Chapter 8
My New Crazy Life
WTH! My phone has been blowing up with ding after ding, and it’s driving me crazy. Is this what my previous self put up with every day? This is insane. It's not like I won't be seeing them at school in an hour, so why all the texts?
The first one is from Ryder.
HellcatClone: Good morning.
He attached a picture that was taken of the two of us as kids.
We’re sitting in a car—me in the driver’s seat, him in the passenger, the photographer at the open driver’s side window.
For fun, Ryder added the hashtags #firstdaywemet, #instantbestfriends, #thisgirlistheboss, and #adrenalinejunkie.
I save the photo to my phone, but not before I stare at it for a while.
Even as a little kid, Ryder was handsome.
I swipe two fingers wide on the screen to enlarge the image and stare at the younger version of myself.
HellcatClone: Meeting up with Fallon at the Fields Thursday night. Want to come?
My fingers fly across the screen.
Me: Absolutely!
I smile as I send it and then I read the next text, which is from Julien.
Doppelganger: Want to do lunch on Saturday?
There is another from Jayson.
ScaryGuy: Miss you, princess.
What kind of person was I to have the attention of so many guys?
And it’s not just their attention. It was clear from yesterday that I mean something to each of them.
They all care deeply about me. The way Jayson was always watching me.
It was intense, just like him. And then there’s Ryder.
Clearly, there’s something between us. It’s tangible.
I feel it. I think he does too. That instant tug.
That powerful pull. Those strong emotions that made me run away from him, but also had me running to him after the incident with Jayson at my front door.
I respond to Julien’s text first.
Me: Lunch sounds good.
Doppelganger: How about I come over to your place? I'd like to be able to hang out with you without Jay and Ry hovering. I’ll cook.
Me: Okay. I'll need to check with Daniel first, but it shouldn't be a problem
I text Ryder.
Me: Whose car are we in?
HellcatClone: Hey! Car’s my dad’s. You about busted out all our garage windows revving the engine.
Me: Excited about the Fields. Can I drive too? I’ll bring my car.
HellcatClone: I’ll make certain of it.
Anticipation pulses through me.
Me: Having lunch with Julien on Saturday.
HellcatClone: I know. Jules just told us.
Me:??
He sends a picture of the three of them sitting down at a counter island, plates filled with breakfast foods in front of them.
ScaryGuy: No good morning for me, princess? I feel left out.
Jayson is so needy. And pushy.
Me: I was getting to you. Did you guys always blow up my phone like this every day?
ScaryGuy: Basically. Yeah.
ScaryGuy: We would all have breakfast together before school too.
Me: Every day?
ScaryGuy: Yep.
ScaryGuy: Some nights, I would sneak in thru your window and sleep in your bed.
Me: You can’t say things like that to me. I’m not your girlfriend. I don’t remember us like that.
ScaryGuy: I can be patient, Liz.
HellcatClone: Whatever you’re saying to Jay has him grinning like a crazy person. Want to share?
Me: No.
HellcatClone: Would you rather…go watch a movie or go watch a sunset?
Some spark of recognition at his text gets me excited.
Me: Definitely a sunset.
HellcatClone: Good to know.
Me: Need to get ready for school.
HellcatClone: We'll meet you in the senior lot.
“Lizzie! Breakfast is ready!” Daniel's voice filters down the hall to my bedroom.
I tie my hair up in a quick ponytail and grab my backpack. The aroma of coffee teases my nose, and my sluggish pace picks up at the thought of caffeine.
“Good morning,” I sing-song as I dance into the kitchen.
Daniel's at the stove. He looks over his shoulder at me. “Someone is in a good mood this morning.”
I had very nice dreams last night. Not memories, but real honest-to-goodness dreams. Ryder was front and center in each and every one of them.
“Slept well, I guess.”
He pushes a plate of pancakes and a steaming cup of coffee my way and hands me a bottle of syrup.
Everything smells divine. One thing Daniel does really well is cook.
I think we've eaten takeout or fast food a total of four times in the past three months, and that includes last night's pizza.
After eating pizza for lunch and supper yesterday, I don't think I'll be ready for anymore anytime soon.
“I forgot to ask you last night—did Mrs. Stubbs tell you about the video conference she and Miss Prichard will be having with your doctors at Duke?”
I’m in mid-chew, so I mumble, “Yes. She told me yesterday. I'm okay with it. I told her I don't have to be there for it.”
“If you change your mind...”
I swallow and take a sip of coffee. “I won't. I do have a couple of things I need to talk to you about though.”
He turns around to face me, spatula held in his hand like a fencer's rapier. “Are you feeling alright? Any headaches?”
I hate that Daniel always jumps to the worst possible conclusion. How he doesn't have an ulcer from all the worrying he does about me is a miracle in and of itself.
“I'm fine, Daniel. I just wanted to let you know that I'm going out with Ryder on Thursday after school, and Julien is coming over on Saturday to hang out.”
“Are these dates? Are you going out on dates?” The look on his face is hilarious, but not half as hilarious as the look he must see on mine.
“What? No. Not dates. Daniel, we already talked about this last night.
These guys and I were best friends growing up.
They're cool and I like them. I want the new me to get to know them better.
It's been kind of lonely not having friends to talk to the past few months.
It's nice to have some people my own age to hang out with,” I try to explain to him.
“I'm glad you're making friends. Well, remaking them, I suppose. You're almost eighteen so you should be able to do whatever you want. Within limits,” he clarifies, putting the spatula in the sink. “I don't ever want to hold you back from living your life, Lizzie.”
“I have to admit, it was a little surreal meeting people for the first time yesterday who used to be my friends. I also met another pair of twins that are new to town: Trevor and Meredith. They just moved here from Virginia. Do girls my age have sleepovers or something, or is that just for younger kids?”
“I grew up in a house of boys. It was just me and John, Mom and Pop. Your grandma was way outnumbered, bless her soul. But, yes, your dad and I would have friends stay the night all the time, especially when we were in high school.”
I like the idea of asking Celeste, Beth, and Meredith over for a girl's night. I'll have to mention it to them today. I check my phone and see the time.
“Got to motor. Thanks for breakfast!”
As soon as I slide into my leather-upholstered bucket seat, I think of Ryder teaching me how to race at the Fields on Thursday, and the expectation of it makes me almost giddy. I just have to survive three more days of school first.