Weird Girl and What's His Name by Meagan Brothers Page B

know. TMI.” Lula laughed. I turned on the faucet and began scrubbing the dye off my wrists. “I guess what I’m trying to ask you is, let’s say somebody came into your life. Let’s say this person was female. And you weren’t looking for it, or expecting it, but you really hit it off with this person. You connected on a deep level. And even though you know that normally you wouldn’t be attracted to this person, because, you know. She’s female. Uh. You realize that it’s a pretty small town and you haven’t found anyone yet that you . . . that you would prefer. Who prefers you back. So maybe you start thinking that it wouldn’t be such a bad idea. With this . . . with this girl.”
    I turned the faucet off. “Lula, are you trying to ask me to the prom?”
    â€œYou’re totally not taking me seriously.”
    â€œThis is serious? I thought it was theoretical.” I scrubbed red dye off the faucet handles, ignoring the petulant look Lula was giving me. “Okay, my answer is, no, I probably would not sleep with your theoretical hot babe. Small town or no. Look, the way I see it, even if some hot girl was into me right now, we’ll be in college soon, where I’m sure we’ll both have four years of awkward encounters with drunken frat guys to look forward to. So, no, I don’t need some awkward attempt at hetero sex just to temporarily satiate my . . . whatever.”
    â€œGee, Rory, you really are a romantic.” Lula rolled her eyes. I scrubbed at the red splotches in the sink. This whole conversation was making me nervous. I mean, why did Lula care if I’d sleep with some random woman? Was she suggesting that she and I should sleep together? Surely not—our whole friendship was the exact opposite of Mulder and Scully, in that respect. Not a single molecule of UST between us. Did she know about Andy, and she was taunting me or something? This whole relationship with him was getting way too stressful. Maybe it was time to come clean. Maybe tonight I’d ask Andy what he thought about just telling Lula. She wouldn’t let it get around. She could even help, maybe. I could tell my mom I was staying at Lula’s and spend weekends with Andy. Maybe even entire weeks.
    â€œAnyway.” She tucked her newly red hair behind her ears. “You wanna come over and see Janet and Leo make their shocked faces at me? We could work on the Guide. The Philes are getting antsy for Season Four. I had an idea for ‘Small Potatoes.’ Remember, the one with the tail babies? You know the end part where Eddie Van Blundht impersonates Mulder and goes over to Scully’s house, and . . . hey, Rory?”
    â€œWhat, yeah?” I looked up from my sink-scrubbing.
    â€œAre you mad at me or something?” Her voice softened. “It’s like you’re totally zoning out.”
    â€œNo, I heard you. You said you’re quitting the FBI to become a spokesperson for the Ab Roller.” Another X-Files quote. I was starting to feel bad. Distracting Lula with jokes.
    â€œHa ha,” she said. “I’m serious. Am I, like, bugging you or something?”
    â€œBugging me? No,” I told her. “I just have to do some . . . other stuff now. For my mom. So . . . maybe tomorrow.” I strapped my watch back on, trying not to be too obvious, checking the time. I knew Andy was waiting for me. This was the hardest part of being with him. Making up stories. Lying to Lula. It was the only time I wished I was straight. Or at least dating someone my own age.
    â€œOkay.” Lula said, her mouth turned down. “Have fun doing other stuff.”
    Thankfully, my mother came home at that very moment, and Lula always got uncomfortable around her. She hated drinking. Lula, I mean. So she left without me having to make any more excuses. I waited until my mother retreated to her room with her tumbler full of Chardonnay, and I