Page 57 of As You Walk On

Watching Makayla mingle is intriguing. She’s great at peopling. Laughs on cue. Maintains eye contact. Tosses her hair in that fun way. Nothing against any of the cheer squad—I don’t know 60 percent of them beyond their ponytails and the occasional group project—but Makayla comes off as the most genuine in public situations.

Lexi says, “Can you believeshe’shere?”

Makayla blinks twice. “Who?”

For a future Hollywood ingenue, her confused act needs work.

My back tightens in anticipation of Lexi’s next words. She sighs melodramatically. “Aleah, that sneaky bitch.”

I hate that last word. Whatever anger I’ve been storing deep in my belly bubbles up. My fingers squeeze around the last cup in the stack in my arms, crunching until it cracks. Sharp plastic edges dig into my palm. I’m unfazed. My glare intensifies when Lexi jumps, surprised.

I keep waiting for Makayla to correct Lexi, but her silence says enough.

It’s as loud as Jay’s was back at SpeedEx.

I’m so tired of popular kids protecting their own rep at the expense of someone else’s by staying quiet. Never denying the blatant lies. Letting shit happen.

“Oh, hi, Theo,” says Lexi, cool and casual, like I’m in their little squad.

“Don’t call her that,” I say, ignoring Lexi’s aghast expression. “She’s not a...”

Irefuseto say it. Ever. Especially when referring to another person.

Lexi folds her arms. She’s wearing a body-hugging LeBron James jersey that stops mid-thigh. The barest trim of black shorts peeks from underneath. Her ponytail swings wildly as she assesses me. “And you know this, because... what? You were there?”

I bite out a “No.”

“Derek told you?”

“Nope.”

“Are you and...Aleah”—Lexi struggles not to say the other word—“besties?”

I shake my head. We’re nothing close to friends, which really makes me reconsider this hill I’ve suddenly decided to die on. But I’m having a shitty night. And Aleah isn’t here to defend herself. I can’t let it go.

I can’t be another Jay.

“Last I checked, she wasmybest friend,” Lexi snaps. “Before she fucked up. You have no right—”

“To stand up for someone who’s not around when her ‘bestie’ shits on her reputation?”

Lexi sucks air through her teeth.

“Look, I don’t know what happened,” I clarify lowly when I realize a trio of seniors has taken a serious interest in our conversation, “but she deserves better than to be disrespected behind her back.”

Better than me, I don’t say.

Discreetly, Makayla pinches my hip. She grins tightly at Lexi. Pretty sure it’s her way of telling me to shut up.

She’s doing a fantastic job of being quiet for both of us.

Lexi hasn’t budged. Her usually bronze face is crimson. Whatever. Guess I’ll have a list of people who hate me by the end of tonight. She can fall in line behind KD and Aleah.

“Gee, Mack.” Lexi rotates to face Makayla. “I heard you were cuddled up with Luca Ramírez earlier? Damn, girl. You move quick.”

Makayla shifts uncomfortably.

Lexi drags her eyes up me. “Never suspected fuckboys were your taste.”

---