Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend - By Becca Ann Page 0,48
out like a rush of air, and she nods. “I know it’s stupid.”
“It’s not stupid, Mom.” ‘Cause it’s not. Our family shouldn’t be so messed up. I wish I had that buddy-buddy thing with Gabe like I used to. I even wish Mark was my real dad… okay, he’s my ‘real’ dad, but not my biological dad. And I wish Mom didn’t have to deal with it all.
“I miss having Quynn around.” She smiles and sort of nudges me. “Things were pretty good when she was, huh?”
Ah hell. This is the moment she chooses to tell me her obvious preference with the girls in my life? I get it. Mom and Quynn are like family. And things were awesome when Quynn was around. But she’s not Hayley. I can’t help but think if Mom knew Hayley, she wouldn’t be shoving Quynn in my face every chance she could.
“I guess.” That’s all that comes out.
“Okay, enough of the heavy.” Dad squeezes Mom’s shoulders. “Let’s talk about the fun stuff.”
They give me a play by play on their plans this week, Dad winking at Mom every time they say they’ll be ‘sleeping’. Yuck. Basically, all I hear is they’ll have a bunch of fun together, romance and all that other junk, and they’ll be home on Sunday night. Oh, and I’m not allowed to have an orgy.
Dually noted.
My phone rings right as Dad is givin’ Mom another wink, and I leap up to get it.
I thought only girls get all… what do they call it? Fluttery? Dude, I dunno, but crazy crap jumps up and down in my stomach when I see Hayles’ name on the screen.
“You guys done makin’ those gross faces? Can I…?” I hold up the phone and they both take the hint, Dad pinchin’ Mom’s butt on the way out.
Yes, it’s gross ‘cause it’s my parents, but seein’ them together, that’s what love should be like, right?
That’s sappy. I’m goin’ soft.
“Hey. What’s up?”
Silence. Nothing. Maybe I didn’t get to it in time.
No wait. There’s a hitched breathing or somethin’.
“Hayles?”
Nothing again. Startin’ to freak me out. I’m already headed for the car keys.
“Can… can we go to the library?” she whispers.
“Yes.” Car keys are now in my hand. Mom and Dad have already made it to their room. I’ll text them or somethin’. They probably want to be alone.
“I’m… I’m not at home.”
“Where are you?”
She gives me an address, and I run to the kitchen to write it down.
“I’ll be right there.”
“Thank you.”
“Hayles?”
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
Silence again. Long enough that I’m in the car and pullin’ out of the driveway before she answers.
“Could you hurry?”
Reason 19: Pictures of bleedin’ people don’t want to make you puke
Even flyin’ down the road at a speed I didn’t know the Corsica was capable of, I don’t get there as fast I want to. I leave the car runnin’ against the curb when I pull up, jump out and sprint to Hayles, who’s sitting drenched in the rain at some decrepit building I’ve never been to or seen, just outside of town.
She doesn’t say anythin’, and I don’t either. Just tuck her into my arms and pull her inside the car.
More silence as I climb in next to her, turn up the heat and get her out of wherever it is we are.
I’m scared as hell to ask her what’s up. She’s not turnin’ on the radio, or putting her feet on the dash, or even cryin’. She’s being too quiet for Hayley, and nothin’ is coming to my mind about how to break the silence.
After a few minutes, I’m ready to slap on the stereo just to get rid of the tension in the air, but she finally says somethin’.
“Thanks.”
I glance at her before turning back to the road. She isn’t lookin’ at me. “Uh huh.”
“You don’t have to stay with me at the library if you don’t want to.”
I look at her again. She’s lookin’ at me too.
“You still want to go to the library?” I attempt a smile. “Or do you wanna try some video games at my place?”
She laughs, but not a real one. “And risk another power outage?”
I shrug. “Sure.”
Her lips press together and she looks back out the window. “Thanks, but I really just… I need to go to the library.”
I sigh, turning onto the road that’ll take me there. “Okay, but I’m not leavin’ you alone.”
“Really, Brody, I can take the bus—”
“I’m not leavin’ you.”
I know I probably sound like a dick, but I’m not goin’ to just