Page 28 of I Knew He Was Trouble
I feel lighter as I walk back to my office. Maybe a little Darla magic was all I needed to turn this day around.
I pull the slingshot back as far as I can before releasing it. An apple goes flying through the air and lands in the grass just to the right of the target. Another miss.
“Maybe if I pretend the target is Tyler’s face, I’ll have better luck,” I mutter sarcastically under my breath.
When I turn and grab another apple, I make eye contact with Alyssa, who’s looking at me like I’m one step away from losing it. Maybe I am… There’s just something about Tyler that drives me crazy.
“Kels.” She draws out my name and slowly steps toward me with her arms out in front of her like I’m a deer she doesn’t want to scare away. “Put down the apple.”
“Hilarious,” I deadpan.
“Mal! Shay!” she yells over her shoulder.
I watch them shoot their final apple together at the station next to us before they head over.
Shayna’s expression instantly turns from sunshine to a rain cloud when she looks at Alyssa. “What’s wrong?”
I fold my arms across my chest. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“She’s coding,” Alyssa says at the same time.
Shay rocks on the balls of her feet. “Already?”
“I didn’t think it would come to this.” Mallory smooths down her wavy hair.
I look between all my besties and wait for them to explain what’s happening. When they don’t elaborate, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“It’s hospital-speak here for when a patient is in critical condition and needs immediate attention.” Mallory picks up my last apple, tosses it in the air, and catches it.
“Do I look gravely ill, and none of you told me?” I pinch my cheeks, trying to add some color to them.
“You look perfect.” Shay wraps me in a hug. “That burgundy sweater really complements the green flecks in your eyes.”
I flip my caramel-brown hair over my shoulder. “Thanks for noticing.” Eyeing down my other roommates, I say, “Then what’s the code thing for?”
Alyssa’s eyes drop to the dirt. When Mallory looks like she’s hit with the realization that no one else will answer, she sighs. “Isn’t it obvious? It’s a medical term for your new boss.”
“Everything’s fine with me and Dr. Evil.”
Mallory snorts. At least someone thinks my nicknames are funny.
Alyssa gives me a sympathetic smile. “Kels, I heard you say you were going to pretend the targets were Tyler’s face. If you classify that asfine, I’m scared to know your definition of bad.”
I press my lips together, debating how much I want to tell my friends. I don’t want them to feel bad for me or encourage me to quit because I’m still not ready to tell them why I need the money. I know they would support my dream, but I’m still terrified to talk about it when it may be unachievable.
Before I can think of something to say, Shayna jumps in. “I know we usually take the hayride to pick our pumpkins, but I think this information calls for the early arrival of our fall baking tradition to cheer up Kels.”
“Do you mean…”
Shayna nods. “I think it’s time we make our girl Taylor’s chai cookies.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Alyssa grabs her belt bag off the ground, dusting off the dirt before putting it on. She’swearing the perfect fall outfit: a tan knit sweater tucked into a black jean miniskirt finished off with black thigh-high boots and a burnt-orange silk scarf tied around her half pony.
I feel casual in my burgundy sweater, leggings, and white platform sneakers, but I think anyone would feel dressed down when standing next to Alyssa. Even though she’s always dressed to the nines, she’s also one of the kindest people I know. Plus, I know that even though Alyssa almost always looks put-together, she can still rock an oversized t-shirt and shorts from her high school days. So, she’s not that different from the rest of us.
Motioning to the slingshot, I say, “I just have one more thing I need to do.” I take the final apple that Mallory hands me and place it in the slingshot. I pull it back until I can feel the muscles in my arms straining from the tension. Staring at the target, I imagine Tyler’s smug grin right in the middle of it, and I release the slingshot.
The apple soars through the air, and my friends let out a collective gasp as we watch it near the target. The apple not only hits the target but is a perfect bullseye—or, in my mind, a shot straight to Tyler’s nose.
