You know my name?” Raven asked, genuinely surprised. “Yeah,” said the boy, “you rented She’s All That about two weeks ago. I sent you the late notice.”

“The one with the smiley face?” asked Raven.

“Yeah, that was me. My name is Matthew,” he said, holding out his hand.

Raven smiled as she took Matthew’s hand. It was warm and strong — and when he smiled back at her, every muscle in her body seemed to melt.

“So, um, I’m here to pick up my little sister,” said Matthew. “Why are you here?”

“I’m here —” Raven was about to say, “because this is Bayside Junior High, and I, like, go to school here.” But just in time, she stopped herself.

Obviously, Matthew thought she was in high school. And Raven wanted him to keep thinking that.

“I’m here, I’m here . . .” repeated Raven, thinking fast. “You know, to pick up my little brother, Eddie.” She pointed to her other best friend Eddie Thomas, who had just walked by.

“Eddie!” she called, shaking her finger at him. “Mom told me to give you a bath before dinner.”

“Say what?” asked Eddie.

Raven quickly turned to Chelsea. “You go make sure he doesn’t wander off.”

Chelsea nodded, racing up to Eddie and ushering him away before he could blow Raven’s cover.

“So, Raven, I know we just sort of met,” said Matthew, flashing his killer smile again. “But would you like to do something with me Friday night around eight?”

Raven hesitated. All the magazines said you should never accept a last-minute date with a guy.

“Wait. I don’t know, Matthew,” said Raven. “It’s kind of short notice.”

She had to show Matthew that she was a girl who made dates on her own terms. She wasn’t desperate — no way, not Raven Baxter.

“Eight-fifteen?” she quickly suggested.

Matthew agreed, and after they said goodbye, Raven rushed off to find Chelsea.

“I have a date Friday night!” squealed Raven when she met up with her friend. “And he’s seventeen.”

Continues next week

Based on the popular TV series created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman.

Illustrations: Uday Deb