Never Always Sometimes - Adi Alsaid Page 0,49

the sink. “So, what did you and cool-

as-a-cutout Gretchen talk about? Let me guess,” she called out from

behind him. “Summer plans and how great college is going to be and

how she totally prefers the shitty beer we had tonight to other kinds

of shitty beer.”

DAVE 161

Dave forced a laugh. “Clearly, you’ve never had a conversation with

her.”

“Why would I want to?” Julia came back into the living room

holding a cup of water, which she drank from in great big gulps.

He thought about every wonderful thing he’d learned about

Gretchen. About her favorite song by Clem Snide, how she took care

of her brother, how she actually tried to live by what she believed in,

leaving the world a little better than she found it. If Julia knew that, she’d appreciate her, Dave knew. He just had to say it the right way to

make her see. “Gretchen and I . . .” Dave started. “I’ve seen her a couple of times outside of school now, and I really like her. A lot. I thought

you should know.”

Julia was quiet for a few moments, her back to him, finishing her glass

of water. She turned around slowly, smirking. “Oh, Dave, seriously? I

mean, I know we’re embracing clichés, but Gretchen Powers?”

He grabbed a plastic cup that was under the chair he was sitting on

and dropped it into his trash bag. “She’s not a cliché, Julia.”

“The blond chick who’s on the soccer team and dates older guys with

tattoos and smiles at everyone like she’s best friends with the whole

fucking world? Ha!” Julia turned back to the wall and pulled the beer

can out of the drywall, which crumbled and now had a gaping hole.

She wiped off the top of the can with her shirt and popped it open,

foam rising with a hiss over her hand and spilling on the carpet. “I bet she volunteers somewhere really snappy to get her college application

super shiny.”

162 NEVER ALWAYS SOMETIMES

“There’s more to her than meets the eye,” Dave said quietly. “There’s

more to most of these people than you realize; you’re just too busy

making fun of everyone to see it.”

“Whoa there, defender of the popular.” She went back to picking up

trash from around the living room, reaching for a cup that was tucked

under the head of the guy passed out on the love seat. “So, when did

the other side win you over?”

“It’s not about that.” Dave sighed. “Seriously, Gretchen is great.

You’d like her if you made the effort.”

“Okay, next student council meeting I’ll sit next to her.”

“What’s so wrong about student council?”

“Yikes. What’s so great about this girl that you’ll stand up for

student council on her behalf?”

Dave leaned back in the chair, running a hand through the little

that remained of his hair. “Look, I kissed her. We’ve had a couple of

dates. And yeah, she’s great. You’d think so, too, if you spent a little time with her instead of judging her from afar.”

“By great, do you mean pretty? ‘Cause I’ll give you that, the girl’s

pretty.”

“No, I mean great.”

“Wonderful. You made out with one of the cool kids; I’m happy

for you.”

“Just stop, Julia. I’m trying to tell you for the first time in our

friendship that I’m into someone.”

“You’re right,” Julia said. “Would you like a high five?”

DAVE 163

“You can be such an asshole,” Dave snapped. “It’s just never been

directed at me before, so I couldn’t see it.”

“Wow, you’re taking this personally.”

“No shit, Julia. I like the girl.” Dave stood from the chair. He had

to stand up, unload some of the sudden energy he was feeling. He

tensed his fingers into a fist. It was so unfair. He’d loved Julia for so long, and he’d always managed to be happy for her when she was

with other guys, however fleetingly. And now that he finally liked

someone else, she couldn’t return that simple favor. Julia had taken a

seat on the arm of the couch, her arms crossed in front of her chest,

still holding on to the garbage bag full of beer cans, which clinked

against each other like the world’s worst wind chime. “You know

what? I don’t think you have any idea what people are really like.

Your mom put this idea in your head about a life less ordinary, and I

let you drag me along with it because . . .” He exhaled, trailing off and turning his back to her.

Then he turned back around, tried to soften his voice. “We separated

ourselves from all these people, and we thought we knew who they are.

But we don’t, not at all.”

“I know who they are,” Julia said. “I just didn’t know you preferred

them over me.”

“Jesus