I run straight into an unmovable mass.
I don’t need to look up to know who it is, I can tell it’s Lane just by the amazing smell of his T-shirt. Oh God, what is wrong with you, Lois?
He still hasn’t moved.
“Can I help you?” I snap. “What are you doing lurking here?”
He doesn’t say a word. I get the feeling he’s waiting for something, and when I can’t take the silence anymore, I give in and look up, finding him staring at me.
“What?” I sigh, tugging on my tank. “Got something you want to share with the class? Warm-up tips, maybe?”
The words come spilling out, and he just stands there, still as a statue.
“No? Nothing? Amazing! If you don’t mind, then, I need to get going. My plan is to go for a runandlook for a place along the way. See what a great multitasker I am?”
I haven’t even started running yet, and I’m already out of breath. Great!
I’m about to barge past him, when he steps aside and lets me by, and just as I make to leave, he speaks.
“I like the hair.”
I freeze. I turn back to face him.
“What?”
I must have misheard.
“It suits you,” he adds.
The conversation is beyond weird. This isn’t the Lane I’m used to. This guy is seriously unpredictable.Ugh, he drives me crazy.
“Why are you so…”
“Sweet?” he finishes for me.
“Exhausting!” I correct, tucking my hair behind my ears.
He shrugs and slouches against the wall. The way he swings between being mean and playing Mr. Nice Guy is giving me whiplash. I honestly have no idea whether he’s serious or messing with me.
He’s back to staring at me in silence so I turn to leave before things get even weirder.
“Well! On that note, see you later.”
Before I reach the living room, I can’t help but stop in my tracks.
“Thank you, by the way,” I whisper.
I don’t turn back.
9LANE
Ever since Lois got her new haircut and decided she was going to run her way across the entire town, she’s in and out of the apartment every day in her bright pink sneakers and even brighter workout tanks. She’s committed, I’ll give her that. But I know how people usually roll: There’s a sudden rush of motivation and two days of fasting before they go crashing off the rails with an entire cheat month. But it’s been a week now, and Lois is still sticking to her stupid hardcore diet, even as I’m digging into an extra-large pizza.
“Not even the smallest sliver of a slice?” I try again through a full mouth.
“Not even that,” she snaps back. “I haven’t put in all this work to screw up over a bit of stringy cheese.”
“There’s pepperoni, too.”
