“Now that we’re all in high school, our parents still get together, but us kids aren’t included,” Spencer continued.
Hope was grateful he didn’t notice her reaction.
“Callie speaks to me, and Ben, too, but it isn’t like it was when we were young.”
People and times change. Hope had come to realize over the years that there were seasons in friendships. Her best friend in college had been Tonya Harrison. Then following graduation from UC Davis, Tonya had married, and she and her husband, Justin, had moved to Texas. Hope and Tonya still kept in touch on Facebook and through text messages every now and again. But it wasn’t the same.
“I understand relationships change,” Hope told Spencer. “That doesn’t mean they need to end.”
“I’d like to be more than her friend, Ms. Goodwin. I’d like to be her date for homecoming.” He said this squaring his shoulders, as if releasing a long-held secret.
“I see.” And she did.
“I know she’s one of the most popular girls in school.” His eyes lit up, as if another thought had suddenly entered his mind. “Do you think Callie suspects the way I feel about her?” Spencer asked, wide-eyed with both dread and hope.
Hope understood that more than anything, Spencer wanted Callie to know how he felt about her, and at the same time was afraid she did know and chose to ignore him rather than hurt his feelings.
“I don’t know.” Hope had definitely noticed and wasn’t sure if Callie had or not.
“I think about her all the time. I know, I know, it’s useless. Callie would never date me. I was thinking if we could go back to being friends that she might be willing to date me eventually. I want to ask her to homecoming in the worst way.”
More than he realized, Hope wanted to help Spencer. He had a lot to offer Callie, or any girl, for that matter. Hope didn’t approve or disapprove of his choice. She didn’t know Callie well enough to say one way or the other. But it discouraged her that all Spencer saw was a pretty face.
“Why don’t you start small. Call her.”
“I don’t have a reason,” he insisted.
“Come up with one.”
He frowned, as if he’d already considered that. “I’m not good at conversation or making small talk. It would likely be one of the shortest phone calls on record. I thought, you know, if we were together more often…”
“So Callie’s the reason you took Introduction to Computer Science.” Anyone who knew Spencer recognized his computer skills were far and away more advanced than anything the class would teach him.
He didn’t deny or confirm her statement.
“You know, Spencer, there are other ways of getting Callie’s attention.”
He sat forward in his chair. “I’m open to suggestions.”
“I don’t have any to give you. That is something you need to figure out for yourself. I have every faith that someone as smart as you will be up to the task.”
Spencer didn’t look convinced. “Smart in getting top grades, but when it comes to girls, I fail every time. I’ve never attended a school dance. This could well be one of my last chances.”
“How many girls have you asked?”
He shrugged, which was answer enough.
“You didn’t ask anyone, did you?”
He released a deep, frustrated sigh. “Why bother? I knew they’d all turn me down. I didn’t think I could take the rejection.”
“Oh Spencer, I can only imagine how many girls would have jumped at the chance to attend any one of the school dances with you.”
From his expression, it was clear he didn’t believe her.
“Homecoming is in two weeks,” she reminded him. “You should go to that dance, Spencer. If you don’t, I think you’ll regret it.”
“The only girl I’d want to take is Callie,” he insisted, even before Hope could suggest a few other names.
“Then ask her.”
He hedged, as if giving the idea consideration. Hope could see his mind brewing possibilities before his entire body seemed to slump with defeat. “She’s probably already agreed to go with Scott.”
Hope had considered that, too, but that didn’t keep her from encouraging him. “You’ll never know unless you ask.”
“If I ask her to homecoming, then Callie will know how I feel about her.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
“No,” he insisted, and then quickly changed his mind. “Well, maybe.”