Part 15 (1/2)

”What is it?”

I look through the basket again before I yell back up the stairs. ”You seen my blue s.h.i.+rt?”

”You have a lot of blue s.h.i.+rts, hun.”

Ugh. ”You know the long sleeved one with the writing on the arm?”

She doesn't yell back, but I hear her footsteps move to the laundry room and the dryer door swing open.

”It's up here!”

”Will you toss it down?”

I wait to hear the soft thud on the floor outside my room before going out there. Yeah, Mom's not catchin' me half naked.

Normally I wouldn't care about what kind of s.h.i.+rt I'm wearin', but tonight... yeah, first date with the girl I like and her first date period. Better do my best to look like I care while lookin' like I don't care.

It's harder than it sounds.

The doorbell rings just as I'm tuggin' my belt on. If that girl came here instead of lettin' me pick her up, I'm gonna- ”Quynn!”

Ah h.e.l.l.

”Hi Terri.” Quynn's voice hits me in the stomach. I'm goin' to c.r.a.p myself. What is she doin' here?

”Come in, come in.”

Their footsteps go right to the living room and then the couch creaks as they sit. I take out my cell. d.a.m.n it, I'm already runnin' late. Maybe I can crawl out my window.

”Is Brody here?”

In the words of Hayley... how freakin' p.o.o.ptastic! How did I s.p.a.ce Quynn was planning on seein' me tonight? Oh that's right, I've been Hayley obsessed. And now I'm stuck. Gotta bail on Quynn... yeah, she said she was comin' over to see Mom, and even though it sounds c.o.c.ky as h.e.l.l, I know she's here to see me too.

Cell's still in my hand, and I fumble around the keyboard as I try to type Hayles a quick text.

Sry I'm late. I'm comin' I promise. Don't u dare start walkin' over here. I'll text u when I'm close.

Yeah, the last thing I need is for Hayles to show up and see me, Mom, and Quynn talkin' like it's some sort of messed up book club or somethin'. The image makes my palms sweat.

It's so lame.

”Hey, Quynn's here. Come talk with us.”

Yeah, lame isn't a strong enough word.

”I can't.” d.a.m.n it, I just snapped at my mom. Now she'll know- ”What's wrong?”

I sigh. ”Nothin'. I'm running late.”

”Where are you going?”

”Out.”

Tucking my wallet into my back pocket, I try to walk past her, but she blocks me, crossing her arms over her waist in that *Don't talk to me that way' mother stance.

”Brody, you tell me what's going on right now, or you're not going anywhere.”

Ugh. I don't talk girls with Mom. She's biased. She doesn't say it out loud, but I know she wants Quynn and me to...

Yeah, I don't talk girls with Mom.

But I'm honest with my parents.

”I've got a date.”

Her arms drop. ”Oh.”

Yeah, that's all she says.

”Can you tell Quynn I'm sorry, and I'll see her in school?”

Her lips purse together for a second before she says, ”You can tell her yourself. You have to walk past her anyway.”

She turns to head upstairs, but pauses, hand resting on the handrail. ”Is it Hayley?”

I sigh again. Mom's more observant than I thought. And I have been spendin' a lot of time with Hayles lately. ”It's her birthday.”

”Oh, okay.” Her voice turns upbeat and her smile goes back on her face. I wish that didn't bug me, but it does. What if it wasn't Hayles' birthday? Why does she care so much about who I decide to date?

Guess I should rephrase. Why does she care so much that I want to date Hayley? I have a guess, but I don't want to even think it, *cause it'll make me sound like a big d.i.c.k.

”Tell her I say Happy Birthday.”

”I will.” I reach over and grab my set of car keys off my dresser. ”You okay if I...?”

”Yup, just be careful. And put some gas in it when you're done.”

Yeah, I'll have to do that anyway since I'm sure Mom left it on fumes.

I nod, and we both head upstairs, my heart going faster with each step. I don't want to see Quynn's face or smell her citrusy and girly scent. It'll just confuse the c.r.a.p out of me, and I don't want all that before I'm with Hayles.

Tonight has to be perfect for her, and I won't think about another girl on our first date together. Hayles deserves more than that.

Ugh, am I the right person to do this for her?

”Hey, Brody!”

”Oof!” For a tiny girl, she sure has a lot of force behind her hugs.