“Take a seat anyways. I’ve heard a bit about you,” Mel said.

“Hopefully good?” Donny cocked an eyebrow.

“I heard about the time you peed yourself during a school camping trip in grade eight.”

Donny’s eyes widened.

“We’re not supposed to talk about that.” He looked at me seriously.

“I’m sorry.” I burst out laughing. It was quite funny. Donny was my friend, but I couldn’t help being amused. A few people looked over to see what was so funny. Everyone knew about the incident, but Donny wanted everyone to forget. He just sat there with a frown across his face.

“Did you tell Mel what your big pickup line was in grade eight, Adrian Carter?”

Oh no. I wasn’t ready for that.

“Don’t say anything,” I said. “Seriously.”

“It’s too late, AC.” He laughed. “Check this out, Mel. So in grade eight, Adrian had the biggest crush on this girl named Cassandra. He wrote her a love poem and everything.”

“Oh. Sounds like things were getting pretty serious.” Mel laughed and leaned her head forward.

“Oh yeah. They were.” Donny gave me a grin. “Most of it was plagiarized lyrics from love songs, but this one line that he wrote all by himself stood out.”

“Don’t,” I said sternly.

“Tell me!” Mel pleaded.

“He wrote: Adrian plus Cassandra, we can be an A.C. because it’s about to get cool in here.”

My face went straight down into the table while Mel was half laughing and half cringing at me. Donny completely lost himself in laughter. It was true. All of it. I’d rather not get into the details.

“Where’s your lunch, anyways, dude?” Donny asked.

“Yeah, AC.” Mel was still laughing. “Where is your lunch?”

“I forgot it,” I said quietly.

“Dude, that’s like two days in a row.” Mel shook her head. “Want something of mine?” She took out her lunch bag.

“Nah, I’m okay. I’m not very hungry, anyways,” I lied. I was very hungry. I wanted to eat everything in that lunch bag, but I couldn’t allow myself to.

“Okay, Adrian. Lunch is almost over but text me if you’re hungry?” She got up and kissed me on the cheek. “See you after school, AC,” she whispered in my ear. I frowned.

“See you after school,” I said with red cheeks.

As Mel walked away, Donny stared at me with wide eyes and a dropped jaw.

“Dudeeee,” he said with a smile, “she’s so beautiful.”

“Yeah. She’s pretty great. I met her a couple weeks back. Things just kind of clicked.”

“Nice, dude. I’m happy for you. Kinda jealous. But more so happy.”

The lunch bell rang which meant it was time for class. Donny and I went our separate ways.

That afternoon was kind of rough. I sat in Math class by the window with the sun shining right in my face — I could feel my empty stomach. I thought about Mel. I was going to work out with her after school . . . and hopefully make out with her and stuff. Kissing was kind of cool. I hadn’t told Mel, but on the rooftop that night . . . that was my first kiss. Donny’s first kiss was at thirteen and he would never shut up about it. He always made me feel like a late bloomer. Maybe I was, but I was slow and steady. I was on the path to feeling happy, and I wouldn’t let anything stop me.