Life in the No-Dating Zone (12 page)

“Why do you say that?”

“We were wrapped around each other and he wouldn’t even look me in the eye. He looked like he wanted to puke.”

I laughed. “He’s really shy. You just make him nervous.”

“Maybe. And maybe you’re just wrong about him liking me.”

“Maybe.” I went into my room, lay back on the bed, and stared at the spinning ceiling fan. “But I doubt it.”

“In fact—watch where you’re going, you idiot!—sorry. If I were to guess, I’d say he likes you.”

“He doesn’t like me, Linds, I’m positive. We’re just friends.”

“Still going with that, huh? Okay. We’ll see who’s right. Hey, you want to hang out later? After babysitting?”

“I probably can after dinner. I just need to check.”

“Okay. Let me know.”

We said our goodbyes and hung up. I rested my phone on my stomach, then stretched my arms up in the air. What a weird morning.

“Who doesn’t like you?”

I jerked upright, causing my phone to slide onto the carpet. My mom stood in the doorway, one hand on her hip. So much for not being overheard. I picked up my phone. “Geez, Mom, you scared me. I thought you were downstairs.”

“I just put Jack down for a morning nap. Y’all wore him out.” She tilted her head. “Were you talking about Gray?”

I wanted to say,
None of your business,
but I knew the less I made of the situation, the quicker she’d stop with the questions. “Yes.”

“I think Lindsey is right.”

“Mom.”

She lifted a hand. “Hear me out. He comes over a lot, you text each other all the time, and you get along really well.”

“That’s what friends do, Mom. He
likes
Lindsey. He told me.”

“He’s a really bad match for Lindsey.”

“I know, but he likes her.”

“I think he likes the idea of her.”

I got up. “Now you sound like Dad.”

She smiled. “Well, your father
is
pretty smart. Once Gray realizes how much better he likes you, he’ll ask you out. Just wait.”

I opened my T-shirt drawer so I could have my back to her. I didn’t want her working the psychic magic that helped her read my face. Because the thought of Gray asking me out made me want to jump up and down. Even though I’d have to say no. “It won’t matter. I’m not—”

“Dating in high school. Yes, I know.” She came in and sat on my bed. “But I don’t really know why.” She waved a hand around by her head. “Oh, I know what you’ve said. You want to concentrate on school, not a social life. But I think there’s more to it.”

“Mom. Do we have to do this right now?”

“Don’t try to change the subject.”

“But I have to get ready to go to the Petersons’.”

She gave me her intent look and I knew I was in for it. There was no way she’d leave without some sort of answer. “Does this have anything to do with Mimi and Carl?” she asked.

My brain scrambled for an answer. If I said yes, would she make the connection to how chaotic life had been three years ago? To how many times Dad had packed a bag and gone to a hotel? Because I really didn’t want to go there. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you made that no-dating vow when we were in the middle of all their drama. I figure you want to avoid all that in your own life.”

This was getting scarily close to the truth. I had to say something to move this discussion where I wanted it to go. “Yeah, pretty much. I definitely don’t want to get married right out of high school. You know I want to go to college, Mom.”

Her expression cleared. “Yeah, I know. And you will. Remember, you and Mimi are very different people. She’s always been very intense, her emotions out for everyone to see. You’re a lot more level-headed.”

“Um, thanks?”

“I’m not insulting either of you. I just wanted to remind you that you
are
different from your sister. Your choices will be different.”

“Exactly. I’m
choosing
not to date.”

She laughed and stood. “Okay, I can see I’m not getting through to you.”

She said it in a jokey way, and I loosened my chokehold on the T-shirt I held. I smiled briefly. “You know how stubborn I am.”

“Right.” She headed out but paused in the doorway. “It’s good to have solid plans, Claire. But it also can’t hurt to keep your options open.”

“I know. Thanks, Mom.” I swung my clean T-shirt back and forth so she’d notice. “I need to change.”

“Just think about it.”

“I will.”

She shut the door. Whew. That was a close one. She’d actually sounded worried. It was almost enough to make me consider going out with someone once or twice. Ha. Or not.

Twenty-Two

Gray

I shoveled my last bite of eggs in my mouth and glanced at Lindsey’s plate. It was clean. Almost as if it had already been through IHOP’s dishwasher. That girl sure could eat. She’d devoured a full stack of pancakes and a side of fruit, and just snagged a piece of bacon from Parker’s plate. She’d already eaten all my bacon.

But that was cool. The fact that Lindsey felt comfortable enough to grab food off my plate made it totally worth it. This whole setup—sitting next to her, hanging with a group of friends—was everything I’d been looking for. Now we had the chance to get to know each other better. I still wasn’t great at the whole talking thing, but Rose’s new boyfriend Sam was on my other side, making it less awkward when I couldn’t think of anything to say. I’d just turn toward Sam and Rose like I was part of their conversation. Not the best move, but not the worst either.

I was sitting beside Lindsey Taylor, inhaling the flowery scent of her hair. A part of her group. Compared with last week, it seemed like I’d fallen into someone else’s life.

The only irritating thing was Claire. She sat across the huge U-shaped booth, cutting her pancakes into perfect little triangle bites. Nothing new there. But she was next to Mike, who tried to put his arm around her almost every five minutes. She’d shrug him off, but still smile and laugh at the stupid stuff he said. Didn’t she realize she was only encouraging him?

But maybe that was what she wanted. Though it didn’t make any sense. Claire was too smart to hang out with someone as ridiculous as Mike. I drank more coffee. Whatever. It wasn’t my problem.

Mike laughed at something Claire said. I turned away. Lindsey was grinning at Marta, one of the more extreme drama geeks. At school, she was always wearing different hats or wigs, depending on who she wanted to be that day. Today she wore a black and white horizontally striped shirt and a black beret. All she needed was the mime makeup.

Marta pursed her lips at Lindsey. “Look, nobody can really know theater unless they’ve done Chekhov.”

“Give me a break,” Lindsey said. “That’s a generalization.”

“But it’s still true.”

Mike leaned over his plate like he was trying to get the whole table’s attention. “Hey,
Star Trek
, right? I love Chekov’s Russian accent. ‘Yes, Keptin.’” He chuckled and managed to stand, one hand against the back of the booth. “And that part where those three guys go space diving toward a planet? So sick!” He slapped his arms tightly against his sides, lifted his face to the ceiling, and squinted. “We’re so going to diiiieee.”

Lindsey laughed. “Guess you’re right, Marta.”

Marta pulled at Mike’s arm. “Sit down. That’s not what I was talking about, brainiac.”

“Well, it should’ve been.” He dropped into his seat. “That movie was awesome.”

Claire had her coffee mug up near her lips, but it didn’t hide the amused look she sent Mike’s way.

Would anyone care if I threw my fork at him?

Sam spoke quietly next to me. “Is that guy really as much of an idiot as he seems?”

“I doubt it,” I said. “I think he knows exactly what he’s doing.” Trying to impress Claire for one. “With these theater types it’s all about playing a role.”

“I can tell.” He swirled his glass, making the ice spin around inside. “So you’re not one of them—you just like hanging around them.”

“Pretty much.”

Sam studied me like he knew there was more to it. And maybe because he was chill or maybe because he was so into Rose—one of the nicest girls around—I decided to trust him. “It’s just—” I tilted my head toward Lindsey, then shrugged.

“Oh.” He shook his head. “That’s tough, man.”

Despite the sympathy, Sam sounded kind of confused. But I didn’t know why so I just went on. “Tell me about it. Boyfriends can be serious roadblocks.”

Sam smiled like he was about to say something, but Rose came back from wherever she’d gone, slid into the booth, and started talking. I couldn’t hear what she said, because Lindsey laughed right near my ear. Mike was on his feet again, trying to mimic a zombie.
That
was easy enough to ignore.

I grabbed the insulated coffee pot and poured myself more coffee. Why was Sam confused by me liking Lindsey? Did he think I didn’t stand a chance? Or since I wasn’t in theater, she and I didn’t have much in common? I didn’t know, but all of a sudden I wished I were home playing video games with Berger. Just doing something I was used to.

Sam put Rose’s coffee cup in front of me, so I filled it. He handed it to her, then turned back. “What were you saying again?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh, yeah. Boyfriends.”

“Yeah. Never mind.”

“Okay.” Sam stared at his plate like he was thinking about something. Was it that whole confusion thing? I couldn’t tell. He seemed like a decent enough guy. It was stupid not to just ask him.

“A minute ago you sounded … surprised about—” I lifted my left elbow toward Lindsey. “How come?”

“It was nothing.”

This time I didn’t say anything. Just stared until he spoke.

“I thought it was Claire,” he whispered.

Whoa
. That was weird. “Why?”

He crunched on a piece of ice. “Well, being new here, I watch people a lot, you know? I’m trying to figure out how everyone fits together.” He lowered his voice. “You and Claire stare at each other a lot. I thought there was something there.” He lifted one shoulder. “Guess I was wrong.”

Claire had been staring at me? She must’ve been wanting to see how I was doing with Lindsey. “Yeah. We’re just friends.”

Sam nodded and drank more ice.

“Hey,” Lindsey said in an overly loud voice. “How’re y’all doing?”

Just the way she said it made me tense up. And I was right to. Nyssa and Amy were standing by the table—Nyssa messing with her purse strap and Amy wearing the fakest smile I’d ever seen on a girl.

I cussed under my breath, but Sam heard me. “What?” he asked.

I couldn’t get my voice to work.

Amy’s gaze never left Lindsey’s. “We’re fine.”

Lindsey leaned closer to me. “Y’all should join us. Pull up a couple of chairs.”

Nyssa and Amy exchanged glances, then dragged over chairs from a table nearby. Claire moved her place settings aside and a harried-looking waitress appeared and took their order. Sam nudged me.

I cleared my throat, then spoke under my breath toward him. “Kind of hard to explain right now.”

“Got it,” he said.

Claire and Rose were talking to the newcomers and the general conversations around the table resumed. I stared into the dark brown coffee in my mug. Everyone could pretend things were okay, but it felt like I was in a first-person shooter game, sneaking around a corner, preparing to take out the enemy before he got me.

The waitress came back and set two mugs and another coffee pot in front of the girls.
Great, give them a reason to stay awhile.

Sam chuckled. “Don’t look now, man, but you have two more girls sneaking looks at you. I can’t wait to hear this story.”

I had to force myself not to laugh like a hysterical hyena. “Want to leave now? I can tell you anything you want to know.”

Sam grinned.

Lindsey slid her arm around my shoulders. I should’ve felt happy. Instead, I wanted to shrug out from under it. I didn’t want her attention as part of any performance. Amy frowned and Nyssa looked at a different table. My heart thudded hard. This was about to get bad. Very bad. I didn’t know how I knew. I just did. Maybe I could say I had a phone call and escape.

“So girls,” Lindsey said. “I have a question.”

“Yeah?” Amy asked.

“Why are y’all creepin’ on Gray?”

Every conversation at the table died away. I couldn’t talk either. My throat had turned to chalk.

Amy let out a sharp laugh. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She shook a couple of sugar packets but didn’t open them. Nyssa stared into her cup.

Claire sent us a hard look. “Hey, Lindsey, what’s the play y’all are doing the first semester?”

But Lindsey ignored her. “That’s funny.” She removed her arm from my shoulders but slid her fingers across my forearm until she reached my hand. Then she clutched it. “He says y’all have been around a lot lately.”

I coughed. “It’s not a big de—”

“We all live in the same area,” Amy said. “It happens.”

“Ha,” Lindsey said. “Not unless you plan it.”

Nyssa, whose gaze had shifted to our joined hands, stood, jostling the table. “Excuse me. Restroom.” She hurried away.

Amy watched her go, then spiked the sugar packets into the middle of the table. “You’re such a witch, Lindsey.”

Lindsey’s grip on my hand tightened. “Pot. Kettle.”

Mike waved a hand in the air. “Wait, I know. It’s a scene from one of those angry girl movies where everyone stabs everyone else in the back, right?”

I could almost like him for saying that. But it was too close to the truth.

Amy stood, her chair screeching against the floor. “Exactly. And I’m sure
Adam
will think it’s hilarious.” She stormed off.

“Don’t let your broom hit the door when you fly off,” Lindsey called. She was squeezing the bones in my hand together. I flexed it and she let go like she’d burned herself. She laughed. “That was fun.”

Her voice sounded lighthearted and a little sarcastic, but anyone could sense the strain in it. She must be worried about Amy’s threat. Which could only mean she really cared about stupid Adam Castro. Things weren’t looking so great for me.