“I was just waiting for my mom and saw you. Thought I’d say hello is all.”
Still suspicious, Allie studied the girl. She had long brown hair that fell past her shoulders in loose waves and gorgeous, wide-set chocolate-colored eyes. Her skin was luminous; perfect. She was exactly the type of girl you’d see on the cover of a fashion magazine.
Embarrassed by her behavior, Allie crossed her arms. She glanced past the girl and saw Miss Bitty and a woman talking on the deck.
“My name’s Hannah Hanover,” the girl said, pushing a mound of dirt around with her foot. “We just moved here from California and I don’t really know anyone.”
Allie wasn’t sure what to say.
“So, you going to be a senior in August?” Hannah asked.
Allie shrugged, her eyes on the ground. “I’m not sure. I’m being homeschooled.”
The girl’s jaw dropped. “Get out! How cool.”
Allie shrugged again.
“Wow, you’re lucky. I’d love to not have to go to real school.”
“Hannah!” the woman on the deck called.
The girl grunted and waved the woman off. Then she turned back to Allie. “Hey, maybe we could hang out sometime?”
Allie’s heart skipped a beat. No one had ever just come up to her, wanting to hang out. To be friends. Allie was the weird girl. Was that not obvious to this kid? Guys were the only people interested in her—and it was only to get into her pants.
Hannah’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m not like a stalker or anything. I just don’t know anyone else. But if you—”
“Sure,” Allie interrupted. “We could hang out.” She quickly added, “You know . . . because I don’t know anyone either.”
Hannah smiled. “Sweet. Okay, cool!”
“Cool,” Allie repeated, feeling awkward, but also a little proud of herself for possibly making a new friend.
“So, want to come over tonight?” Hannah asked, her eyes hopeful.
Allie swallowed. “Um, yeah. Sure.”
CHAPTER 23
“SURE. I DON’T SEE why not. Her family certainly seems decent enough,” Miss Bitty said when Allie told her that Hannah had invited her over. “What time? I’ll drive you.”
“She said five.”
“I have a client at five, but maybe Louis can take you. Just be in the kitchen ready to go at ten to five.”
Back in her bedroom, Allie picked out an outfit to wear. Although the idea of going to Hannah’s house made her nervous, it would help keep her mind off of what had happened in the garden before Hannah had arrived. Plus, the thought of actually making a friend was exciting.
She chose a pair of navy blue shorts, a black form-fitting knit top, and a pair of wedges. She washed her hair, blew it straight, and spent a lot of time with her new department store makeup, marveling at how well it went on.
An hour later, she studied the final product in the bathroom mirror. Her body was good—and looked fantastic under her new wardrobe.
As usual, though, at certain angles her face looked almost scary, even beneath the carefully applied makeup. How I made such an ugly child is beyond me, her mother whispered.
She shuddered—and for about the millionth time in her life, wished she could transfer a little of her body’s perfection to her face. It would certainly make life a lot easier.
“Allie?”
She startled. Not again.
She whirled around, but it was just Miss Bitty.
“Oh God. You scared the shi—” Allie caught herself. “The crap out of me,” she finished, her pulse racing.
“Sorry, girlie, but it’s ten until five. If Louis is going to take you, you’ll have to leave now.”
At Hannah’s doorstep, Allie took a deep breath and reminded herself to act normal.
Just act like Miss Bitty and people will accept you, she told herself. Everyone loved the old woman, so maybe if she were like Miss Bitty, people would love her, too. She’d also try to be quiet. After all, she couldn’t say anything stupid if she didn’t talk.
Allie was still silently coaching herself when the door swung open and Hannah appeared. Allie strained to smile at the girl, but it disappeared when she noticed Hannah’s frown. “What’s wrong?” Allie asked.
“You’re not wearing your Daisy Dukes. You don’t look as country as you did this afternoon.”
“My what?”
“Daisy Dukes. Isn’t that what you call them here in the South? You know, your short shorts. Like these?” Hannah pointed to the jean shorts she was wearing. They were cut very short, one jagged pant leg noticeably longer than the other. Obviously she’d cut them herself.
Hannah sighed. “Oh, never mind.” She glanced past Allie and waved to Louis, who was backing out of the driveway. “Well, come on. We’ll hang out in my room.”
Once they reached the bedroom, Hannah flung herself on the bed. Allie stood awkwardly by the door, thinking about bolting. Screw having a girlfriend. She didn’t want to do this anymore. Her palms were sweating and she wanted nothing more than to chase Louis down and jump back in the car with him. After all, she’d never had a real girlfriend before, and there were probably a million good reasons why.
“I’m glad you came,” Hannah said, smiling. “Sit. Stay a while.”
Not having the courage to escape just yet, Allie reluctantly went to a purple beanbag chair and sat.
Hannah pulled a little round lavender tin from beneath her pillow. She unscrewed the lid and revealed purple tissue paper. “Do you party?” she asked, pulling the paper to the side and revealing a variety of pills of all shapes and sizes.
Allie’s stomach clenched at the memory of overdosing in the motel room. “I don’t do pills.”
“No? Okay, well, that’s cool.” Hannah picked out two pills, tossed them in her mouth, then grabbed a can of Sprite from her nightstand and washed them down. “You know, I’ve always wanted to be a country girl.”
Country girl? “Why?”