Page 6 of Better Than the Movies
“No, but that’s beside the point. He invited Michael right in front of us. It’s common courtesy that he should invite us, too.”
“But you hate Wes.”
“So?”
“So why would you want him to invite you anywhere?”
I sighed. “His rudeness just pisses me off.”
“Well I, for one, am glad he didn’t, because I don’t want to go to any party that those guys are having. I’ve been to Ryno’s, and it’s all about beer bongs, Fireball, and that never-have-I-ever kind of immature stuff.”
Joss used to hang out with the popular kids before she quit volleyball, so she’d “partied” a little before we became friends. “But—”
“Listen.” Jocelyn stopped walking and grabbed my arm to stop me from walking too. “That’s what I was going to tell you. Kate said he lives next door to Laney and they’ve been talking for a couple weeks now.”
“Laney? LaneyMorgan?” Nooo. It couldn’t be true. No-no-no-no, please, God, no. “But he just got here—”
“Apparently he moved back a month ago but was finishing classes online at his other school. Rumor has it that he and Laney are almost official.”
Not Laney. My stomach clenched as I pictured her perfect little nose. I knew it was irrational, but the idea of Laney and Michael was almost too much for me to bear. That girl alwaysgot everything I wanted. She couldn’t have him, dammit.
The thought of them, together, made my throat tight. It made my heart hurt.
It would crush me.
Because not only was he everything I daydreamed about, but he and I had history. The wonderful, important kind of history that involved drinking from garden hoses and catching lightning bugs. I thought back to the last time I’d seen Michael. It’d been at his house. His family had had a cookout to say goodbye to all the neighbors, and I’d walked over with my parents. My mom had made her famous cheesecake bars, and Michael had met us at the door and offered us drinks like he was a grown-up.
My mom had called it the most adorable thing she’d ever seen.
All the neighborhood kids played kickball in the street for hours that night, and the adults even joined us for a game. At one point, my mother was high-fiving Michael after stealing home base in her floral sundress and wedge sandals. That moment was pressed in my memories like a yellowed photograph in an antique album.
I don’t think Michael ever had a clue as to how madly in love with him I’d been. They moved a month before my mom died, breaking the tip of my soon-to-be shattered heart.
Jocelyn looked at me like she knew exactly what I was thinking. “Michael Young is not your racing-to-the-train-station dude. Got it?”
But he could be.“Well, technically they aren’t official yet, so…”
We started walking again, dodging bodies as we headed for her locker. We were probably going to be late because of ourimpromptu hallway meet-up with Michael, but it would totally be worth it.
“Seriously. Don’t be that girl.” She gave me her motherly scowl. “That there with Michael was not your meet-cute.”
“But.” I didn’t even want to say it because I didn’t want her to shoot it down. Still, I almost squealed when I said, “What if it was?”
“Oh my god. I knew, the second I heard he was back, that you were going to lose it.” Her eyebrows went down, and so did the corners of her lips as she stopped in front of the locker and turned the lock. “You don’t even know the guy anymore, Liz.”
I could still hear his deep voice sayingy’all,and my stomach dipped. “I know everything I need to know.”
She sighed and pulled out her backpack. “Is there anything I can say to yank you back from this?”
I tilted my head. “Um… he hates cats, maybe?”
She held up a finger. “That’s right—I forgot. He hates cats.”
“He does not.” I grinned and sighed, thinking back. “He used to have these two snarky cats that headored. You should’ve seen the way he treated those babies.”
“Ew.”
“Whatever, hater of felines.” I felt alive, buzzing with the thrill of romantic possibilities as I leaned against the closed locker next door. “Michael Young is fair game until I hear an official proclamation.”
