“I swear to god West-” I get up and hit him with my book, harshly.
I sit back down, and Fred laughs. West glances at me and speaksagain.
“Somebody’s moody.”
“Somebody needs to shut up.” I press, wrinkling my nose and almost speaking through my teeth, attempting to keep a smile on my face.
“And you wonder why you’re still single.” He shakes his head, amused, and my jaw drops open, and I blush, peering at Fred.
“Busy this summer?” He asks, and I chuckle nervously.
“I’m going out of the city for the whole summer.”
An alarm clock rings, and Mr. Lace wakes up.
He dismisses us, and I stuff my book in my bag.
Fred and I walk side by side with West trailing us. He’s right behind me, pretending not to listen to the conversation but totally listening to it just so he can make fun of me later.
“My girlfriend is waiting. It’s a shame you’re out, I was throwing a party next weekend.” And with that, he leaves, waving goodbye, and I wave goodbye back, a bit sad, a bit relieved. It’s sad that he has a girlfriend, but at the same time, let’s not pretend that I’d have the guts to do anything whatsoever.
West laughs beside me at my failed attempt at flirting, and I see my dad’s car from afar. I leave him and run to the car.
Please don’t see West, PLEASE do not see West.
“Dad!” I get in, out of breath. “Drive, please.” I ask him eagerly.
He turns to me,notdriving.
“The school called me. Detention, Maddie?”
“It was Mr. Lace.” I explain carefully. And then the childish tone comes. The one that comes whenever I mention West. “And West was throwing papers at my hair!”
“You know what? I’m going to let this pass, but just because it’s the last day.” My dad warns, turning back to the wheel.
I think I’m off the hook when, suddenly, with all thenervein his body, I see West coming in our car’s direction. We lock eyes, and I fiercely look at him as if saying,I dare you to take another step in the direction of this car.He smiles even wider, making room for his dimples to appear.Jerk.
“Is that Jake? Maybe he needs a ride-”
“Donotfinish that sentence- Dad no!He was the reason I got detention.” I try everything, but my dad, bless his angelicsoul, still rolls down his window with a wide smile on his face as West comes close.
“Hi, Mr. B just wanted to say sorry to Mads for getting her into detention.”
I roll my eyes so hard it feels like they’re hitting the back of my head.Wants to apologize my ass. Suck up. He doesn’t even call me Mads. Ever.
My dad turns to me with a hopeful smile, as if to saySee, he’s being nice!And I sigh.
I look up at West, and he grins,winkingwhile my dad’s head is turned at me.
“I’m sorry, Mads, if there’s anything I can do to make it up…”
“No thanks, now we’re in a bit of a hurry, so if you’ll excuse us, West, we gotta go,bye bye.” I stretch to my dad’s door and start to shut the window, and my dad stops me.
“Maddie, stop.” I get back on my seat, and my dad proceeds to ask West if he wants a ride home.
Of course, he says yes. I believe what really sold it to him were my silent threats behind my dad’s back.
6
