“No. What’s up?” I asked.
“My dad wants to settle my case before it goes before a judge,” Ferris said.
I wasn’t getting involved. “Well, you’ll have to call him.”
“Montana,” Ferris said. “Again, I’m sorry for conspiring with Nina to make it look like you were the one to spray graffiti at school and on Mr. Everly’s building. If you do need some help with math, I’ll be glad to help.”
Montana leaned into me. “I accepted your apology in the principal’s office the other day. So you don’t need to keep apologizing. And as far as a tutor, I’m good. Train helps me when I have a question.”
I glanced past Ferris and tensed.
“What is it?” Austin asked.
Nina weaved through the crowd, beelining toward us. She wore a proud smile as though she had some great news she was dying to share.
Montana swore under her breath. “We should consider a restraining order.”
Reagan giggled. “Or I could sew her mouth shut.”
Ferris even swore. “I’m out of here.” He got lost among the swarm of people.
Not a bad idea, but before I could whisk Montana away, Nina was standing in our group.
The song ended, and Elvira and Lou came over. Another song started, but none of us moved as we stared at the girl who reminded me of a Smurf with her blue hair.
“Are you here to cause trouble?” Elvira asked.
Nina fixated on me, while Montana held steady in my embrace. “Train, can I talk to you alone?”
Montana snorted. “For real? When are you going to get it through your thick head that Train doesn’t want anything to do with you?”
Nina’s nostrils flared.
“Whatever it is, Nina, you can say it in front of the group.” If she thought she was going to get me alone, she was smoking some powerful weed.
She pressed her red lips into a thin line. “Fine. It’s not like all of you won’t hear it anyway.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Train, since I cheated on you last year, my life has gone to hell. I regret what I did to you.” Her tone softened. “And I thought you loved me enough to take me back. But I was wrong, and I wanted to apologize to you.” She sounded sincere.
Maybe I was the one smoking the weed. “Why now?” She’d made Montana’s life hell as well as mine.
Nina lowered her gaze to the floor. “Because my parents have decided that I would do better to finish my senior year at a boarding school. And before I leave on Monday, I wanted you to know. So do you accept my apology?”
“Is that your only apology?” I asked. She wasn’t getting away without acknowledging that what she’d done to Montana was wrong.
Nina studied me, scanning my face. I didn’t have to look in the mirror to know that I had to be wearing a hard, mean mask.
Nina focused on Montana. “I only wanted Train back. And I would’ve done anything to get him back. But I can’t have someone who doesn’t want me. So I’m sorry to you too.” Again, her tone was mostly genuine. After all, I’d known the many sides of Nina.
Montana straightened in my arms. “I wish you the best at boarding school. And thank you for apologizing.”
There wasn’t much else to say, and I wanted Nina gone. Apology or not, she wasn’t hanging with us. I had other plans, anyway. “Thanks, Nina.” Then I tugged Montana onto the dance floor, and even though the song was upbeat, I pressed my body against Montana’s and swayed to my own music.
“That was awkward as hell,” Montana said.
Understatement of the year.“But she apologized, and we won’t have to deal with her in school anymore.” That last statement loosened my muscles.
The night was looking up. Suddenly, Montana’s body was flush against mine. The music, Nina, and our friends became history. My body sprinted to life as we barely moved, gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Kiss me,” she said.
“If I do, I’m not responsible for what happens next.” I brought our joined hands down to rest on her chest as I lightly traced a finger over her cleavage. “You’re exquisite,” I said as I dipped down to kiss her.
She let out a soft moan.
That was it. We had to get out of there. “I want to be alone with you,” I said in her ear.
The song ended, and we headed off the dance floor.
“Give me a minute,” she said. “I need to do something. I’ll be right back.” She disappeared before I could tell her that I’d gotten her mom’s approval.
