Page 48 of What I Like About You

I’m sitting at the bar with Sawyer, far enough away from the music that we can speak without screaming over each other. Sawyer is the easiest to talk to of everyone in Le Crew because we can go into cupcake mode. I pour myself a glass of water and fill a paper plate with veggies. Individually dip each stick into the ranch dressing because that takes time. One, two, three, celery sticks. Four, five, six, baby carrots.

“You know, we thought you wouldn’t show,” Sawyer says.

I swallow celery and my face starts to burn. “Oh. Sorry to disappoint.”

He looks confused. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Hey, Halle.” Autumn appears on my other side with a plate of apple wedges and honey. She’s traded her black skinny jeans and graphic tee for a black and purple striped skater dress matched with bedazzled combat boots.

“Hi,” I manage.

“Nice win, Sawyer,” Autumn says, mid-chew. “Molly and Sawyer made a bet on whether or not you’d show.”

“Seriously?” I ask.

“Yup,” Sawyer says. “And I just won twenty bucksandaKung Fu Pandamarathon.”

“Molly hatesKung Fu Panda,” Autumn says.

“Oh,” I say, because what do you say when every anxiousthought you’ve had around Le Crew is validated? Also, I have zeroKung Fu Pandaopinions.

Across the room, Molly turns on the giant flat-screen TV. She’s in a blue floral-print dress, her hair curled in soft waves and bangs swept to the side. She puts the controller down and smiles, waving over to Autumn and Sawyer.

“Hey, Halle!”

And me, I guess. I’m somehow included in the group Molly is waving to?

We move through the crowds, toward the actualmediaside of the media room. Molly uncoils microphones, while Sawyer plugs his phone into the speakers and queues up a playlist. Molly tosses a mic to Nash, who is now sitting at the end of the navy-blue sectional, feet up. I swallow. Every time I look at Nash, even for a second, it feels like too long, so I take a seat on the ottoman in front of the couch with my back to him. Great plan. Yes.

Until he taps my shoulder.

I twist slowly to face him. Music is blasting in my ears and it’s loud, so loud. Nash leans forward in his seat so I can hear him, his forearms resting on his knees. He’s so close and I’m grateful for the music because without it, Nash would hear my hammering heart. I’m sure of it.

“Hey,” he says over the music. “I need food before the singing commences and all the good drinks are upstairs. Do you want anything?”

I consider sayingno thanks, but a drink would be great and I’m afraid if I go upstairs, I’ll never come back down.

“Ginger ale, please?” I ask.

Nash stands and his eyebrows raise, surprised. He smiles, almost to himself, as though this isprogress. He’ll definitely message Kels about this. “One ginger ale, coming right up.”

Nash leaves and I move into his corner spot on the now-empty couch, claiming my space, and I can finally scroll through my phone in relative peace. There is even more Alanna LaForest drama in my Twitter feed and I’ve definitely missed something in the last half hour. I click one of the dozens of articles that have taken over my timeline.

Eva Louise@EvaReports 23min

FIREFLIES & YOU author @AlannaLaForest slams creative team behind the film adaption. Says it’s “not just a teen movie.” Full story here: https://bit.ly/2KZOzpw

[550 comments] [1.1k ] [4k ]

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Elle Carter@ellewriteswords 17min

but you’ll profit off teens like @OneTruePastry’s free labor lol ok @AlannaLaForest

[979 comments] [10k ] [25k ]

I click the link and put my hand over my mouth to stifle the groan that escapes. Seriously, Alanna? You arenotmaking this easy. There are too many messages in my group chat with my friends to scroll through, and if I start responding I won’t be able to step away, so I’ll catch up later. First the EW article, now this? Now you’regoing to target your own movie? Do I not have to sign a boycott, since she seems to be boycotting it herself? And would that now make it somehow okay to see the movie? I’m not sure.

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