or two about jokes from Zac. At least Zac actually knew something about comedy.
Why was I thinking about Zac?
I pushed past Elliott, not caring that my backpack hit him in the stomach. “I have to get to class.”
“See you later,” I heard Molly say to Elliott. Then she was at my side again, almost running to keep up with me.
“What is your problem?”
I raised my eyebrows. “My problem? You’re the one hanging all over Elliott Reiser like a pathetic lovesick idiot.”
She stepped in front of me, blocking my path. Molly may have been small, but she was a force to be reckoned with when she was angry. “You don’t have to be so rude to Elliott all the time.”
“Then maybe he should stay away so I won’t have to be.” I tried to move past her, but Molly anticipated my movements and slid to the left along with me.
She crossed her arms, scowling up at me. “I’ve listened to your complaints about Elliott for two years now. And I haven’t yet seen him do any of the things you accuse him of. What exactly do you have against him? It’s something more than what you’re telling me, I know it. Out with it.”
I almost told her everything. About the little gumball friendship ring with the plastic purple stone in the center that I had buried in the bottom of my jewelry box because I had never been able to throw it away. I almost told her about how in the end, everyone had turned their backs on me. How I wasn’t good enough for any of them. Not for my mom, not Hannah, and not Elliott.
And one day, not Molly either.
But I couldn’t say the words. If I told her about what had happened, she wouldn’t see me as the person she knew. She’d understand then how imperfect I really was.
“I lost all confidence in him long ago,” I whispered, my gaze locked on the toes of my shoes.
“That Lila Mahoney thing?” Molly waved a hand, dismissing it. “That’s ancient history and Elliott says it got blown way out of proportion. You can’t always believe the things you hear.”
I didn’t bother to correct her. If I opened my mouth, words I was too afraid to say might come spilling out.
Chapter 19
Hannah always had a way of appearing out of nowhere around me. An empty bathroom, a shadowy corner under the stairs in the junior hall, even a carpeted basement den where I’d thought she wouldn’t be nearby to see what I was about to do. Hannah had some kind of sixth sense about me and she always knew exactly when I didn’t want to see her.
Diggity Dog House was crowded, as it usually was after school when everyone stopped for a milkshake or chili cheese fries on their way home. I stood at the back wall behind the counter, scrubbing drops of sticky soda off the drink dispenser with my back to the register. It should have been impossible for me to even hear her low voice when she said my name. But my head turned before I’d had a chance to reconsider acknowledging the call and there she was, standing on the other side of the counter.
I wanted to pretend I hadn’t seen her and go back to my scrubbing, but I knew Hannah Cohen wouldn’t let me go that easily. If Mr. Throckmorton saw me ignoring a customer, he’d have a coronary anyway, so it was best to suck it up and head into the lion’s den.
All day I’d been trying to work up the nerve to speak to her, to tell her I was done with this whole boyfriend thief deal, and she could have her money back. The check weighed heavily in my pocket, taunting me. Could I give up Costa Rica for Zac Greeley?
“Welcome to Diggity Dog House. What can I get for you this Diggity Dog day?” Every time I said those words, I wanted to shove my hot dog hat down my own throat.
Hannah tossed her hair back and lifted her chin as she looked at me. “I thought I paid you to steal my boyfriend.” How did she always manage to look cool and sweat-free even in the scorching heat? A sweaty, miserably hot Hannah was less intimidating than one who didn’t seem to be susceptible to heat like everyone else.
“You did.” My teeth clenched together as I fought against the part of me that wanted to hang onto the check and