Extraits

To : Sal

From : Becks

There is a girl I like.

She rides a yellow bike.

Her hair is long. Her eyes are round.

Her voice is nice. I like the sound.

I broke her arm when we met.

She was nice. I signed her cast.

She is my friend.

Her name is Sal.

I hope one day she'll be my gal.

''Don't know'', I said. Afraid of the answer, I asked anyway. ''What's your dream girl like ?''

''Freckles,'' he said, not missing a beat.

''What ?'' I scoffed, secretly pleased. I had freckles !

''Way to narrow the field, Baldwin.''

''You didn't let me finish.'' Eyes movins over me with a focus that made my breath catch, he said, ''Cute freckles, wavy brown hair, about five-six, hazel eyes. Naturally beautiful.''

''Beck--''

''She's smart.'' He talked right over me. ''Can quote Star wars, curse like a German sailor when she's mad. Someone who makes me laugh out loud, a girl who's herself and lets me be me. Sounds pretty great, right ?''

I stared at him. A moment, two hours, I didn't know. He'd sounded sincere, but he couldn't be. I wasn't that luccky. ''That's not funny.''

''You see me laughing ?

''Becks...''

''Yeah, Sal ?''

''You are joking... right ?'' I had to ask. Even if the hopeful note in my voice revealed too much, I had to ask.

There was an awkward silence.

Then Becks's smile broke through, eyes bright. ''Man, you should see your face right now.'' He laughed while I tried to recover. ''Priceless.''