Page 7 of Don't Love the Boy Next Door
“I can’t believe you actually did that,” I say with a laugh. “You definitely have guts.”
After dumping the leftovers she brought in the fridge, she hops onto the couch. “Some may call it guts, others might call it insanity. Me, I just call it “Another Day in the Life of Phoenix Ellis.’”
“Did you vlog yourself walking like that?”
She grins. “What do you think?” She reaches for the remote and turns on the TV. “So what are we watching today?” She opens Netflix and starts searching through the options. “Ooh, look a new action movie.”
“Eh, not in the mood.”
“Yeah. Hmm…ooh, what about a foreign show? Korean, Japanese?”
I lean back on the couch and stretch. “Not really in the mood to read subtitles.”
“True. Today’s a pajama day. We have to watch the most relaxing show in the world.” She flips through a few more options. “Okay, got it! A high school romance series.”
I’m not really in the mood for a show right now. I don’t think I’m in the mood for anything, really. But I shrug and tell her I’m fine with it.
“Cool. I’ll go microwave some popcorn.”
While she does that, I check my phone. Thankfully, I don’t have any texts.
“Aaaand I’m back!” She hops onto the couch, nearly hurling some popcorn across the room. “Woops.” She picks up the remote and starts the episode. “I hope it’s good. I’m in the mood for a good drama.”
Not me. I think I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime.
The show’s pretty interesting so far. About a nerdy girl getting together with a popular guy. So cliché, I know, but there’s something about the girl’s personality that makes you want to be her best friend. And the guy is sweet, not a jerk like some jocks are portrayed. At any other time, this would be right up my ally. But I’m just not into it.
“Oh my gosh, so good,” Phoenix says as she starts the next episode. “You’re so quiet. What do you think?”
“It’s cool,” I say.
“Cool, that’s it?” She pauses the show and turns to me with worried eyes. “You okay?”
“Fine.” I force a smile. “Start the episode.”
Her eyes rove over me like she wants to say more, but then she resumes the show and tosses some popcorn into her mouth.
The nerdy girl and popular guy find themselves in a tiny closet, their bodies pressed so close together they’re practically fused into one person. The guy’s eyes fall to her lips. Hers drops to his. Then their faces move toward each other’s.
Just as the guy is about to close his mouth over hers, the girl stumbles back, causing various cleaning supplies to crash to the floor. It starts a domino effect, knocking over almost every item in the closet.
With a look of horror, the girl yanks the door open and flees.
The image of me fleeing from Eric and rolling down the steps flashes before my eyes. Grabbing the remote, I shut the TV. “Let’s do something else.”
Phoenix shifts over on the couch so she faces me, her gaze scrutinizing mine. “Okay, I wanted to give you some space,you know, because I can be overprotective of you sometimes. But I can’t take it anymore. I know something’s bothering you. Seriously, what happened at rehearsal yesterday?”
“Nothing.” I pluck one of the cushions and pull on a loose thread, my eyes anywhere but on her face.
“Uh uh.” She folds her arms over her chest and lifts her brow like she means business.
I sigh. “It’s no big deal. Just forget about it.”
She keeps her eyes on me for a few seconds before releasing her own sigh and turning the TV back on. Then she shuts it off and faces me again. “No, I can’t. Sorry, Kates, but I need to know what’sgoingon. You got Belle. Why aren’t you dancing on the roof?”
“I am happy,” I insist, “more than you can ever imagine.”
“Doesn’t look like it.”
