rumor?”
She nods, and I smile at her. “Thanks, Ter.” I look around. “You haven’t seen him today, have you? I’d kind of like to know where we stand.”
“Oh, God, please do not do the whole Amanda, ‘Where do we stand?’ needy thing,” she says. “You, of all people, cannot go turning into some girlie girlfriend with mush-brain.”
I laugh and hold up my palm. “Scout’s honor. But I would like to know if I’m a friend that happens to be a girl, or if I’m heading toward ‘girlfriend.’” Or if last night was just some limited edition saga that my little brother canceled permanently .
“Hey, guys.” Amanda walks up and blows superficial kisses to each of us. “That was some party Saturday, huh?”
“Gee, Mandy,” Terri says. “Aren’t you worried that Stu may not realize you want him? I don’t think you were quite obvious enough.”
Amanda ignores Terri and confronts me. “Speaking of obvious, Blaze. What is up with you and Mark?”
I shrug as we move down the hall together. “I told you I liked him.” I turn to face her for emphasis. “Remember?”
Amanda appears to be trying to remember, but it actually looks like she’s trying way harder than someone who’s forgotten something would look. Terri and I exchange glances. Amanda doesn’t try to channel Evil Empress behavior, but she could maybe use a sibling or two to straighten her ass out. Nothing puts you in your place faster than having to share your house, your parents, and all of your stuff with another kid. Although I have no idea how Terri deals with four sisters. One time I was over at her house and the screaming that went on over a beat-up old hairbrush was enough to make me grateful Josh is a boy.
“Your Mom is way cooler than I remember her.” Amanda changes the subject.
I roll my eyes. “All an act. She tried to ground me after everyone left.”
“Tried?” Amanda asks.
I shrug. “She needs me to play soccer mom too much to ground me. The two of us are working things out.”
“But why did she even care that you had that lame party?” Terri asks. “You were doing all the work and clean-up. My mom doesn’t care if we have people over the house when she’s not home, as long as we don’t trash the place.”
Amanda says, “That’s because with all those sisters of yours running around, nobody ever wants to come to your house.”
“Very funny,” says Terri.
“I just want the scoop with Mark.” Amanda pulls on my shoulder. “Are you guys, like, going out or something?” She can’t hide her eagerness. “I’m just asking because Stu and I got along really well and we could, you know, maybe double date or something sometime.”
With a smile I start telling the two of them about my trip to the basement with Mark, but when I get to the part when I showed him the Silver Surfer #2 and start explaining about Shalla-Bal the two of them groan and change the subject to the latest slutty exploits of Catherine Wiggan. I probably should’ve led with Mark almost kissing me in the dark , I think. Even comic books show the climax of each issue right there on the cover. Of course, our cover would be too dark to even see what was happening. Plus, technically I suppose nothing happened. An almost kiss doesn’t exactly count. My heart flutters thinking about Mark’s hand on the back of my neck.
His breath on my mouth.
That wasn’t nothing .
I jolt at the sound of a male voice calling my name. Mark! He went out of his way to find me . Except that it isn’t Mark. It’s Ryan, the guy who serves as my reminder to never double-cross Amanda again.
“Welp, gotta dash,” says Terri. “See you in the caf.”
“Have fun talking to your real boyfriend.” Amanda flashes a blue-white smile and hurries after her. The two of them get immeasurable joy out of my hostage-friendship situation and constantly tell me to just be mean to the guy, already.
Looking at Ryan’s hopeful face, half covered by his straight black
She nods, and I smile at her. “Thanks, Ter.” I look around. “You haven’t seen him today, have you? I’d kind of like to know where we stand.”
“Oh, God, please do not do the whole Amanda, ‘Where do we stand?’ needy thing,” she says. “You, of all people, cannot go turning into some girlie girlfriend with mush-brain.”
I laugh and hold up my palm. “Scout’s honor. But I would like to know if I’m a friend that happens to be a girl, or if I’m heading toward ‘girlfriend.’” Or if last night was just some limited edition saga that my little brother canceled permanently .
“Hey, guys.” Amanda walks up and blows superficial kisses to each of us. “That was some party Saturday, huh?”
“Gee, Mandy,” Terri says. “Aren’t you worried that Stu may not realize you want him? I don’t think you were quite obvious enough.”
Amanda ignores Terri and confronts me. “Speaking of obvious, Blaze. What is up with you and Mark?”
I shrug as we move down the hall together. “I told you I liked him.” I turn to face her for emphasis. “Remember?”
Amanda appears to be trying to remember, but it actually looks like she’s trying way harder than someone who’s forgotten something would look. Terri and I exchange glances. Amanda doesn’t try to channel Evil Empress behavior, but she could maybe use a sibling or two to straighten her ass out. Nothing puts you in your place faster than having to share your house, your parents, and all of your stuff with another kid. Although I have no idea how Terri deals with four sisters. One time I was over at her house and the screaming that went on over a beat-up old hairbrush was enough to make me grateful Josh is a boy.
“Your Mom is way cooler than I remember her.” Amanda changes the subject.
I roll my eyes. “All an act. She tried to ground me after everyone left.”
“Tried?” Amanda asks.
I shrug. “She needs me to play soccer mom too much to ground me. The two of us are working things out.”
“But why did she even care that you had that lame party?” Terri asks. “You were doing all the work and clean-up. My mom doesn’t care if we have people over the house when she’s not home, as long as we don’t trash the place.”
Amanda says, “That’s because with all those sisters of yours running around, nobody ever wants to come to your house.”
“Very funny,” says Terri.
“I just want the scoop with Mark.” Amanda pulls on my shoulder. “Are you guys, like, going out or something?” She can’t hide her eagerness. “I’m just asking because Stu and I got along really well and we could, you know, maybe double date or something sometime.”
With a smile I start telling the two of them about my trip to the basement with Mark, but when I get to the part when I showed him the Silver Surfer #2 and start explaining about Shalla-Bal the two of them groan and change the subject to the latest slutty exploits of Catherine Wiggan. I probably should’ve led with Mark almost kissing me in the dark , I think. Even comic books show the climax of each issue right there on the cover. Of course, our cover would be too dark to even see what was happening. Plus, technically I suppose nothing happened. An almost kiss doesn’t exactly count. My heart flutters thinking about Mark’s hand on the back of my neck.
His breath on my mouth.
That wasn’t nothing .
I jolt at the sound of a male voice calling my name. Mark! He went out of his way to find me . Except that it isn’t Mark. It’s Ryan, the guy who serves as my reminder to never double-cross Amanda again.
“Welp, gotta dash,” says Terri. “See you in the caf.”
“Have fun talking to your real boyfriend.” Amanda flashes a blue-white smile and hurries after her. The two of them get immeasurable joy out of my hostage-friendship situation and constantly tell me to just be mean to the guy, already.
Looking at Ryan’s hopeful face, half covered by his straight black
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