The Crushes (24 page)

Alexia leaned back in the passenger seat of Ben’s Jeep and looked through the open roof to the sunny sky. It was hard to believe summer was over and Ben was leaving. His fingers lightly stroked the inside of her palm and she closed her eyes, liking the warmth of the sun on her face and the feel of Ben so near.

The state park on the other side of Garver Lake was quiet for a Friday afternoon. It was perfect for today.

“Do you really have to go?” Alexia asked Ben.

“Yeah. Besides, having the title ‘college freshman’ makes me automatically ten times hotter. All the girls will be jealous of you.”

“College,” she mumbled to herself. Just a few short months ago, Ben had been a high school student—her boyfriend. “College freshman” sounded so…official, like he was becoming an adult far too quickly.

Why couldn’t they just stay here like this forever?

“It’s only like ten weeks before Thanksgiving break.”

Alexia bit the inside of her cheek when she felt the sting
of tears behind her eyes. She looked away from the sky and glanced at Ben. “What’s going to happen to us?”

Ben stopped rubbing her hand. “I’d like to think nothing would happen. I don’t want to break up, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

He was so serious right now, it was almost scary. Ben hardly ever did “serious.”

“You think we can make a long-distance relationship work?”

“Are you kidding?” Ben wove his fingers through hers. “If anyone can do long distance, we can.”

Alexia nodded, but she knew to expect the unexpected. There were a hundred what-ifs to consider. What if Ben found another girl at Pepperdine. California was the land of skinny blond women, after all. Or what if he spent months away from her and fell out of love? What if
she
fell out of love?

The idea made her ill because she loved Ben
that
much. He was her first of everything. Her first boyfriend. Her first intimate relationship. She might have regretted losing her virginity the way she had, but she didn’t regret losing it with Ben. He was the best possible guy to share that memory with.

Could their relationship survive the distance? The tears bit again at her eyes.

“Lexy?” Ben said.

“What if we grow apart?”

“We won’t.”

“But you don’t know that. And you can’t promise it.” Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she caught them before they rolled off her chin. “It’s so much, you know. I just love you so much.”

He reached over the console and took her in his arms. He ran his hand over her hair. “I love you, too.”

They sat there like that for a long time, or what felt like a long time. Alexia didn’t want to let him go, but she knew he had to leave soon.

“I should go,” she said. She got out of the Jeep. She’d driven her car to the park and met Ben there. He got out, too.

“So this is it,” she said.

“No, this is the beginning.”

Alexia frowned. “To what?”

“To the next step of Ben’s Four Step Relationship Program. First comes love, then comes separation, then comes marriage and babies. I have it all figured out.”

She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so going to miss you.”

He hugged her back. “Me, too. Promise you’ll Email me often.”

“I will.”

He kissed her softly at first, then tightened his arms around her and leaned her back in a dip.

“Ben!”

“I can’t help it. You make me want to tango.”

“Stop!”

He pulled her up. “I should go.”

“Yeah.”

He kissed her again. “I love you, Lexy.”

“I love you, too.”

They waved good-bye and climbed into their vehicles. Ben was the first one to pull out of the parking lot, his Jeep disappearing around a bend in the road. Alexia stared
after him, wishing he’d come back, wishing he’d change his mind and stay with her.

Anxious butterflies filled her stomach.

He wasn’t coming back—that she knew—but it wouldn’t stop her from hoping.

Rule 38:
Carry yourself like you are the stuff! Any guy is lucky to have you!

The next weekend, the girls all met at Bershetti’s to lay The Crush Code to rest.

Sydney hadn’t wanted to go. It’d only been two weeks since Kelly’s birthday bash and that wasn’t nearly enough time to heal the hurt. Also, this was Sydney’s last weekend with Quin for a while. He was flying out the next day to go back to school at the Brooks Institute in California.

He looked at her now and smiled. “What would your friends say if I came in with you?”

“They’d probably kick you out. It’s girls only.”

He took off his fedora and brushed back several locks of hair that had escaped his ponytail. “Fine. But call me as soon as you’re done. I want to get in one more photo session before I have to take off.”

“I’ll call, you can bet on it.”

Quin was easily the best thing that had happened to her this summer.

Then again, the things one might consider as bad—her relationship deteriorating, her mother leaving—those had been good things, too. At least in the end they were.

Sydney waved as Quin drove off.

Inside Bershetti’s, the air-conditioning blazed, driving off the September heat. Sydney was thankful for the white gauzy long-sleeve shirt she’d slipped on over her cami.

“Hey, Syd,” Jordan greeted her at the host podium. “Everyone’s already here. Follow me.”

Jordan led the way to the round table where Alexia, Raven, and Kelly all sat. There were six chairs total around the table. Sydney made sure to take the chair next to Alexia and far away from Kelly.

Kelly avoided eye contact. She fidgeted with her napkin, folding the corner over and then flattening it. They were all here technically for her. The new Crush Code had been designed for her, after all.

“Can I get you guys anything to drink?” Jordan asked.

They all ordered and Jordan disappeared in the back.

“So,” Alexia said, “here we all are.”

Sydney looked from Alexia to Raven and then to Kelly, catching quick eye contact. Kelly flushed and glanced down.

“Here we all are,” Raven said. “And here”—she reached beneath the table and into her bag, pulling out a familiar shoe box—“is the Code Casket.”

She set it on the table among the glasses of ice water and rolled silverware. She flipped open the lid.

Sydney peered inside. A copy of the Breakup Code lay in the bottom along with four four-leaf-clover bracelets
and a picture of all four girls. They hadn’t opened that box in months. It seemed so long ago that Sydney had used the Breakup Code for Drew. And at the time, when she got Drew back, she figured they’d be together for eternity. It was amazing how one summer could change so much.

Alexia lost It (which Sydney had found out way too late!). Sydney broke up with Drew, had an amazing summer at the hospital where she found Quin. Kelly…well, Kelly was in love. Sydney couldn’t deny that. And Raven…

“Hey, Ray?” Sydney said. “Did you ever hear on that singing contest?”

“Oh yeah. I was going to show you guys the letter I got yesterday.” She dug in her bag again and brought out the letter. “Kay-J wrote it. Here’s what she said:

‘Dear Raven,

‘I think you have a tremendous talent for singing. Your voice is awesome and your style is unique. You rocked that song you sang for me. I got chills up and down my arms.

‘The only thing I can suggest is to watch your rhythm and pitch.

‘Unfortunately’—
Raven wrinkled her nose and continued
—‘you didn’t make it to the next round of auditions, but let me explain why. I don’t think you’re right for the competition. I don’t think you should be singing backup. I think you should be singing with a band like Blake said you were. Focus on that because you have all the right elements of a total rocker chick.

‘If you ever need anything, let me know. I’d be happy to help.

‘XOXO

‘Kay-J.’ ”

“Oh my god,” Kelly said. “That’s so cool, Raven!” A smile graced her lips for the first time since Sydney had arrived.

“Despite the fact that I didn’t make it,” Raven said, “I’m not that upset.”

“You shouldn’t be,” Sydney replied. “That letter wasn’t a rejection, it was all praise.”

They chatted about the band October for a few minutes and how Raven and Horace were planning a Halloween party with a huge show. It was going to be a blast, and Sydney couldn’t wait to see Raven sing her heart out.

Alexia cleared her throat. “So, you guys want to get down to business?”

They all went silent.

“We’re here today to lay The Crush Code to rest. Do you guys all agree?”

“I agree,” Raven said.

Kelly nodded. “Me, too.”

Sydney looked across the table at Kelly. Had she used The Crush Code on Drew instead of her friend Adam?

Does it really matter? Sydney thought. No. It didn’t. Not now anyway.

“I’m ready to lay it to rest,” Sydney said.

Maybe the Code hadn’t been designed for her specifically, but Sydney had gotten some use out of it. Now that
they were laying the Code to rest, she was going to repeat one rule to herself and use it like a mantra. This was for the new and improved Sydney, the Sydney that was going to focus more on herself and stop trying to control the things that were out of her hands.

Rule 38:
Carry yourself like you are the stuff!

“Jordan?” Raven said, stopping her little sister as she walked past. “Could you take a picture of us?”

“Sure.” Jordan took the digital camera from Raven.

The girls leaned into one another. Raven put her arm around Kelly. Sydney smiled as Alexia leaned closer to her. There was an obvious divide between the girls, especially between Sydney and Kelly, but at least they were together. That’s what mattered most to Sydney. Maybe eventually they’d be one big happy group again. She didn’t hate Kelly, she just needed time to heal the rift.

“Say cheese!” Jordan snapped the picture and then handed the camera over.

“It’s perfect,” Alexia said, passing the camera around the table so everyone could see. “Okay, you guys, ready?”

They all nodded.

Alexia set the copy of The Crush Code in the Code Casket.

“As women of the Code,” they all said in unison, “we hereby lay The Crush Code to rest.”

They all laughed as Alexia set the lid on the casket.

I would like to thank my genius editor, Abby. It is wonderful to know my manuscripts are in such experienced editorial hands. I can’t thank you enough for polishing my work until it shines. Abby, your continued faith in my work means a lot to me. I appreciate it more than I could ever express in words.

This book is dedicated to my friend, my father, and my mentor, Tommie.

This all started many years ago as our dream. I am now living this dream and I am so sad that you are not here to see it come to fruition with me. None of this would be possible without your support, advice, and always telling me never give up! I miss talking about life with you.

I miss you dearly! May you rest in peace!

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

This book was originally published in hardcover in 2008.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wells, Pamela.
The Crushes / Pamela Wells.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: Four high school friends have an unexpected summer of crushes—and
heartbreak.
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-02693-2 (alk. paper) (HC)
ISBN-10: 0-439-02693-8 (alk. paper) (HC)

[1. Dating (Social customs)—Fiction. 2. Interpersonal relations—Fiction.

3. Friendship—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.W4667Cr 2008

[Fic]—dc22

                   2008011746

Copyright © 2008 by Pamela Wells. All rights reserved. Published by Point, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
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, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

Jacket art by McFaul
Jacket design by Steve Scott

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E-ISBN: 978-0-545-23205-0