Is he the one that got away???

Chapter 29: Academic competition

We finally arrived at my abue’s house, I said ‘hi’ to my abue, she was knitting and watching tv, as she usually does.

My abue offered us handmade chocolate ice cream, oh gosh, my abue is the best, for everything.

She is the best cooking, but not just like the meals, the desserts, oh lord!

Her carrot and walnuts cupcakes with cream cheese icing are heavenly, I swear.

And the best thing is that she always has something to give us when we came to visit, something new, some new recipe, some candy, some cake, cupcakes, pie, jello with fruits, empanadas, cookies, something, I repeat, she is the best.

Oh, when she makes crepes, the salty ones with chicken, corn and chile poblano strips, oh loooord, the sweet ones with Nutella and walnuts, or strawberries and cream...

No no no…

She is like no other, I really love her.

I think I don’t tell her that I love her so much, as I should.

I guess we never think about telling our loved ones that we love them, at least not enough times, until they are no longer with us, and it is when we figured we never said ‘I love you’ as many times as we should had said it.

We ate the delicious chocolate ice cream, we sat with her, we watched tv, when my aunt arrived from work, we ate dinner and around 10 pm we got back home.

I didn’t do homework at my abue’s house because I finished it before my mom told me we will go out, and she remembered “I didn’t see you doing your homework at your grandmother’s house” she told me.

Oops!

“I will finish it as fast as I can right now” I commented while keeping my previous version / attempt of excuse, trying not to be discovered.

“It is late, I told you to take it with you, now I want you to go to sleep” she told me in a commanding tone.

“Mom, give me just one hour to finish my homework” I pleaded, I need to keep my cover up, I can’t fold right now.

“Just go to bed, I will not repeat it” and whit that, discussion was over.

I just pretended to be sad/ mad and walked to my room.

That was all for this Thursday.

Next morning at school I arrived just a few seconds on time, phew saved for just a split second...

I feel sad of losing the opportunity to see Andrew yesterday, I hope I can talk to him today during recess and that is if he is not mad at me.

We started our classes as usual; I was excited to see Larry at the recess to give him the brand-new gossip book, I hope he gives it to Andrew as soon as he finishes to answer it, he also must give it to some other guys from his classroom to dissimulate, I hope he does.

In my gossip book, I finally decided not to say who I like, just answered that question with ‘ask me in person’, hoping that will encourage Andrew to ask me.

I was immersed in my own train of thoughts when I heard my name at the same time Lou hit me with her elbow on my arm.

I looked up to our Math teacher and he was looking at me.

“What do you say Miss Vanessa?” He asked me.

Gosh, I have no idea what he is talking about.

“Mmmm” was the only thing I was able to get out of my throat.

“Were you listening?” He asked, f uck, humiliation in the making.

“Sorry Professor I was distracted and didn’t hear you clearly” damn, I admitted, waiting for the ranting, three, two, one, go...

“I repeat what I asked you, are you interested in representing the school in the upcoming local academic competition?”

What? Seriously? Wow...

I am shocked, I did not see that coming.

Mmmm, wow, I guess yes, I do not think my mom will say no to that.

I nodded yes to my math teacher, and he showed a tiny tinny smile on his face, wow, that is a first.

“Great, go to the principal’s office with Chelito, so she can get your personal information to fill the forms”

“Right now?”

“Yes please”

I stood up and walked out of the classroom.

In my way to the principal’s office, I found Larry getting out of the bathrooms.

“Hey, you” he greeted me.

“Hey Larry”

“What’s up my friend?” He asked with a great and shiny smile.

“Nothing new and what about you?”

“What happened last night?” He asked and his question made me open wider my eyes.

“What? Nothing happened, Why?”

“Did Andrew come to your house?”

Wait, Larry knew? How? Did Andrew spill the tea?

Gosh and they say women are the gossip ones.

“He was supposed to come, but my mom made me go with her to visit my abue, why?”

“Oh, that makes sense”

“Oooohhhh Larry, say it, with all the words now, please”

“Andy was excited yesterday when we left school, he told me about it, but this morning he was kind of sad, but he didn’t say anything, but now it makes complete sense to me, right?”

“To be honest, I was also feeling a little sad because I missed the opportunity to see him yesterday, but it was out of my control, I couldn’t convince my mom to let me stay home”

“Do you like him?” he blurted out of nowhere and shockingly surprised me...