My hand groped along the comforter until I found my iPod. I snagged the headphones and dragged it to me, then flicked my finger across the touch screen finding a song that fit my miserable mood. After putting in the ear buds, I turned the volume up, trying to drown out the stupid voice still echoing through my head.
I woke the next morning to the sound of little pitter-pattering feet in the hall, followed by giggles as my door slowly creaked open. I yanked the comforter over my head, hoping if I stayed still the little brats would think I was gone.
“Fee-Fee? Fee-Fee? Are you awake?” Tiny hands smacked down on my face and I grimaced, holding in my groan of pain as one made contact with my nose.
“Emma, I don’t fink she’s here.”
“But Ella, her feet are still here.”
Icy fingers circled my toes and I involuntarily jerked my feet away, exposing my legs. No use trying to hide now. At three years old, my cousins Ella and Emma might have believed I left my feet in bed, but they’d never believe I left my legs, too.
“Boo!” I flung the blanket off my head and sat up.
Matching green eyes widened into giant orbs before the two of them turned tail and ran. The pounding going up the stairs reassured me of some privacy to get up - for a little while.
I climbed out of my warm bed and made a mad dash for the shower just as those little feet started their way back down the stairs. Locking the door behind me, I relished an extra minute of darkness, letting my body believe I might be going back to bed, before flicking on the lights. I needed to get ready to go shopping and those two rug rats would latch onto my legs and make it impossible.
In a town as small as Beachgrove, going to Town Center was about as exciting as going to school. It was really the only place to go and everyone I knew would be there. I contemplated talking Tonya into driving to San Diego, but since my job at the local golf course ended a few months back, I was running short on gas money and, if I wanted to buy a new outfit, I’d need the extra cash. Besides, Bianca would kill me if I ditched her with Karin.
Two hours and a game of hide-and-seek later, I pulled up to Tonya’s house. She rushed the car before I even shifted to park and swung open the door. She slid in and then slammed it shut.
“Girl, what took you so long?” she asked.
“The demon twins. They attacked me when I got out of the shower and tied me up until I played hide-and-seek.”
She gave me a skeptical look.
“Okay, so I volunteered, but in my defense you know how cute they are.”
“How much longer is your family staying for?”
“I think they’re leaving tomorrow, or the day after. It’ll be nice to have things back to normal,” I said. That Nanna had already left had been my one constant wish for the past week.
“I’m so tired of normal. I’ve been bored out of my mind. Seeing Trevor has been the only thing keeping me sane.”
“You could have come over,” I said. She gave me a nasty look and I grimaced. “Right. Sorry.”
“That’s okay. You can buy me a venti hot chocolate to make up for being so mean to me.”
“Hey, you admitted you lied.”
“Well...Damn.” We laughed and it felt good to have things right between us again. Something that, despite our call last night, I hadn’t been too sure of.
“Are we picking up Bianca and the thing?” she asked.
“No, they’re meeting us there.”
I stepped on the gas and made a u-turn for the center of town, driving slowly to take in the massive houses. Tonya lived in the damn-you’re-rich area of town and every time I drove through I liked to pretend I actually lived there. Maybe the one on the corner with the huge palm trees perfectly arranged in the yard.
My dad was a lawyer and made decent money, but I wasn’t holding out hope that we’d be moving here. It always seemed strange to think that Tonya lived in a mansion while her mom served time for selling drugs and theft, but her grandpa had been a successful artist until he’d died and her gran had been a university professor.
We turned out of her neighborhood and the home sizes shrunk. Five minutes later, we were surrounded by the masses. I found a parking spot and zipped in, cutting off another car which had its blinker flashing. I gave a careless wave and parked.
Getting out of the car, I caught a glimpse of the car I’d stolen my spot from parking a row over. The driver’s side door opened and a tall guy stepped out. He turned around, glaring at me and I nearly choked on my own spit. Nathan.
Why the hell did I have such crappy luck with him?
“You okay?” Tonya asked, coming around to my side of the car.
“What? Yeah, why?” I was barely able to pull my eyes away from Nathan to look at Tonya.
“You look totally spaced out.”
“No, I’m fine. Let’s go.” Before she could see Nathan, I grabbed her hand and dragged her in the opposite direction. Not because it had been him. No, I always avoided the people I cut in front of.
Somehow, in the two weeks since our fight, I’d forgotten how much fun shopping with Tonya was. Bianca and Karin met us outside The Gap and we went in, furiously trying on anything that looked even remotely decent before heading to the next place. By lunch, we were exhausted.
“Let’s grab something to eat,” I suggested as we left what seemed like the hundredth shop we’d been in.
“Definitely! I’m starving,” Karin said.
Tonya opened her mouth, to make some snide comment I’m sure, and I managed to stomp on her foot just in time. Karin was stick-thin despite constantly stuffing her face. Any complaints she made about eating and weight pretty much pissed off every female around her, especially Tonya who was a bit on the bootylicious side even if she did love her curves.
“Let’s dump our bags in the car first,” Bianca said to Karin, then turned to us. “We’ll meet you guys at the food court.”
The two of them took off for Karin’s car while Tonya and I followed the scent of food to the food court. Tonya and I had yet to buy anything, while Bianca had nearly bought out the last three shops we’d gone into. With my tighter budget, I wasn’t so willing to jump on the first thing I found.
“Oh! Wait a minute. I want to look in here.” She started toward the shoe store.
“I’ll meet you by the tables,” I said, knowing that if I went in with her I’d leave with another pair of shoes I didn’t need and couldn’t afford. She threw her hand up behind her and I took it for an agreement.
The beautiful weather had drawn nearly everyone in town outside to the courtyard and the tables were crowded. I searched for an empty spot, deliberately passing over that table holding Chloe and her friends. They had room, but spending quality time with her after last night held no appeal. Then again, it never appealed to me.
Wandering through the maze of tables, I spotted an elderly couple rising and I rushed forward, reaching for a chair just as someone slid in on the opposite side. Nathan.
Great. My eyes flew up to stare at the sky in disbelief. What the hell?
“Are you stalking me or something?” I asked, unwilling to believe these meetings were just coincidence and not wanting him to think I was the one doing the following.
“I could ask you the same thing. You’re the one with an interest in my love life.”
My lips pursed and I tried to think of some kind of witty come back. “Whatever. This is my table.” Oh, I could be so brilliant sometimes.
“Since I’m the one sitting, it looks like it’s mine,” he said, a little smirk tipping up his lips.
It was a side of him I rarely saw. He always seemed so passive. Like I could push him around if I really wanted. He let Vivian do just that for almost a year.
I sat, refusing to give up my table. The staring contest started. He had gorgeous eyes, a deep grey, like rolling rain clouds drifting in from over the ocean. And they twinkled, like there was some private joke going on that only he knew and he was laughing inside. Laughing at me.
“Look, Phoebe, I don’t know what your problem is with me.” He paused and then blushed. “Okay, well maybe I do. But still, that was a year ago. Do you want me to apologize or something?”
“No.” I did, but what would be the point?
“So...”
An awkward pause slid between us.
“I shouldn’t have taken the note,” I admitted reluctantly.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now. I shouldn’t have written it, but she was bugging the hell out of me.”
“So you didn’t break up with her?” Hopefully I didn’t sound as disappointed as I felt.
“I did, just not in a note.” He gave me a half smile.
“Wait. Are you admitting I was right?” God, how could my heart be beating so fast?
“That I needed to man up? Yeah, guess I am, but that was a low blow. God, you sounded just like my dad whenever I try to get out of doing anything.” He shook his head, and gave me a lopsided smile. “You going to Nadine’s party tomorrow?”
“Yeah, you?”
He nodded and then glanced behind me before standing.
“I thought you were ready to fight for your table?” I said, wanting him to stay.
“I’ve seen you play dirty, and I’m not sure I wanna do that in public with you. Now privately...”
I couldn’t help the stupid grin that caused my cheeks to strain. He was definitely flirting. There was no way he wasn’t. He turned to leave, but I needed to make sure, to know if what he’d said about me being right was really the truth.
“Was I right about the rest? Was it because of...?”
“You? Us?” His brows arched and this time it was my turn to blush. “No, it had nothing to do with you.”
Liar. I clutched at my stomach, trying to control the sudden cramps. I didn’t call him on it. This was one lie I could happily live with knowing.
I stared after him as he walked away, my entire body buzzing with something unnamable.
“Hello?” A hand flashed in front of my face.
“Hey,” I said. My eyes focused on Tonya. She sat next to me, while Bianca and Karin were arriving at the table.
“Girl, you have it bad.” Tonya picked up a fry from her plate and pointed it at me. “You know Vivian will kill you, right?”
“Nothing happened, and nothing will. Remember? He had his chance and he chose her.”
“Phoebe Matlin, do we look that dumb? You were practically drooling all over him.”
“I was not! Okay, so maybe a little. But you have to admit, he’s looking fine.”
She rolled her eyes, and stuck the fry in her mouth.
“He’s okay, I guess,” Karin said and took a sip from her soda. “I prefer a leaner body, someone who looks more intelligent than beefcake.”
“Owen,” Bianca coughed into her hand. Tonya and I laughed at Karin’s blush.
“You have to admit that Nathan is getting a bit big,” she said in her defense.
“Yeah, muscle big. Strong, powerful, hot,” Bianca wiggled her eyebrows and sighed. “Too bad he’s got a thing for Phoebe. Otherwise I’d be jumping him every chance I got.”
“He doesn’t have a thing for me.” That came out sounding way too hopeful.
“Sure Phoebs, you keep telling yourself that and maybe Vivian won’t kill you,” Tonya said.
“Well, I expect you guys to have my back if she comes after me.” I glanced between their faces.
“Cat fights are beneath me,” Karin said, shaking her head.
Bianca was grinning away. “My parents would officially disown me if I got caught fighting. Unless of course it was some kind of ancient art form that would honor my ancestors.”
“Uh, you know I don’t fight anymore. Not after Melanie tore my weave out.” Tonya rubbed her scalp at the painful memory from freshman year.
I just shook my head. Melanie was an entirely different crazy than Vivian, although Tonya always said you can’t judge a girl by her talk. And Tonya had been involved in four girl fights, which was exactly four more than me.
“I’m going to grab some food.” I stood and headed to the Chinese food counter.
“Watch your back,” Tonya called after me, with Bianca and Karin laughing along with her. “I’m pretty sure I saw Viv around here earlier.”
“Whatever,” I yelled back.
Three hours later, Tonya and I waved bye to Karin and Bianca and dragged ourselves back to the car. I’d managed to find something for the party, so the sore feet had been worth it. We put our bags in the trunk and got in the car. I’d already started it when a piece of paper under the driver’s side wiper caught my eye.
I rolled down my window and, reaching through, I grabbed for it three times before managing to snag it. Thinking it was an ad, I tossed it on Tonya’s lap and started pulling out of the parking space.
“You were right,” Tonya said.
“About what?”
“I don’t know. That’s what the paper says.” She held the paper up, looking to see if she’d missed anything else. I slammed on the brakes and snatched the paper from her.
It was definitely Nathan’s handwriting. I wanted to do a happy dance, but Tonya was already giving me a strange look, and I wasn’t ready for a lecture on going boy crazy from her, especially since I was usually the one giving them to her.
I was right. The stupid grin stretched across my face lasted the entire way home and maybe a bit longer.
Chapter 4
Normally, New Year’s Eve wasn’t that big of a deal for me. I didn’t see any point in it other than a good excuse for a party. This time though, I was still riding the high from Nathan’s note and I had at least the hope of seeing him without Vivian.
“Fee-Fee, why you dwessed pwetty?” Ella asked from where she lay on my bed. Emma sat next to her and both of them watched wide-eyed as I got ready. Why they didn’t hover around Chloe or Lily was unexplainable considering how mean I could be to them. Then again, they were holy terrors in training, so maybe they felt more comfortable with one of their own.
“I’m going out to a party.” I swept the mascara across my lashes, determined not to smudge them this time.
“On a date?” Emma asked.
“No, just with a friend.” Eyes blinking, I took in my reflection satisfied with my latest attempt.
“Cwoe and Wiwy haf dates.” Ella looked at me with the pity only a three year old could give.
“Gee, thanks for pointing that out,” I said, then dove on the bed to tickle them. I might have taken offense if they actually knew what a date was.
My cell beeped and I abandoned the girls to check it. I flipped it open and saw Tonya’s name as sender.
Itz 10. Where r u? U left yet?
I spent a couple moments struggling to reply. Finally getting the word now to fill the screen, I quickly pressed send.
“Do you hafta go?” Emma tipped her head to the side, her blonde Shirley Temple curls falling across her face.
“Yes, and isn’t it past your bed time?” I lifted first one then the other girl to the floor and guided them out of my room.
“No, we stayin’ up ‘till minnite,” Ella said, a sneaky grin on her face.
“It’s midnight you little stinker and I bet Nanna’s already looking for you.”
The girls stalled on the steps until I started tickling them again, then they shrieked as they ran the rest of the way up to where Nanna stood at the door to the basement.
“I should have guessed they’d be down there with you,” she said, grasping their hands before they could take off on her. “You look nice, dear. Have a good night.”
I watched her walk down the hall with the girls until she turned the corner. Things had been more strained than usual between us since our argument and, as much as I loved her, it was nice to have a break from her constant nagging.
Earlier that morning, Owen had begged a ride for tonight since he had yet to get his license. He lived halfway between my house and Nadine’s,
so it hadn’t been a big deal, although Karin probably would have spazzed. Bianca had already spilled that Karin had called him about ten times the past few days to offer a ride and he kept turning her down.
He was sitting on the front steps, his house dark behind him, when I pulled into his driveway. Despite being friends for three years, I’d never been inside his place or met his parents. When he came to my sixteenth birthday party, Nanna had met him and afterwards told me to let go of any questions I had about his family, that it wasn’t worth the loss of friendship.
Her words had driven me crazy for weeks. I wanted to know what she’d seen and why I shouldn’t ask him. Then I just kind of lost interest. Or more accurately Nathan arrived and I got a bit distracted. Besides, Owen didn’t look like a sexy, mysterious, stranger that would be hiding juicy secrets. He was more of a spaced, tree hugger.
“Hey,” he said, climbing in. His curly black hair was pulled back in a short ponytail that always made me think he should be playing soccer for some European team. “Thanks again for the ride. My dad had to work and couldn’t drop me off. I thought I was going to be stranded at home.”
“You could have always asked Karin.” I grinned as I reversed back onto the road.
“That’s not funny.”
“Oh, come on. You need to loosen up a bit.” I nudged him with my elbow. He was so weird sometimes. He went from spacey to dead serious to hilarious all in the space of minutes sometimes.
“I just don’t feel comfortable with it being a joke. Karin’s my friend. That’s all.”
“Have you told her that? Because she spends a lot of time crushing on you.”
“I told her, which is why it’s not funny anymore.” He shot me a look. “That means no more encouraging her. Please.”
“You know, the best way to deter her would be to get yourself a girlfriend.” I ignored his groan of disgust. “We know there’s a girl you like. Who is she? Obviously it’s not Karin.” I started running through mental pictures of every girl I knew at school. “Is it that blonde who sits behind you in History? I saw you talking to her the other day.”
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