Lolly’s palms were sweating. She had not heard or felt a ding dang thing since she had gotten on the bus. A note was in her pocket. A note she had written and rewritten a hundred times, well that was a slight exaggeration, but only a slight one. She figured it took Trevor all of three seconds to write the note he gave her. Oh, no, not her. First there was the dilemma of whether or not she should write his name and her name on the note. She decided on no, if the note got found, lost or stolen, it could not be connected back to her. The last thing she needed was to be teased or worse, because she had the audacity to write a note to a boy. For too long she stared at a blank sheet of notebook paper. It just shouted at her, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY! But, that wasn’t true. Really all she had to write down was, Yes, I will be at your Cross Country Meet. Please tell Amber I need a ride home. After several inky smudged pages she managed to get that down. Her next challenge was folding the stupid note. There was a protocol for note folding. It was like freaking origami and she sucked at making paper cranes. Her folding was so bad she had to write the note over three times. Every time she wadded up another sheet of notebook paper, Fluff swatted it out of her hand.

The bus's brakes, jerked Lolly back into the present. Munch got on. As ususal, he had his sewing bag. He said, "I need to sit by the window. My stomach is NOT happy, and if I hurl, I want to feel the wind in my face." He took the window seat.

Too quickly, they came to Trevor’s stop. NOW WHAT? He was getting on the bus. He saw her. He gave her a shy, uncertain smile. She put the note on the edge of the seat. He dropped a pencil, and grabbed the note. The pencil rolled down the aisle. He went after it. NOTE DELIVERED.

Now, all she had to do was to tell Pa why she wasn't coming straight home to see him after school on Friday.

*

Friday morning arrived. Aunt Jessie was off last night, so Mitzi had picked out Lolly’s clothes, yesterday afternoon. She had chosen, the pink shirt, black jeans, chucks and Lolly's newest hooded sweat shirt. In a mental fog, Lolly walked alone to the bus stop. She heard nothing and saw nothing. When the bus pulled up, she got on last. The vinyl of the seat was cold, but she didn’t notice. She turned to look out the window. The bus took off. Though her eyes were focused out the window, she saw nothing. Munch got on the bus. He was grim.

The trance Lolly had been in disintegrated. Poor Munch, Pa was on his way home. When she had told him, she would be getting in a little late because of the cross country meet, he had been fine with that, a little too fine. She suspected he would swing by to see Mrs. Dutchendorph before he headed for the trailer. All she could do was pray, he got out of there before the bus dropped Munch off. If he didn't there would be hell to pay. Poor Munch. The only good thing about his mood was that he was quiet, so she wouldn't have to pretend to be listening.

Trevor's stop. Through the window, she looked down at him, he looked up at her. He smiled. That smile. Mrs. Anderson opened the doors and he got onto the bus. When he passed by, Munch did not look up at him. Trevor gave her a wave and made his way down the aisle.

*

After school, Lolly walked to the park where the Cross Country Meet was being held. It wasn’t far from the school. There were more people at the meet than she expected. Lisa and Viv were there. Inwardly, Lolly groaned. A light mist started to fall. She pulled her hood over her head.

Near the starting line she saw Amber with her parents. She waved. Lolly went to her. “Hey, Lolly, this weather sucks.” She tapped a huge red umbrella by her side. “I got this bad boy to keep us dry.”

Trevor’s parents, said, “Hi Lolly.”

“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Long.” They gave her a bemused smile. Whatever that meant. No other conversation was attempted.

Amber told her parents, “We are going to the first marker.”

Mr. Long asked, “Don’t you want to see the start?”

“We can see it from there."

Lolly wanted to see the start up close, she wanted to see Trevor up close, but Amber was already heading across the park. As she trailed after her, she saw the boys cross country team. Amber stopped by a mile marker. Lolly looked down the long line of boys. She saw Trevor. His hair was wet from the mist. Did he see her? Trevor’s eyes locked with hers. Now became incredibly precious and confusing. A shy smile spread across her lips, she felt her body become instantly warmer. Trevor winked at her. She was too shy to wink back, so she waved, ever so slightly.

A bull horn blasted near by. It was time for the start. Amber popped open the huge umbrella. The mist was getting thicker. The starting gun sounded. The boys took off. This was not a dash at all. A pace was being set. Trevor hung back. Lolly realized she had no idea if he was good or bad at Cross Country. He was just a sophomore like her, but he was on Varsity track, so he must be fairly good.

It was a joy, to be able to just watch Trevor. Always she was having to pretend like she wasn’t or force her self not to watch him. One now fell into another with each step he took. She could watch him all day. Too soon he passed the marker where she and Amber stood. He did not break his focus as he passed them. His stride was easy, his pace even. Several people were ahead of him.

Amber lead Lolly to the second marker. In Lolly’s peripheral vision she saw Lisa and Viv headed in the same direction. Amber saw them too. She said, “Those two twits again. Always ambushing Trevor after Mass. That one, Viv, called four times this week. Every time she called, I told her Trevor wasn’t home. The big dummy. He never should have given her his number. I hope he’s learned his lesson.”

A grin spread across Lolly’s face.

Marker, by marker they followed Trevor, the last marker was coming up. In the distance Lolly saw flags that marked the end of the race. Amber took her to the finish line. The flags created a V shaped path that narrowed down to width of one runner. Mr. and Mrs. Long stood by the flags. Their eyes were focused on Trevor. Large drops of rain had begun to fall. They made a loud plopping noise on the umbrella. Trevor was soaked. It was getting colder. He must be miserable. If he was, his face did not show it. His legs pumped a little faster, he passed the boy in front of him. Lolly counted. There were at least eight runners ahead of him. He passed another boy. Trevor’s face turned red. He was now close enough for Lolly to see his nostril’s flare in and out. One boy shot ahead of the rest and entered the V of flags. A second, a third and so on. Trevor finished 7th. He jogged around in a little circle and flung his arms in and out. His dad put a dry blanket over his shoulders and handed him an umbrella. For an instant Trevor glanced back at Lolly. He lifted his chin. She clapped her hands. Pleased, he turned away and headed for the school with his team.

Amber said, “Well, that was his best finish yet. You just might be his good luck charm.”

Embarrassed, Lolly didn’t know what to say.

Amber gave her a big hug and said, “You are just too CUTE!” She let go of her. “Lets get out of this rain.” They headed for her car. As they drove away, Amber saw Lisa and Viv talking to her parents. “Such suck ups!” Lolly noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Long were actually talking to the girls. They had not talked to Lolly.

Amber didn't turn toward the highway, she headed for the school. "I told Mom I would pick up Trevor if that's okay."

"Uh, sure." Duel thoughts raced through Lolly's brain. First one was that she would see Trevor. The second one was that he would finally see where she lived. Amber was fine with the trailer park, but what would Trevor think?

Amber parked in the school parking lot and turned on the radio. Joe Cocker was singing, "You are So Beautiful," This song always made Lolly think of Trevor. As soon as the song was over, Amber launched into a Bill Monologue. Lolly hoped she nodded and made appropriate noises in the right places, but she really didn't hear much of what Amber said. her entire focus was on the gym doors.

One by one, boys filed out. Lolly could feel her stomach butterflies turning into elephants. The door opened, and he was walking toward the car. He had changed his clothes. His hair was still wet. He grinned at Lolly. The elephants started doing somersaults. Seriously, did she have to be so reactive? He climbed into the back seat and closed the door. Amber roared off.

He leaned forward and said, "Thanks for coming to the meet. You weren't too bored were you?"

She craned her neck to see him. Their faces were close, closer than they had ever been before. "No, I wasn't bored at all."

"Good. I placed 7th. I am hoping to do better next week." To Amber he said, "I'm starved, can we get a burger?"

"Whose paying?"

"You are. I don't have a job."

Amber asked Lolly, "You want anything?"

"No. I'm fine."

They went through the drive through at Dairy Queen. Trevor called out his order, "Two burgers, fries and a large chocolate shake." Lolly didn't know someone so fit could eat that much! When Amber passed Trevor his food, he leaned back, opened the bag and devoured its contents.

Amber turned onto the highway and all too soon into the trailer park. In the rear view mirror Lolly watched Trevor's face. As they drove to the trailer his experssion did not change. When the car stopped in the drive, he hopped out and opened Lolly's door. Then, he did something unexpected, he walked her to the door. Out of ear shot from Amber he said, "I am so glad you came today. I just wanted to tell you, I like you."

The question, "Like me how?" shot out of her mouth before she could stop it. She wasn't sorry though. She wanted clarification.

He laughed, took her hand and wound his fingers through hers. "I like you, like you. Do you like me?"

"Yes."

He squeezed her fingers ever so gently.

The front door opened. Pa stood in the door way. His eyes went from Lolly to Trevor and then to their hands. Trevor let go.

Pa asked, "Who is this?"

Lolly was sure Grandma Toady had told him who Trevor was. Frustrated by his interruption she said, "This is Trevor. Trevor, this is Pa."

Trevor reached for Pa's hand and shook it. "Its is nice to meet your Mr. Phelps."

"Nice to meet you too." He released Trevor's hand.

Trevor took a step back. "I will see you later, Lolly." He dashed off the porch and climbed into his sister's car. Lolly waved at him, as Amber drove away. He waved back.

Pa said, "So, Shortcake, that's Trevor?"

"Yes."

"He seems like a nice boy," he paused and added, "at least he better be."

Lolly gave him a hug and said, "You are as bad as Munch."