“Fine. One week. Fake. And you tell Reece that it was your idea.”
“Fine.” Brielle nodded. Her shoulders lowered. She seemed relieved and bothered all at the same time.
“Fine,” I repeated.
“Fine,” she said.
“Fine.” we both said in unison.
I opened the door.
It was the school hallway, and unfortunately, I was not in Japan.
Chapter 7
Brielle
“WHAT?” Lia’s voice stripped all hearing from my ears. It was so high-pitched and so emphatic that I winced.
Then I joined in. “I KNOW!”
“WHAT THE WHAT?” She half-laughed, half-squealed.
“I KNOOOW!” I replied.
Then we just stared at each other through our phones until I collapsed on my bed, letting my phone fall next to me. But I could still hear Lia, and that was all that mattered. The events of today were beyond extraordinary, and not necessarily in a good way extraordinary. They just weren’tordinary.
“So youaredating Brooks, then?” Lia clarified.
“I guess!” I laughed. I wanted to cry. I was mortified. I was horrified. I was terrified. I was pretty much any word that ended with‘fiedand that didn’t even seem enough. “Fake. It’s all fake,” I added.
“Duh. Of course. But now what?” Lia’s question was pretty much front and center in my brain.
“I have no clue.” I buried my face in my pillow and let out a good, long wail. With my luck, my mom would hear and come charging down the hall, thinking I’d terminally injured myself.
Sure enough. I heard the floor creak. Then a knock. Then, without waiting, my mom—gosh, I love her, but she drives me nuts!—poked her head in the door. Worry was in her brown eyes.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, Mom.” I lifted my head from my pillow.
Lia was quiet. She knew enough not to say anything.
Mom stepped into my room. “Bad day?”
“Mediocre,” I replied.Please go away, Mom.
“I’m sorry, baby.” Mom always called me that. I’d be “baby” when I was in my sixties and she was almost dead. “Can I do anything?” she asked.
“Leave?” I retorted.
A flash of hurt streaked across her face. I tried to soften my words I’d said harshly because I was, after all, in a bit of a pickle.
“I just mean, I’m talking to Lia.” I picked up my phone and wagged it so Mom could see.
Her face brightened. “Oh hi, Lia!” She waved even though I doubted Lia could see her. “How’s Canada?”
“Fine!” Lia laughed and waved back. She loved my mom. I mean, let’s be honest. My mom is cool, she’s just—my mom. It doesn’t matter how cool you are, all moms get in the way at times. This was one of those times.
