PART X

"Sally, will you switch seats with Paul, please?" I ask as my Art group and his History group wait together near the gate to board the plane home. Paul has his arm slung across my shoulders like he's done it for years.

"Sure, sure, no problem," she says, grinning at us. "Maybe I can get some sleep since you kept me up half the night with your whispery phone call." Paul and I both blush which makes Sally laugh. "Gosh, if there are two people who deserve each other more than you two, I don't know where they're at."

She wanders off to find James and I lift my gaze to Paul's. "So, um, did you get a hold of your mom and Carmen? What did they say?"

"Carmen said she'd make the whole thing sound like her idea and my mom says it's cool if I spend the rest of the summer in Virginia."

I nod, satisfied. "I'm glad."

My phone beeps, letting me know I have a text message. It's from Carmen.

LENNY!!! U N P? 411 PLS. OMG. C

"What does it say?" Paul asks, trying to read the screen.

"It's Carmen," I say, slipping the phone back into my pocket. "She wants details."

"You can call her if you want," he offers. "I should make sure it's okay with James if I switch seats on the flight back."

"Okay," I say, blowing a kiss at his retreating back before fishing out my phone and dialing Carmen's number. "Hey, Carma, it's me. I have so much to tell you. . . ."