“I don't know why, but I didn't want her to call me Dick anymore. It was feeling kind of fake. 'Maybe we should use our real names outside of class. Yours is Rosetta, right?'
'Yes. Rosetta Vaughn.'
'All right,' I said. 'Well, mine is - '
'Seth McCoy. I know.' She kind of wrapped her arms around herself like she was getting cold. 'I've known since February fourteenth, actually.'
She's memorized the date she found out my name? What the hell?
She laughed. 'Don't freak out! I only remember because it was Valentine's Day.'
As if that explained it. 'And why do you remember learning my name on Valentine's Day?'
'Kendall Eckman was running after you in the hall screaming, "Seth McCoy, if you don't buy a rose from me, I'll kill you!" She was doing that Valentine's drama club fundraiser. Remember?'
'Actually, yes.'
What I remembered was getting stoned with Isaac before school, and Kendall harshing my mellow the minute we walked in the door.
Rosetta was looking like there was more to this story. 'And after she kept asking, you bought a red one?'
'Right. And I passed it off to -' I'd been about to say 'some chick,' but with how intently she was watching me, I was getting a different idea. '-you, right?'
She extended her arm to pass me an imaginary rose in the same way I must have handed her a real one. Then she imitated the corny voice I must have used. 'Here, beautiful. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.'
Oh, Christ. The stupid shit I said sometimes.”