It's Simple Geometry

"So you see, that is why helium atoms have to have that many neurons in them." Chase says, poking a sentence in my book with his pencil.

"I see." I say. "And if it has any more or less, it would be unstable, right?"

"Yeah. Like how we get if we aren't in our capsules for a while."

"That still all seems like a science fiction story to me. I know it's not, but..."

"You'll understand the more you get to know us. You should have seen Leo and Tasha when they first found out."

"I guess so." We sit in awkward silence for a while, flipping through book pages but not actually reading them. You know, how people who don't care about their futures "study".

"Hey nerds." Bree pulls up a chair, plopping down her books. "I have a killer history report due tomorrow."

"I have to read this book for English by tomorrow." Adam says, plopping down a book and a pudding cup.

"By tomorrow? I can't believe they'd make you read a whole book in one day!" I say.

"No, we got it a couple days ago, and were reading it in class. I just got distracted." He says.

"By what?" Leo says, sitting down and fiddling with some gadget.

"I don't know exactly. I started reading the back of Carter Jones's shirt, and then- hey, look! A giant mushroom!" He points at a picture of smoke from an atomic bomb in Bree's history book.

"Adam, that's a-" I start explaining, but Chase cuts me off.

"Don't bother, Mel." He says. I nod and look to Leo.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'll just watch the movie." Adam says.

"What?" Bree says.

"The movie. Of the book." He says. "Duh." I look down at the book. It's an instruction manual for putting in a garbage disposal.

"Well, back to me..." Leo says. "I am using Davenport's SpyFly."

"Leo! You know what happened last time!" Bree says.

"What happened?" I ask.

"Perry got stuck on a piece of fly paper and Leo made me fail my physics test." Bree says, glaring at Leo and crossing her arms.

"You guys are so much more interesting than my Phoenix friends." Adam looks at me and shakes his head.

"Silly Mellie. Do we need to have a talk so that you don't have imaginary friends?" He says. I roll my eyes.

"Adam, I told you that Phoenix is a real place. My friends that live there aren't imaginary either." He just shakes his head.

"That's what they all say. But people can't live in places that don't exist. It's simple geometry." I snort, ignoring him and turn back to Leo.

"So what are you gonna do with those SpyFlies?"

"Well, when Bree has a sleepover I'm going to spy on them and then blackmail them so I don't reveal their secrets." He says, shrugging his shoulders.

"Doesn't it totally defeat the purpose of spying if you tell the person you are going to be spying on?" Chase says, pointing to Bree.

"Yeah, but I could be lying. And then spy on you when you're never expecting it." He then walks away backwards, trying to be mysterious. He then bumps into the wall and drops the little watch controller he was holding. It shatters. We all burst out laughing as he starts to scream. "NOOOOOO!" He says, sliding down the wall and picking up pieces.

"This," I say, "is the best studying I've ever done. And yet, I think I should probably head home." I pack up my stuff.

"Do you need a ride back, Mellie?" Tasha says.

"No, I just live....." I wiggle my finger in a direction. "Down there somewhere."

"Okay." She smiles at me.

"I'll walk you home, Mel." Chase says.

"Yeah! Then we can find out where she lives and T.P. her house! Good idea, Chase!" Adam says, raising a hand for a high five. Chase ignores him.

"Bye Bree, Adam, Leo." I say. Chase opens the door and we walk out.

"I can walk myself home, Chase."

"I know." He says, grabbing my hand. "I was just being nice, that's all."

"Oh." I don't really exactly know what's going on with me and Chase. I think I like him and I think he likes me, but I couldn't really even know.

"Don't feel bad about Adam not knowing what or where Phoenix is."

"Don't worry, I don't." We continue walking. "I should probably finish the way on my own. If my mom sees me with you...a boy....she might get ideas."

"Yeah, I suppose. So, you're saying that she wouldn't like it if I did....this?" And before I know what he's doing, Chase's lips are pressed up against mine. When we pull apart, I smile. So does he.