Page 16 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“No,” I say, shocked.“I would tell you.”
“It looks like you’re dating,” Jing says.
“It does,” I say.It does!And then I deflate.We are sonotdating.
I slide over the plate of dumplings I ordered in advance for Jing as she dumps her much more contained bag by her feet, next to my huge carryall.
I stuff another dumpling into my mouth with my chopsticks.At this point, I need to plead the full mouth excuse.
Iris looks up.“Well, now he really should attend that middle school event with you.Now that he’s stuck you in this mess.But don’t fall for him.You can say you’re good friends.But even good friends should impress that middle school crowd.”
Nick would definitely impress.
“How can you say no to being on a panel withtheTwyla Jackson?She’s my idol,” Jing says.“You agree, right, Iris?”
“Yes.It shouldn’t even be a question.”
So easy for Iris to say.But the thought of seeing that group again makes my skin crawl.And it’s been years.The worst was when they painted the back of my gym shorts with spots of red nail polish, and everybody laughed at me.
“It’s especially perfect because of thatVarietyarticle,” Jing says.“They can assume he really is your boyfriend.”
“I can’t believe he has paparazzi already.And that I was in some paparazzi shot.”
“The way you’re looking at each other is smoking,” Jing says.
“But it’s not true,” I say.
“You didn’t sit in his lap?”Iris asks, her head tilted, with that look in her eyes that says,Don’t think you can try to get away with this.
Great.I’m getting investigator Iris and not best friend Iris.
“I tripped, and he grabbed me in time and then sat down with me in his lap,” I say.
“See.You were sitting in his lap, and he could have dumped you on the plastic crate if he really had no feelings for you,” Jing says.
And now, reporter Jing.
“Thanks,” I say wryly.“The emotions you’re ascribing to the photo aren’t true.”
“You guys are still friends, so there’s some emotional care there,” Jing says.
“That’s all there is,” I say.
“It’s a start.”Jing bumps me with her shoulder.
“That’s all there should be,” Iris says.
Does Jing also think I have a crush on Nick?I know Iris does.And if both Jing and Iris do, then what if Nick does?I don’t want Nick to be worried I’m falling for him and feel like he has to pull back from our friendship.
I don’t think he does.It’s not like the time in middle school when those mean girls kept sending me fake notes from the most popular guy and I believed them.That popular guy was nice to me because he wanted my help with his homework.I sent him a note back “reciprocating” his feelings, and that note was photocopied and plastered all over my locker with hisUGHon it.Actually, that was worse than the red nail polish on my shorts.He made sure I knew I shouldn’t acknowledge him in any subsequent encounter.
Such unnecessary cruelty.
At least Mr.Popular failed his next English test without me to help him study.
“I’d have to bribe Nick and let him play all night or something,” I say.
“You can sleep in our living room.Or my bedroom at my parents’ house is available,” Iris says.Her phone beeps.“Oh, we have a cybersecurity incident.I have to go and check it out.”She stuffs the last dumpling into her mouth and cleans up her trash.Jing and I hug her goodbye and watch her dash off.
