“I need a reason to date someone?”
“Come on, Amanda!” He speaks louder, and he is so exhausted.
Maybe he shouldn’t be dancing with the redhead…Wait, focus.
“I’m stopping this.” Riden starts to move, but I place a hand in front of him.
“Wait, I got this.” I would love to tell you what went through my head to do this, but I really can’t put it together.
I get to them, and their conversation fades, both a bit surprised.
“Who called the town’s loner?” She levels me with a look and I laugh ironically.
“I don’t recall people calling the town’s bitch either, yet here you are.”
She looks like I slapped her, and West is just wide-eyed next to me.
“We were having a private conversation, if you couldn’t tell.” She tries to kick me out, frustrated.
“I can see that.” I gesture around at the crowd, and her use of the wordprivate. “What are you talking about?”
She glares at me, shiny black hair blinding me even during the night.
“The subject doesn’t concern you.”
“I think when the subject is my boyfriend, I am concerned.” It flies out of my mouth before I can even think about it.
The crowd gasps, and Allison and Riden are just smiling so much. As for Jake, he is as surprised as I am, eyebrows shooting up and mouth wide open.
Oh noo no no no no,I take it back!
“What?! What are you talking about?!” Amanda’s face is so red with anger that it is funny.
“For god’s sake, are youthatslow?” I ask, smiling.I have to smile through this internal freak-out.“Let’s see if your pea-sized brain can understand this.West and Iaretogether. As in aromantic way…” I make a lot of gestures like she is a five-year-old and her head is about to explode. I’ve always known how to deal with her. Before she can say anything else, I say, smiling,“Lovely talk, Amanda. Unfortunately, I have to go. Have a good night.” And with that, I grab Jake’s hand, and before we go home, I go to Allison and Riden.
“Wanna go with us?” I ask as if nothing happened.
“No, you two go, I’ll stay here with him.” She’s wearing the brightest smile I’ve ever seen on her.
I stumble out of the crowd, fingers always on his, and for a while, I even forget I’m dragging him along. The night is so quiet and the sky so clear… I stop in the middle of the street and look up. For a few moments, all is right with the world. My head isn’t pounding, my stomach isn’t recoiling, and my mom didn’t leave me.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath. When I prop them open, I find Jake staring at me.
“Hi,boyfriend.” A giggle escapes my mouth, and I cover it right away.
“What’s going on?” He places his hands in his pockets, and I scrunch my nose.
“Nothing is going on, I just saved you from Amanda, uh, you’re welcome.” I scoff, attempting to walk forward but feeling myself go down. He grabs me.
“I mean, with you. What’s going on with you?”
I try to stay awake and remind myself we’re almost home.
“Nothing.” I look up at his face and see him clenching his jaw. “Are you mad at me?” I bite my lip, suddenly unsure of what I did. He flashes me that great smile of his to settle my feelings.
“Since when have you cared if I was mad at you?”
“I pretend I don’t, but I do.”
