“Why, though? It’s possible he experienced the same thing.”
“Nori, be serious. I can’t just casually ask him if he slipped into the future and was about to marry me. That’s way too much ammo. He’ll make fun of me for eternity.”
She unfastens her seat belt, sneaking one last glance at Renner through the window. “We have one week of high school left. You’re not ever going to see him again. What’s the worst he can do?”
THIRTY-ONE
I decide not to tell Renner a thing. I’m still not convinced it was anything but a deranged figment of my overactive imagination. And frankly, peace of mind isn’t worth my reputation. Besides, the Senior Sleepover is far too hectic to broach the topic.
Who knew having all four hundred seniors stuffed into the B gym would be complete and utter chaos? Well, I guess I should have known. Maybe this is why it was such a challenge to find chaperones.
Kassie and Ollie are nowhere to be seen, yet again. Renner texted Ollie, but he hasn’t responded. This leaves me, Nori, Renner, and some of the more helpful teachers to set up the photo booth, the movie projector, all the games and snacks, and order the pizzas.
We have to barricade the outside of the gym with stacked chairs and leftover Halloween caution tape from the drama club’s haunted house in October. No one is permitted to leave the gym, unless it’s to use the restroom. Of course, not half an hour into the night, a group of band kids already managed to hot-box the bathroom.
After completing most of our tasks, Nori and I finally get to relax and find a quiet corner to set up our sleeping bags.
“We need to make a space for Kassie,” I say, moving slightly closer to Nori to make room.
Nori gives me a look. “Um, I dunno if that’s necessary.” She points over my shoulder, and that’s when I see her.
Kassie is here, on the far side of the gym. She looks effortlessly cool in a pair of pink mirrored aviators and a distressed denim jacket. Her blonde hair is tied back with a retro headband, and her sleeping bag is tucked under her arm. She’s laughing with Andie and some of the girls from cheer squad, and I see them make room in the middle of their pack for her sleeping bag.
“Isn’t she supposed to hang with us?” Nori asks.
“Yup.” Kassie eagerly plunks down and tosses Andie a candy bar. Something stirs in my gut and it’s not shock, despite our conversation at lunch about hanging out tonight. Kassie said it would be like old times, Funyuns and all.
Everyone gets up when the pizzas arrive. Kassie waltzes right up to Nori and me and grabs a box for the squad. She’s casual, friendly, as though she has no idea she’s ditched our plans.
Nori darts me a side-eye, annoyed on my behalf.
Eventually, Renner and Ollie help us in the pizza assembly line. Nori gives out plates, I’m on napkins, Ollie opens the pizza boxes, and Renner doles out soda and water. Once we finally get into a groove, Kassie comes sauntering back, distracting Ollie with a dramatic hug. Clearly, they’ve made up and then some. I’m guessing she can see that I’m stressed because she says, “Hey, what can I do?”
“Nothing, everything’s already taken care of,” I respond bluntly, handing Reggie Wilson a napkin. Technically, Kassie could be on garbage duty, or running the empty boxes to recycling. But the four of us already have a good system going, and frankly, I don’t need her pity help.
“I’m sorry I got here late,” Kassie says. “But everything is all good now.”
“All good with what? Did you make up with Ollie?” I ask, unable to hide the bitter undercurrent in my tone.
She flinches, uncomfortable that I’ve mentioned their fight. I regret it when Ollie shoots her a betrayed look.
This is uncomfortable. Send help.
She twists her glossed lips. “Why do I feel like you’re shooting me daggers? Are you mad at me or something?”
It’s tempting to yell, Yes, I’m mad at you! This is certainly not how I imagined our girls’ night. I’ve been looking forward to spending time with Kassie, the way we used to, before we leave high school. We’re supposed to do all the Senior Week activities together. But I can’t explain all this to her in front of the entire senior class.
“It’s fine, Kassie,” I snap, turning my attention to the next person in line.
“It’s not fine,” Renner cuts in, his voice terse and sharp. He sets down a new box of pizza and shoots her a look.
“Dude, what’s your problem?” Ollie eyes him suspiciously. In his defense, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Renner use this tone.
Renner huffs. “Char and I got to the gym yesterday morning at 6:00 a.m. to set up for prom. We also got here an hour and a half ago. And you haven’t even lifted a finger. As a member of the student council, it would be nice if you showed up to do your job.”
A hush falls, everyone stunned at Renner’s serious tone.
Kassie blinks, taken aback. “Chill, J. T. I’m here now, offering to help. Char literally just said there’s nothing for me to do. Why are you freaking out?”
I expect Renner to smile and apologize, but he doesn’t back down. “Because you always do this. You always leave all the heavy lifting to Char and then swoop in at the end and take credit for things.”
Her jaw falls open. She hitches her shoulders, arms crossed, well aware that everyone in line is overhearing the argument. “Maybe I would do more if Char didn’t boss everyone around. You said it yourself, J. T., she’s not a team player.”
Nori gasps.
“Someone has to organize all the logistics, Kass. I can’t take care of everything. I have to delegate things,” I shoot back.
But she doesn’t back down. “I signed up to be on student council as a member. We all did. We’re supposed to be a team. And you treat everyone like some minion, ordering us around, expecting us to do everything your way. It’s like no one else is allowed to have an opinion.”
That’s it. I’m done. I slap the napkin bundle on the table and turn to her. “This isn’t just about student council. We were supposed to spend the night like old times, and you’ve spent the entire time with the cheer squad.”
“You’re really that mad that I’m spending the night with the cheer girls? Seriously?”
“It’s not just tonight. You’re not reliable. You ditch me. All. The. Time. For Ollie, ninety-nine percent of the time. We’re going to be in different cities in two months and we haven’t done a single Senior Week activity together—like we were supposed to. You’re going to live with Ollie next year. Why do you need to spend every waking moment together?”
She blinks, shaking her head in disgust. “Char, you just don’t get what it’s like to have a boyfriend.”
“Maybe not. But I know what it’s like to be a good friend. I can’t say the same for you.” I regret my words the moment they come out. In front of the entire student body. Everyone’s eyes are on me, and it’s dead silent. I feel a wave of nausea mounting. I think I’m gonna pass out. I spin on my heels and do the only logical thing. Flee.
It’s dark in the stairwell. Cooler, much cooler than the stuffy gym. I place my hands on my knees and bend over, letting my breath pass slowly, in through my nose and out through my mouth. When I finally manage to get my heart rate back in check, the stairwell door creaks open behind me.
I expect to see Kassie or Nori. But no, it’s Renner. My face is inches from his neck.
“You scared me. I thought you were someone else,” I say, my cheeks reddening when I meet his eye. I stiffen and look away to conceal my face—which I’m sure says it all.
One time I had a hard-core dream about making out with Clay. And the next day in Model UN, I could barely look in his direction without wanting to keel over and die. This feels infinitely worse.
“That was . . . a lot,” he says. “You good?”
“Yeah. I’m just . . . tired. Senior Week is stressful.” I still don’t feel like my body has caught up from the exhaustion of yesterday.
“Want to get some air?” He tilts his head up toward the stairwell.