Part 11 (1/2)
Clearly sensing the tension despite his boyness, Tyler asked us, ”You two know each other? Jade Demarchelier, Allison Avery?”
”We used to,” Jade answered.
”Why aren't you in Sag Harbor?” I asked, remembering that Serena's older sister was best friends with Madeleine freaking Smith. Ugh.
”We came back early because my grandmother got sick,” Jade answered so coldly icicles formed around the words. ”I texted you.”
”You did?”
”Yes, twice, and called you. I left three messages on your voice mail. I was really upset about my grandmother and needed you.”
I grabbed my phone. As soon as it was in my hand, the You have voice mail You have voice mail chimes went off. I looked: three new voice mails, two text messages. chimes went off. I looked: three new voice mails, two text messages.
”I'm sorry,” I said. ”I never heard-”
”I figured maybe your parents took your phone away,” she practically growled. ”Aren't you grounded?”
”Oh. Yes,” I spluttered.
”So you snuck out?”
”Kind of,” I said.
Jade shook her head slowly.
My phone played a short series of high-pitched bird screeches and went dead in my hand. Not feeling up to explaining it, I asked Jade, ”How's your grandmother?”
”Better, thank you for asking,” she said formally. My cheeks felt frostbitten as I slipped my dead phone back into my clutch. ”You're looking...different,” Jade added, moving her gaze to my other hand, the one holding the beer cup.
”I am different,” I lied.
”So I see,” Jade agreed, and then, clearly done with me, flicked her flirty eyes up at Tyler and blinked them twice. ”Anyway, Tyler, what were-”
”I think I need some air,” I said, turning away from them. No way was she dismissing me, not again, not in front of Tyler Moss, not with me wearing my mask of invincibility. I was a jerk. Fine. I never thought anything better of myself than that. I didn't need her shoving my face in it, was all.
I was maybe two steps away, stretching my fingers to dispel their sudden numbness, when I heard Tyler, behind me, say, ”I'll go with you.”
I didn't trust myself to turn around, no matter how much I wanted to see the look on Jade's face. I could feel him following me through and then out of the house.
We walked side by side up Madeleine Smith's walk as I poured out my stinky untouched beer in her bushes. I tossed my cup in her trash can and we took a left onto the sidewalk, still without a word. It was only when we rounded the corner that I said, ”Now she'll hate me more than ever.”
”Jade? Why?” Tyler asked.
”We're best friends.”
”But you just said-”
”I just keep disappointing her. Because I am a screwup and she is perfect. Are you going out with her?”
”No,” he said. ”I'm not going out with anybody. How about you?”
”No,” I said. After that we didn't talk again for a while.
”You leave places abruptly,” he observed, finally.
I shrugged. ”I have bad manners.”
”Manners are overrated.”
”Yours are good.”
”You don't know me very well,” he said, and put his arm around me. Next thing I knew he was kissing me.
We had stopped just in the rim of light from a street lamp, so our faces were half-bright, half-shadowed. I didn't wrap my arms around him, but I didn't pull away either, until I felt him start to.
My first kiss.
I found it a bit hard to breathe during it. It was equally hard to breathe after.
”You're right,” I managed. ”That was pretty rude.”
His cheeks burned red instantly, and he blinked hard twice. ”I'm sorry,” he said. ”I'm...I'm sorry.”
”No. I was just making a...That's not...Don't be,” I said. ”Except for the...I don't think red is your color, lipstick-wise.”
His fingers flew up to his lips and rubbed until all traces of the kiss were obliterated. ”Yeah, well...” he started.
I turned away. He wasn't going to reject me, either. No way, not tonight, and not right after being the first boy to ever kiss me. ”I should get back,” I said, and started walking back toward the party.
He caught up by the corner. ”You're pretty fast,” he said.
”No,” I countered. ”Just quick.”
”Can I call you?” he asked, producing his cell phone out of his pocket and handing it to me.
”My phone is dead,” I said, keying in my number. ”Either that or possessed by the devil.”
”Right,” he answered, taking the phone back and pressing one b.u.t.ton. ”Either that or you just gave me a fake number. Let's see.”
I felt my phone vibrate in my clutch, so I dug it out and answered, turning my back to him. ”h.e.l.lo?”
His back pressed up against mine as he said, ”I guess you didn't lie.”
”I never lie,” I lied.