Lexapros and Cons Page 16
“Aww, thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Amy must find it amusing how easily she can make me blush.
“So,” she says, nonchalantly crossing her legs, which momentarily scrambles my brain, “that day in Calc, when I had to go to the blackboard and correct the answer you got wrong … why were you so nervous?”
I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“Huh?”
“That day, when you blurted out ‘You’re pretty.’”
Of course I remember that day, but what is she talking about?
“You were wearing yellow Cons. That means you were nervous, right?”
I just sit there, slack-jawed. Has Amy figured out what I think she’s figured out?
“You wear yellow Cons when you’re nervous, right? You were wearing them that day. And then any other time we had a big test you weren’t sure about, you also wore them.”
No one in the universe knows about my system, not even Steve. I’ve never written the code down anywhere or ever uttered a word about it to anyone, including Dr. S. It’s the only thing I won’t use CBT on. It’s my thing.
I’m so astonished, it’s hard to form words. A part of me is still convinced Amy just took a lucky guess.
“And when you wear the pink ones—which are rad by the way—that’s bored, right? I noticed that any day you complained about being bored, you were wearing pink Cons.”
She figured it out.
“And orange, that’s—”
“Tired,” we say in unison.
“Yeah,” I manage. “How did you know?”
“How did I know what? That you wear a different color depending on your mood? I dunno, I guess just by paying attention to you.”
Can I swoon now? Please?
“You have so many different pairs,” she continues, “and nothing you do is ever random. I figured there had to be something to it. It was actually kinda fun to figure out.”
Turns out, Amy knows me better than anyone.
“There is one thing I was wondering about, though,” she says. “On my first day of school, you wore blue Cons. But you never wore them again.”
“Wait a minute,” I exclaim. “You saw me that day? That first day in Cimaglia?”
“Of course I did,” she says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“I was excited because they were announcing Senior Weekend that morning,” I explain.
“Ah,” she says, “that makes sense.”
Prom night has already exceeded my wildest expectations and we haven’t even left my room yet.
“Should we go?” I say, tugging at my stupid tux shoes.
“In a second,” Amy says, “but you won’t be needing those shoes.”
“What do you mean?”
She hands me the gift, which I’d forgotten all about.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Open it,” she smirks.
Baffled, I tear open the wrapping paper. Inside is something I’ve seen countless times in my life: a Converse shoe box.
I look at Amy. She smiles.
I open the box and remove the tissue paper.
Underneath is a pair of brand-new high-top Chuck Taylor All Stars.
I hold them up. They’re identical to every other pair in my collection, except for one major difference: they’re not a solid color.
They’re plaid.
“Amy,” I say, overwhelmed with gratitude, “these are awesome.”
“I’m glad you like them.”
“But … what feeling should go with plaid?”
“Well,” Amy says, “I think there’s one you don’t have covered yet.”
She looks me in the eyes as I clutch the sneakers.
“Happy.”
We kiss.
I can’t wait to put them on.
lexaprosandcons.com
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank my mom, dad, and sister, Caryn, for their perpetual support and guidance. They provided invaluable feedback upon reading the first draft of the book, which in essence can be summed up as “Huh, this actually isn’t bad.” Their love—and candor—knows no bounds, and for that I am eternally grateful.
My editor, Wes Adams, sparked to the plight of Chuck Taylor immediately and enabled me to bring him to life. The more bizarre and profane I wrote Chuck’s character, the more enthusiastic Wes became—an attribute most authors can only hope for in an editor. His wisdom and tireless advocacy have been vital.
My agent Peter McGuigan and I are cut from the same cloth. We both love beer, broads, and books. He recognized the potential of Lexapros and Cons when it was nothing more than an outline, and shepherded it from proposal to paycheck. He and his team at Foundry Literary + Media are consummate professionals.
My attorney, Darren Trattner, has now seen me through a menagerie of books, scripts, and albums. Each contract is more sophisticated than the last, but Darren has remained committed to wringing the best possible deal for me no matter how lengthy or painful the process. Also, I’m legally obligated to say that.
You might not be holding this book in your hands had it not been for the efforts of Greg Galbraith, the Director of Marketing for Chuck Taylor All Star at Converse; and Elizabeth Fithian, the Director of Marketing, and Allison Verost, the Director of Publicity, at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group. Their contributions run as deep as their job titles are long.
Last but not least, a special thanks to all my fans around the world, who make every word worth writing.
By the same author
Ruminations on College Life
Ruminations on Twentysomething Life
I’m Having More Fun Than You
Text copyright © 2012 by Aaron Karo
All rights reserved
First hardcover edition, 2012
eBook edition, April 2012
macteenbooks.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Karo, Aaron.
Lexapros and cons / Aaron Karo. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: Realizing that his OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is out of control, seventeen-year-old Chuck Taylor, who wants to win his best friend back and impress a new girl at school, tries to break some hardcore habits, face his demons—and get messy.
ISBN: 978-0-374-34396-5
[1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder—Fiction. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.K1447Le 2012
[E]—dc23
2011022983
eISBN 9781429942423
Lexapro is a registered trademark of Forest Laboratories, Inc. Converse and Chuck Taylor All Star are registered trademarks of Converse Inc. This book is not associated with or endorsed by either Forest Laboratories, Inc., or Converse Inc.