Cooper agreed to drive everybody to the tidal pool on Saturday. This time Hakeem Randall joined them, which made Darcy both excited and nervous. She was glad that she had decided to put on a little lip gloss before she left the house. Tarah’s mom packed two baskets full of fried chicken, rolls, and potato salad. The four ate heartily before trooping down to the water’s edge.

Tarah and Cooper clambered onto the rocks for a better view, leaving Darcy and Hakeem by themselves.

“You play the guitar really well,” Darcy said.

“Thanks,” Hakeem said. “I . . . I’ve seen you around school. I wanted to talk to . . . to you a coupla times, but—”

“It’s hard for me to meet new people,” Darcy said, watching a purple sea urchin slip through the shallow water.

“Yeah, me too,” Hakeem said. “I’m always saying the wrong thing, or, y’know, not knowing what to say. ”

“I guess we’re sorta the same then,” Darcy said, looking up at him and smiling shyly.

Hakeem smiled back. “I know this is pretty sudden, but I’d really like to hang out with you some more. How about we go see Alada together Friday after school?”

“What’s Alada?” Darcy asked, her heart thumping happily.

“Oh, it’s a really fly local band. They play reggae and hip-hop that keeps the audience jumpin’,” he explained enthusiastically.

Darcy’s heart was absolutely galloping now. Hakeem was so close in the cramped space on the sand that she could almost feel his warm breath on her cheeks. His eyes seemed to be filled with tiny golden lights, or was that just Darcy’s imagination? She had been so sad, so miserable and bewildered over Jamee’s problems, Grandma slipping away, Dad’s strange reappearance—and now, all of a sudden, Darcy felt a completely unexpected surge of joy.

“So, you wanna go?” Hakeem persisted.

“Sure, sounds like fun. I’ll ask my mom and let you know tonight. ”

“Cool,” Hakeem agreed contentedly. He smiled again, a wondrous smile. Darcy had never seen one quite like it before. The lights in his eyes sparkled like gold dust.

Chapter 8

“Mom, I met a boy, “ Darcy blurted out at the dinner table that night.

“Really, sweetheart?” Mom replied.

“Yeah, his name’s Hakeem Randall. He goes to my school, and he’s real cute. We got to talk this afternoon for the first time because he came with us to the tidal pool. And get this, he asked me to go to a concert with him after school Friday. Can I, Mom? I won’t get home too late,” she promised.

“Well, I suppose so. Are any of your friends going too?”

“I don’t know for sure, Mom, but Hakeem said Alada’s the hottest thing going this year, so I bet Tarah and Cooper are gonna be there. ”