Chapter 9
Irush to Stephanie’s side, still a little shaken from this morning’s bathroom . . . event. I spill everything as soon as I’m within earshot.
Stephanie’s eyes widen as she says, “And now you’re even walking to school together? You’re like a married couple.”
“Yeah, I tried to get ahead, but he’s got extra-long strides.”
She bites her lower lip, looking somewhere between amused and awestruck. “So, what happened?”
“Nothing! I told him we can’t be seen together, and he . . . well, he didn’t understand. He always smirks, like he’s enjoying tormenting me.”
“Chrissy, please, you’re turning this into something it’s not.” A chuckle escapes her lips as she nudges my shoulder on our way to the lockers. “At the rate you’re going, the entire school will know about you two by lunchtime.”
“That’s not funny.”
Just then, Ian finds us, his expression sheepish. “Hey, Chrissy . . . umm . . . sorry about the spilled milk and all.”
I wave a dismissive hand, though a chill races down my spine at the reminder of that disaster. The humiliation still feels like a fresh wound. “It’s fine, really. It wasn’t your fault.” My voice sounds steadier than I feel about it, which is something at least.
“How is your sweater?” he asks.
“As good as new. With my mom’s help, I got the stains out.”
Ian’s face eases a bit, but Stephanie’s eyes turn to slits as she stares him down. “You were frolicking with the enemy.”
He turns red, the flush creeping all the way to his ears. “I was not! I was unaware she was—“
“Oh, please.” Stephanie cuts him off with a scoff. “Your eyes had shining stars in them when she called you cute. You practically melted into a puddle at her feet while she plotted Chrissy’s humiliation.”
Watching two of my best friends argue makes my chest tighten. Between Stephanie’s righteous indignation and Ian’s obvious shame, I’m caught in an emotional crossfire that’s making my palms sweat.
He sighs, shoulders slumping as he leans against the lockers.
“I get it. I was wrong about her, okay?” Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, Ian runs a hand through his already disheveled hair.
“I should’ve known better. There’s no way someone like Paige would be interested in me unless it was for amusement. ”
My heart goes out to him at the defeat in his voice. Ian has always struggled with confidence around girls—the ones he pines for, at least.
“If you hadn’t been so easily charmed by her fake sweetness, maybe you would’ve stood up for your friend.” Stephanie’s jaw clenches so tight I can see the muscle working beneath her skin.
“How was I supposed to know? It’s not like I deliberately crashed into her.
” Ian’s voice rises, then immediately drops as curious glances turn our way.
His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard.
“Look, I feel terrible, okay? I’ve barely slept.
I keep replaying everything in my head, trying to figure out when I should’ve realized what was happening. ”
He turns to me, his eyes wide and pleading. “I’m so sorry for getting you involved, Chrissy. This is all my fault.”
There is misery in his eyes as he stares at his shoes, scuffing one against the linoleum floor.
We can’t carry on like this. If these two keep fighting, Paige wins twice. First by humiliating me, and second by driving a wedge between my friends.
Stepping between them, I place a hand on Stephanie’s arm.
“Steph, come on. Ian didn’t know what Paige was up to.
None of us did.” I turn to Ian, offering a smile that I hope conveys that I’m over it.
“And you need to stop beating yourself up. Paige is a master manipulator. She’s had years of practice making people feel exactly what she wants them to feel. ”
Stephanie’s lips press into a thin line, her fingers drumming against her bicep in that anxious rhythm she always falls into when she’s trying not to explode. “He should’ve been more careful. He knows how they treat you—how she treats everyone who isn’t in her precious circle.”
“She’s right,” Ian says, shoulders hunched around his ears. “I was stupid. I just thought . . . maybe she actually liked me.”
That’s the thing about Paige—she knows exactly which insecurities to exploit, which soft spots to target with surgical precision, leaving the kind of wounds that sting long after the initial attack.
I nudge his shoulder with mine. “Look, we’ve all fallen for someone we shouldn’t have. Remember when I believed Jake Sullivan wanted to study together last year, and it turned out he just wanted to copy my history notes?”
A hint of a smile flickers across Ian’s face.
“And Steph,” I continue, turning to my still-fuming best friend, “remember when you were convinced Dylan from summer camp was writing you those anonymous love notes, but it was actually his sister playing a prank?”
Reluctantly, Stephanie uncrosses her arms, a sigh escaping her lips like air from a deflating balloon. “Fine. I guess it’s not entirely your fault, Ian.” She levels a pointed finger at him. “But if you ever fall for Paige’s act again, I will make you regret it.”
Ian’s head snaps up, eyes brightening with hope. “So, we’re good? You don’t hate me?”
“I never said that.” Stephanie relaxes her confrontational stance. “You’re on probation. And you owe Chrissy big time.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you both. Name it, and it’s done.”
Finally, the tension between us eases. This is how it should be—the three of us against the world, not at each other’s throats.
“It’s done. It’s all behind us now.” I glance between my friends, shooting them a look that hopefully conveys they have no choice but to accept it as such.
Stephanie rolls her eyes, but there’s a reluctant smile playing on her lips. “I suppose. But next time Paige bats her eyelashes, remember this moment, Ian.”
He nods vigorously. “Lesson learned. Trust me.”
“Good. Because dealing with Paige on a daily basis is hard enough without my best friends fighting with each other. She is another level of difficult.”
And speaking of difficult . . . I glance at the hallway clock. Chemistry class is coming up, and with it, the inevitability of running into Theo. I need to lay low and not make a scene.
The bell rings, and I stand near the classroom doorway, delaying my entry until everyone is seated.
When the coast is clear, I quickly enter and take my seat in the back, dropping my backpack onto the floor.
As soon as I settle in, I catch Theo winking at me from across the room. I scold him silently. If Paige sees him doing that, our cover’s blown.
It takes every ounce of energy not to look at him for the rest of the class. As soon as the bell rings, I grab my things and bolt out the door faster than a cheetah chasing its prey.
In History, Stephanie and I huddle in the back, our heads low as we try to talk without getting caught. But it’s hard to keep a straight face with her grinning at me like that.
“How are things with Theo, hmm?”
I give her a look. “There are no things, Steph.”
“Sure, keep telling yourself that. You’re living with him, Chrissy. If I were you, I’d be asking if he needs me to do his laundry.”
“You’re impossible,” I sputter, my head shaking.
“Don’t tell me you’re not even remotely curious about him and that irresistible appeal.”
“Nope,” I lie, knowing I sound about as convincing as a cat trying to bark.
“Uh-huh, sure,” she says, not buying it for a second. “Fine, play it your way. But mark my words—living with him is going to be interesting. Imagine all those . . . accidental encounters.“ She sighs. “Some people have all the luck.”
“Yeah, right.” I’ll make sure there are no more accidents between us. “And what am I supposed to do about Paige?”
Stephanie shrugs. “Pretend she doesn’t exist?”
“And if she finds out?”
She pauses, looking a bit more serious now. “Okay, fine, that would complicate things a bit.”
“A bit? It would be a nightmare.” Paige would no doubt try to get rid of me somehow. I have no desire to compete with her over something I could never have.
Stephanie’s eyebrows rise as she looks at me intently. “Should anything interesting happen, I need the full scoop.”
“Don’t get your hopes up. My plan is to avoid him until he moves out.”
“Good luck,” Stephanie teases. “Knowing him, he’ll make it as hard as possible for you.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Think about it. It must be his first time living with a girl his age. He might make a move.”
Doubtful, but despite my best efforts, I can’t quite keep the smile off my face. Unpredictability is one of Theo’s defining characteristics, which more often than not worries me—but sometimes it excites me.
By lunch, I’m starving and ready to dig into my sandwich in the farthest corner of the cafeteria, with minimal Theo interactions. But of course, as soon as Stephanie, Ian, and I settle down, Theo approaches our table, stirring a bewildering mix of dread and anticipation in me.
“Can I join you?” he asks.
“Absolutely not,” I snap. “Go away.”
“You can sit here,” Stephanie says, then goes over to sit next to Ian on the opposite side of the table. I know what she’s up to, and it’s not going to work.
I turn to Theo. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you—“
“Thanks,” he interjects, sliding into the seat beside me.
I scooch away from him, but he follows until I reach the end of the bench.
“So,” Stephanie says, bracing her arms on the table. “How is playing house?”
I glance around us to make sure no one heard before glaring at her. Is she out of her mind? Help me get rid of him, not strike up a casual chat. “You don’t have to answer that,” I say.
Theo looks at me, then at Stephanie. “It’s fine. I feel right at home.”
“Wait a sec!” Ian’s face turns pale like he’s seen a ghost. “You guys live together?”
I shoosh him, looking all around me to make sure no one’s heard. “Are you crazy? I’m trying to keep it secret.”
Ian’s eyes fly wide. “How did this happen?”
I lean in. “His family’s staying with us until their house is all fixed up.”
“We’ve had flooding issues,” Theo chimes in.
“Why are you even here?” I hiss at him. “We’re not supposed to be seen together.”
Theo shrugs. “Who cares. We’re just hanging out.”
Theo’s choice of seating clearly did not please Paige and the rest of the Queen Bees, who saunter over to us with narrowed eyes. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid.
Paige crosses her arms, her gaze fixed on Theo, who never looks back at her. “Why are you sitting with them?”
Theo doesn’t flinch. “Actually, we’re childhood friends. Our dads are old college roommates.” To my shock, he drapes his arm around my shoulders. “We’re staying with Chrissy’s family until the repairs are complete.”
My jaw drops as the tables around us fall silent, and everyone looks at us as if we had declared our engagement. Paige looks stupefied, like the news hasn’t yet registered.
I wiggle out from under Theo’s arm. “Oh, look, lunch is over!” I grab my tray, tilting my head several times to let Stephanie and Ian know it’s time to bounce.
As we rush out of the cafeteria, I look over my shoulder to make sure Paige isn’t following. She just stands there, listening to Theo as he most likely explains the situation in greater detail than necessary.
I can’t believe he told her when I specifically asked him not to. He really knows how to get on my nerves. Now everyone will hate me, and I’m completely clueless on how to manage the inevitable fallout that’s sure to follow.
It’s impossible to focus on anything else for the remainder of the school day. I need to give him a piece of my mind. He can’t just do as he pleases, especially when his actions could affect me negatively.
Theo’s got football practice after school—an ideal opportunity to have a private conversation with him.
I’ve never been so angry with anyone before. Determined, I march the hallways to find him.