“Dude, did you hear anything I just said?” TJ continues, and I’m sure he was probably talking this entire time, but I didn't hear a word. TJ is a goof and hyper as fuck. It’s like he has caffeine running through his veins 24/7.
“No. Say it again.” I look at him, then glance over my shoulder to Nadia again. She’s standing now, all the girls she’s with are. When she bends down to pick up the red blanket she was sitting on, the string of her thong peeks out of her shorts—black satin.
Where are they going?
“I said we’re all dipping out at—”
I hold up a hand and stop him. “I’ll be right back.”
Without another word, I follow behind Nadia and Bree.
“What the hell, man!” I hear TJ holler as I give him my back and walk away.
Maneuvering through the crowd, I try not to lose track of them, but they’re heading down the other side and there are so many fucking people. “Watch it,” someone grumbles at me when I kick his shoe, trying to get past.
“Nadia,” I shout, but it’s too loud. I just need to talk to her. I’m not even sure what I plan to say. Sorry, maybe. Tell her how beautiful she looks tonight. Or maybe I can give her my truth. Tell her everything and hope that she’ll do the same. “Nadia, wait up.” I try again to no avail.
They pick up their pace, then once again, the crowd goes wild when the Wildcats get the ball back. A group stands up, shaking their foam fingers in the air and screaming so loud that I can’t even hear my thoughts. “Move!” I huff as a couple big and burly guys block my path. My head falls to the side as I try to keep track of her, but it’s no use, she’s out of sight now. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. Hopping over the seat of the bleachers, I head down the row and then jump over the railing that separates the walkway.
Once I reach the end, they’re gone.
There’s no way in hell I’m going back through that crowd, so I jump down and dig the toe of my shoe in the dirt. She’s already made it clear that she’s not going to the party, so I guess I’ll just have to wait until Monday at school to talk to her.
It’s just my luck that I’d start falling for a girl that I’m supposed to mentally corrupt. It’s at this moment that I realize, I can’t do it. Tearing her down will not fix my problems. It won’t bring my mom back, sober my dad up, give me a home, and a family. Aunt Nikki and Uncle Jay probably won’t get back together and if they do, it won’t be because some eighteen-year-old chick finally told the truth.
I’ve gotta let everyone know that the plans have changed.
14
Nadia
“Was there really any point to even going to the game?” I chuckle as Bree drags me by the arm through the parking lot.
“Just to make an appearance. Say we went—ya know, that sort of thing.”
“Ahh, gotcha.” Even though I don’t. We were there for all of thirty minutes. Didn’t talk to anyone, except the two girls we’re leaving with, whose names I still don’t know. And, now we’re leaving. “I’m still not sure about this party. People around here don’t seem too fond of me. Maybe I should just—”
“Stop! You are going. Don’t let others dictate your life. Look at me.” She throws her hands up. “I've been at this school my entire life and half of the seniors don’t even know my name. Which is really, really sad, considering there are only one-hundred-fifty students in our class. But, I’m going. Know why? Because I don’t care.”
I can’t help but smile at her response, because she’s right. Not to mention, I love her positive outlook on things. Bree gets in the driver’s side of her car and me in the front passenger seat while the other two climb in the back. Turning my entire body to face the back seat, I figure I should probably get their names if we’re all hanging out tonight. “I don’t think we actually met. I’m Nadia. What are your names?”
“Oh,” Bree chimes in. “That’s just my sister and her friend. They wanted a ride to the game, so I let 'em tag along. They won’t be going to Brock’s.”
The taller brunette in the back introduces herself regardless. “I’m Lily, and this is my best friend, Jada. We’re juniors and as soon as I get my license, I won’t need Bree anymore.” She sticks her tongue out at Bree who watches in the rearview mirror.
Bree retorts, “Keep telling yourself that. I’m your big sister. You’ll always need me.”
Turning back around, I drop into the seat. “You two are pretty lucky to have each other. I wish I had a sister.”
Bree glances over as she turns out of the parking lot. ‘No, you don’t. Siblings are overrated.”
Ten minutes later, we’re pulling up to Bree’s house. A normal house that looks like it houses a normal family. Lily and Jada get out and we’re back on the road.
Bree turns up the volume to the music on the radio as Taylor Swift’s “Betty” fills the car and she begins bobbing her head to the beat.
Drumming my folded fingers together, she takes notice of my nervousness. “It’s going to be fun, girl. Relax.”
“I know.” I nod with a forced smile. Before last night, I might have agreed with her. I’d probably be excited to go. Now it just feels like my secrets are getting ready to spill out for everyone to know and all I really want is just to live a normal life.
Once Bree flicks on her blinker and the creek comes into a view, my nerves suddenly hit an all-time high. “Wait!’ I blurt out, causing her to slam on the brake.
Her eyes widen. “What? What happened?” She looks left then right. “Did I hit a dog?”
I bust out laughing. “No, you didn’t hit a dog. I just..I need to think about this.”
Her foot slams down on the accelerator, causing my body to fly back into the seat. “Nope. You thought enough. Tonight is all about not thinking and not caring.”
Filling my lungs up, I hold the air and rub my sweaty palms on my jean shorts. On the exhale, I agree with her. “You’re right. I’m not going to let a few people ruin my chance at having a little fun.” This is high school. A few years from now, all of this will be a distant memory.
“Yes!” She slaps the steering wheel, beaming all too eagerly. “I’m driving. Have a couple drinks. Relax and just enjoy the night. Meanwhile, I’ll be hanging in the shadows, keeping my eyes on that guy right there.” She points a finger at two guys carrying a keg up to the house.
“DJ?” I ask.
“It’s TJ. Short for Tyler Jones.” Her hands clap over her heart and she gets all googly-eyed, “Mr. Dreamy, and my crush since I was like ten years old.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet, Bree. Does he know you like him?”
“No!” She spits before collecting her composure. “No, he doesn’t. I actually haven’t talked to him since middle school. We used to be neighbors, but once we grew up a little, he got popular and I just….stayed the same.”
One of the things that I don’t like at all about public schools are the cliques. Granted, every school has them, but at the Academy, we’re all pretty much on the same level, and if we don’t like someone, it’s usually because they did us dirty or because our families have bad blood. At CCH, it seems like people are divided based on social status, appearance, and brains. It hardly seems fair.