Page 71 of My Own Kind of Person

I step away from the mic. “Over?”

Mrs. Z comes in with a dozen blue cupcakes held high. In her other hand she pulls a red wagon of snacks and soda cans. She places the cupcakes on the stage and I see they spell, in white letters, VOTE 4 SEAN!!!

Andi gestures at the snack feast. “How many people are coming?”

“Do we need more?” Mrs. Z asks as she rushes back inside. “I have pizza bagels!”

Andi and Elijah pick up plastic plates. Tony paces in the corner. I wish he would at least look at his phone to pretend he’s doing something.

Andi holds a cupcake out to me.

“I’m too nervous thinking about how to do this set,” I say.

“Do it in whatever way will let you eat,” Andi says.

“That’s actually good advice.”

“Actually?” Andi says.

I laugh nervously and take the cupcake.

“Are you interested in feedback?” Elijah asks.

A terrifying question.

“I guess I should be.”

He looks at Andi and then looks at me. “If I didn’t know you, I would have spent your set trying to figure out if you were awkward or gay.”

Andi laughs. “Why not both?”

Elijah laughs. “You can definitely be both.”

I take a bite of a cupcake and try my best to swallow it. “I’ve spent most of my life trying to figure out if I was awkward or gay. But I had a huge crush on Lauren. Which is hilarious since she turned out to be a lesbian.”

Andi holds up their cupcake. “That is, in fact, both awkward and gay.”

This would be an appropriate moment to tell Andi that Elijah and I are dating. Or should I have told them earlier? Or should I have kissed Elijah hello?

“Your beanie is fantastic,” Elijah says to Andi.

“Thanks. I hate it.”

Tony takes two cupcakes and walks away.

I look at Andi. “Elijah and I are dating.”

“What?!”

“Be right back.” I follow Tony out of the garage.

From behind me I hear Andi say, “He’s so bad at telling me things,” and Elijah reply, “Awkward and gay.”

Tony leans on the back of his green Jeep, finishing his first cupcake.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Hm?”