“Excuse me,” she said, chasing after him.
“Where are you going?” Yummy asked, trying to catch up. “You're on punishment. Remember?”
Diggs turned and warmed Kassidy with a beautiful, perfectly even smile. “Are you talking to me?”
Kassidy nodded. “Yes. I know you,” she said, stopping feet from him.
He shook his head. “I don't think so.”
Kassidy bit her lip, wondering why he hadn't taken the bait. She'd given him the opportunity to say he'd like to get to know her better, as had almost every guy she'd ever said it to. But no-go. “I do,” she tried again. “I'm not sure where I know you from, but I do.”
He walked closer to her, put his hands in his pockets, and hit her with the smile again. “Is that your way of saying you'd like to know me?” He drew his eyebrows together and stared into her eyes without the least bit of interest.
Kassidy was taken aback. “Um. I'm not sure.” She shook her head, more baffled than she'd ever been in her life. His asking her such a question and not flirting with her wasn't what she was expecting.
Yummy walked up, inviting herself into the conversation. “Hey!” she sang to Diggs, confectionary sugar encircling her lips.
“Go away,” Kassidy hissed as low as she could.
Yummy widened her eyes, then rolled them. “That's why you're out here looking like that,” she spat back in a whisper, pointing to Kassidy's feet.
Oh, no!
Kassidy looked down to where Yummy pointed. On her feet were her ragged house shoes, which were clearly too small and holey.
Diggs looked down at her feet, then huffed what seemed to be a laugh. He looked back at her face and nodded. “Well, since you're not sure, when you find out if you are sureâand if we ever see each other againâthen you can let me know.” And with that, he turned and walked away.
Kassidy's pride stuck in her throat, and it took everything in her to swallow it and keep her head high. She'd never been turned down by a guy before, and found rejection hard to bear. Diggs had stood there, inches from her face, and hadn't been swayed in the least. His not being moved by her, moved her to a place she'd never before been: in the chaser's seat. She shrugged. Life was life. And one thing it'd taught her was that being in the presence of one boy could help her stop thinking about another. She hadn't heard back from Carsen, which would normally kill her ego, but that was already dead, thanks to Diggs. She couldn't find Brent. Romero was only her friend. Diggs wasn't interested. She only hoped Carsen was available as she made her way back into the house to call him.
9
JACOBI
J
acobi picked up her phone for the gazillionth time, checking for a text message or missed call from Shooby. She looked at the blank screen and cringed. Nothing. Nada. He hadn't reached out at all. In fact, she hadn't heard one word from him since the day of the motorcycle show almost a week ago, and even then he hadn't said much other than they'd have to talk later and that he'd try to find out where Katydid had moved to since Katydid's cell had been disconnected, and Jacobi couldn't call or text her. A flash-mob notice had been sent out, and he was on “duty” using a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as a stationary surfboard while holding a sign and singing “Respect,” an old Aretha Franklin song, at the top of his lungs. Some of the crew danced wearing Blues Brothersâstyle black fedoras and sunglasses. The demonstration had been ordered by the American Federation of Flash Mobbers: A For the People and By the People Teen Citizens Group to urge consumers to use less gasoline because it is damaging the ozone layer. It had been beautiful, Jacobi rememberedâwhat she'd seen of it. She had gotten to the show seconds before the demonstration was over, and Shooby hadn't seemed too happy about her tardiness and lack of participation.
“So, what are you going to do?” Alissa asked, reading the directions on a box of hair dye while rifling through Jacobi's closet.
Jacobi tilted her head. She didn't know what Alissa was talking about. The girl had come over with hair dye that she insisted Jacobi needed to lighten her hair, availed herself of the contents of their fridge and their candy, then talked the whole time. But Jacobi hadn't heard her because she'd learned how to tune her out. “Do about what?”
“I told you, already. The set.” Alissa stuck a lollipop in her mouth.
“What set?”
Alissa laughed. “You know, set? As in party. My parents are having a family gathering, party-type thingy up the coast, at my great-aunt's beach house by Santa Barbara. They said I could bring friends along,” she said.
Jacobi was about to decline when Alissa mentioned the magic words.
“Did you hear me? They said friendsâplural. Maybe we can invite other people ... like a cute boy or two, and maybe you can invite your unboyfriend.”
Now Jacobi perked up. Going away with Alissa's family would provide her with a great opportunity to have Shooby all to herself. She could get away from her mother and siblings, shoot a few lives and stills, give the stock market a rest, and relax somewhere on the beach in a new swimsuit next to Shooby.
Ah
, she thought, daydreaming.
It would be fantastic.
“I could film the gathering. You know, as a gift for the invite.”
Alissa almost peed her pants, or at least she looked like she was about to, jumping in place and wiggling. “That'd be hot. My mom would be so floored, she'd love us forever.” She stopped hopping and sat on the bed. She deadpanned Jacobi, her eyes full of seriousness. “So, are you going to finally confess now? You were so anxious to get to the motorcycle showâI know what that means. You can't hide him forever.”
Jacobi smiled. Alissa was right. If she went to the family gathering, Alissa would find out all about Shooby, so she might as well tell her. She nodded. “Okay, but he's not my boyfriend,” she began.
“Yet,” Alissa interrupted. “Wait until he sees your hair. I'm gonna hook you up.”
“Yet,” Jacobi parroted, loving the sound and possibility of it all. Then she spilled all about Shoobyâtheir flash mobbing, and their history together, including Katydid and her part in it all. Jacobi even told her about tonight's plans for another flash mob.
“Oh, cool. I can't wait to meet your friend, Katydid. I like that name. Oh, and I heard about that flash mob thing,” Alissa said, continuing to eat her lollipop while getting started on Jacobi's hair. “It was on the newsânot about tonight, just about it. It seems really cool and really fun, too, at least the proactive ones where the mobbers aren't doing illegal stuff. Can I do it, too? I can pretend to be your assistant or something. I mean, if you're going to shoot the scenes, why not really shoot the scenes like a professional, Jacobi? All professionals have an assistant. Go all the wayâdo a documentary. I mean, the news is always broadcasting the hoodlums doing it ...”
Jacobi had gone deaf after
documentary
. Alissa was right; there was good being done by some flash mobbers, stories that never made the news because they weren't bad news. She was just the one to show the world the good side of it. She raised her brows and her hopes. Who knew? The Cannes Film Festival showed amateur films all the time. Maybe she could win an award and help humanity at the same time. Tonight, she'd tell Shooby about Alissa wanting to join, then run the idea by him of a short documentary. She was certain he'd go for it. He was becoming more popular with each demonstration, coming up with his own flash-mob ideas to help their local community and their own crew. Shooby and Katydid had started their own crew as a spin-off of the federation's, and it was growing in double digits. She closed her eyes for a second. “God, thank you for the creativity. Now, if you can send the boobs and clear skin just as fast ...”
Â
Jacobi thought she was going to die. She'd never been so anxious in her entire life, and was sure that she'd expire from nervousness. She was standing between Shooby's legs while he leaned against the lifeguard's chair. The setting sun warmed her skin and, she was sure, if she turned around she'd be able to see her reflection in his eyes. The golden highlights that Alissa had convinced her to get danced in the breeze, and her hopes rose higher. She felt beautiful, but never would've admitted it because not only had she always taken pride in being herselfâa makeup-free, jeans-wearing, and comfortable-shoe kind of girl, but
pretty
required too much work. Plus it wasn't one of her strong suits. Plain was her game. Luckily, she had Alissa, who hadn't been too lazy to transform her into a girlie girl, one that they hoped Shooby would be attracted to. Knowing she was to meet Shooby, she'd abandoned her trademark gear and dolled up in a periwinkle sundress her mother had bought because she'd heard they were all the rage. Jacobi looked down and smiled. The dress clung in the right places, meaning it hid her lopsided breasts.
“You know, Jacobi, you look different today,” Shooby complimented, or at least she thought he did. But she couldn't be sure he liked her look. She'd never seen him with a girlfriend, so she had nothing to compare herself to.
“Trying something new,” she said, unsure of how to answer. She'd let Alissa paint her face and curl her hair, and it made her feel so good about herself inside, her feelings radiated out. Now, from her bright, new perspective, everything seemed perfect. She only hoped he liked her, too. “About the text I sent you ...” she began, then bit her lip, thinking how to proceed and trying to keep still. “I think it'd be a good idea to document what we're doing.”
“Uh-huh. Stay still,” he said. “I don't want to pull your hair out.”
Jacobi froze, remembering why she was standing between his legs. Something was stuck in her hair, and he was getting it out.
“Got it,” he said, pulling the object out along with some of her hair. “It's a piece of candy. Looks like a piece of a lollipop.”
Alissa
. “Ow, that hurt.” Jacobi turned, looking him in the eye. She stood less than a foot from him, and didn't want to move.
“So, what were you saying? You want to film me?” He laughed coolly. Flirtatiously.
Jacobi nodded. “And I want to bring someone into the crew. My new friend, Alissa. She can help me if you don't want her to be a part of the new mob. I tried to call Katydid to see if she'd mind, but she didn't answer her phone. So I guess it's up to you, right?”
Before she knew it, Shooby's lips were pressed against her forehead. She closed her eyes, giving in to the moment. He'd never before kissed her or shown the slightest interestânot like this. And though it wasn't a real bona-fide kiss like a boyfriend would give a girlfriend, she'd take whatever affection he offered. A smile stretched her lips wide, and she relaxed her neck, leaning into him, hoping he'd wrap his arms around her. But no-go. Just like that, it was over. His mouth disconnected from her face.
“I knew you were good for me. Look at you, Jacobi ... bringing someone in. It's cool. Both ideas: filming me and a new flash mobber. As a matter of fact, I was sorta thinking the same thing, just with a different twist.”
Her head tilted in curiosity.
“That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I want to do a thing sorta like they did on MTV back in the day. You know, the confession booth. I wanted to do that either before or after the flash mobs. I'm putting it together to help
our
communityâ
our
people. You know,
us
versus the Man?”
Jacobi just nodded. She really had no idea what man he was talking about, but she'd listen. She'd do whatever it took to get his attention, and she'd act interested as long as it meant one-on-one time for them.
“You know, Shooby. There is this other thing I wanted to ask you about, but it wouldn't involve the flash-mob crew ... just you. Well, you and me.”
He nodded. “I'm listening, baby.”
“Well, I've been invited up the coast to a party. A beach-house party for grown-ups. I was thinking of filming the get-together and having some fun, too. And I've already cleared it with my parents, who won't be there, by the way. Think you'd be interested?” She crossed her arms, waiting for disappointment.
Shooby stared into her eyes and licked his lips. A faint smile spread on his face as he looked her up and down like she was the best thing he'd seen in a long time. Suddenly, his palms were on her cheeks, holding her still. “You're wonderful, Jacobi. I'm glad you're on my team. So glad,” he said, then pulled her face to his and gently kissed her.
“ 'Ey, Shooby-dooby-doo,” one of the flash-mob crew called out, interrupting their kiss. “Ready when you are.”
Jacobi's eyes stretched wide. “I thought it was only supposed to be us ...”
Shooby looked around and laughed. “Look around. It is only us. They're calling from the other side of the hill. Guess you didn't get the text. We got a spot to hit in forty minutes. Get your camera ready. It's going to be a long night. First we mob, then me and you finish. Cool?”