Amanda’s house is chaos, but it always is. Walking anywhere outside of her room requires dodging her brothers as they wrestle each other across the house like two little tumbleweeds skittering back and forth. Which is why the six of us have locked ourselves into Amanda’s room with two boxes of pizza and a chair wedged under the doorknob for extra security.
Three weeks ago, when Callie joined us for the first time, things were a little rough around the edges. Tonight Willowdean gave me a long look and a sigh when she saw her walk in behind me, but it’s getting better slowly. She can’t hate Callie forever. (Though if anyone can hold a grudge forever, my bet is on her.)
We each take a slice of pepperoni pizza, and Hannah goes for the box of half cheese, half mushroom. “I’m trying out the whole vegetarian thing,” she says glumly. “Courtney made me watch this awful documentary about how we slaughter animals.”
“No thank you,” says Ellen. “I’m happy to live in willfulignorance with my bacon and barbecue.”
“I’ve never taken you as one to bend your will out of guilt,” says Willowdean.
Hannah shrugs. “Well, the whole no-meat thing is kinda pissing off my mom, which is sorta hilarious.” She takes a huge bite of pizza, and with her mouth full, she adds, “We’ll see how long it lasts. Plus Courtney says kissing a meat eater presents her with a moral dilemma.”
“The only dilemma I have is between pepperoni or sausage,” says Amanda.
“So are you and Courtney a thing?” I ask. “Like, officially.”
Hannah keeps on eating her pizza, but she can’t hide the blush in her cheeks.
I squeal and so does Ellen.
Hannah rolls her eyes. “Well, I wouldn’t give up meat for just anybody. And what about you?” she asks, turning the tables.
I clear my throat. “Well, Malik and I are getting together to work on a project tomorrow.”
Everyone lets out anoooooooooo, and I couldn’t stop the smile on my face even if I wanted to.
“Well,” I say, pointing to Callie, “this one was asked out just yesterday.”
Callie, who is still nibbling on her first piece of pizza, sets her slice down on a paper plate. “It was totally not a big deal.”
Everyone’s quiet for a moment, and the whole thing just feels awkward. I need someone to break this silence, andfor some reason I know it can’t be me.
“Whatever,” says Ellen. “Don’t play it cool. Spill.”
I grin gratefully in Ellen’s direction.
Callie shakes her head, biting down on her lip nervously. “Just that guy Mitch from the football team.”
Ellen side-eyes Willowdean, who brushes the crumbs from her pizza on her jeans and says, “He’s a really nice guy. Like, way nicer than you even know.” She looks directly at Callie. “Don’t toy around with him, okay?”
Callie groans. “I already told him no.”
“What?” asks Willowdean. “Why?”
Callie looks up to the ceiling like the answer might somehow be written there. “I’m basically grounded forever.” She crosses her arms. “And I’m coming off a really bad breakup.”
“By the way,” says Amanda, “I saw that whole thing play out in the hallway, and you’re a badass.”
“Yeah,” says Hannah. “I heard you destroyed him. Pretty impressive.”
I nudge Callie with my elbow, and she glances at me with a shy smile. “They like you,” I nearly whisper.
Willowdean leans into the circle a little more. “And, um, I saw your run-in with Patrick Thomas the other day.” She nods. “That was pretty cool of you.”
“What run-in with Patrick Thomas?” I ask. All I can think of is when I confronted Patrick last week and she didn’t do a thing.
“Nothing,” Callie and Willowdean answer in unison.
I roll my eyes. “Y’all know that I know he oinks at me,right? Is that what you’re hiding? Just because I don’t usually acknowledge him doesn’t mean I don’t know.”
