“On Liam?” Bowie’s eyes go wide, but then they cock their head to the side. “Actually, that tracks.”
“It’s a nightmare. She’s never crushed on one of my friends before.”
Bowie frowns.
“What?”
“Is that all it is?”
“All what is?”
But Bowie glances toward the front of the car. They turn back to me and roll their eyes.
“Jasmine wants to know what we’re talking about.”
“Don’t tell her!”
“I told her if she learned sign, she could follow along.”
I snort. But Liam twists around in his seat so we can see him.
And then he fingerspells, very slowly, “I’m trying.”
“Really?” I ask aloud.
He nods. “Bowie’s been teaching me.”
“Bowie’s a good teacher.”
“Yeah.” Suddenly the car is too hot, even though Jasmine’s got the air conditioner going. She says something again, and Liam turns back around as we pull into the Perkins parking lot.
10
I don’t know how exactly Perkins became me and Bowie’s designated hangout spot, but there’s not many places where you can get huge amounts of carbs for cheap, and that are open twenty-four hours a day—my shows get out late. Plus it’s usually full of older folks having quiet conversations, and there’s no loud music playing. So it’s all around kind of perfect.
Our host, Janice—she’s taken care of me and Bowie loads of times—leads us to a booth toward the back. When Liam sits, Jasmine slides in next to him without a word. Bowie likes to be on the outside of the booth, so I take the inside, right across from Liam. My knees bump up against him, but he straightens out and we don’t touch again.
Janice comes by to take our orders: an omelette and hash browns for me, like usual; a huge stack of pancakes for Bowie, of course; but then Jasmine takes forever before ordering a salad.
Jasmine never used to order salads at restaurants, until she dated Tristan last year.
STANKY TRISTAN’S BREAKUP LIST:
ENCOURAGED JASMINE TO ORDER SALADS
TOLD JASMINE TO WATCH HER WEIGHT
FUTURE INCEL
NEVER EATS GREEN FOODS
FATPHOBIC
PROBABLY DOESN’T WASH HIS ASS
FUNKY BODY ODOR
LIKE SERIOUSLY, DOES HE USE SOAP WHEN HE SHOWERS??
