by Stacy Borel
Anger was now bubbling inside me. “Are you kidding me?” I hissed. “If you’d been paying attention, you’d know that I lacked friends because of how people treated me. If I’d come to any of those parties, or days at the lake, I’d have been there purely for the popular crowd’s entertainment.”
He shook his head. “Hadley, we all had someone who picked on us growing up. You just let it affect you.”
Was he serious? “Coming from the most popular guy in school.”
He scoffed, “Popularity doesn’t save you from the bullshit. If anything, it makes it a thousand times worse. It’s how you deal with it that matters.”
“You get that line from your parent’s? Must’ve been such a hardship having any girl you wanted, and friends galore.”
His nostrils flared. “My parents taught me a thing or two. People say they want to be friends with you, but their intentions aren’t always the best. A lot of those so-called people you are referring to used me to make themselves look better.”
My mouth snapped shut. He’s lying to make me feel better. Things like that really only happened in fictional stories. “But what about the ones you hung out with all the time? You, at least, had someone if you needed them.”
Wrigley shrugged. “Sure. I have a couple of friends that really know me. But you could have had them too, if you’d been open to it. I don’t think you realize that you can feel all alone even when you are surrounded by a crowd of people all the time.”
“Oh, I bet.” I rolled my eyes.
Sighing, Wrigley looked down at the food he had left. There were a few people mingling in front of the building, and some of them were giving us a few curious glances. The insecure part of me said they were wondering what a girl like me was doing eating with a guy like him. But the rational part said, it was because they’d heard us raising our voices and anybody would want to eavesdrop on an argument. I brushed off the annoyance of it and zoned in on a couple stray strands of his hair that had broken free of his sweaty mop—they flicked across his forehead whenever the wind blew.
“Why do I get the feeling this is a losing argument?”
“Because it is,” I stated firmly.
He looked at me like I he was considering something. “You know, outside of being at our parent’s houses, this is the longest we’ve ever talked.”
“Yeah.”
“You may be right about my ignoring people around me who weren’t in my little circle of friends. Or maybe I really hadn’t been that open. I’m sorry, Hadley. I really am.”
The sincerity in his voice said he meant it. I swallowed, unsure if that required me to respond, but I did anyway. “Thank you.”
“We should make up time.”
Make up time? What did that mean? I picked up a fry from his side and tentatively took a bite. “What exactly does that mean?”
He smiled. “I’m glad you asked.” I wasn’t so sure that I was. “We are in college now. It was pure coincidence we both ended up at this school and we ran into each other and have a class together. I think the universe is telling us we need to be friends.” I started to shake my head no, but he held his hand up to stop my protest. “And not the kind of friends we were before. I like that you are being brutally honest with me. It’s like you are calling me out on my shit. It’s refreshing. You’re like a non-biased party who is not going to tell me what I want to hear. You know?”
I was absolutely perplexed. “Wrigley, I’m not an unbiased party.” He had no idea just how much I really wasn’t. “This idea of friendship, don’t you think it’s a little weird? Or maybe the timing of it is strange?”
“Nope, not at all.” He gave me a cocky grin. “I’m officially making you my sidekick. My partner in crime. My confidant. My jelly to my sandwich...”
“Peanut butter,” I corrected.
“What?”
“It’s peanut butter to jelly.”
He made a face. “I hate peanut butter.”
Weird, so did I. “I’m just saying that’s what the saying is.”
He waved his hand around in front of himself. “Whatever, I’m saying I’d like to be better friends. You know what life is like back home, and I like having someone who gets me.”
But I didn’t get him. If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here with the most confused look on my face. That damn bird was still chirping and I was certain it would poop on me at any moment to snap me back to reality. I was lost with how we went from arguing about how he treated me, to him basically asking me to be besties with him. I had no interest in it. No girl wanted to be the friend in a situation where she pined after the guy. If he was going to start telling me all the details of his life, especially times he was with girls, I had no interest. It would be torture.
“This is a horrible idea.”
“This may be the best idea I’ve ever had.”
“I don’t know what universe you live in, Wrigley Brooks, but you don’t just announce to someone they are going to be your new best friend and that’s the end of it.”
He popped the last bite of his burger in his mouth and slowly chewed. He was eyeing me, a wide smile on his face. “I do, and I just did.”
I gaped at him. I couldn’t do this. I was a complete spaz with him. My usual wallflower behavior multiplied by, like, a thousand and I clammed up. At least until he pissed me off, getting me to speak to him was about as pleasant as pulling teeth. He was just like his brothers: bossy and demanding. He stood from the table and stretched his arms high above his head. An inch of skin was showing between his practice shirt and baseball pants. The small glimpse of a defined V caught my attention. He dropped his arms and walked around to my side of the table. My heart started beating a little harder at his nearness.
“Hadley.”
I didn’t want to look up at him so I innocently took a bite of my hot dog. “Hmmm.”
“I saw that.”
I looked up and realized just how close he was standing. My eyes shot back to the food on the table. “Saw what?”
“You looking at me.” I could hear amusement in his tone.
“What are you talking about?” I needed to do something besides just sit here like a total weirdo. I started to clean up our table. My cheeks were flushed and I knew I was breathing harder.
He bumped my shoulder with his hip. “You are so easy to get worked up.”
I stopped what I was doing and looked forward. Gritting my teeth, I tried not to smile at his playfulness. I didn’t want him to get to me more than he already had. “You’re an ass.”
“Oh, listen to you. Getting all feisty.”
“Am not.” I need to get inside.
He chuckled. “Hadley, go do your homework, or whatever it was that you were going to do to avoid me.” He leaned over me and took a wrapper out of my hand. The brushing of skin felt like it was sizzling. “I’ll clean up.”
“Okay,” I whispered on a breath of air.
I scooted a few inches away from him. If I had stood, I would have been against his body. “Thanks for the food.”
“No problem.” I took a few steps to leave and he called after me, “I’m going to text you, and when I do, I expect an answer back.”
My shoulders drooped. “Okay,” I squeaked.
I tried to rush into the building as fast as I could but I was certain I’d heard a laugh coming from him before the door shut. My god, I was in trouble.
I WAS GETTING READY for church on Easter Sunday, a tradition my family had had for as long as I can remember. I was excited because this year we were going together with the Brooks family and I was going to try to sit next to Wrigley. My mom was currently French braiding my hair and I was painting light pink nail polish on my fingernails. My mom had finally felt I was old enough to do it and not make a mess of it. I mentally rolled my eyes. I was in sixth grade for heaven’s sake. That was plenty old enough to paint my own nails. All the girls were doing it. Now if I could convince her I was ready to shave my legs. I’d think it was a mirac
le.
“Sit still, Hadley, or I won’t be able to smooth out all of these bumps,” Mom scolded me.
I painted my last nail and held my hands up to look at my work. Perfect! I think Wrigley will like them, especially when I tell him I did them by myself. They dried in no time, and I was ready to put on my dress. Mom and I had search high and low for this one. I wanted one I could twirl in. One that would make me feel like I princess.
After sliding it over my head, I stood in front of my full length mirror and looked at myself. I had to admit, even I thought I was picture perfect. The nails, the hair, the dress… I was ready to finally tell Wrigley that I loved him. And not like I loved my cat, but loved him like I wanted to hold his hand on the playground. He was going to get one good look at me and wonder why he’d never noticed me before now.
“Oh, Hadley, you look so cute.”
“Beautiful, Mom. Cute is what little kids are. I’m beautiful.” I beamed at myself.
She smiled at me. “Yes, you sure are.”
I turned when I heard a whistle behind me. My dad was standing in the doorway looking at me. “Well, aren’t you a sight.”
I loved it when my dad complimented me. He made me feel like I was the most special girl in the world. Which, next to my mom, I was since I was his only child. But still.
“Thanks, Daddy. Have you seen me twirl?” I knew he had but he entertained me anyway.
“No, I sure haven’t.”
I twisted and started to spin around and around, my dress billowing in the air. It puffed out as the fabric caught the wind and the pink color of it shimmered in the light. I was grinning from ear to ear when I stopped and waited for his reaction.
“Do you know you cute you are, Princess?”
My mouth dropped and I frowned. “Beautiful.”
My mom was now standing next to my dad and she nudged him. “Cute is for babies.”
He cleared his throat, his mouth twitching from holding in a grin. “I stand corrected. Beautiful is most certainly what you are.”
I beamed. “Thank you.”
My parents continued to get ready while I stood in front of my mirror, alone in my room and practiced exactly what I was going to say to Wrigley. I said my words out loud like he was standing right in front of me. I didn’t go kissing my mirror or anything, but if he wanted to kiss my cheek, I’d be okay with that. Each time, I blushed, knowing that this was going to go exactly how I wanted and that smile of his would be for me. I was about to do another practice round when my parents called my name from downstairs. It was time to go.
My heart started beating faster. When I got outside, both mom and dad were climbing into the car and waited expectantly on me. I stood there, perplexed, why weren’t we walking down to the Brooks’ residence? We were supposed to go together. I had planned how I was going to convince my dad to let me ride with Mrs. Brooks. The boys always sat in the same seat and there was always an open spot in the back by Wrigley.
Opening the door, I slid as disappointment washed over me. “Are we driving down to the Brooks’ house?”
“Hmmm?” My mom twisted in her seat to look back at me. “Oh no, Donna called this morning and said that she wasn’t feeling well. She invited us to come down later today for brunch if she’s feeling better.”
“Wonder if she has that twenty-four-hour bug that has been going around.” My dad chimed in.
“Possibly.”
I sat in the backseat feeling so much disappointment I was beginning to get teary eyed. I had the perfect dress, I’d practiced what I was going to say, I was ready. Sure, I could tell him later if I got him alone at his house, but his house was always so full of people I didn’t think it would happen. Also, it would be weird if I showed up all decked out in my Easter dress when it was meant for church. Mom and I hadn’t bought an outfit for Easter day. I normally would put on my play clothes after church. Suck it up, Hadley. Make a new plan. The way I pep talked myself, you’d think I was preparing for war.
Church had dragged. That was probably wrong of me to feel that way, but I struggled to hold still. I got a lot of compliments about my dress, which normally would please me, but I’d wanted a certain person to like it. Of course, I grumbled under my breath every time someone mentioned that I looked adorable or cute. How did people not know this was an insult?
We were driving back home when Mom’s phone rang. “Hello? Yes. How are you feeling? That’s good. I’m sure it’ll be fine if you take it easy.” There was a brief pause. “Hadley and I will come down shortly. David is going to be working on the deck this afternoon and has to run to the hardware store, otherwise he’d join us. Would you like me to bring anything?” Silence. “Okay, sounds good. We will see you soon.”
When she set her phone in her lap, Mom looked over at my dad. “Donna is feeling okay at the moment, so we will go down for maybe an hour. I’ll give her some help with cooking and I’ll bring you home a plate.”
“Oh, make sure you toss on a couple extra deviled eggs, would ya? Donna’s are the best.” I could practically hear my dad’s stomach growling from back here.
Mom slapped his arm. “I should be insulted by that.” She chortled, “But I love them too.”
Dad chuckled. “No worries, Dear. Nobody beats your meatloaf.”
The two talked back and forth until we pulled into the driveway. Neither had any clue that I was attempting to figure out how I would find time in an hour to say what I needed to say. Wrigley’s whole family and likely his grandparents and maybe some other neighborhood kids would be gathered at their house. The Brooks’ residence was always the place to be when there was a holiday or something going on.
“Hadley, why don’t you go get changed and make sure you hang up your dress neatly in your closet please. I’d like to leave in ten minutes.” My mom instructed.
“Okay.” I responded.
Racing up the stairs, I changed into a pair of peach shorts, and a mint green tank top that had a ruffle around the collar. It was as dressy or nice as my play clothes were going to get. I looked at myself in the mirror and decided to pull my hair into a ponytail. The braids left my long locks wavy and bouncy. Adding a peach colored bow to the top made was perfect. I eyeballed my ballerina jewelry box on my dresser. I kept my roll-on shimmer gloss in there. I wondered if my mom would notice if I added a little bit of pink color to my lips. Besides, it smelled like strawberries and it tasted good.
“Ready to go?” My mom called up to me.
“Coming.”
I raced down the steps, put on flip flops and grabbed juice box to suck down on the short walk. It was spring but it was already getting hot for Georgia. Being five houses down made for a quick walk. Mom rang the bell and Paul, Wrigley’s dad, answered the door.
“Happy Easter to the both of you,” he said cheerfully.
“Happy Easter,” I replied politely.
My eyes immediately began scanning the entry and dining room that was to the left. Nobody was around, but I could hear voices coming from their kitchen. Sounded like there were several people here already. Great, I mentally grumbled.
“Everyone is either out back or in the kitchen cooking. Did David come with, or will he be following behind?”
My mom answered, “No, he had to take care of some things on the deck and this next week is so slammed for him at work, he had no other time to get it done. He said to say hello though and he will be here for poker night.”
Paul smiled. “Always busy. Probably should have told him poker was cancelled.” He leaned in closely. “It’s really not but none of us can beat him. He takes all my money.”
Mom laughed. “You just need to work on your poker face.”
“Hilary is that you? Don’t let Paul hold you hostage at the front door. Paul leave that woman alone, she’s heard all your stories,” Donna called from the kitchen.
My mom’s eyes grew wide and she playfully poked Paul. “No hostage situations. Better go help her or she will wear herself out before sh
e can even begin to feel better.”
“Truth.” Paul looked down at me. “Hadley, the boys are outside if you want to go out and say hi.”
I blushed. “Okay, thank you.”
My mom and I made our way through the house to the kitchen where there were platters of food spread across the island. I could smell the charcoal from the grill outside and hamburgers cooking. There was everything imaginable to eat. Jello salad, fruit trays, vegetable trays, chips and dip, cookies, scalloped potatoes, cooked ham was coming out of the oven, and deviled eggs. I was glued to my mom’s side like she was my last life line.
“I’m so glad you could make it!” Donna exclaimed the moment she saw us. “Hadley, honey, you look darling with that bow.”
I beamed, thankful that someone noticed. “Thank you, Mrs. Brooks.”
“I’ve told you before.” She clucked her tongue. “You may call me Donna.”
I nodded and tucked my face into my mom’s arm.
“This smells amazing, but what can I help you with?” Mom asked. “Looks like you have a ton of help already.”
I scowled when I looked at the table tucked in the breakfast nook and saw Claire sitting peeling potatoes. She had on her Easter dress still, but Mrs. Brooks must’ve given her an apron to keep it clean. Why was she even here? She couldn’t be here. Not when I was going to try to talk to Wrigley. I knew Claire had had a crush on him since forever, and if she were here to get his attention, I didn’t stand a chance against her. First, no church service with him and him seeing me in my dress, and now competition with Claire Monroe. It was clearly not my lucky day and I was starting to wonder if I should wait another day to talk to Wrigley.
“Claire, thank you for peeling all of those potatoes. You did a great job.” Mrs. Brooks commended.
It’s a potato. You can’t screw up peeling a potato. I thought to myself as I glared at her. She looked over at me and gave me a very catty smile. She knew she was being a suck up and getting in Wrigley’s mom’s good graces. It was making me upset. I tried to smooth my face and give her a pleasant smile in return but I had a feeling when my mouth attempted to turn up, it came out crooked and awkward.