Page 20 of Class Act

I shook my head, jaw clenching, as I uncrossed my arms enough to gesture at him. I was unwilling to tell him that I was wondering what my parents were thinking right now. Or that I was worried I’d somehow imagined him into reality, as though the universe had heard my lonely cries and delivered him right to my doorstep and then said ‘no touchie.’

“When is the last time you dated?” he asked.

My mouth opened and shut. It was none of his business that it had been at least five years since I’d truly dated anyone consistently. “Why?”

“I’m thinking that someone who dates regularly is more comfortable around men. I’m trying to decide if it’s me you’re upset about or if any man would have gotten under your skin this way.”

Of all the arrogant assumptions. “I’m plenty comfortable with men.”

He nodded. “Fair enough. I’m sorry I said anything.”

I moved sideways in the tiny space, wanting away from this conversational nightmare. I fully intended to escape at all costs, even if it meant bumping him into the vanity as I made my way out. Fortunately--because really, I would have felt bad later--he swung sideways, and my shoulder brushed his chest as I passed by.

“Cherry pie is my favorite,” he said a millisecond before I rounded the corner into the kitchen where the others were.

“How disappointing,” I replied over my shoulder.

He had the audacity to laugh.

CHAPTER SIX

My forehead was pressed tightly to the faculty lunch table as I let out a moan, having barely finished telling my best friends about the fiasco that was Sunday dinner the night before. Ruby placed a comforting hand on my back and rubbed in light circles.

“It sounds awful,” she soothed.

I shook my head, making a squeaking sound as my skin scraped back and forth. “It was me and only me.” I looked up at their sympathetic faces, knowing I had a red mark on my forehead and not caring. “I turned into some sort of Mr. Hyde monster, completely transforming into a horrible version of myself that I did not know existed.”

“It’s true that I’ve never seen you act that way. I’m kind of having a hard time picturing it,” Aryn soothed.

“Some men will drive you to it,” Meredith said, the tone of experience behind her words. “I’m perfectly lovely until Brooks VanOrman . . .” We all groaned, having heard much about him over the past several months. Poor Brooks VanOrman--who we only ever called by his full name--had gotten on Meredith’s bad side from almost the first moment he’d been elected into his position as her HOA president. “What?”

“We get it, Brooks VanOrman is your nemesis. I wish you’d kiss him already and be done with it,” Aryn said, mouth pinched.

“Kissing does have a way of helping people find middle ground,” Lizzie nodded wisely.

Meredith’s mouth dropped open. “Kiss him? We are not here to give me unsolicited advice. We’re here to support Hailey. I’m simply saying, I understand what she’s going through. I’m not myself around Brooks VanOrman.” She huffed and picked up her drink, sitting back in her chair to take a sip. “Let’s get back to Hailey.”

With kind-hearted mutual agreement everyone refocused on me, and I sat up straight again.

“What did your parents think about it all?” Lizzie asked, twirling a tight curl around her forefinger as she spoke.

“I don’t really know,” I replied.

“I’m still in shock that you left the bathroom, grabbed your things, and stalked out of there,” Aryn said in an awed tone. “Welcome to the world of drama.”

“Without even one bite of what was probably an amazing pie,” Ruby commiserated.

I shook my head, humiliation washing over me once more, taking all the volume from my voice. “I’ve never done anything like that before. I didn’t know I was capable of it.” What must Ford think? I moaned to myself.

Aryn patted my arm. “We’re all capable of dramatic episodes.” Her hand on my arm squeezed lightly, reminding me that she truly understood the depth of my inner battle.

“Although you’re usually our classy cucumber,” Lizzie observed.

“Classy cucumber?” I questioned, feeling a tug of mirth.

“It’s not a bad description,” Ruby joined in. “You are usually so cool and unflappable.”

I nodded with an eye roll. “Well, consider me flapped, then.” I sighed loudly. “I actually feel physically ill today. I was mean. Can you get a meanness hangover?”

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