Calling Maggie May Read Free Page B

didn’t,” he said. “Who are you?”
    At that point, my sudden attack of bravery wore off, and my throat closed over my voice. It’s funny, because even then Tyler barely glanced at me. He kept staring at Ada until she said in a low, hard voice, “Get lost now. I mean it.” At that he shrugged his shoulders, forced out a laugh, and wandered off toward the playing fields as if that had been his plan all along.
    Ada’s phone trilled again. “I’ve got to take this,” she said, and she walked off in the other direction, leaving me alone in the rain.
    I don’t know exactly what to make of that whole scene. But I guess Ada doesn’t really like Tyler.

Mon, Nov 3
    I spoke to Ada again today. Or actually, she spoke to me.
    I’d stayed away from her since our last interaction. I don’t know why, but somehow I was embarrassed. I thought maybe she was mad that I interrupted what was going on between her and Tyler. And I definitely didn’t want to see Tyler. So I did my best to stay out of sight, which is usually easy for me.
    But Ada found me after school today. I was walking across the parking lot to the buses when she called my name. I was so surprised I didn’t even answer. Ada Culver knows my name? It was hard to imagine, but she must have done some detective work after our last meeting.
    I stopped and stared at her. She was standing by herself, away from the crowd, in a dun-colored coat with a cream fur collar that almost blended with her pale hair. She had her hands stuffed in her pockets, and she was shivering even though it wasn’t that cold. I continued not to move, and eventually she approached and stood before me, maybe two feet away.
    â€œThank you,” she said.
    â€œFor what?” I had thought of her before as beautiful and stunning, but now that she was close-up, I realized there was nothing unusual about her face or her body. She was skinnier and taller than me, but not statuesque. Her skin was pale, and a smattering of freckles on her slightly snub nose made herlook almost wholesome. I had been fascinated before by her confidence, her coolness, but standing in front of me now, she seemed almost fragile. But that was fascinating too.
    â€œThe other day,” she said. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it. She had a lighter this time. “Stuff like that . . .” She waved her cigarette vaguely. “We need to look out for each other.”
    We? I didn’t know what she meant. Humankind? Women? Or me and her?
    â€œIt’s fine,” I said, and I turned to go.
    â€œWhy did you follow me outside?” she said abruptly.
    I stopped again. “I wasn’t following you.”
    She nodded as if she had half expected this answer. “You like Tyler,” she said. It wasn’t a question, so I didn’t answer. She took a long drag. “A bit of advice,” she said on her exhale. “Stay away from him.”
    I stared at her in surprise. Did she actually think I was a threat?
    â€œYou don’t have to worry about me,” I said.
    â€œNo?”
    â€œBoys don’t . . . do that to me.”
    â€œLucky you.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    â€œYou don’t think you’re so lucky,” she said. “Is that it? You wanted it to be you he was mauling.”
    â€œNo,” I said quickly, but my hands were sweating. She was right. I hadn’t even admitted it to myself, but there was a part of me that did wish it was me he had pushed up against that wall.
    Ada shook her head, her hair catching what remained of the winter light. “You think that’s what passion looks like, but it’s not. Tyler’s just a little boy, trying to be a big man.” She dropped her cigarette on the pavement and crushed it under her heel. “Anyway, I should have said thank you the other day. So thank you.”
    â€œSure,” I said.
    Ada turned away and walked