Page 34 of Faux Real
“Ha ha ha,” she scowls, sucking in a long breath. “You’re so funny.”
“I am, aren’t I?” I ask with a smug smile. “You’resolucky to date someone withsomany great qualities.”
“Oh yeah,” she snorts, taking a container out of her pocket and popping a blue mint into her mouth. “I really hit the jackpot. Arrogantandself-absorbed? Ah,sign me up!”
“I think you like it,” I muse. “I think you find meexciting.”
Kennedy rolls her eyes but there’s a ghost of a smile gracing her lips. “Actually, I find you to berudeandirritating.”
“And hot,” I wink. “Lest we forget that.”
“That’s a lot of self-love you’ve got there, Oliver.” Kennedy shakes her head, clicking her tongue cheekily. “IwishI had your confidence.”
I snort. “I think you’ve got plenty of confidence, love. Not many girls would proposition a guy they barely know and break a plethora of school rules for the sake of social survival.”
“No. That’s not confidence, Oliver,” Kennedy whispers in a low despondent tone, her face falling. “That’s fear.”
“Fear?” I ask, the atmosphere around us drastically changing, no longer light, no longer playful.
“What?” she asks. Perhaps she didn’t mean to say that out loud. “Oh—” she chuckles nervously. “Um...nothing. Forget it.” She half-smiles, checking the time on her watch. “I have to get some work done but I’ll uh—see you in a few hours for Lemar’s party, okay? My driver will pick us up.”
She’s deflecting but I don’t care enough to pry. I don’t care enough to ask why her eyes are glossy. Why she’s fiddling with her zipper. Why she suddenly looks so lost.
“I was going to take my bike.”
“Are you drinking?” she asks.
“Maybe,” I say with a shrug. “Not sure.”
“Then we’re taking the car,” she states firmly. “I need you alive.”
Air blows out my nose. “Don’t worry. I’m still here.”
Alive but not living.
twelve
Far from the Tree
KENNEDY
“Didyouleaveyet?”Max’s voice cracks through the speaker of my phone. “Hurry up and leave! My mom dropped me off early at Lemar’s so she could hit the casino. I’m bored! Fel and Leon aren’t here yet! Hurry up!”
“Max, I’mjustheading out now!” I exclaim as I apply one more layer of blush pink lip stain, my hand shaking in the process. Bless you, lip liner. “I know I’m running fifteen minutes late but oh my God, you would not believe the productive day I’ve had!”
“Yeah? Whatcha do?” Max asks, distant yelling and house music in the background. Guess the party already started.
“Well, this morning I went for a long run, then I talked to Oliver for a little bit and gave him—” I pause. Yikes. Can’t mention the key to Max, she’d rage. Also, probably shouldn’t mention that he was shirtless, Maxie will getjeal-ous. “Amuffinand then I finished one paper, did a butt-ton of research for another, watched a documentary on the Cold War, and I learned some Russian!Zdravstvuyte, menya zovut Kenny!”
“Russian?” Max asks warily as I check out my reflection in the mirror. I don’t normally wear dresses with this much cleavage but today I’m feeling adventurous.
“Yes, Russian! I had some time and I thought I’d dabble in a little Slavic tongue,” I say, grabbing my purse off of my desk. “Maybe I can insult Larisa soon. She’ll never see it coming!”
“Kenny?” Max asks with a deep sigh. “What?”
“How many did you take today?”
I roll my eyes. “None,” I lie. What is she? My mom? Oh that’s right, shecan’tbe my mom because Maxactuallyseems to care about me. “I just had a lot of coffee and I’m in a good mood.”
