Page 15 of My Rock Star Neighbor
Chapter five
Maddie
I’mstillstaringatthe photo Nick texted me with a million thoughts racing in my head.
I can’t believe the paparazzi caught me sitting on his lap.His career must really be taking off.
I hope nobody at work sees this.
We look cute together.
He really was comforting me and had his arms around me.
My lips curve up in a smile.I didn’t imagine that.I save the photo to my favorite photos file.
Iris, one of my best friends since high school, nudges me.People often think we’re sisters, probably because we both have brown hair, although hers is straighter, and, after all these years of friendship, similar mannerisms.We also grew up together on the Lower East Side.Her dad owns Craic and Laughs, the bar we end the night at if we go out.
We’re sitting at the counter by the window in our favorite dumpling place, around the corner from my apartment.Not that we can really see out the glass because it is covered by a huge menu that announces how cheap the dumplings are.
“But how can you not participate in this panel?”Iris asks.
Get it together.The alumni fundraiser panel to discuss press careers at my old middle school with news legend Twyla Jackson.And me.That’s what Iris and I are discussing.Or rather, Iris is while I’m off daydreaming about impossibilities.
“Maybe Twyla Jackson can be a mentor,” Iris says.“And even if that doesn’t work out, it would look great on your resume.”
I nod and turn off my phone.I will not be tempted by Nick.This is my career we’re discussing.
Every table in this place is full—but then, only six tables fit in the front space.The construction worker next to me places his hard hat between him and us; he’s eating a steaming dumpling scallion soup.I pop another dumpling into my mouth and savor the soupy filling.Another customer comes in to pick up their order.
Iris is right that I should do it, but…
“I just don’t want to go back,” I say.“What if that circle of classmates is there?They were so horrible to me.”Mocked me.Nobody sat with me at lunch out of fear of being “contaminated” and made to suffer social ostracism too.But they were willing to call me for homework help at night.Luckily, I left them behind when I went to a different high school than they did.I’ve often thought about what I did that made me the target of those bullies, but I guess I was more interested in studying and refused to participate in their mean girl games.“This is part of an alumni fundraiser, so they could be there.I don’t want to see them again.I definitely don’t want to have to be nice to them and pretend it’s all cool now.”
“You don’t have to be nice to them.Ignore them,” Iris says.“Maybe they’ll even apologize.And it’s not like they can affect you now.”
“I don’t think bullies change personalities.”And I don’t want to test whether they can affect me now.
“Sebastian and I will come so you won’t be alone.We can be rude to anybody who talks to you.Especially Sebastian.”
I should do it.Even though it’s open to current students and alumni, why would they bother to show up?Because they seemedobsessedwith picking on me back then.Thinking about it now, I can see that my refusal to be mean to those they designated as objects of scorn had to be punished, or others might not respect their fiefdom.Once they found out my mom was Jill’s Cookies, it was even worse.They delighted in asking me if I was chubby because I had to taste all the oatmeal cookies.
But last year, I’d written an article about Riley, a bullied high schooler who’d created a national campaign to stop bullying, and I’d been okay revisiting my experience (not that I wrote about it in the article, but in talking about it with Riley).I think one of the reasons Riley and I connected was that I definitely understood how damaging bullying is to your confidence.The article won an award, but that still had not been enough for a promotion.
“I’ll go,” I say.If I let the fear of them prevent me from going to this, then I really am not over them.
“Ask Nick to accompany you,” Iris says.
“Nick’s not going to go with me to some middle school event.”
“Pitch it as something that could polish his image,” Iris suggests.“We can all say we’ve never seen him with that woman if the press asks us any questions.”
“Actually, there’s a new story,” I say.“And now I’m the girlfriend.”
“What?”Iris asks.
She is not going to like this.She dated the lead singer of a band and caught him cheating on her.I show her the article that Nick sent me, just as Jing walks in.Jing is my best friend atThe Intelligencer.She says hello to the owner in Chinese and then takes the seat vacated by the construction guy.
“Sorry I’m late, but Maddie, what is going on with you and Nick?”Jing unwraps her brown scarf that matches her eyes.“Are you dating?”
