The Paris Project by Donna Gephart

Author:Donna Gephart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2019-10-07T16:00:00+00:00

Figuring Out Some Things

GEORGIA LAY ON HER BED across from me. The lights were off in our room, but there was plenty of soft light from the full moon. I wadded up my blanket and hugged it, like it was a stuffed toy animal. I needed comfort, and since Miss Genevieve wouldn’t curl up with me in bed, I had to improvise.

“It was weird,” I told her. “Being at Declan’s with Todd Baker there.”

Georgia filed her nails while we talked. She rarely did one thing at a time. “Weird how?”

“Well, we watched videos.” I rested my chin on the balled-up blanket and thought about the word Declan had used to describe his feelings around Todd—tingly. “Cooking videos. Sports blooper videos. Funny animal videos. You know, all three of us together, but Dec sat real close to Todd while we watched. He kept nudging Todd and poking him, and one time, when we watched a particularly cute baby elephant video, he laid his head on Todd’s shoulder for a second. I was surprised Todd didn’t punch Dec for being so annoying.” I thought Georgia might say something about what a traitor Declan was for hanging out with Todd. I thought she might be mad at me for being in the same space as Todd Baker. I braced myself for her response to be laced with anger, but what she said surprised me.

“Cleveland, do you think Declan likes Todd?”

“Definitely. He likes him so much I had thought he was replacing me as his friend. How much would that stink? But I think he wants to be friends with both of us now. So that’s good. Right?”

Georgia stopped filing and leaned forward. “I mean likes. Do you think Declan likes Todd?”

“Oh.” I thought back to Dec and Todd sitting so close together. How Dec’s cheeks turned shades of pink a bunch of times, which usually meant he was embarrassed. Tingly. “Oh. Oh.” I thought about Craig and William at that fancy restaurant Dad took us to and how Dec kept staring at the two men the whole time. “Oh. Oh. Oh.” I leaned toward my sister. “Georgia, do you think Declan… likes boys? I mean, do you think there’s a chance he might be… gay?”

“Of course he is, Cleveland.”

“Of course he is?” How did Georgia know this and I didn’t? Wasn’t I supposed to be his best friend? I felt like an idiot. Imbécile!

Georgia turned toward me. “It’s not like Declan can be out and proud here in Sassafras.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat. But couldn’t he have been out and proud with me? “Well, that’s not fair.”

“Yah think? That’s one of the reasons I can’t wait to move to Vermont. Ms. Douglas, our school librarian, said it was liberal and open-minded, the best place she’s ever lived.”

“Then why does she live here now?”

Georgia went back to filing her nails, as though we weren’t having one of the most important conversations of our lives. “Ms. Douglas told me she moved to Vermont

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