Part 1 (2/2)

So like I was saying, I don't get to go out much. You know, because I'm just not one of those girls.

No, I don't know. I don't have the secret handbook that lets me know everything. Girls that like to see movies? I chuckle and she chuckles.

No. Like I'm not... She stops and does a mock thinking face. It's kinda cute. I don't get asked out a lot. She signs it fast, but I catch it.

How do I respond to that? It's not like we're best buds, and that's a pretty big thing to admit for a girl. Man, even for a guy, it's hard to admit. Why is she telling me?

You have friends though, right? I attempt a smile.

She nods. They've all got boyfriends. Sitting in a theater with a bunch of people making out around me? No thanks.

She attempts a smile. I wonder if I look as half-hearted as she does.

Yeah. I get that. Boy do I get that. I was Mr. Third Wheel around my brother.

It slaps b.a.l.l.s.

I bark out laughing. Did she really sign that, or did I interpret it wrong? But she's laughin' too, and everyone's looking at us.

”Do I need to separate you two?” Ms. Stevens asks, lips in such a tight line I wonder if it actually came from her mouth.

”Sorry. I'll try not to tell jokes anymore since Brody can't find a volume control on his laugh.”

I laugh again, proving her point, but not much I can do about it since it's already out there. Quynn giggles across the room, and even though I'm gettin' a big fat *see me after cla.s.s' look from the teacher, it was worth it.

”I'll see you tomorrow,” Hayley says after the bell rings. She scoops up her book and throws her bag over her shoulder, smacking me in the face.

”Whoops! Sorry.”

I shove her bag out of my way and give her the not-so-serious-mad look. She laughs and waves, knocking other people over as she makes her way to the door with her over-crowded backpack.

Maybe she doesn't live under a rock, but a pile of homework.

”Brody?”

I force myself to look at Quynn slowly. If I whip around too fast, I'll look like I've been waiting for her to say my name like that. Which I have, but still. Be cool.

”Yeah?”

”Do you have a sec? I need to ask you something.”

Why does she make me nervous? We used to hang out all the time before...well before Gabe banged another girl.

”Yeah.”

Instead of letting me stand, she perches her s.e.xy form on the top of my desk, which leaves me eye level with her chest.

Oh dude.

She smells like spicy apple. I know exactly what lotion she wears, because I'm that pathetic. She watches everyone leave the room with a big smile on her face. d.a.m.n that smile. Her eyes flick to me and everythin' s.h.i.+fts below the belt. Am I ogling? Or drooling?

I hear the door click, leavin' us alone. Guess Ms. Stevens wants out of here. ”Kay, so I've got a huge favor to ask you.”

Look up, look up. Her eyes are just a few more inches up.

”Okay.”

She reaches into her pocket. Her snug pocket. Look up.

”Could you give this back to Mom? I mean... your mom?”

It takes me a minute to process. And to look away from the sudden hurt in her face. Quynn was tighter with their boyfriend's mom more than I've ever seen someone else be. When I finally get a grip, I notice the bracelet Mom gave her dangling between her fingers.

”Why?” I drag the word out and fold my arms.

”Don't make me smack you, Bro. You know why.”

I hate that nickname because of the stupid double-meaning. Is she calling me Bro *cause she still thinks of me as her brother? Well, that's not a far reach, since she just called my mother, Mom.

”She won't take it back. And I'm not goin' to let you give it back either.”

Her puff of breath nearly knocks me over with how good she smells. ”Please, Bro. I know it was expensive, and I just don't feel right about keeping it.”

I shake my head. She's got to be kiddin' me. I'm not going to get sucked into the drama more than I already have.

Another puff hits my face. ”Fine.” She slides off my desk and drops the jewelry into her pocket. Without another word, she's out the door.

d.a.m.n brother ruins everythin'.

Reason 2: You walk with a book on your head.

”Hey hun,” Mom says as I walk through the door. ”How was your day?”

Standard Mom question.

”Fine.”

Standard kid answer.

She waves me into the kitchen with a knife in her hand. Then she goes back to chopping tomatoes. I wrinkle my nose.

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