I'm not sure how to answer that. Do I? Jane's the only friend who's called me since I moved, and it was only one time. She hasn't called back. I've been calling her every day but she doesn't pick up. And when I text her, it takes her forever to text back. We grew apart when she was in France but I thought when she got back, it'd be like before. I thought we'd be best friends again, but so far, it doesn't feel like it.
"I miss Jane, and some of the other girls," I say. "But I miss you more. If I can't get to the game on Friday, could you come here on Saturday?"
"And do what?" he says with a laugh. "Watch a drug deal go down?"
"Real nice, Chad. I live here, remember?"
"I'm just joking, but seriously, what's there to do around there?"
"I don't know. We'll figure something out. Or we could stay in. Cuddle up on the couch. Watch a movie."
"I'm golfing with my dad in the morning and then I need to work on a paper."
"What are you saying? That you're not going to see me on Saturday? Like at all?"
"I want to see you. But I don't want to go there. I don't want to risk someone messing with my car. And honestly, I don't feel safe there."
"But it's okay for me to be here."
"It's not okay, but what do you want me to do? I can't change where you live."
The bus stops and I realize we're on my street. I hurry to get off.
"I need to go," Chad says. "Maybe we could talk tomorrow."
Maybe?Like maybe we won't? What's going on with him? He doesn't want to see me. Doesn't want to talk to me. Is he breaking up with me?
"Chad, I don't feel good about this."
"About what?"
"About you not wanting to see me. Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Brook, stop being so paranoid. I hate when you get like that. We'll talk soon, okay?"
"Wait, so what did we decide about Friday?"
He doesn't answer, and when I check my phone I see he hung up.
An uneasiness comes over me as I walk down the street. Something's going on with Chad. He promised me nothing would change when I switched schools but now he's acting like he's too busy to see me.
When I get home I go in my room and call Jane. Surprisingly, she picks up.
"Hey, Brook," she answers in a lighthearted tone.
"Hey. Can you talk?"
"Only for a few minutes. I have to leave soon. I'm meeting Neila and Leesa at the cafe."
The cafe she's referring to is a place near my old school. I used to hang out there all the time. I'd spend fifteen dollars on a latte and one of their fancy desserts and think nothing of it. I can't imagine spending that much now. I can't believe that used to be my life.
"Chad said you're coming to the game on Friday," Jane says.
"I haven't decided. It's a long drive and I don't have a way to get there."
"Oh. Yeah, I didn't think about that. Are there like buses or something that could get you here?"
"There are, but is there any way you could pick me up? We could have dinner first. My treat." As I say it, I realize I don't have money to buy her dinner, at least not the kind of dinner she'd expect. She doesn't eat at cheap places. It has to be someplace nice or trendy, and expensive.
