Part 14 (1/2)
”Drinking on the beach. A certain digital photo?”
Whoa. How on earth did she get a copy of that?
”Oh, yeah?” I said, running a hand through my hair in what I hoped was a casual way. When all I could think was, no team, no starting position. No scholars.h.i.+p, no college.
”Yeah,” she answered with a smug smile.
c.r.a.p. I couldn't risk her showing that photo to Luther. I had no choice but to work with her. ”Look, Kylie,” I said, and swallowed with my very dry mouth. ”There's nothing between Rascal and me. I admit I had the mother of all crushes on him, but real life has a way of taking care of that sometimes.”
Her face wrinkled like she smelled something foul. ”You mean, you ...”
Her voice trailed off, making me think that when she said she knew ”everything,” she meant the lawn but not the couch?
I decided to hold my cards closer to my chest. I had to give her enough to believe I was nonthreatening without admitting to anything...directly. ”You don't have to worry about me. Okay?” I zeroed in on her squinty eyes. ”And I don't have to worry about you showing that picture to Luther, right?”
She gave me something I took for a nod, then turned away.
I was dying to ask where the h.e.l.l she'd gotten the picture, anyway, but I didn't want to rock the boat. Apparently she had good sources. And me in a tight spot.
I waited around at Alison's locker after the last bell, but when she didn't show, I had to hightail it to the locker room.
The team was doing warm-up laps when I shuffled into the gym. Zoe slowed to let me fall into step with her, but I waved her on, saying I was tired.
Nothing personal, I just didn't feel like talking to anyone. Except maybe Alison. Could she possibly have stabbed me in the back? It was almost as if she'd set me up to take that photo, like someone had paid her to do it or something. Which was crazy. She had all the money she could ever want.
A few laps later, Zoe appeared beside me. ”Okay, I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”
”Huh?”
Sweat beaded her brow. ”You seem upset. I'm upset. And don't they say misery loves company?”
A smile tugged at my mouth. Actually, it was nice that someone seemed to care. Still, I couldn't reveal the whole truth about my blue mood. I didn't even know the whole truth.
”It's Alison,” I said, giving up what I felt I could. ”She's, uh, been acting weird since I started spending time with her brother.”
”That sucks,” she said, huffing. ”But you can'tentirely blame her.”
Yeah, except the beach picture happened way before Jared and I started hanging together. Back when I was swapping kisses with Canadian Guy and still moping over Rascal.
We rounded a corner of the gym and she added, ”Still, it seems you two should be able to work it out. Get it out in the open, set some guidelines or something. Better than Matt and me, who are now done for good.” She turned and looked at me. ”He gave me the let's-be-friends line last night.”
Ouch! ”Oh, Zoe.”
”I saw it coming, I really did.” She inhaled through her nose. Bravely, I thought. ”Still, to break up. And so close to the homecoming dance.”
”Did you buy a dress already?”
”I was still saving.”
”Well, that's good.”
”I guess.”
But getting dumped-dress or no dress-was definitely the pits.
Run the silky pink fabric up the school flagpole in solidarity with all girls who'ev been cruelly ditched, dodged, and dumped
Zoe and I hung together for the rest of practice, doing drills, pa.s.sing the ball, letting out long sighs. Later, we walked out together.
Leaning against an SUV in the teachers' parking lot was Jared. To say he was the last person I expected to see would be an exaggeration. That would have been my dad-or maybe Caffeine, if I could even remember what she looked like.
A smile tugging one side of his mouth, he crooked a finger at me.
”See you later,” Zoe singsonged, and turned away.
I moved toward Jared, my pulse oddly elevated.
”Hey,” I said.
”Hey yourself.”
I understood the unspoken offer of a ride and figured it was better than walking. We silently climbed into his mom's car. After he started the engine, he turned to me.
”Your note. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, with my windows and everything. What's up?”
I crossed one leg and then the other. I couldn't get comfortable. What had felt unbearable in the darkness had lessened during the course of this hectic and very confusing day. Still, I had to tell him. ”Friends with benefits,” I blurted out. ”That's what people are calling us. I mean, not just as a joke. For real.”
A full smile captured his face. But when he glanced back my way, his gaze was appropriately stony. ”Yeah. I'll talk to Keith and Mitch and those guys.”
He put the car in gear and backed out of the spot in silence, then pulled onto the main road.
”You know, Jared, Mitch has been calling me.”
”What?”
”Yeah. Wanting to get together. Probably wanting ... well, I don't have to spell it out, do I?”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. ”I'll handle him.”
”And Harrison.”
He came to a full stop at a yield sign, and suddenly his eyes were all over my face. ”Him, too? c.r.a.p, this has really gotten crazy. Don't worry. I'll take care of it.”