Page 95 of Electricity

“Yeah. I mean, of course he does. He’s the pitcher of a nationally ranked team. He’s always swimming in— he caught himself before he said something crude and finished with, “girls. When we go to out of town games you wouldn’t believe what goes on.” He stared off into space, remembering them. “I just didn’t think you were his type. Or that he was yours. Lacey probably told you he was amazing.”

“She said nothing of the sort!”

“Then why are you trying to get with him?” He was almost yelling and the walls of the cab felt like they were closing in. There was no good way to explain anything. Luckily for me, he went on. “When Hailey left—I just wanted a friend, okay? And I’m not an idiot. You’ve spent the past four years crushing on me.”

Guilty as charged.

“But of course, you want Danny instead. Is it because he’s older? Or more famous than me?”

“Liam.” There had to be some way for me not to blow this –

“No—you’re just like Hailey after all,” he announced, like he’d answered his own question. “Just another cheating whore.”

My jaw dropped, and things fell into place. I didn’t need to touch Liam’s phone to know what I’d find on it—the desperate texts, photos, voicemails, crying. Despite what the Redson student body believed, I would bet Liam hadn’t dumped Hailey when they went long distance—she’d dumped him, and I was in the truck-cab with a broken boy because of it.

All the members of the Lewis family had gotten so used to winning they didn’t know how to lose. Which was why he’d picked me to replace her. Someone like me—unpopular and naïve—was supposed to be a home run. Or a hole in one. A slam dunk. Pick your metaphor. “It just wasn’t supposed to be like this,” he said, with disgust.

“There’s a lot of that going around.” I looked around outside. It wasn’t dark out yet and we weren’t that far from Ventana. I angled back toward him and held up two fingers. “First—I don’t actually want Danny. No matter what he’s told you. He can go fuck himself—I’m sure he would if he could. Second? Maybe you’re a little too late. Maybe you should’ve wanted me, sooner. Maybe you shouldn’t have assumed I’d be waiting around all this time.” I opened the door and hopped out.

“Jessie!” he said and I didn’t know if he was honestly concerned about me, or the shreds of his own self-esteem.

“Don’t worry. I can walk from here,” I said, and slammed the door in his face. Five seconds later his truck zoomed off, leaving me walking by the side of the road.

I took my sweet time walking back. I wanted to make sure my mother was off to work before I got home. I sat down beneatha stand of silver maples, cursing the humidity and wishing I’d worn a skirt anyhow, and thought messages to my phone.

Hey

I texted Darius.

How’s it going?

How to answer him?

I’m only 99% sure it was Mason Green who took the pictures. But I’m 100% sure I just pissed off Liam.

Why couldn’t I’ve just kept my mouth shut and apologized and begged? How many girls at Redson would’ve killed to get into Liam’s truck-cab? Why wasn’t I normal—or at least, why couldn’t I fake it?

Mmmmmm. I think I can get you close to Mason.

Really? How?

Can’t text it, but I can tell you tomorrow.

I wondered why he couldn’t send it, then decided to push my luck.

How about when you’re picking me up?

K.

And after that, the humidity didn’t bother me as much.

For once, my mother didn’t wake me up to interrogate me in the middle of the night. The next morning I got Allie out the door in record time, then paced around. Should I still try to look nice? Did I want to attract attention? Not really, not after last night. But Darius was giving me a ride. We were ‘paused’ but what the hell did that really mean? I felt like all I did was run around in circles until his Corolla pulled up then I went outside with my stomach full of butterflies and I started talking the second I hopped in the car.

“So how do you know Mason?”

“Well, it may surprise you, but the baseball team’s favorite miscreant is a stoner—and not just any stoner, but he considers himself a connoisseur.”

“And?”

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