Chapter Fourteen
“You want to go out with me?” There’s got to be a catch here. It surely can’t be this easy for my secret to remain intact.
“You got it. Just once, in a few weeks’ time.” He sits back in the sofa looking decidedly smug.
There’s got to be some ulterior motive. And why do I have to wait for a few weeks? Why can’t it be—Friday? Actually Friday isn’t good for me because it’s the meeting. And I’m certainly not going to suggest he comes along. No way.
“And if I agree to this you agree to say nothing about our friendship.”
“Friendship. Hmm. I’d have called it more than that.” A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth but it quickly evaporates. “But maybe that’s all it was to you.” His tone becomes harsher and he glares at me.
How can he think that? Maybe I should tell him why I didn’t get in touch. But what’s the point? We’re history. And that’s where we’ll stay. Apart from when we go out. And it’s so weird that he wants to. He must realize I’m with Guy now—at least I hope I am, Guy didn’t say anything today about going out again. Though to be fair I didn’t really see him much and even then loads of other people were around.
And another thing, if I go out with Ryan how on earth am I going to explain it to Guy? Not to mention Lori and the gang. They’ll truly think I’ve lost it if they find out. Ryan’s not exactly what they’d consider a prime catch.
I look across at Ryan, absorbing the way he’s dressed and his easy manner. You know, he might be the total antithesis of what they’re like at school but he’s still cute. But cute won’t work for me. I’m a girl on a mission and that means my efforts must be firmly focused on my goal.
“It’s a deal. As long as I choose where we go.”
There’s a method in my madness. If it’s my decision I can make sure it’s well away from prying eyes.
“No.” He looks across at me, the expression on his face daring me to disagree. Well he can’t frighten me.
“But I’m—”
“I’ve got two tickets for Truck-fest next month and—”
“Truck-fest,” I scream, my hand shooting up to cover my mouth. “Truck-fest,” I say through splayed fingers. “You have tickets for Truck-fest? That is the coolest thing ever.” I am just about to run over and fling my arms around his neck when I abruptly pull myself back and wrap my arms around my middle instead.
Get a grip girl. Sorry.
Anyway, Truck-fest isn’t the sort of thing I go to now as I’m not that kind of girl any more. Though it looks like I may not have a choice. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and go. Oh dear!
Maddie and I lined up for hours when Truck-fest came to Dallas. And was it worth it? You bet it was. The sight of those trucks racing around the circuit. It was awesome. And the atmosphere was wicked. I couldn’t hear properly for a week after. Maddie’s going to be so jealous when I tell her where I’m going. She’s always saying we’ve got to go again. Good job I only put my Doc Martens to the back of the closet and didn’t throw them away. Same goes for my old clothes, seeing as it isn’t an event where one makes a fashion statement—well not one of the Lori variety, anyway.
“So you approve then?” Ryan grins and my heart does yet another flip. I dread to think how many times it’s done that since I’ve bumped into him, which isn’t a good sign. It’s not because I have the hots for him still. I think it’s just a bad case of nerves. Yes, that’s definitely it. Anyone in my position would be feeling the same. I’m sure.
“I do,” I say, unable to stop a huge smile crossing my face and staying there. And I can’t imagine anyone from school will be going which is the hugest relief ever.
So at the moment all is right with the world.
***
“He seems a nice boy,” Mom says after Ryan leaves. “Very different from Guy though.” Yeah well it doesn’t take rocket science to work that one out. Nor does it take rocket science to work out she means Guy is more suitable, coming from a rich family and being so polite and stuff. Definitely a Rosie sort of boyfriend.
Not that Ryan isn’t polite, but you can just tell he comes from a different background. Though, to be fair, she wasn’t off with him at all.
“Yes Maddie and I met him a couple of years ago at camp. He’s great. We all hung out together in a big group. It sure surprised me when I saw him working in Starbucks.”
“So how come he’s living here then?”
“I’m not sure. I didn’t ask. I’ll ask him next time I see him.”
“You’re seeing him again? Won’t Guy mind?”
“Mom, we’re friends. Of course Guy won’t mind. But I might not mention it to him. So don’t say anything it if he comes around.”
Why am I telling her all this? I think Maddie’s right. I should go back to playing things close to my chest rather than blurting out everything given the slightest opportunity. It’s not natural for a girl of my age to confide in her Mom like this. Although Rosie did. I remember they used to have their ‘catch-up chat’ whenever Rosie came around. Mind you, Mom seemed to look forward to their chats more than Rosie did.
And Rosie did keep some things secret—I still don’t think Mom knows about the butterfly tattoo she had on her left butt-cheek. Rosie said she did it for a bet. I was more than surprised, let me tell you—you think you know someone then they do something totally random. It was pretty—pink, blue and purple in a swirly pattern and made me want to have one—except I couldn’t face the pain.
“Don’t get yourself in trouble by playing them both along,” Mom says cutting into my thoughts. “You’ll get yourself a bad reputation. When I was your age girls who played the field didn’t get the nice boys.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hardly think I’m going to get myself a reputation for being a ho, seeing as I’m a member of the Virginity Club.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’m not messing either of them around. Ryan and I are just friends. That’s all.” And when we go out it won’t be like going out in the strictest sense, so it doesn’t count. “Call me when dinner’s ready, please. I’m going upstairs to do my homework.”
***
“Suzy,” Lori calls when I walk into the class. “Sit here.” She pats the chair beside her. “I’ve got something for you,” she says, once I’m seated. “Here.” She hands me a big ivory colored envelope, which feels very expensive—not that I’m an envelope expert—with Suzy written on the front.
“Thanks.” I take it from her. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.” She has this silly smirk on her face and is wriggling all excitedly in her chair. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was an invitation to a bouncy castle party, or something equally childlike.
I slide my finger under the seal, open the envelope and pull out a big card. On the front, in fancy gold lettering, it says Marlene and Bruce.
“Who are Marlene and Bruce?”
“You’ll see.”
I open it up. Wow. Suzy and Partner are invited to celebrate the silver wedding anniversary of Marlene and Bruce Baker on—I turn to face Lori.
“This is your mom and dad isn’t it?” Lori nods. “And they’ve invited me?” She nods again. Holy crap. Why me? According to the invite it’s being held at the Ocean Breeze Country Club on the bay.
“They said I could invite a few of my closest friends. You will come won’t you? You can bring Guy. His parents will be going too. They’re friends of my parents.”
“Um, yeah. Thanks. Sure. What does it mean ‘black tie’? Surely I don’t have to wear a tie.”
Lori throws back her head and laughs. “You’re so funny. Men wear a tux. Women cocktail dresses. We’ll have to go shopping. What about Saturday?”
Cocktail dress? That will cost hundreds of dollars. I hope Mom and Dad are okay with it. Unless they let me borrow something of Rosie’s. I bet she’s got a cocktail dress or three stashed away. I’ll sneak a peak when I get home later.
“Great. And you reckon Guy will come if I ask him?” Lori nods her head. “How come you didn’t invite him anyway?”
“Mom said I could only invite three friends and whoever they want to bring. So I chose Rachel, Jana and you thinking you’d want to bring Guy. I wanted Jamie for my partner but Mom said no. I think that’s really mean but she was adamant.”
Yay for Lori’s Mom. The thought of an evening with Jamie. No thanks.
“So who are you going to bring, then?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I know who you want to bring,” I whisper in case anyone’s listening. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“No, don’t.” Color floods her cheeks. I seriously think she’s only saying no because she doesn’t want to be let down. But I don’t want to upset her if she really does mean it. I’ll see what Maddie says.
“Well thanks so much for inviting me.” I say brightly. “It’s going to be great.”
“That’s what best friends are for.” Excuse me? Best friends? Since when? She can’t be my best friend. I already have one. And we tell each other everything (almost). I know Lori and I get on well but it’s not like we confide in each other—apart from when we talked about doing it and other stuff, I suppose.
“Yeah.” I laugh. Well I can hardly say sorry but best friend position already taken. Anyway, I can be hers even if she isn’t mine, especially if I don’t tell her. Which is a bit mean. Or a lot mean. Oh, I don’t know. I don’t want to hurt her feelings but really, she knows about Maddie. Though she has made the occasional snide remark about her. Mind you, Maddie’s done the same about her, too.
“So you’ll ask Guy?”
“I guess. At break, if he’s around.” And if I dare.
Hopefully he won’t say no. If he does I’ll look a prize dick.
I could always ask Ryan—I can just imagine his face if I ask him to wear a tux and accompany me. It’s almost worth asking just to see his reaction.
Really? I’m doing all I can to prevent him from disclosing my innermost secrets and now I’m thinking of inviting him somewhere all my friends are going to be.
For goodness’ sake Suzy.