Chapter Fourteen
Sean
With my knee, my summer plans were as blown out as my joint.
My grandad got me an internship at a physics lab, where I spent my days playing with lasers and radio frequencies.
On the side, I managed to land a few freelance contracts as a web designer.
Josie drove me everywhere. Jake and Dylan worked as lifeguards, and most evenings after their shifts, they dragged me to the park for drills, making sure I didn’t slack off.
A typical training session started with lateral shuffles, followed by acceleration sprints, where they timed me.
Then came plyometric exercises, and if I didn’t do them in perfect form, I had to start over.
Those sadistic jerks also threw in a random “surprise of the day” for the sole purpose of making me suffer.
We ended it all by making ten consecutive free throws—if they were feeling generous.
By the end, I was near tears, begging to go home, but Dylan made me buy them burgers for “all the work they did,” which mostly meant him blowing his obnoxious whistle at me and Jake making endless comparisons between me and his grandma.
At least they were there for me, in their own way.
They didn’t even bring up Germany—made it sound like it was a better idea to go before college anyway.
When we’d legally be able to drink, Dylan joked.
I’d been off crutches since late spring. My knee improved a lot between rehab and “Bro Camp,” and I could jog for longer stretches of time. It was a quiet, drama-free summer, and by the time school starts, I’m fully back on my feet.
Josie sits next to me in world history, three rows behind Flora.
Mr. Goleman assigns a written paper and an oral presentation in groups of two or three.
After class, Josie rests a hand on my desk as we pack up.
“Can I be your partner and not do any work? I have a battle of the bands kind of thing coming up and I can’t afford to lose time.
Besides, you owe me. I was your personal driver all summer when I could’ve been hanging out with my UW boyfriend. ”
She’s been dating Brian, a college guy she met at a gig, for about a month now. Ever since, she’s been acting like some kind of relationship expert, and she never refers to him simply by name.
“I guess?”
“My Asian ancestors would be proud of me for breaking the cycle.” She picks up a fallen pen from the floor. “You’ll get us an A, right?”
“I’ll try my best.”
“By ‘us’ I mean you, me, and Flora.”
“What? No.” Absolutely not. I learned my lesson with Flora—even microorganisms adapt to avoid swimming toward poison. And if I have to spend extra hours with her, my body will forget what my brain already knows.
“She’ll be mad if she finds out I’m your partner instead of hers. It’s best if we all work together. Besides, this has gone on long enough.” She gives me a pointed look. “This assignment is a perfect opportunity for you to get over yourselves and be friends.”
Part of me wants to remind Josie that Flora and I were never friends. But I’m already running late for my next class, so I let it go. Hers’ll just be one more name on the project I’ll end up doing myself.
What a way to kick off senior year.
The other unfortunate thing is that my kid sister has officially started freshman year as my sidekick. At lunch, we stand in line together while she rattles off reasons why she should keep sitting with me.
“I’m only hanging out with you for now. If I’m seen with seniors, I’ll look cooler.”
“Being a senior isn’t an achievement. Stick around long enough, and you’ll get here.”
“They get hotter every day.” She steals a glance at my usual table, where Jake and Dylan are waiting. Conversations between us are usually like this, where she ignores whatever I say and brings up a new topic. “Do you think they’d be into me?”
“My friends aren’t exactly boyfriend material, and you’re seriously too young for them.”
She shrugs. Her high-school fantasies consist solely of parties, dating, and falling in love, which will all turn out to be bad surprises, if my own experience is any indication.
I don’t tell her that. She has four years to figure it out herself.
“Anyway, if you don’t start being nice to me, I’ll tell Mom and Dad you’re mean. ”
“You tell them whatever you want because I don’t care.”
She reaches for a plate of Tater Tots, and someone cuts in line. A subtle trace of jasmine perfume drifts past.
“Lindsey! I can’t believe you’re here and didn’t say hi.”
We both turn. Flora Morgan, bane of my existence, stands there in a ridiculously short skirt.
“Hi! I was looking all over for you,” my sister says. Traitor.
Flora drapes one arm around Lindsey’s shoulder, leading her away without so much as a glance in my direction.
Now that my knee’s recovered, she’s back to treating me like radioactive waste.
“You must be so excited to start school! Care to join me for lunch? I brought my own today. Do not try the chicken rice from the cafeteria, it’s blasphemy. ”
Before I know it, they’re halfway across the room, and Lindsey is nodding at everything Flora says.
I grab Lindsey’s tray, stack it on mine, and get my spaghetti before heading to my table.
“Congrats on finally ending your babysitting job.” Dylan takes a loud sip of his Coke.
“I don’t mind having your sister around.” Jake smirks at me. “I forgot how cute she is.”
He’s only saying it to get a reaction out of me, but it works. He knows exactly which button to press. “Jacob. Don’t even think about it.”
“What are you gonna do, threaten me with your friendship? Tough choice.” Jake holds out both hands like a scale, pretending to weigh the options, then lets one drop. “Sorry, I choose your sister.”
Dylan snickers. “Lighten up, Seany. Jake’s a real catch. If I had a sister—”
“Stay away from Lindsey. Both of you.”
“Chill, broski. I’m kidding. She’s way too young,” Jake says. After a beat, because he can’t resist: “But give it a few years—”
Dylan chokes on his drink. “Dude. Stop.”
Jake shrugs. “But give it a few years, she’ll be older, wiser, and I’ll still be here, maintaining appropriate boundaries with non-creepy behavior, and treating her with the utmost respect. As I always do.” He grins, pleased with his bait-and-switch of the day.
“And I’ll bury you in the backyard if you ever forget that,” I say.
Jake bows in musketeer fashion. “Yes, my good sir. I shall not bring shame upon her name.”
My eyes travel across the cafeteria to where Lindsey sits with Flora’s squad. I guess she’s in good hands. Flora can be charming when she wants to be, and I thank her silently for taking care of my little sister.
Flora’s text comes through. Josie says we’re partners for history. What a JOY. Literally jumping up and down right now.
She could’ve talked to me in person a minute ago. Also, that’s not what literally means. I text back, You think I’m thrilled to do all the work?
Flora: You think I’m thrilled about dealing with your attitude? When are we meeting to discuss this?
Sean: Sunday at ten? The Pavement
Flora: It’s not due for three weeks
Sean: Let’s start early and get it over with
Flora: Whatever. Try not to be late
Sean: Right back at you
* * *
When she calls me early Sunday morning, she proves she can be dreadful when she puts her mind to it.
“Good morning!” Her voice booms through the phone.
“What?” My eyes refuse to open. “What time is it?”
“Showtime! Let’s tackle the much-dreaded history project.”
It’s a quarter past seven. I barely slept, thanks to a pulled quad that flared up all night, and now my head pounds from every direction. “We agreed to meet at ten.”
“Sure, but I got back from an all-night party so I’m available now. Let’s get this over with.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“Come on, I waited a whole hour before calling you. I’m at the Pavement.”
I roll over, pulling the duvet over my head. “See you at ten.”
“Sean Foster, if you don’t show up in fifteen minutes, I’m coming straight to your house.”
I take a deep breath and exhale into the phone. Knowing Flora, that’s not an empty threat. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Perfect. But hurry up. I can’t stay long. It’s not going to take all morning, is it?” she asks, like I’m a kid pestering his parents for a trip to the park. “I have plans this afternoon.”
For a moment, I can’t remember anything I liked about her.