the time.
    â€œMy boyfriend was helping me but he left.”
    â€œBoyfriend” stuck in my throat like a bone. Even when I tried not to lie, I lied.
    â€œI don’t want a boyfriend,” Mimi said.
    â€œNo?” I said, “You don’t have a crush on anyone?”
    â€œNo,” she said. “Boys are gross.”
    â€œYeah, I used to think that, too. But then something happens and some of them aren’t gross anymore.”
    In fact, one of them is so not gross that I think about him all the time .
    â€œI can help you,” Mimi said. “I know how to load the dishwasher.”
    So we worked together, efficient as sisters, until the kitchen was clean. I even wiped off every countertop. Then I turned off the overhead lights and switched on the light over the stove, like a nightlight, just like my mom did.
    Back in the family room, everyone was gathered in twosomes, except for Forrest. This wasn’t exactly a makeout party, but everyone looked really cozy. I sat near Forrest but not super-near him. He hardly looked up when I came in. Moments later he stood up and walked out. Bathroom. I took it as my opportunity. I followed him and waited a polite distance from the door. As I stood in the hallway, a door down the hall inched open and I saw a sliver of light. I prayed it wasn’t Mr. or Mrs. Caritas. I was having a bad time but I didn’t want to break the spell that we were having an adult-free party. It was Mimi again.
    â€œHey, Mimi,” I said, “C’mere.”
    I had forgotten to ask her about library club and the bookmark bandit.
    She widened her door. “Clem says I can’t come out.”
    â€œJust for a minute.”
    She approached me and I asked if she was in library club.
    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œI thought so. This is kind of secret, but I wanted to know if you ever saw anything unusual at library club—like someone putting bookmarks in some of the books.”
    â€œUm, no,” she said.
    She turned and fast-walked toward her room. I was going to stop her but Forrest opened the bathroom door.
    â€œForrest, hey. Can I talk to you outside?”
    â€œWhy? There’s another movie starting. Peanuts , I think.”
    â€œI just need to.”
    He followed me to the front porch and I closed the door behind us.
    â€œI’m worried about something,” I said.
    â€œWhat?’
    â€œWell, Piper told me that people are saying stuff about us.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œThat they, um, don’t understand why we’re a couple. Because you’ve dated all these, you know, hot girls.”
    I fake-coughed out of nervousness. He looked at me blankly, so I had to press on.
    â€œPeople don’t believe that you like me. For real, anyway. That’s what it sounded like.”
    â€œJem, this is exactly what I’m talking about. All these people always in my business. I’ll go out with whoever I want. What does it matter to them?”
    â€œI don’t know. I guess I thought you should know that people don’t—well, some people might not—believe the act.”
    â€œI don’t care who believes what. And you shouldn’t either.”
    â€œSo that’s it?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAre you going to the wedding?”
    â€œYeah, we can go together, if you