I know Kiera’s no angel, but I already feel kind of bad for crashing her birthday party and bringing her such a crummy present that she’s going to have to open in front of everyone. But then I wonder if going to a party I was never even invited to will seem desperate and just make me look like an even bigger loser. It’s like no matter how hard I try, the joke’s always on me.

Oscar rolls over and props himself up on his side. “Are you okay? After, you know, what those parents were saying?”

I’m fine, but I can’t help but wonder how that made Oscar feel. “Are you okay, though?”

He nods slowly. “I’m awesome.”

“You really are, you know.” I smile at him.

Greg bounces down onto our trampoline, sending us both flying into the air. “Incoming!” He laughs wildly. “Whoa, getting some serious air, Sweet Pea! Hey, I thought you said you weren’t coming.”

“Real smooth, pretty boy,” Oscar mutters under his breath.

Suddenly I feel like the whole stinking Webster’s dictionary is stuck in the pit of my stomach, and I can’t think of a single word to say. “Uh-huh.”

He jumps up and down again, but this time not as hard. “You wanna do the obstacle course together later?”

“Do I want to do obstacles with you?”

He jumps down again, and I bounce off my butt a few feet. “Uh, yeah. The obstacle course.”

My cheeks are hotter than a house fire. How is it so warm in here? “Yeah, totally.”

“It’s a date then!” shouts Oscar.

I shoot poison eye daggers his way. Why would he ever say that?

Ricky jumps onto the trampoline behind us and blows his whistle. “Only two kids per trampoline in this zone.” He points to a sign above our heads. “Read it and weep.”

Greg flashes me two thumbs and then calls to Ricky over his shoulder. “Sorry, dude.”

“I’m not your dude!” shouts Ricky.

“Whatever, dude,” Greg shouts back. “I think he totally made that rule up,” he says to me before he hops away.

I jump up in the air and land flat on my back, bursting out into a fit of giggles. “A date! Why would you even say that word?”

Oscar jumps up, throwing me a few feet in the air. “It’s only a big deal if you make it a big deal, Sweet Pea.” He lets out a hmph noise.

I tackle him and clap my hand over his mouth. “Don’t tease me.”

“I’m sorry, okay?” He stops bouncing and looks me in the eyes with total genuine concern.

I nod, because I know he means it. “It’s okay.”

“Attention, partygoers,” says Ricky in a flat voice over the intercom. “Hip-hip hooray. It’s time to celebrate Kiera’s birthday.”

“He sounds like a robot,” Oscar snickers.

“Robot. Life. Confirmed,” I respond in a computer voice.

Ricky’s monotone voice crackles over the speaker again. “Head to the party room for pizza and cake. Presents too. Oh, joy.”