Landry in Like

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

  We were having fun when Tori’s phone got a text. She picked it up.

  “Oh, Ericka’s home now. I’m supposed to go over there now,” she said. She bit her lip. “I guess I’ll call my dad for a ride.”

  “Yeah, sure. I mean, you guys had plans first,” I said.

  Thalia checked the time on her phone. “Maybe I should call my dad, too. I wish they would have let me spend the night, but I’m on these weird new allergy meds and my mom didn’t want me away from home.”

  We kept playing until the doorbell rang. Mr. Urich told Tori her father was at the door.

  “Thanks for having me over. We should do this again,” she said. “This was fun.”

  Just then Peyton’s phone got a text. “It’s a pic from India,” she said. “I guess Vladi’s at the club.”

  I swallowed my cola and it hit my stomach like acid.

  “Is he with anyone?” I asked.

  “Hold up, I’m asking,” Peyton said, her thumbs flying over her phone keyboard. “She says he’s with a couple guys and they’re just playing ping pong in the corner right now, but there’s a bunch of girls watching the game.”

  Tori cleared her throat. “Well, thanks again. Hope you guys have fun,” she said as she walked out.

  Thalia’s dad pulled up just as the cupcakes were ready.

  “Oh man, I so wish I could stay longer. This pizza is so good, too,” she said.

  Peyton fixed her a little plate with pizza and a cupcake to take home.

  “Okay, does this sound super bad? But I’m kind of glad Thalia and Tori couldn’t spend the night. I mean, it was fun playing the game with them, but I wanted to talk to you about some stuff that I didn’t feel like I could say in front of them. Does that make sense?” Peyton asked.

  “I get that and feel the same way. It was fun, but I wanted to ask you what you thought about the whole teen dance club thing.”

  “You mean about Vladi being there?” she asked.

  “No, well, yeah, that, too. I meant the whole idea of going to a place like that in general.”

  She paused the game and pulled her knees up to her chest.

  “I mean, I’ll go, but it’s not my first choice. I’d rather hang out and eat pizza and play games or go to the mall or something than go to a place like that. Look at the pictures India is posting on her social media page,” she said handing me her phone. “That place looks crowded and noisy, and everyone looks like they’re eighteen,” she said.

  “I know I’m supposed to want to go to places like that, but while it looks exciting, it also seemed terrifying. I keep thinking next year everyone’s going to be hanging out at places like that, and I’ll be in my sleepy puppy pj pants at home playing Skylar Halston all by myself. And what’s worse, other than being completely alone, some of that doesn’t sound too bad.”

  “On the plus side, you won’t be alone. I’ll be sitting next to you and if they keep putting out these games, they might last us through senior year,” she said smiling. “We may have to make a list of where we want to go to college so we can apply to the same places.”

  “Shall we toast to that?” I said raising my soda glass.

  Peyton cracked up as her mother walked in.

  “How’s the game, ladies?” she asked.

  “Mom, you have got to see how cool this is,” Peyton said turning the game back on. Mrs. Urich took a cupcake as we showed her the B&B.

  “Cute,” her mother said as Peyton’s phone got another picture text. “Oh gracious, what is this?”

  “Oh, that’s from India. They’re taking pics at the teen club.”

  Mrs. Urich stared at the picture of the girls, her mouth set in a firm line.

  “Landry, are you into that sort of thing?” she asked.

  “Not exactly.”

  “I thought maybe your modeling friends were all into that scene.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t hang out with any models. In fact, I just keep in touch with one girl, Kyra, and she’s not into partying. She wants to go to med school, so she’s all about studying to make sure she gets into a good college.”

  “Well, that’s a good goal to have.”

  “Talisa Milan always stresses you have to set goals and not let things like boys and parties distract you from what you want to do down the line,” I said.

  “So true. You girls have fun tonight. Let me know if you need me to run out and get you anymore snacks or anything,” she said, smiling as she walked out of the room. “And there’s a new carton of chocolate marshmallow ice cream hidden behind the frozen turkey in the freezer. Peyton’s dad always digs all the marshmallows out and leaves the chocolate, so I had to hide it away. Help yourselves.”

  “Okay, what’s with my mother? First I get credit card access to download video games, and now she’s offering to make a snack run for us?” Peyton asked, narrowing her eyes. “Did aliens invade?”

  “My mom was all weird, too. She bought me books and stuff because I didn’t poo myself on the set of the TV show, and then she was overjoyed that I wanted books and was going to use a pencil case for school supplies instead of makeup.”

  “This may sound bad, but I’m not going to let my mom know I wasn’t super into the whole teen club idea. I feel like this could work to my advantage,” she said laughing.

  “Is it weird I kind of want you to ask India if Vladi danced with any girls tonight?” I asked.

  “No, I was wondering about that myself, but I didn’t want to bring it up and get you all anxious.”

  Peyton sent her a text, and it felt like an eternity before India wrote back.

  “She said he’s just with his friends, but Yasmin was over by them and there were a ton of girls watching the guys play,” Peyton said. “She says we need to come out with them next time.”

  I shrugged and part of me wondered if Vladi should have mentioned to me he was going to a place like that. Our last conversation had been so sweet with him giving me advice about how to handle my interview and my anxiety, but now it felt weird to think about him at the club with other girls around. But, in reality, we didn’t have the kind of relationship where we checked in with each other like that. It felt awkward to ask him about it and seem insecure… even though I was.

  “Maybe you should ask Vladi what he did this weekend and see if he mentions the club,” Peyton said.

  “Why? Do you think he’d lie about it?”

  “No, I don’t, but I can see your brain is working overtime and I think it’d put your mind at ease. Plus, if he lies and said he stayed at home watching a movie, you know to dump his sorry behind,” she said laughing.

  “Yeah, I dunno. Maybe. I need a manual to tell me how to handle this sort of thing. They make instructions on how to use a toaster over, but for relationships we’re on our own. What’s worse: burnt toast or a broken heart?”

  “Truth,” Peyton said taking another cupcake.

  Just then my phone got a text. It was from Vladi.

  Vladi: Hey, just wanted to check in and see what you were up to tonight.

  The fact he wrote, “check in” made me feel a little better. It sounded so couple-y.

  Landry: I’m at Peyton’s.

  Vladi. That’s cool. Steve and I went to that teen club.

  Landry: Oh? Was it fun?

  Vladi: It was alright. You ever been there?

  Landry: Nope, but some of my friends went tonight.

  Vladi: Yeah, I saw Ashanti with some girls. I walked over to see if you were with them. Maybe some time we could all meet up there.

  Landry: Yeah, maybe.

  Vladi: We’re going to grab burgers now, so I’ll talk to you later. Just wanted to say good night before it got too late and you went to bed.

  Landry: Night. Have fun.

  Vladi: Night, cutie.

  “Look, he put a smiley face blowing a kiss after that,” I said, holding my phone out to Peyton. How do I respond?”

  “Oh man, um… do the same thing back. I know it’s unori
ginal, but I’ve had way too much frosting tonight to come up with anything better.”

  “Don’t think I’m a dork, but will you read through his texts and see if you pick up on any weird vibes?” I asked.

  “What do you mean? Are you getting weird vibes?”

  “No, but maybe that’s because I want to believe everything is all perfect and rainbows and glitter and I’m too naïve and dumb to pick up on anything,” I said.

  She laughed and took my phone. “Nope, looks legit to me. I wouldn’t worry. If anything, worry about the older girls at the high school who have access to him every single day,” she said. “Oh, that didn’t help, did it?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Not exactly.”

  We cracked up.

  “Come on,” I said, adjusting the pillow behind me. “We have a mystery to solve.”

  “Right, that poor B&B owner is counting on us,” she said.

  Chapter 19

  On Monday, it seemed like everyone had gone to that club over the weekend. People kept talking about it and showing their cell phone pics. Ericka and Tori came over to stand with Thalia, Peyton, and me. Even though things had been weird with Ericka and Tori, I suddenly felt this solidarity with them as it felt like we were the only girls in the eighth grade who weren’t at the club this weekend. We had to stick together, right?

  Later, at lunch, I saved Ashanti a seat, but then I noticed she was already sitting down. She was at her old table with Halle and Maggie and, what’s worse, Yasmin was with them and so were some boys. They were all talking super loud. Meanwhile, I was stirring some leftover spaghetti that had seen better days.

  “I wish people would shut up about that stupid club,” Devon said, glaring at the other table.

  “You aren’t into that place?” Tori asked, looking hopeful.

  “I want to go, but my mom is so protective,” she said. “But I was visiting my grandparents anyway this weekend.”

  Later, in social studies, India sat down at our usual table with Peyton, Ericka, and Tori. “Landry, you and Peyton need to come out with us next time we go,” India said. “There were a lot of girls checking Vladi out. He was playing ping pong and air hockey with his friends the whole time, but if he were my boyfriend, I’m not sure I’d be all that comfortable with him going to a place like that without me.”

  Tori put her pen down. She appeared as queasy as I felt, but I just nodded and said I’d think about it.

  After school I went to meet Ashanti by her locker.

  “Hey, you up for a Skylar Halston mystery night on Friday?” I asked. “Peyton and I were talking about doing another sleepover.”

  “Oh, sounds like fun, but last week I promised the girls we’d do the club again. There’s this guy Halle likes who told her he comes every week, so…” Ashanti rolled her eyes. “Maybe another time.”

  “Yeah, sure. No, that sounds like fun, too.”

  I waited for her to get her stuff.

  “Oh, I’m getting a ride today. I’m going over to someone’s house to work on some cheer stuff,” she said.

  Someone’s?

  “Oh? Halle’s?” I asked.

  “Uh, no.”

  “Maggie’s?”

  “Yasmin’s. She invited a bunch of us. I’ll text you later,” she said, suddenly in a hurry. “Bye, hon.”

  I walked to the bus by myself. When I got on, I saw Peyton was already sitting with India and Devon was sitting with Hakeem. I took the closest seat and just stared out the window until we got to my stop.

  Chapter 20

  On Friday, I called Peyton after school, and she said she was talking to Devon on the other line. She told me to hold on and then came back saying Devon wanted to do a three-way call. Suddenly Devon’s voice boomed out.

  “You guys are not going to believe this,” Devon said. “My mom said I could go to the teen dance club with India, Valine, Liv, and Kendall.”

  I felt my stomach drop.

  “Your mom? Seriously? I never saw that happening,” Peyton said.

  “I know, right? Mrs. Overprotective said India’s father checked it out. He said they have a strict policy about no alcohol, and they make sure to check student ID’s so it’s only teens. Mr. Allen said they watch the older ones like hawks. Now we just need your parents to agree,” Devon said

  “Our parents?” I asked.

  “Well, duh. You and Peyton have to come with us. It’ll be so fun, plus Kendall can get her brother to come with — ta da — Vladi! How awesome would that be?”

  In what universe would my mother agree to let me go to a teen dance club with my boyfriend? I didn’t even want to go, but at the same time it hit me that all my friends were going and I had felt weird that Ashanti was going to be there without me again.

  “You have to ask, Landry,” Devon said. “It would be so great if we could all hang out together.”

  I managed a nervous, “Sure,” but I didn’t know how to say the idea of being in a dark room with loud music and strangers didn’t exactly fill me with happiness. Whenever I saw places like that on TV or in movies there were always girls judging one another on their outfits, looks, how they danced — everything. It sounded so intimidating.

  Peyton cleared her throat. “I guess I could ask. My sister, Lacey, used to go to places like that and my parents were okay with it then,” she said.

  “I can’t see my mom going along with it,” I said.

  “Well, ask her, and if she says no, then maybe my mom can call her and talk to her or Mr. Allen can,” Devon said.

  I agreed because I didn’t want there to be one more thing distancing me from Ashanti and the other girls. If everyone was into this, then I guess I’d just have to try to like it, too, right?

  As soon as we got off the phone, I thought about the best way to ask my mom when it hit me — she’d never agree to it. All the teen dance clubs in Chicago were always getting shut down because of underage drinking and fights. My mother would never let me go. I was completely safe. Mom was having her tea in the living room with a new book she picked up at the bookstore. She always hated when I approached her with anything when she was relaxing with a nice cup of tea and reading, so it was the perfect time to ask. I was guaranteed to get shot down.

  “Hey, so India, Devon, and Ashanti are going to the teen dance club that’s downtown with some high school girls, and they wanted to know if I could go, too.”

  “Oh, I heard about that place,” she said, looking up over her book. “Well, I guess. Sure.”

  “That’s too bad. I was so looking forward to — Wait, what?”

  “You can go. Do I need to drive one way?” she asked.

  What on earth? “You know the one I mean, right? The place right downtown.”

  “Uh-huh, I saw on the news that it’s run by a nice Christian couple who wanted a safe place for teens to get together,” she said.

  Oh, just my luck. Maybe those people made sure there wasn’t any alcohol or drugs in there, but what about judgmental jerks? Could they protect me from that? The whole thing sounded like a good way to get gossiped about.

  “Kendall’s probably going to ask her brother and Vladi to go, too,” I said. Ah-ha! She’d never let me go if she thought it was a chance to hang out with my boyfriend. Mission accomplished.

  “Oh, that’s great. I would feel a lot better about it knowing Vladi was there. That way no strange boys will be asking for your number.”

  Abort mission. This plane is going down.

  “So you’re not worried about anything happening?” I asked.

  “Like what?”

  Sigh. “Okay, I’ll tell the girls I can go.” I started to leave the room and then came back in. “Wait, so you were weird about me going to the movies with Vladi, but a dance club is okay?”

  “Because the movie theater is full of adults and strangers and there’s a lot more trouble you can get into there. I haven’t heard anything bad about this place and, frankly, if Mrs. Abrams is onboard then that is a ringing endors
ement. Plus, you said Mr. Allen checked it out. If he’s okay with it, then it must be safe.”

  I texted Ashanti that I was going to be at the club tonight, too, and she sent back a bunch of smiley faces. Then I sent Devon a message, and she said everyone was going to get ready at her house.

  I called Peyton next to tell her the news.

  “Oh man,” she said. “I would have thought you were dead in the water when you mentioned Vladi going, but it sealed the deal? I will never understand parents. I wanted to have a Skylar Halston sleepover and now we’re doing a club thing. I want to say, ‘No, I’d rather stay in and play a computer game’, but I don’t want to look lame.”

  “I know, that’s what I wanted to do, too,” I said, thinking about how I heard Yasmin had gotten mad at Arianna for ditching her for a high school junior as soon as they got to the club last weekend.

  “Well, do you want to spend the night after?” she asked.

  Spending the night would be fun, and it would also ensure that Peyton wouldn’t ditch me at the club if she knew she was going to have to deal with me later on.

  “Yes, so what do we wear to this place?” I asked.

  “India said her cousin told her everyone wears jeans and a cute top.”

  “Define, ‘cute top’?”

  “I know, right?” Peyton said. “I’m going to wear my teal Franciszka T sweater. I have that baby blue and white cowl neck one that is too tight on me. It might fit you if you want to try it.”

  Perfect. That sweater was similar to the one Peyton was going to wear, so if we showed up in almost the same thing no one could laugh at me. If they did, well, I wouldn’t be alone.

  I walked over to Devon’s with my purse and tote bag with makeup, hair stuff, and an extra top in case Peyton forgot the sweater.

  Devon answered the door. She had straightened her tight curls and now had full waves. She appeared nineteen, and her hair was like a Bouncy Hair conditioner ad.

  I followed her inside where Liv Mackintosh, India, Valine, and Kendall were doing each other’s makeup.

  Kendall got up and gave me a hug when I walked in, and Liv glanced over.