7:The Golden Ticket
Leo was still standing in the cloud of exhaust from Maya's dad's car when a sleek, matte-black SUV pulled up silently eside him. The window rolled down, and there was Sloane, wearing dark aviator sunglasses and a smirk that made her look like a movie star.
"Get in, Leo-Lion," she said, nodding toward the leather passenger seat. "We don't do 'fucking school buses' in this family."
As Leo buckled his seatbelt, the smell of vanilla and expensive leather filled his lungs, erasing the stink of Maya's dad's car. Sloane drove fast, weaving through traffic with a precision that made Leo feel like he was in an action movie.
"Your parents called," she said, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of a dark, pulsing song on the radio. "They're heading out of town for a business thing. They won't be back for two days."
Leo's heart skipped. Two days. Just him and Sloane.
She pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine. She leaned over, her face close to his, and gave him that signature, conspiratorial wink.
"Which means... me and you, tomorrow. Party. Be ready."
Leo's head was spinning. A party? With her? He felt a rush of fulfillment so strong he thought he might burst. "I'll be ready," he managed to squeak out.
"Bye, Sloane!" he called out, hopping out of the car. As he walked toward the front door, his mind was screaming: I love her. I love her so much. Maya's dad is a loser, Miller is a loser... Sloane is the only one who matters.
He didn't see her watching him walk inside as she smiled softly at him.
That night, the house felt cavernous and strange without his parents. Leo lay in bed, the glow of his phone illuminating his face as Maya's face filled the screen.
"So," Maya said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger, "are you ready for your 'party' tomorrow? My dad is still bragging about his car, by the way. He's so annoying."
Leo sighed. "I just want tomorrow to be cool.
Sloane said we're gonna have a party."
Maya giggled, but then her expression turned playful and a little mischievous. "Leo, you're so innocent. Do you actually know what babysitters do at night when you're asleep?"
Leo blinked. "What do you mean? She watches TV? Sleeps on the couch?"
"No, dummy!" Maya laughed. "They bring their boyfriends over. They eat all your food and do... you know... bad things while you're dreaming. That's what babysitters do. It's like a secret life."
Leo's heart sank a little. The idea of Sloane with a boyfriend made him feel a sharp pinch of jealousy.
"She wouldn't do that," Leo muttered.
"Try not to sleep tomorrow night," Maya challenged him, her eyes dancing. "Stay awake. See for yourself. I bet you'll catch her red-handed."
"Maybe I will," Leo said, his curiosity finally outweighing his shyness.
"Goodnight, Leo. Don't be a pussy—stay awake!" she teased.
"Goodnight, Maya."
The call ended, and Leo stared at the ceiling in the dark. He wasn't thinking about math or bullies or his dad's truck anymore. He was thinking about Sloane. He was thinking about the "party." He made a silent promise to himself: Tomorrow, he wasn't going to close his eyes.