Hung Up Read Online Free PDF Page B

care who heard.
    Lucy: Don’t get graphic. So what did you do?
    James: I thought about yelling. I thought about punching somebody in the face. But I turned around and left.
    Lucy: Where did you go?
    James: Lake Champlain.
    Lucy: You left school?
    James: I needed to think.
    Lucy: You shouldn’t cut class. It’s a bad pattern.
    James: I did it once.
    Lucy: Well, if you do it again, it’s a pattern. So how long did you stay at the lake?
    James: Until sunset.
    Lucy: Wasn’t it freezing?
    James: I was wearing a coat.
    Lucy: Didn’t your ears get cold?
    James: My hair sort of covers my ears.
    Lucy: How long is your hair? Do you have vicious sideburns or something?
    James: Has anybody ever told you that you’re not a very empathetic person?
    Lucy: I’m trying to cheer you up by distracting you from your pain.
    James: It’s not working. It feels like you’re mocking me.
    Lucy: Sorry.
    James: I thought Jairo was my best friend.
    Lucy: Have you tried to talk to him about it?
    James: Sort of. When all this started, we had a brief discussion. He said, “I think I like Nan.” I said, “What are you talking about?” He said, “I want to take her to the Spring Bash.” I said, “Don’t be an asshole.” He said, “I’ve felt this way about her for a while. I mean, you can’t control who you like.” I said, “Eat shit.” He said, “Stop acting like this.” I said, “Stop trying to date my girlfriend.” He said, “You’re not going out anymore.” I said, “Jairo, you’re an asshole.” Then he walked off.
    Lucy: That exchange doesn’t exactly sound like it resolved anything.
    James: God, Lucy. Imagine how this feels. What would you do if you stumbled across CeCe kissing your ex?
    Lucy: I can’t imagine CeCe kissing Leslie.
    James: Leslie? Are you telling me that you date girls?
    Lucy: No. Why would you think that?
    James: The name Leslie.
    Lucy: He was an exchange student from Wales.
    James: An exchange student from Wales named Leslie was your last boyfriend? Is that why you didn’t want to tell me his name? I don’t remember a kid from Wales who played basketball.
    Lucy: Leslie was my second-to-last boyfriend. But let’s not talk about me. Let’s get back to Jairo and Nan and you.
    James: There is no “me” in the Jairo-and-Nan equation.
    Lucy: You should find Beth Howie and kiss her right in front of them.
    James: Why would I want to kiss Beth Howie?
    Lucy: To spite them.
    James: That doesn’t make any sense. I broke up with Beth Howie in eighth grade.
    Lucy: All I’m saying is that by kissing somebody else in front of them, you’ll show them that you don’t care.
    James: But I do care. And I want them to care too.
    Lucy: Nan is a jerk. You shouldn’t like Nan anymore.
    James: It takes me longer than an instant to get over somebody.
    Lucy: Sometimes you’re so mature it’s scary.
    James: Maturity scares you?
    Lucy: In guys? Yes. Loads.
    James: Lucy, I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you.
    Lucy: I don’t know what to say to make you feel better.
    James: Just listen.
    Lucy: Okay.
    James: Seeing Nan and Jairo kiss made it more real. I can’t go to the dance and see them all over each other. I might have a heart attack. It hurts that bad. Literally. The thought of those two together gives me chest pains.
    Lucy: What about your date? What will she do? You can’t stand her up.
    James: I haven’t asked anyone yet.
    Lucy: Oh.
    James: There is a minor complication.
    Lucy: What?
    James: I’m nominated to hold court. All the starters on the basketball team are.
    Lucy: I don’t know what that means.
    James: Sort of like homecoming king, except it’s not homecoming. I guess in the back of my mind, even though we were broken up, I figured I’d ask Nan.
    Lucy: Forget Nan. James, you totally have to go. This could be the sort of thing you miss and then spend the rest of your life regretting. What if you win? Do you get a crown?
    James: I don’t know if I get a crown. But I can’t go. I