The Lunacy Fringe

The next weekend, I sat with Billie in Freddy's garage. We were watching the boys play their music. Their band didn't have a name yet. And even though I'd known Quinn for two weeks, I still hadn't heard him sing yet. Not even in the car. So I was a little startled when it wasn't terrible. He was actually kind of good.

Since they disguised the get-together as band practice, it was more relaxed. But there were still more people than I expected. Mostly just people from school, Aaron's brother's friends, and random people who came to check out the music. Luckily, Billie was with me because she was the only person I knew who wasn't in the band.

Even though Quinn's singing skills caught me off guard, I was having difficulty paying attention to him. I heard Felix play guitar in class a few times, but it was usually an adaptation of Miss Kay's sheet music. So it wasn't a good indicator of his abilities. He had his crappy white Fender propped up on his knees since he didn't seem to have a guitar strap. But he was really good. And then I was even angrier at him. Of course he had to be perfect.

My dad once told me to never fall in love with a musician. He said they'll make you believe you can live forever, and then they run away with your heart. But I wasn't really thinking about that as I watched Felix move his fingers up and down the strings. I wasn't thinking about what Billie said when I claimed I wasn't interested. Or even how I told Quinn I only wanted to be his friend. I wasn't even thinking about my boyfriend.

Then Felix lifted his head, and his green eyes met mine. He gave me a soft smile, and I tried my hardest not to blush like a schoolgirl with a crush. But my cheeks got hot anyway. He turned back to his guitar, and I leaned against the couch cushions, feeling stupid, giddy, and flustered all over again.

"Somebody's in love," Billie sang from the seat beside me. The music was loud, so I almost didn't catch what she said. But then I let out a bark of laughter.

"I'm not in love," I told her. "I'm just—curious." I focused my attention on my hands, where I proceeded to pick at my nail polish as if I couldn't care less about stupid cute Felix and his stupid cute face.

"I wasn't talking about you," she said. I smiled to myself and shook my head. Then I reached for my beer and finished off the can.

"I'm all out. Do you want one?" I asked as I stood. She shook her head.

"No, I'm slow. I'm good."

I walked over to the beer cooler by the open garage door. The music stopped, and the guys were laughing about a flub that got them all confused. The garage was noisy with the sound of humming amps and murmured conversation. I looked through the cans but found them already open. Then I felt a hand at the small of my back.

"How are you doing tonight?" Felix asked, examining the collection of half-empty cans. These were the first words he'd spoken to me all night.

"I'm fine. You?"

"Better now."

"Why's that?" I asked. For one stupid second, I hoped he'd say it was because of me.

"Because now I can finally get some booze in me."

"Oh."

"Well, and because of you, of course," he added with a sly look. I shook my head.

"Yeah, okay."

"What? You don't believe me?" I shot him a look as if to tell him to shut up. He smiled. "Looks like we're out of beer, though."

"Didn't seem to last very long. I only had one."

"Want to come with me to get more?"

"Where?"

"I know a guy that would sell it to me when I was fourteen and ninety pounds."

"Alright." He turned back around.

"Hey, guys. Ruby and I are going to see if we can score some more beer. Is that cool?" he asked the band. Quinn eyed us suspiciously, but everyone else didn't seem to have a clue as to why he'd bother asking.

"Yeah, but don't do anything stupid or handsy, or I'll have to kill you," he warned. Felix just laughed.

"C' mon, man. Isn't it against the rules?"

"Like that's going to stop you."

"Stop. Don't be a dick."

"Fine. Ruby, kick him in the balls if he tries anything." He imitated kicking Felix. I just rolled my eyes and headed out of the garage. Felix followed after me.

"Is he always like that?" I asked when he met me on the grass. The music started up again, but missing a guitarist. Jack played guitar too, but he wasn't at the same level as Felix. I could tell he hadn't been playing nearly as long.

"Don't know. His other sister is three, so it's hard to say."

"Are sisters off limits then?" He smiled.

"Like he said. Like that'll stop me." I smiled nervously and followed him to Quinn's car.

"So, how long has this rule been in effect?" I asked once we climbed in. He rolled the window down to let the heat out. It was hot but windy.

"It's been in effect for two whole weeks."

"Why are we taking Quinn's car?"

"Because I don't have one, and I'd rather not walk down the street with a case of beer."

"And what if we get pulled over?"

"We won't. This car would only get pulled over if Quinn was behind the wheel. I passed my driving test on one try."

"How many did Quinn take?"

"Three. And I'm not entirely convinced he didn't bribe the tester."

"God, I wouldn't be surprised."

He smiled that gorgeous smile of his and started the engine. A few minutes later, we pulled up to a liquor store on the corner of the main street through town. I followed Felix in, where he immediately greeted the guy behind the counter. He obviously shopped there enough to be on friendly terms because the guy knew exactly what he wanted and went off to get it while we waited. I ran my fingers over the useless junk on display: lip gloss, stickers, lighters, and postcards. And then I gasped.

"Oh my God," I said, pulling out a small plastic snow globe. I swished around the water and watched the snow fall over a tiny penguin inside.

"That's right. You like penguins. I almost forgot," Felix said. He put his hand on my waist, and I instinctively leaned closer. My heartbeat began to race, but I kept my eyes on the penguin.

"They're my favorite." I shook the globe again.

"Why?"

"Look how cute they are."

"Tell me something about them."

"This is an emperor penguin. They live in Antarctica. Did you know they're monogamous?"

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"It means they stay with one mate for their whole lives."

"Sweet."

"Yeah, penguins are awesome."

"Do you want it?"

"No, I didn't bring any cash."

"I'll buy it for you. Let me see it."

"No, it's okay." He took the snow globe from my hands and stuck it on the counter just as the little man returned holding Felix's case of beer.

"Discount," he said as he rang it up.

"Awesome. Thanks, man. Can I get this too?" He showed off the snow globe. The little man lit up with joy and turned to me.

"You like penguins?" He didn't wait for an answer. "We have pens too." He pulled a penguin pen out of the jar he kept by the register.

"Oh. No, thank you," I tried.

"We'll take it," Felix said. He put it into the bag along with the snow globe. I watched him pay for everything and then followed him back out to Quinn's car. He shoved the beer into the back, and I kept quiet until we were seated again.

"Why did you do that?" I asked as he started the car.

"Do what?" He was looking in the rearview mirror and not at me.

"Why did you buy those things for me?"

"I don't know—I guess I just—like to make you smile." I let one escape, and he noticed. He smiled back. "See? It's a great smile."

My heart leaped in my chest, and I turned away so he couldn't see me blush. We talked about music on the way back to Freddy's house. We had the windows rolled down, and he drove at a slow cruise through the winding hills full of avocado and orange trees. The sun was going down, and the small valley felt alive and green. We both liked the same bands and talked about concerts we'd been to and who we wanted to see in the future.

When we returned to the house, I returned to Billie, feeling unusually at peace. But Quinn stopped me before I reached her.

"He didn't try anything, did he?" he asked. I was confused for half a second.

"What? No. He was a perfect gentleman." I decided to leave out the way Felix had kept his hand on my waist at the store. Or the way he'd looked in the driver's seat, smiling at me in the orange glow of a sunset, black hair flipping around his face.

"Did he try to kiss you again?"

"No, he didn't do anything at all."

"Just checking."

"Why are you like this? I thought you knew we were just friends."

"Just remember what I told you, okay?" I shook my head.

"He's your best friend." He nodded.

"Right. He's my best friend. So I know him better than anyone else. He doesn't do long-term relationships."

"I'm a big girl now, Quinn."

"That's not what I mean."

"Then what's the problem?" he sighed heavily and looked across the garage where the guys were handing out beer cans.

"It's just like I said—he doesn't keep girlfriends long. He's flirty with you now, but he'll find someone else to flirt with a month from now. And I just—don't want to see that happen to you. He gets bored quick. And you're my sister. So it's not like some random girl I barely know, you know?" I nodded slowly.

"You know I'd never ask you to choose between us if it came down to it."

"That's not what I'm worried about. And it doesn't mean I won't hate him for hurting you anyway," he said. Then he walked away and went to join his friends.

"How's it going?" I asked Billie, plopping down next to her. She smiled at me.

"So—did you do it?" she whispered.

"I'm sorry. Did I do what?"

"Well, did you?"

"We were gone for like—fifteen minutes."

"It can happen in less than that."

"No, we didn't do it. Give me a break. We didn't even kiss."

"Then what did you do?"

"Exactly what we said we were going to do. We went to the store and got beer. Why?"

"I want details."

"Billie."

"I'm serious. I want to know everything."

"Ugh," I said. I looked around to make sure no one could overhear us. But we were the only two people on the couch, and everyone else was hanging out by the band.

"Did he try to kiss you again?" she asked. I shook my head.

"No, but he bought me a snow globe and a pen."

"Why?"

"He said he liked to make me smile."

"Oh, that's so sweet."

"I know, right? He said I have a great smile."

"Aw—wait. Shh. He's coming." I turned around. He was approaching us, holding a beer can in each hand.

"Ladies," he said with a nod.

"Felix," we replied in unison.

"I noticed you were beerless, so I decided to change that." He held out the cans, and we both took one.

"Thank you," I said as he slid the cold can into my hand.

"Anytime." He gave me another smile and then walked away.

"See? I told you he was in love," Billie whispered. I elbowed her in the ribs since he was still within hearing. And then I wondered if there was any truth to what Quinn said.