“I prefer learning via proxy,” he said, putting his arm around Ally.
She sighed. “I’ve created a monster.”
“An ignorant monster.” I jumped out of the way when Mike tried to sucker punch me.
The screen door banged open and closed, and a moment later Kate stood in my bedroom door, breathless.
“I’m here! Tell me it’s not true!”
She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt layered beneath the hoodie I’d loaned her at the bonfire we’d had last weekend. I knew the smile I shot her way was muted by regret. I’d been toying with the idea of asking Kate out. She was cute, smart, and funny. Now the best I could do was an “I’ll miss you” hook-up, which would only leave me feeling like an ass.
My uncle really is a nutclubber.
“We’re packing boxes for the fun of it,” Sam said, striking a minor chord.
“You haven’t helped pack a thing,” Ally said. “But yeah, he’s leaving us.”
“Why?” Kate kind of threw herself at me. I was kinda expecting a hug, so I caught her. She smelled like strawberries, and I started to rethink the merits of that good-bye hook-up. Then I remembered that I don’t want to be That Guy . . . most of the time.
“The usual,” I said, enjoying the way she tucked her head under-neath my chin. “My uncle’s work is moving, so am I.”
“If you’re in boarding schools anyway, why do you have to go anywhere?” Mike asked.
My teeth clenched and I let Kate go. “I don’t know, but I’ve learned that arguing about it doesn’t do any good. I just have to move when he tells me to.”
“Sucks,” Sam said.
“Write me a song about it,” I said, not wanting to mope.
Sam grinned. “Maybe I will.”
“But no more Elliott Smith stuff,” Mike said. “Just ’cause he died doesn’t mean we’re all waiting for his replacement.”
“I’m not trying to be Elliott Smith.” Sam glared at him.
“Uh-huh,” Mike said. “Your ‘Saturday Market’ sounded just like
‘Rose Parade.’”
8
“No, it didn’t.” Sam threw a pleading gaze at Ally.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Damn it.” Sam shoved his guitar aside.
“Language,” she said.
Sam picked up his guitar again and repeated the angry move-ment. “Mangleguts!” he said, managing to keep a straight face.
Ally smiled and nodded. “Good boy.”
“I’m going to miss this,” I said, and then wished I hadn’t. Everybody got quiet. Kate sighed.
Ever the mother hen, Ally strode up to me, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Miss, schmiss. You’re not getting away from us.”
“You’re going to keep him here as a hostage,” Mike said. “Nice.