Landry in Like by Krysten Lindsay Hager Page B

I was just a few months younger. All their meddling had broken us up until he came over the night they aired the American Ingénue webisode — the night of our first kiss. He told me he never should have listened to his stupid friends, apologized, and asked for another chance. I said, “Yes,” because I could tell he meant it. And when I told him what happened with that girl lying and trying to ruin Kyra’s chances at the modeling contest, he said he liked how honest I was and how I did the right thing even though I had no clue it would result in me getting an ad with my two favorite models.
    â€œFine, Landry, but if Grandma’s new boyfriend turns out to be some money embezzling jerk…”
    â€œMo-om, Grandma will be fine. I hope Dad doesn’t embarrass her.”
    Mom nodded. “Just think, if Grandma lived in town, I’d let you guys go on a double date together.”
    I gave her a look and she burst out laughing. Mothers.

Chapter 9
    T he next morning I woke up when the phone rang. I heard Mom outside my door saying, “I’m so sorry. I’ll get her right now.”
    She walked in and told me Mr. Russell wanted to speak with me because Ashanti’s grandmother had died. Oh no, poor Ashanti.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œLandry? It’s Ashanti’s dad. She doesn’t feel up to talking to anyone right now, but she wanted me to call and tell you that her grandmother passed away. She won’t be in school tomorrow, but she’ll call you soon.”
    â€œI’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do? I can bring over her homework.”
    â€œThank you. It would be great if you could collect her assignments.”
    I hung up the phone and my eyes started to water.
    â€œHon, you okay?” Mom asked.
    â€œAshanti was supposed to go see her grandma on Saturday, but she went to a cheerleading thing instead. She’s going to feel so guilty — I just know it. I wish there was something I could do to make her feel better.”
    â€œWell, just be a good friend to her. And listening will help, too.”
    I shrugged.
    â€œPeople send flowers and drop off casseroles and things like that. Do you want to think of something we could take over to the Russells?” she asked.
    â€œFlowers might be weird, but maybe like a card or something.”
    We drove over to this big supermarket in town that has everything.
    â€œOoh, they have kiwi flavored lip gloss. Ashanti loves kiwi stuff. Maybe I could get this with the card.”
    â€œWe could buy some kiwi to take over there when we bring them dinner as well,” Mom said.
    I shook my head. Ashanti hated the actual fruit.
    â€œBut you said—”
    â€œShe likes fake kiwi flavoring, not the real kind. She thinks the actual fruit is too hairy and disgusting with all those little seed thingies in them.”
    â€œO-kaaay.”
    â€œIt’s like how fake banana flavor tastes nothing like real bananas,” I said.
    â€œGotcha. I seem to remember a certain little someone who used to love banana flavored taffy, yet almost threw up from the mere mention of it at the American Ingénue competition.”
    Yeah, that was a memory I wanted to cherish forever — me barfing two minutes before I had to go on live TV and then making a fool of myself. Fortunately for me, I hadn’t thrown up on camera or else that video would probably have been online everywhere as, “Stupid Girl Pukes on Stage.” However, I still managed to embarrass myself by saying I was from the wrong city. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t decided to go back and correct myself and crashed into the next contestant and hit the microphone so it made that screeching sound. Beyond embarrassing. And people laughed just like they did that time when I was a little kid and my mom forgot to stick my scarves in my dance recital tutu. I remember standing up on stage while all the other girls pulled out the