Page 98 of The Friend Scheme
“Um… at the ball.”
“Did you not listen to what Vince said? The only people we can trust right now are our family. Everyone else is a threat.”
That’s not true, though. Vince said we should be worried aboutnewfriends. Not old ones. But I can’t challenge my father. That’s not how our relationship works. He knows best, always. Surely if Luke said exactly the same thing he wouldn’t be mad at him. He’s mad because I’m the one who said it, and I can never do anything right. I forgot that for a second.
“But that’s the thing, this isaboutthe Friend Scheme! She had this theory, and I think it’s a really good one. Like—”
“Matthew!” he shouts. “Be quiet!”
I shrink back.
I could cry. Obviously I’m not going to. But I could.
“I’m sorry,” he says as he rubs his temples. “I didn’t mean to yell, I’ve had a long day. And you just frustrate me sometimes. Why is it so hard for you to do what I tell you? We can’t trust anyone right now, so you should just know you shouldn’t be spending time with her, at least until we’ve gotten to the bottom of this.”
I frustrate him sometimes.He’s never said that to me, even though I’ve assumed it for a while. Hearing it is a totally different thing.
It makes me feel broken.
“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “You’re right; it’s dumb.”
I turn to walk back to my room.
“No, Matt, wait.”
I ignore him, because I know he doesn’t really mean that. He doesn’t want me to wait.
He wants me to be like Luke. To be good at this stuff.
He wants me to not be me.
I go back into my room and close my door.
It’s just so dumb. He’s wrong, anyway. Vince said we can’t trust anyone new. Why would he be mad about me being friends with Cassidy? There’s nothing wrong with me doing that, so I have no idea why he got upset.
Whatever.
My phone is resting on my bed. I lift it and see I have a new notification. It’s from Instagram.
Jason has followed me back.
He’s also liked a bunch of my pictures. He’s even sent me a DM.
Who knew you were such a good photographer! Just when I think you couldn’t get any cooler.
In spite of everything, I smile. I start typing a response.
You’re the cool one!! But hey, are you free? I really want to see you.
I hit send.
Hey! Yeah, I am actually, my parents are out for the night, they took my sister to a movie. So I have the place to myself, for the next hour at least…
It feels risky. An hour isn’t much time. But I can’t be here right now.
I just can’t.
Can I come over?
