Landry in Like

by Krysten Lindsay Hager

  “Hey, I’m Liv.”

  “Oh, hi.”

  “Liv, you’ve met Landry before,” India said.

  “Oh sorry,” Liv said in that bored ‘”sorry-not-sorry” tone.

  “No, that’s fine,” I said. I’m just that forgettable. Or maybe invisible. Lovely.

  “I’m Valine and I know we haven’t met before,” she said tossing her dark blond hair.

  “Actually, you met her the same night — at my friend Peyton’s,” India said. “Remember? We went over there and they were having a sleepover?”

  “Oh right. You were the girl wearing the sleepy puppy pants, right?” Valine said.

  Kill me now. So embarrassing. “You know, I can’t remember what I had on. It was so long ago,” I said.

  “You guys, Landry did a TV interview recently,” Devon said.

  “Wait, you went on TV? Like that?” Valine asked.

  “Well… it wasn’t today… and I—I had a different outfit on,” I said. My voice sounded so small.

  Kendall shifted. “So what were you on TV for, Landry?” she asked.

  “This modeling competition thing,” I said, not wanting to get into details. “It’s no big deal.”

  “You model?” Valine asked, her upper lip curling.

  “Landry, you should try this new bronzer I just got,” Kendall said. “Here, sit down. I’ll put some on you.”

  “Yeah, you could use some color,” Valine said.

  The doorbell rang, India said it had to be Peyton, and Valine followed her out of the room. Devon was fixing her eyeliner in the mirror, and Kendall leaned over to put the makeup on me.

  “Valine knows who you are. I told her you were coming and that you were Vladi’s girlfriend,” Kendall said.

  I shifted. “So she has it in for me because she likes him?”

  “Kind of. I know this is going to sound weird, but don’t take anything she says personally because it’s not.”

  “Um, that comment about my outfit and me being pale seemed pretty personal,” I said.

  “I know it seems that way, but she’s just trying to make you feel insecure by pulling out anything she thinks might work.”

  And it was working. Liv came back into the room then. I wondered if she hated me on sight, too.

  “Your outfit is super pretty, Liv,” I said.

  She stared at me. At first, I was worried she would say, “Great, if a loser like you likes it then I better change,” but she just blinked and thanked me.

  Peyton came upstairs and handed me the sweater, and I went in the bathroom to change. I pulled on the sweater and even though it had a wide neck, it still managed to give my hair major static electricity. Oh man, this was not good.

  “Devon?” I called out through the door. “Can you hand in some hairspray and my purse?”

  “Devon’s downstairs,” Liv said. “Which purse is yours? The navy one?”

  “Yup.”

  She brought my purse to the door, but Valine pushed past me to get into the bathroom.

  “What happened to your hair?” Valine asked.

  “Well, the sweater had to go over my head, so—”

  She did a fake laugh and I felt my cheeks get hot. Then she all but pushed me out of the bathroom and shut the door behind me saying she had to pee.

  I walked over to India’s vanity and tried to tame my flyaways. Great, going to a dance club with a bunch of mean girls where I was already out of my element, and now my hair couldn’t even cooperate. I should be walking in with confidence. I mean, I had just done a TV interview about my modeling career a week ago, and instead, I was trying to shrink and be invisible so I wouldn’t catch more crappy comments.

  As I sat there trying to salvage my hair, Liv came up behind me.

  “Here,” she said. “I got a dryer sheet from Mr. Allen. These work wonders on staticky hair.”

  She gently touched it to my hair and then smoothed it with her fingers. It was starting to look less like a mad scientist’s.

  “You know what might be cute? A thin braid on top,” Kendall said.

  Liv nodded and Kendall came over and braided a small section of my hair.

  “There, that looks pretty,” Kendall said.

  “You guys, are you ready to go?” India yelled. “We’re taking two cars. Who wants to go with my dad?”

  Kendall glanced over at the bathroom door. “Valine’s not ready yet, so why don’t we go with Mr. Allen and the rest of them can drive over together?”

  I nodded. Liv, Kendall, Peyton, and I walked downstairs where India and Devon were waiting.

  “Okay, why don’t you guys ride with Valine and my mom,” India said, adjusting her hair over her shoulder.

  “Actually, I think Valine wants to ride with you, India,” Kendall said. “Why don’t you and Devon wait with her and the four of us can go with your dad now.”

  India shrugged. “Whatever.”

  I shot Kendall a grateful look, and she gave my hand a squeeze. We followed Mr. Allen out to his car. Liv, Kendall, and Peyton got in the back, and I sat in front.

  “Okay, girls, I’m sure this goes without saying, but do not give your emails and phone numbers out to strange boys.” Mr. Allen said. “Don’t drink anything out of a cup that you didn’t see come out of a soda dispenser, bottle, or can. Do not take gum or candy from anyone you don’t know, and if things get iffy, call me or one of your parents to come get you.”

  I had the car visor down and I saw Liv roll her eyes. Mr. Allen pulled up to the club. The girls started to get out, but he put his hand on my arm.

  “Landry, here’s my business card. If anything happens and you want to get out of there, but don’t want anyone to know, just call and hang up. Don’t say anything and I will call you back, and you can pretend I’m one of your friends. If you say, ‘Hi, how was the party?,’ then I’ll know to come get you guys, okay? No questions asked. I will just show up.”

  I nodded and slipped the card into my bag.

  “Okay, have fun, don’t talk to strangers, and if you see India doing anything I’d have a stroke over, call me,” he said.

  I giggled and nodded.

  “I figure you’re the one I can count on. I’ll be here at ten to pick you guys up,” he said.

  I got out of the car and Liv asked me what Mr. Allen said.

  “Oh, just wanted to remind me where he was picking us up,” I said.

  She nodded. “He’s hot for an old guy.”

  Peyton’s eyes almost fell out of her head.

  “Yeah, for a dad, he’s not half bad,” Kendall said.

  Mrs. Allen pulled up then with Devon, India, and Valine. I texted Ashanti that we were there, but she didn’t respond. Devon told me it was probably too loud inside for her to hear the phone. We started to walk to the doors of the club, and I took a deep breath. What was I getting myself into?

  Chapter 21

  We walked inside and a tan guy with blond hair was taking the money and putting wrist bands on everybody. Devon put out her hand and he winked at her. It was kind of weird since he seemed at least twenty.

  “ID?” he said.

  My hand shook as I gave him my student ID.

  “I need you to open your purse, too,” he said.

  I was so nervous that when I went to open my bag, I tipped it and half my stuff fell onto the counter. How embarrassing. Kendall and Peyton helped me scoop up my junk and stick it back inside.

  “Seriously? What a spaz,” Valine said. I didn’t have to turn around to know who she was talking about.

  “This is going to be so much fun!” Devon said as she opened the door. We all walked in and instantly my head felt weird and I tripped. My eyes had to adjust to the light as it was way darker inside, and everything was outlined in neon and lights. It was like a huge warehouse, and it was noisy and crowded. I wanted to turn around and call Mr. Allen to save me from this big, scary mob. But the other girls were all smiling. Even Peyton. Great, I was the only one wetting my pants in fear.
Liv saw some guys she knew so we walked over to watch them play pool. Almost immediately a group of boys came over and bought sodas for Kendall, Liv, Valine, India, and Devon. I went to say something to Peyton when I noticed she had a soda in her hand, too.

  Just then one of the guys bumped into me. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t see you there,” he said.

  “No worries,” I said. I’m just the invisible soda-less one. Don’t mind me, I wasn’t thirsty anyway.

  Then I saw Kendall taking Liv’s cup out of her hand and Liv putting her hands on her hips. Kendall tugged Liv’s arm and they walked over by me.

  “What’s your damage?” Liv asked.

  “Mr. Allen said not to drink anything we didn’t see poured or whatever.”

  “It doesn’t smell like alcohol, so I’m sure it’s fine.”

  “He said not to and you don’t know that these guys didn’t put something in it, so just let me get us some waters, okay?” Kendall said.

  “Such a daddy’s girl,” Liv said, rolling her eyes. “Fine, whatever.”

  “Come on, Landry,” Kendall said, linking arms with me. “Let’s go get water.”

  I went to ask Peyton to come with us, but she was talking to a guy. Actually, all the girls were, but me. Sure, I technically had a boyfriend, but those guys didn’t know that.

  Kendall and I walked up to the counter, and she bought mini bottles of water for all of us. The guy who took the money kept smiling at her.

  “How are you going to carry all these bottles?” he asked her.

  “My friend will help,” she said pointing to me. He moved his head and seemed surprised anyone else had been standing there. I couldn’t have felt more invisible.

  We went back over to the group and passed out the little bottles. Kendall glanced at her phone. “My brother texted me that he and Vladi are here already. Do you want to go find them?”

  I nodded. “Does he know I’m here?”

  She shook her head. “No, I wasn’t sure if you were coming or not when I talked to him, so I just told him you might be coming. They usually hang out over at the air hockey table.”

  I tried texting Ashanti again, but no response. Was it too loud in here for her to hear her phone, or was she too busy having fun to care?

  Liv and Peyton came with us to go look for Steve and Vladi. Liv spotted them over by some couches. Vladi was sitting on the edge of an ottoman and a red-haired girl was leaning over and whispering in his ear. He was nodding and looking around. She put her hand on his arm and leaned forward.

  “Oh man, that does not look good,” Liv said.

  “He doesn’t seem interested in her,” Kendall said. “He’s looking everyplace but at her. I’ve known him for years, and if he likes a girl then he has razor focus. Trust me.”

  I felt a little queasy when she said that. How many girls had she seen him be interested in?

  Peyton put her hand on my arm. “It does seem like she’s more into him.”

  We watched as Vladi pulled out his phone and started texting.

  “See? You don’t text when you’re with someone you like,” Kendall said, folding her arms. “That would just be rude.”

  The redhead moved closer and now had both her hands on his upper arm. My eyes stung with tears.

  “Clingy, much?” Liv said. “She’s, like, a stalker.”

  “Do you want me to go over there?” Kendall asked.

  I shook my head, willing myself not to throw up on the floor. Just then Vladi pulled his arm away and got up to walk over to the corner to look at his phone screen.

  “Great, the girl he’s into is the one texting him,” I said.

  “Landry, he always talks about you. He drives my brother and me nuts talking about how sweet and awesome you are and, oh, did he tell us the funny thing you said the other day, blah, blah, blah. He’s so into you,” Kendall said her big blue eyes widening.

  Just then Liv grabbed my arm. “The guy I like is over there at the snack counter with some girl. See the guy in the orange T-shirt and black baseball cap? That’s Raymond. He’s been calling me for two weeks. What’s he doing with her? Oh man, I wish I could hear what they’re saying. Does it look innocent?”

  I saw the fear in Liv’s dark brown eyes, and it shocked me someone could be so confident and pretty one moment and so insecure the next. How could she and I be in the same situation?

  “Well, he doesn’t know me,” I said. “I could go over there to buy a snack and eavesdrop.”

  She nodded at me. “Thanks.”

  “Peyton, come with me,” I said.

  We walked over to the snack counter. I overheard some girls talking about how fat some girl was in her jeans. The more groups we walked by, the more side-eyed glances and sizing-up stares I noticed — and not just aimed at me either, but at other girls. It seemed like every female there seemed threated by the next. It was weird. So many of the girls at this place were holding each other’s arms or hands or sitting super close together as they took selfies. They all acted like such good friends, yet it seemed so fake when you saw the looks when they sized each other up. I had a feeling this place would be that way and I wanted to leave. Drama was bad enough on a school day when I was forced to deal with it, but weren’t the weekends supposed to be for fun and to feel free of all the other junk?

  We got in line and Peyton ordered fries, while I stood next to Raymond trying to hear what he was saying.

  “Ray, dance with me?” the girl asked in that whiny way girls thought made them sound flirty.

  “Nah, I better not,” he said.

  “Why? Do you think I have cooties?” she said with this high-pitched giggle. Peyton rolled her eyes.

  “I’m sorta talking to someone and… yeah, it’s not right.”

  “C’mon, it’s one dance. We’re not walking down the aisle. Unless she’s the super clingy, insecure type,” the girl said.

  “I cannot believe how pretty Liv MacIntosh looks tonight,” I said loudly to be heard over the music. “She is, like, the nicest person.”

  Peyton stared at me like I was nuts.

  Raymond moved his head slightly. I pretended to bump him as I took my basket of fries.

  “Sorry, I’m such a klutz,” I said. “Here, have a fry for my running you over. My friend won’t notice one’s missing.”

  He took one. “Thanks. Did you say something about Liv MacIntosh, or was I hearing things?”

  Peyton hid a smile.

  “Oh, did I? Yeah, I’m here with her. Why, do you know each other?” I asked.

  His eyes lit up. “Yeah, I do. Where’s she at?”

  I told him to follow me, and the other girl glared at me as we walked back over to Liv and Kendall.

  “Hey,” Raymond said staring into Liv’s eyes. She was smiling at him, and he asked her to dance.

  “Okay, but first there’s something I gotta do,” Liv said, and she walked over to where Vladi was texting and the redhead was trying to get his attention.

  What was she doing? I saw her go right up and whisper something in Vladi’s ear. His face broke into a big smile, and he glanced around until he locked eyes with me. Then his grin got even bigger.

  “See? He would not be smiling like that if he thought he was getting caught with another girl. I told you he likes you,” Kendall said.

  I glanced over at Peyton who was eating fries. She shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I can’t figure guys out.”

  Vladi walked over to us. “I didn’t know you were here. I’ve seriously sent you, like, seven texts.”

  “What?”

  He laughed. “Check your phone. This girl was, like, clinging to my arm and I was trying to get away so I said my girlfriend kept messaging me, but it was actually just me writing to you.”

  I pulled out my phone and it said eight missed texts: seven from Vladi and one from Ashanti asking where I was in the club.

  My face got warm.

  “So give me a hug,” he said leaning in. He smelled so amazing. Like fresh ocean
air and that teal green soap with the mountain range on the wrapper.

  Liv went to dance with Raymond. I felt a cold trickle of sweat go down my arm as I worried Vladi might want to dance — in front of people.

  Kendall stared over to where our group was, but Devon and India were surrounded by guys and Valine was in the corner having what seemed to be an argument with some guy.

  “Okay, we’re staying over here, you guys,” Kendall said. “Valine and her on-again-off-again boyfriend get into a fight, like, every four minutes, and we do not want to get caught in the crossfire.”

  We went over to sit with Vladi’s group. I sat down next to him and Peyton was beside me. The redhead girl moved so she was sitting next to us.

  “Hey, buddy,” she said right in Vladi’s ear.

  He seemed uncomfortable as he moved away from her. “Um, Amber, this is my girlfriend, Landry. You know, the one I was telling you about.”

  She screwed up her face. “But I thought you said you were dating a model?”

  Kendall’s and Vladi’s eyes widened. My stomach felt like I swallowed wet cement. I knew she was trying to get a rise out of me, but it still hurt and it was embarrassing in front of Vladi and the girls.

  “So, Vladi, you must be so excited Landry’s here,” Kendall said. She stared right at Amber. “I tease him all the time about her because he can’t stop talking about her.”

  Amber gave Kendall a fake smile and got up and left. I pretended I was comfortable, but mentally I was trying to channel Mr. Allen to come save me. Glancing around the room, I saw couples having heated discussions, more girls glaring at each other, and guys all over girls who were wearing painted on jeans. This place was getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Plus, the other girls sitting near us were loudly making fun of the way people were dancing. Vladi got up to get Peyton and me cherry colas.

  “Hey, your friend Ashanti said you should come over and dance with her and her friends,” he said when he came back, pointing to where she was dancing with Halle and Yasmin.

  Ashanti waved and I gave her a smile, but there was no way I was going to dance in front of this crowd. She seemed so happy and carefree — she fit in here. I didn’t and to be honest, I didn’t know if I wanted to. This wasn’t my scene.