“Oh…uh, yeah.” I clear my throat. “Just, you know, heading somewhere before the Double C thing tonight.”
Her brows lift. “Where?”
“Just a thing.” I wave a hand. “For…uh…my parents,” I lie, and I hate that I’m lying. “No big deal.”
“Okay…so… When should I be ready to go tonight?”
“Is it…uh…cool if I meet you there?” I ask, trying to sound casual as I flip the speaker volume of my music down a notch.
Her expression shifts, and she tilts her head. “You want me to meet you there because of something for your parents?”
“Yeah. I know we always go to Double C stuff together, but this is one of those rare exceptions. I’m sorry about last night, and this morning, but we can—”
“I’ll see you tonight, Ace,” she cuts me off before I can finish.
Fuck, I can’t keep doing this. This is dumb. I need to tell her the truth. So what if I’m supposedly sworn to secrecy? This isJulia. My best friend. “Hey…wait…” I move closer, trying to read her. “Jules, I—”
“See you tonight,” she says and walks out of my bedroom, and I hear the front door to my apartment click shut a few seconds later.
I stand there dumbly for another ten, my heart sinking into my fucking shoes, before I jog out of my bedroom and out my apartment door.
“Hey! Jules!” I knock on her door several times, but there’s no answer. I don’t even hear Yoko barking in response.
Immediately, I grab my phone and shoot her a text.
Me: Hey where’d you go? I wanted to tell you something real quick before I head out
Julia: Taking Yoko to my parents’ apartment.
I guess that makes sense. It’s better Yoko is at the Brookses’ rather than being locked up in Julia’s bathroom while we’re at Double C tonight, but my God, she moves fast.
I almost text her and tell her I got initiated as Double C’s newest president last night—that I wasn’t out with some random girl or some other unredeemable sin. I want to tell her a million things, but instead, I text,Okay see you tonight.
I took a vow of secrecy less than twenty-four hours ago. The least I can do is forgo the urge to break it via text.
I’ll tell her in person. Soon. We’ll make up, and this whole stupid misunderstanding will be tucked away in the past.
She doesn’t message me back, but I tell myself it’s because she’s got Yoko on the subway and he’s a fucking maniac. I tell myself she isn’t really upset with me, and she’ll understand the reason I had to lie to her.
I tell myself this is Julia—the most understanding, perfect human being I know.
She’ll understand after tonight. I’m certain of it.
I mean, I’m only utilizing a measly few hours’ extension on our fifteen-minute rule, and then we’ll be back to normal.
Right?
Julia
The basement of the psych building smells like old textbooks and mystery mold, but apparently that’s what qualifies as high society when it comes to Double C. The first official event of the year is in full swing, and our little group is gathered right in the center of it all.
Scottie smiles from her chair between Finn and me, Blake’s across from us talking about today’s big game, and Ace is right next to me—loud, laughing, completely in his element.
Everything is normal—except me.
I’m trying to play my part, and I think I’m succeeding as far as the friend group is concerned, but internally, it’s a struggle.
Shit has been weird between me and Ace since yesterday and, quite frankly, hasn’t even hinted at getting better.
