“Right.” My stomach felt even more twisted than before. Because I guess part of me thought Jeremy had a good point. I mean, we were only here for a week. What did I expect, anyway? To meet the man of my dreams? To fall in love? And was Drew really the one? He said things like, “That’s what I’m talking about,” and “hot mama.” And he didn’t read books. Not that I was in any position to judge. Before last night, the most action I had gotten was from a down pillow. I thought of Drew’s lips tracing a path down my neck. I felt my breath get quick and shallow. And I was glad we hadn’t gone any further last night.

We pushed off the chair at the top. I had forgotten what a thrill it was to jump off. Jeremy was totally unimpressed that I came to a perfect T-stop, but I didn’t need his opinion any more this morning. There were colorful jackets and pom-pom hats zipping down the sides of the mountain in every direction. No sign of Drew, though. Where was that area that he took us to yesterday?

“Hey, so I was gonna check out the Pine Bluffs trail today. Aaron says it’s got some cool inclines,” said Jeremy.

Might as well, Levy. It beat going back to the Junior Slope alone. Where was the Junior Slope anyway? I could picture myself foraging for nuts and berries in the woods after taking a wrong turn.

Pine Bluffs looked really challenging. Lots of turns and twists, even some little jumps. I tried to remember what Drew had taught me about leaning into one leg and then another. I tried to think about how he had me bend my knees and stay low to the ground. But I have to admit, I was mostly thinking about his hands on my waist. And then on my neck and in my hair.

“This look okay to you?” asked Jeremy.

“Uh-huh,” I said, but I was still thinking about those hands.

“Okay, then. See you at the bottom, nerd,” said Jeremy, and he pushed off, snaking his way along the path.

I looked around me. We were pretty high up. Above the tree line. The air felt thin and sharp. C’mon Levy. You can do this. You’re strong. Lean into it. Concentrate. Leave the behind — agh! That was too ridiculous.

I did pretty well. Got about a third of the way down before I fell, but I knew how to brace myself. The rest of the way, it was a series of short runs and some scooting on my butt.

Jeremy was waiting for me at the bottom of the trail.

“And, bringing up the rear for the Turtle team, is Samantha Levy!”

“Thank you! Thank you very much!” I said in my best Elvis impersonation.

“Again?” Jeremy asked.

“Sure.”

We did Pine Bluffs another three more times before Jeremy decided he was hungry and we should go to the chalet for some lunch.

Lunch. I felt sick and excited at the same time. Drew would be taking his lunch break, too, now, right?

The chalet was packed again, of course. And now there was the smell of hamburgers and pizza. Mmmm. Even with a nervous stomach, I had worked up an appetite. Jeremy waved me over to his place in line, but I was busy looking for something else. If only some of these fluffy coats would move.

I saw his blond hair first. He was over at the table by the hot chocolate bar, sitting with what I guessed was his class from that morning — a middle-aged couple, a man with gray hair and glasses, and two girls and a guy about my age. One of the girls was wearing a lavender turtleneck sweater and had long, honey-colored braids. She was leaning across the table and was talking with her hands, and Drew was tipping his head back and laughing.

My heart jumped. Was I supposed to play it cool and just eat with Jeremy and see if Drew noticed me? Or did I need to say something? Maybe just walk over there and say something casual like:

Hey, last night was really special and I think you’re a great kisser and I don’t want you to think that just because I was too freaked out to have sex that I’m not interested because I am very interested and as a matter of fact maybe I am ready to have sex but I just have to talk to my friend Phoebe some more or maybe I should call my mom but she might be with Jon who has a gross ponytail. So I guess, yeah, let’s just do it, right? But maybe we could talk before, during, and afterward so I’m not so scared. Oh, and hey, you want one of my French fries?

Yeah, that would do the trick, Levy.

We paid for our food, and then Jeremy spotted Dad and Kathy at a table all the way in the back of the room by the bathrooms. I groaned.

“Come on. Play nice,” Jeremy instructed. We made our way over and sat down.

“How was it, you two?” gushed Kathy.

“Oh, great,” said Jeremy. “What about you?”

“Really nice,” said Dad.

“Beautiful! Magnificent! Fantabulous!” Kathy exclaimed.

Ugh. I wanted to tell her I was allergic to adjectives. I really had decided in the car that morning that I was going to try and ignore her. But she sure was making it hard.

“Did you love it? Was it awesome?” she continued. This lady just didn’t give up.

“Yeah, it was fun,” said Jeremy. Then he turned to me and mouthed, “Nice.”

“Yeah, fun,” I echoed, biting into my sandwich.

That was all Kathy needed.

“Yay! Where’d you go? What’d you see?” she chirped. I’d let Jeremy handle that one. I had work to do. The three of them started chatting away about the tremendous sights and breathtaking heights while I shoved my fries into my mouth and scanned the crowd for Drew’s blond hair.

There he was. Still with Honey Braids in the lavender. Breathe and chew, Levy.

Breathe and chew.

But it was pointless. I soon got the hiccups from inhaling my food too fast.

“Oh, Sam. Come on. Just go over and say something already.” Jeremy’s mouth was, of course, full of American cheese.

“Go over where?” asked Kathy.

None of your business, I thought. But I just pretended not to hear and punched Jeremy in the leg.

“You’re a wimp,” he muttered.

Time to prove him wrong.

I took a slow sip of Diet Coke and stood up.

“Okay, I’ll be right back,” I announced.

“Where is she going?” I heard Dad say. But I didn’t wait to hear Jeremy’s answer. I was on a mission. I could do this.

Most of the group had finished their meals and were just watching Honey Braids. She was still talking, her hands waving wildly in the air.

“And all of a sudden, this bear was in our tent. And we were like, aaaaaaaaaah!” she recounted with a syrupy Southern twang.

“Whoa!” said Drew, leaning back in his chair.

I stepped up to the edge of the table. “Um, Drew?”

“Yeah? Oh, hey, Sam!” Was he excited to see me? I couldn’t tell.

“Hey. I just wanted to say … hep!”

“What?”

“Sorry, I have the hiccups. Hep! I just wanted to say … hey.”

“Hey,” he said again. He gave me a slight smile, but didn’t say anything else.

I obviously hadn’t thought this through too far. Was that it?

Quick! Think, Levy, think. Use the noggin.

I sucked in my breath. “Jeremy and I did the Pine Bluffs trail this morning. Hep!”

“Really? How did that go?” He nodded his head like he was impressed. At least, that’s what I hoped it meant.

“Good! I mean, really awesome. Hep!”

“That’s what I’m talking about.” He gave me a high five. Not exactly romantic, but at least it was physical contact, right?

“Hey listen, Sam. I’m glad you found us. I have to get back to class, but a bunch of us were going to go to the Fondue Pot tonight. This place in town. If you want to come, they have these big pots in the middle of the table with cheese and chocolate. It’s crazy good. And they have a special on hot toddies Tuesday nights.”

“Mmmm,” said Honey Braids, patting her stomach.

“What do you think?” Drew’s eyes narrowed on me now, and his voice was quiet and close, like it was just for us to hear.