I shook my head, and she flipped over on her back. “I know. I never do either on my birthdays,” she said.
We went back to sleep, and Mom had donuts for us when we woke up. It was kind of strange seeing what everybody looked like first thing in the morning. Thalia’s dark hair was sticking out of her braid, and Ericka’s bushy hair was smashed flat on one side. Ashanti’s mom came after breakfast and offered to drop Devon off since she lives down the street, but Devon told her she was going to stay.
After everyone had left, Devon and I poured bowls of cereal and watched cartoons until Mom began vacuuming around us. Devon took the hint and said she’d walk home.
“We should have a sleepover at my house sometime,” she said as we walked down the driveway. “Maybe next weekend.”
I thought I had told her I was doing something with Tori next weekend, but maybe she forgot. I didn’t want to bring it up, so I told her I didn’t think I could.
“Why not—”
“Hey, I gotta get back to clean up for my dad,” I said.
“Okay. Well, happy birthday. Have fun with your dad.” She gave me a hug, and I thanked her for her present. “Was it your favorite?” she asked.
She was smiling so I wasn’t sure if she was joking or not. I didn’t want to say “yes” and have the other girls find out and hurt somebody’s feelings. I just laughed and handed her the sleeping bag. Mom was vacuuming potato chips off the living room floor when I walked in.
“You got some cute stuff,” she said. “I was looking through the writing book Peyton gave you. I’ve never seen one written for kids — sorry, teens, before.” She stopped to pull a piece of wrapping paper out of the vacuum hose.
“And Ashanti’s purse was even cuter than she described on the phone… and the makeup stuff.” She unplugged the vacuum. “Your friends know what you like.”
“The scrapbook was nice, huh?”
“Did you want one?” she asked.
I didn’t, but I said Devon and I would work on it together. “Wasn’t it cute?”
“Yeah.” She wiped her forehead.
“Too bad Tori couldn’t come,” I said.
“I didn’t get why she couldn’t come,” she said.
I shrugged. I thought it was weird she didn’t ask her parents if she could come over later. I mean, she didn’t have to watch her cousins overnight.
“Well, she’s gonna have me spend the night next weekend,” I said.
“Can you plug the vacuum back in?” she asked. “There’s something stuck under the couch.”
“I’m just glad India didn’t get sick on the couch last night,” I said.
“India didn’t feel good? Strange. She ate more donuts for breakfast than anybody,” she said.
“I guess she did. Well, she should feel better because Devon sure kissed her butt enough,” I said. “Hey, do you like my hair? Peyton did it.”
“Cute. You better get dressed. Dad will be here soon.”
I went back to my room and threw on my jeans. I put on the sweatshirt India had given me and smoothed the little hairs popping out of my braid. I heard Dad pull up and ran to give me a big hug as soon as he walked through the door.
“Happy birthday,” he said.
“I wanna show you what I got for my birthday.” He followed me to my room where I had spread my gifts out on my dresser.
“Hey, a book on writing. Have you written any more stories?” he asked.
“No. Devon thought I should try to write poetry, but I wasn’t good at it.”
“I liked your short story,” he said.
“Ashanti wants me to write a story with her and this soap opera guy she likes and one with me and Colin in it.” I pointed to the card she made me.
“You still like this clown?” Dad asked. “Well, at least he’s not all pierced and tattooed.”
“Actually he has two tattoos,” I said. “There’s one of the sun on his shoulder and something in Latin on his lower back. It says, ‘You are what you believe’ or something.”
“Uh-huh. You don’t have any tattoos I should know about, do you?” he asked.
I rolled my eyes, but I had this fantasy of me marrying Colin and we’d both get each other’s names tattooed on our inner wrists. I read Talisa Milan’s boyfriend had her name on his wrist.
“Of course, I’m not allowed to get a tattoo while I’m under contract with the modeling agency, but I might get one when I’m done modeling,” I said.
“This from a girl who wouldn’t even get a flu shot because she doesn’t like needles,” he said.
“I’m sure they’ll have a new way to do tattoos by then,” I said.
I asked if he’d ever get a tattoo of Mom’s name. He pretended to think about it and stuck his head out the door.
“Hon? Do you want me to get your name tattooed on my arm?” he asked.
“Please, you cry over a paper cut,” she said.
“Lucy has one,” Dad said. “But don’t tell Grandma.”
Perfect Lucy had a tattoo? He said Uncle Martin found out she had gotten one on her lower back, and he made my dad check her out to make sure she didn’t get hepatitis from it.
“What does it look like?” I asked. I was hoping it was some guy’s name or something else Grandma would freak out over.
“A flower design,” he said.
I asked if he’d care if I got one when I was older, and he said I had to wait until he was dead. Mom came in and said I couldn’t even get one after she was dead. Dad slipped his arm around her waist and said I should open my presents. I would have asked by now, but I didn’t care as much since I already knew what I was getting. I could tell which one was the DVD player, and I opened it first. I pretended to be surprised, and I think Dad bought it. Mom had the TV set up in the basement already. They also got me some new movies. I opened Grandma’s gift next, which was a gift certificate for a bookstore. I had gotten some cards in the mail from my aunts and uncles, but there was no money in the envelopes. I know because I shook them out just in case. Cheap-os.
Dad set up the DVD player, and we finished up my birthday cake and watched the A Moment to Die DVD. Dad said the movie would sound better when we got the sound system he wanted.
“It’s coming out of your paycheck, buddy boy,” she said.
****
Dad left on Sunday afternoon. I wouldn’t get to see him again until Mom and I went to Chicago for Christmas. He said he’d put up a tree in his apartment because last year he forgot to get one and it was a big letdown opening presents around the heating vent.
****
On Monday, Devon asked me to spend the night at her house this weekend. I told her I had already promised Tori I would sleep over, and she got an attitude.
“You said you would when you walked me home,” she said.
“I told you I didn’t think I could,” I said.
“So Tori’s your best friend again?”
“Devon, I already promised her, but maybe—”
“She dumped your butt when you got picked for the modeling thing, and she didn’t even come to your party,” she said as she walked away.
Chapter Twenty-Three
On Thursday, I found out Devon had asked India to spend the night instead. I was hurt and wanted to tell Tori I couldn’t sleep over, but I didn’t want her to get mad at me again, so I tried to act like it didn’t bother me. I couldn’t even get excited about going over to Tori’s. I used to love spending the night at her house. I always felt comfortable there because her parents left us alone. Now all I could think about was if Devon would be speaking to me on Monday and if she and India would be best friends when the weekend was over.
On Friday, Devon walked down to the cafeteria without me. She didn’t ignore me when I sat down, but she spent the whole lunch hour joking around with Hana. We didn’t even go outside to walk around because they were having so much fun together. Later, when I was at my locker, Devon yelled to India to hurry up because her mom was waiting for the
m. I felt like crap until Hana came over and gave me a birthday card with a movie gift card in it.
“I forgot to give this to you at lunch,” she said. “Sorry I missed your party, but maybe we could get together next weekend or something.”
Tori was excited about having me over, and her dad dropped us off to pick out movies while he went to get the pizza. We were looking at the new releases when I heard Devon’s laugh. She and India were in the comedy section with their heads bent down together. I should have known better than to go to the movie store around the corner. Tori looked over and asked if we were fighting. I shook my head and hoped she couldn’t see how sick I felt. I tried to lead Tori over to the horror movie section, but she walked over to the action side and bumped into India.
“Hey,” India said. “What are you guys renting?”
Devon came over and said they had to go and told us to “have fun.” They walked up to the counter with their arms linked.
We went back to Tori’s house, and she and her mom had baked brownies for my birthday. They were good and even Matthew ate a brownie with us. He got up from the table to get a glass of soy milk.
“Landry, you want some?” he asked holding up the carton.
I hated soy milk, but I was not about to turn him down. We went into the living room to watch the movie, and Tori gave me my presents. I got a long sleeved pink T-shirt with glittery strawberries on it and a book called Murder at the Chocolate Shop because we had been into mysteries last summer.
“Is Devon mad at you because you’re spending the night here?” she asked.
I shrugged. “She just wanted me to come over this weekend.”
“It’s like you can’t have any other friends,” she said. “Ericka said she got all possessive of you at your party.”
I said it was no big deal and we went back to watching the movie. It was sort of like old times except I kept wondering what Devon and India were doing and if she was having more fun with India. After all, Devon had been right. Tori had dumped my butt when Ericka got mad at me.
****
When I got home the next morning, Mom told me Devon had called twice. I called her back, and she said she and India were meeting Peyton at the movies. I was super tired, but I said I’d go. Mom told me to ask if I could get a ride with them since Devon lived up the street. I felt stupid asking since she didn’t offer, but Devon said they could pick me up. Devon and India came up to the door together, and India was wearing Devon’s red sweater and her favorite jeans. I had to sit in the front with Mrs. Abrams because the two of them were in the back. Devon reached over the seat to turn up the radio.
“I love this song,” she said as she and India sang along.
Mrs. Abrams dropped us off, and India jokingly said, “Thanks, Mom” to her. I tried to smile as I followed them into the theater. Peyton was already there, and I ended up sitting on the end next to Devon. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Devon hadn’t kept turning away from me to talk to India. Just as the previews started, these two guys starting throwing popcorn at Devon. She pretended to be annoyed, but you could tell she liked it.
“Let’s move to the top row,” India said. We got up, and Peyton decided to get some popcorn. I went with her, and she asked me if I wanted to share popcorn so we could buy some candy, too. I wasn’t hungry, in fact my stomach hurt, but I would have to sit next to her if we shared popcorn, so I agreed. We bought a bag of candy, a large bucket of popcorn, and two sodas. I offered India and Devon some candy, but they never ate when boys were around. Peyton leaned back and put her feet up on the seat in front of her. She stuck the popcorn between us and gave me some napkins.
“I can’t watch a movie without snacks,” she said as the previews started. I nodded and started to relax.
After the movie, we stood outside waiting for Peyton’s dad to pick her up. Devon hadn’t called her mom yet because she and India were still talking to the guys who had been throwing popcorn at her. Mr. Urich pulled up, and Peyton looked over at India and Devon and asked if I wanted to come over. I didn’t want to stand around waiting for them, so I nodded and ran over to tell Devon.
“You’re going home with her?” she asked.
“I’m tired so her dad’s gonna drop me off,” I said.
“Oh, okay. Call me,” she said.
We got to Peyton’s house and her mom was curled up on the couch with their dog, Truffles.
“Hi Landry. How was the movie?” she asked. Her mom was always so sweet.
We went up to Peyton’s bedroom, which had lots of white furniture and a furry white rug you could sink your feet into. I took off my shoes and dug my toes into the carpet. She had tons of photos up on her memo board, and I noticed she had put my school picture up there, too.
“Do you think your mom would let you spend the night?” she asked.
I didn’t know if mom would let me sleep over at someone’s house two nights in a row, but her parents said it would be okay, so I called home.
“You’re gonna feel awful tomorrow. You couldn’t have slept much at Tori’s,” Mom said.
“Puh-lease?”
“Do you have a lot of homework, or can you take a nap tomorrow afternoon?” she asked.
“Finished my math in class,” I said. Like I ever took a nap when I stayed up late.
“Do you want me to bring your stuff over?” she said sighing.
I started to say she could just bring the overnight bag I took to Tori’s, but Mrs. Urich said I could borrow some of Peyton’s sweats and she had an extra toothbrush, too.
“No need to put your mom out,” she said.
We went back to Peyton’s room, and she took her stuffed animals off her daybed so I could sleep on it. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor when I stay overnight at someone’s house, but it was nice to have a soft mattress to sleep on. We started talking, and she told me she had a crush on Stuart, but swore me to secrecy.
“I never tell anyone who I like. And I don’t want India to know because she liked him first and she freaked out when I said he was cute the other day. It was like she owned him or something,” she said. “Anyway, he’s been kind of a jerk lately.”
My best friend bracelet was bothering me so I took it off. She asked if she could see it.
“Devon, India, and I used to have best friend earrings, and it was so annoying. Devon would get mad at one of us and say she was going to throw hers away or she lost it,” she said.
I didn’t know Devon had any best friend jewelry with India and Peyton. It made me feel weird even though I knew they had been best friends before I came along. I asked her what happened to the earring.
“It fell off in my aunt’s pool, but I didn’t care. They both got, like, super possessive about it. It was a huge thing if one of us forgot to wear it. India kept getting mad at me for not wearing it and then she’d hold a grudge, like, forever,” she said.
We started talking about our families, and I told her I was worried about my parents separating. Ashanti knew it bothered me Dad was still living back in Chicago, but we had never talked about it too much. I told Peyton about the fight I overheard them having, and I was afraid they might get divorced. She didn’t say anything, and I was afraid she fell asleep or she felt weird since I had told her something so personal.
Then she propped herself up on her elbow. “It sounds like they’re trying to work things out. Have you talked to your mom about it?”
I was surprised she sounded interested at all. I said my mom got weird on me when I tried to bring it up and how I started to cry when I talked to my dad about it.
“I can’t believe I’m telling you all of this. You must be so bored,” I said.
“No. I wanna help. You’d help me if I had a problem,” she said.
She told me to talk to my mom when we were in the car so she couldn’t walk away or say she was too busy. I had never talked to any of my other friends about my parents because I didn’t want them to know I had any problems. I know lots of people’s par
ents get divorced, but I felt like it would make me look weird or something, so I just pretended everything was okay with us living apart. Peyton and I ended up talking until three in the morning.
Chapter Twenty-Four
On Monday, I noticed Devon didn’t have her bracelet on. I didn’t say anything and thought about taking mine off, but I didn’t want her to get mad. I asked her about the boys outside the movie theater. She said they had called her house at night, and she and India talked to them until midnight. I wondered if India had slept over two nights in a row, but she didn’t ask me what I did at night, so I kept my mouth shut. I asked Peyton not to say anything about me spending the night at her house.
“Devon gets kind of weird about stuff sometimes,” I said, and she nodded.
I waited for Devon at lunchtime, and she came over with Hana. She told Hana about the guys at the movies while we stood in line. I got stuck with the broccoli soup, but it didn’t matter because my stomach kind of hurt anyway. She and Hana walked to our usual table, but Ashanti called me over. Devon barely noticed when I walked over to Ashanti’s table.
“What’s wrong?” Ashanti asked. I looked over at Halle and Maggie who were busy looking at a magazine. I shrugged, and Ashanti told me to sit down. I started to say I had to sit with Devon, but I looked up and realized Devon hadn’t saved me a seat. Ashanti looked at my soup and gave me half of her ham sandwich and moved her potato chip bag toward me. I didn’t feel like talking, but she understood. Devon got up to go outside, and she raised her eyebrows at me and tilted her head toward the door for me to get up and join her. It reminded me of the look Peyton’s mom gave Truffles when she wanted her to go to the bathroom outside. I held up a chip to show her I was still eating, and she shrugged and left without me. Ashanti walked me back to class and asked if I wanted to come over to watch Brad and Colin after school.
True Colors Page 18