Rachel's Valentine Crush (9 page)

Just like that, Rachel's wishes for a different family and a different crush disappeared. She loved her family. And if Brody were somebody else, he wouldn't be
Brody
.

When she got inside, Rachel's family was gathering around the table. Grandma Nellie was in the middle of serving up a big green salad, and Robbie already had a smear of tomato sauce on his face.

“Just in time, kiddo,” Mr. Wilson said heartily. “What do you think about dinner, huh? Surprised?”

“Smells good!” Rachel replied as she sniffed at the air. “Thanks, Dad.”

After she sat down, Rachel slipped her cell out of her pocket. Under the table, she set it to vibrate. She wasn't sure when Taylor was going to start texting, but she didn't want to miss a single one.

“So what did everybody do today?” Mr. Wilson asked as he passed around slices of pizza.

“Robbie and I ran so many errands,” Grandma Nellie began. “He was such a big boy, helping me at every store!”

Rachel tried to concentrate on the conversation, but her eyes kept drifting toward the clock.
It's five forty-five already. I bet the Chocolate Bar is all set up for the party. I wonder if anyone's shown up yet,
she thought.

Then Rachel heard a car pull up next door. She glanced out the window and saw everything: Mrs. Allen sitting at the wheel, Shane jumping out of the front seat, Taylor following Shane back to the car. Then—Rachel's heart clenched—Shane slid into the back after Taylor. He obviously wanted to sit right next to her.

Rachel's feelings were so jumbled up right then that she could hardly make sense of them. She was thrilled for Taylor—and at the same time, filled with longing for something that she wanted but knew that she would probably never have. The thought of Brody pulling up in front of her house—in, what, a limo?—was so silly that even Rachel couldn't take it seriously.

But that didn't mean she didn't want it to happen. More than anything.

Rachel put down her half-eaten slice of pizza. Suddenly, she wasn't feeling hungry anymore. “May I be excused?” she asked in a quiet voice.

Mr. Wilson looked at Rachel in surprise. “Sure, Rach. Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Sure,” Rachel said, but even she could tell that she didn't sound very convincing. “I'm not that hungry, I guess.”

“We have chocolate cupcakes for dessert,” Grandma Nellie said, trying to tempt her to stay and finish her dinner.

Rachel tried to smile. “Maybe later,” she replied.

As Rachel carried her dishes into the kitchen, she felt her phone start to buzz. Could it be a text from Taylor already? Rachel waited to find out until she was back in her bedroom, listening to “Secret Crush” on repeat.

Just got here. Shane looks sooo cute

OMG Rach!! The whole place is closed 2nite just 4 us! There is a velvet rope even!

Rachel smiled at the picture Taylor sent—there was a large sign on the door of the Chocolate Bar that read
CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT
, and a crimson-colored velvet rope blocking the door.

Our names are on a LIST 2 get in!!

No Brody yet. Maybe he is going 2 make an entrance??

Probably,
Rachel thought.
Don't famous people always show up a little late, after everyone else has arrived?

The next picture that Taylor sent showed the interior of the Chocolate Bar, with its dark purple couches and shimmery gold drapes.

Rach, check out the food! OMG so much chocolate!

Rachel loved the next photo—an elaborate chocolate layer cake covered in gold musical notes. She texted back:

Awesome!! Can u bring me a piece?

Almost immediately, Taylor sent Rachel another picture.

Loooook at charlotte! Soooo pretty!!

Rachel took one glance at the photo of Charlotte in her bright red top and fluttery black skirt and had to agree.

Tell her I think she looks gr8!

Then she waited for another text from Taylor.

And waited.

And waited.

Rachel's fingers clutched her phone as she wondered why Taylor hadn't sent another update.

Then, it came: The text Rachel had been waiting for.

HE'S HEEEEEEEEERRRRREEEEE!

Aaaah! Tell me everything!!!

Trying 2 get a pic. Too many people!!

Rachel tapped her feet in time to Brody's music while she waited for Taylor's next pic—she was too excited to sit still. When it flashed onto the screen, Rachel almost dropped her phone. There he was! The photo was a little blurry, but Rachel would recognize Brody anywhere. His
head was tilted to the side so that his face was partially obscured, but Rachel could tell that he was listening intently to the person next to him. The only problem was that there were so many people clustered around Brody that she couldn't quite tell who that was.

Then Rachel noticed a flash of long red hair, and her heart sank.

It was Tammy.

And there was Brody, hanging on her every word. Rachel didn't need to be an expert in body language to analyze the picture: Tammy standing right next to him; Brody leaning toward her; that half smile—part happy, part shy—playing across his face.

It's over,
Rachel realized as she stared at the photo.
It was always Tammy.

And never me.

Trying 2 get a better pic

It got crazy here

Rachel was numb as she texted back.

Don't worry about it. I have homework. Thx T . . . have fun.

Then she turned off her phone. Not just set it to vibrate, not just silenced it, but turned it completely off. Then, with a click of her mouse, she silenced the music. Brody's music.

What am I going to do now?
Rachel wondered. She really just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep until this horrible realization stopped hurting so much. Rachel knew that wasn't possible, though—at least not yet. She still hadn't finished her homework. But sitting down to study her science vocabulary was just about the last thing Rachel wanted to do.

Then she spotted the pile of scrapbooking supplies on her desk.

Without even knowing what she was going to write, Rachel sat down and picked up a pen. She peeled the plastic wrapping from the new lined paper Grandma Nellie had given her and selected a blue sheet. She smoothed it down on her desk and started writing.

It was only May, but it already felt like summer. Brody and I were sitting at the bus
stop outside of church, waiting for the bus. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Honestly, I didn't want it to ever come. It was so nice to just hang out with him in the sunshine.

Then he said, “It's almost five twenty. I don't think the five o'clock bus is coming. You want to walk?”

We walked west down Linden Street. The sun had started to set, but it was really bright and shining right in my eyes. All I could see were these sparkling spots everywhere, but I tried to walk like normal. Brody was smart; he had sunglasses. Maybe he was already practicing to be a star.

Suddenly Brody grabbed my backpack and yanked me over toward him. I stumbled a little, but he kept me from falling down. And I was thinking, WHAT is going on?

“Sorry,” Brody said right away. “There was broken glass all over the sidewalk.”

“Oh, thanks,” I replied. “I guess I didn't see it. The sun is shining right in my eyes.”

“Yeah, it's shining in your hair, too,” he said. At least, I think that's what he said. Afterward he
got really quiet, and then he started singing while we walked. We couldn't really talk while he was singing, but that was fine with me. It was enough just to walk beside him and listen to his amazing voice. I didn't even care about the sun anymore.

Rachel sighed as she put down her pen. And then suddenly she remembered some lines from “Secret Crush”:

Walkin' in the springtime

You shine just like the sun

And when I think about you

Girl, I know that you're the one

We did that,
Rachel slowly realized.
Brody and I were walking in the springtime. And the sun . . .

Could it be another clue?

At this point Rachel knew better than to get too excited. But after focusing on certain lyrics from “Secret Crush”—the springtime walk, the shining sun, making music together—the photo of Brody and Tammy suddenly seemed less convincing.

Rachel turned to her computer and clicked on the music icon. She pulled up
Songs From My Heart
and scrolled through until she reached “Secret Crush.” She clicked play and, turning the volume up as loud as she dared, started singing along with “Secret Crush” as she put her scrapbook away. She was ready to tackle her science homework now.

In fact, Rachel was pretty sure she could tackle anything.

BEFORE HOMEROOM STARTED THE NEXT
morning, Rachel and Taylor met up with some friends in the main hall. For the other girls, it was like they'd never left the Chocolate Bar. They immediately started talking about all the drama that went down after a paparazzi photographer sneaked into the Chocolate Bar and started snapping pictures of Brody. The photographer and Brody's manager had gotten into a fight, and someone had even called the police! Rachel was astonished that the paparazzi had followed Brody to a party with his old friends from middle school. It made her feel kind of bad for Brody. But her friends thought it was really exciting. Some of them even hoped that they'd show up in the pictures that were posted on a bunch of gossip blogs.

As her friends kept chatting, Rachel slipped away to go to her locker. It was really awkward to stand there
with nothing to say, and hearing so much about the party made Rachel feel worse about missing it. But as Rachel approached her locker, she realized that someone was waiting for her. Someone with beautiful red hair and a perfect singing voice.

Tammy. Again.

What is
she
doing here?
Rachel wondered, dreading the conversation she was about to have.
Something must've happened at the party. Maybe Brody told her about his feelings . . . and now Tammy wants me to know that she's his crush. That way, I'll be less upset when he tells the whole world.

“Hey, Tammy,” Rachel called out, trying to make her voice sound bright and cheerful. “What's up?”

When Tammy turned around, Rachel noticed right away that she looked a little pale. The sparkle in her eyes seemed dimmer, too.

“Rachel, hi,” Tammy said slowly. “How's it going? We missed you at the party last night.”

“Yeah, I couldn't make it,” Rachel said. “I heard it was fun, though. Did you have a good time with . . . Brody?”

Tammy smiled sadly. “It was amazing to see him
again. He really hasn't changed at all, you know? I mean, his clothes are a little cooler, I guess, but inside he's the same Brody.”

It seemed like there was something else that Tammy wanted to say. Rachel waited patiently for her to continue.

“Here's the thing,” Tammy finally said. “So . . . I'm not Brody's crush.”

Rachel's mouth almost dropped open in shock, but she quickly covered her surprise. “But—but I saw a picture of you guys. Brody looked really happy to see you.”

Tammy shrugged. “I think he was really happy to see everyone,” she replied.

“I don't know—” Rachel began.

“I do,” Tammy interrupted her. “You can just
tell
if somebody's into you, you know? When you like someone, you want to see them. Be near them. Talk to them. And Brody—honestly, Rachel, he was kind of distracted. He kept glancing at the door . . . like he was looking for someone.”

“He was probably just looking out for more photographers,” Rachel said. As more students arrived for school, she tried to keep her voice down so that no one would overhear their conversation.

“You don't have to do that, Rachel,” Tammy said. “I mean, it's sweet and all, but I'm not going to pretend there's still a chance that Brody likes me. Because last night, it was pretty obvious that he doesn't.”

“I'm sorry,” Rachel said quietly.

Tammy moved her backpack to her other shoulder. “Yeah, well . . . I wish things were different, but . . . it is what it is. But I thought you should know. Anyway, I'd better go. Homeroom starts soon.”

“See you, Tammy,” said Rachel.

Tammy gave her a little wave, then started to walk away. But after a few feet, she turned around. “Since you were the only girl Brody invited who didn't go to the party . . . maybe he was looking for you,” she said.

Then Tammy disappeared into the crowded hallway, leaving a stunned Rachel behind. She stood in the hall for just a moment before she spun around and walked to the principal's office as fast as she could.

“I need to pick up my ticket for Brody's concert,” Rachel said breathlessly to the secretary.