Double Time (Double Threat series)

by Prestsater, Julie

  Keesh, Steph, and I are working together, of course. We invited Travis since we have the same teacher, but he said he’d rather work alone. Crazy kid. This is going to take forever, and that’s with three of us working on it. He’s one of those people who has to read everything himself to make it sink in. Oh well, if that’s what he wants to do, then so be it.

  Steph stretches her hands over her head and yawns. “I’m falling asleep. Let’s turn on some music.”

  “Go for it,” I tell her. She leans over and turns the volume up on the dock for my iPod. JoJo on the radio, as usual.

  We continue to work, bobbing our heads to the music. For every question, we need five sources with concrete evidence to prove our points. We’re allowed to share our sources and evidence but we each have to write the paper in our own voice and styles.

  I continue jotting down notes. Keesh is frantically scribbling something from a website. And Steph looks like she’s daydreaming.

  “What’s up, Steph?” I ask, waving my hand. “You awake?”

  She snaps her head toward me, her eyes wide. “Yeah. I was just thinking.”

  Keesh smacks at her gum. While her pencil still moves across the paper, she asks, “What about?”

  Steph lets out a sigh and tosses her books out of her lap. “So, chicas, I have a date for homecoming already.”

  “What?” Keesh and I shout at the same time.

  She puts her head down, trying to hide the blush spreading over her face, but it’s not working.

  “Don’t get all shy on us. Who asked you?” I question.

  She looks up, batting her eyelashes. “Ethan,” she says.

  “I knew it,” Keesh shouts. “You’ve been talking to him since the Twister game, haven’t you?”

  “Yeah.” She pauses. “A few times.”

  “A few times?” I say. “I hope you’re not making a boyfriend out of him.”

  “I’m not,” she says quietly.

  “What’s wrong?” Keesh asks. “Aren’t you excited?”

  “Yes, I’m totally happy. I’m kinda shocked he’d even go for me. I mean, look at him. He’s super cute, and he’s an amazing football player. He could go with anyone he wants to Homecoming.”

  I cut her off. “And he is. He wants to go with you. So what’s the problem?”

  “Dominic,” Keesh responds for her.

  She nods and her eyes get glassy.

  “No, no, no,” I tell her. “Don’t do this. We have to stop doing this to ourselves. We make the shittiest single ladies ever. We need to get rid of consciences and enjoy the possibilities. I doubt the guys are fretting over us when they go out on dates. And believe me, they are.”

  Keesh finally puts her pencil down. “What do you know?”

  I chuckle at the sight of their faces. “You guys are funny. You look like my mom right now when she’s getting ready to watch a new New Kids appearance on TV.”

  Keesh leans back, wincing. “Oh, that’s bad.” She sits up all straight and proper, trying to appear casual. “So, what have you heard?”

  Steph pretends to file her nails. Keesh straightens out her clothes. “Much better.” We all giggle. “Okay. Here it goes. I called Ben last night.”

  “You still call him?” Keesh questions.

  “Yeah. We talk a lot, or text. It’s no big deal. Do you want to know what happened or not?”

  “Okay, tell us,” Steph says, leaning forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

  “They all went out Saturday night.”

  “Who went out?”

  “Ben, Dominic, and Frankie were going out. Eric wanted to go and he asked if he could bring Travis and Josh. Of course they agreed. They’re all friends anyway.”

  “And then what?” Steph asks.

  There’s a knock at my door before my mom pops her head in.

  “Hey, ladies, you ready for a study break?” she starts. “My friend sent me some videos from the cruise and I’m about to watch them. I can make you some popcorn if you want to join me.”

  I don’t know if I should be worried about my mother’s psychological wellbeing or if I should just be happy for her. The smile on her face is so cute. Her eyes twinkle whenever she talks about her favorite boy band. “No thanks, Mom. We’re already behind. Have fun though.”

  She holds her giddy smile and says, “Maybe next time.” She pops her head back out and closes the door.

  “Your mom is crazy,” Steph says. “I can’t believe she paid a million dollars to go on a cruise with five guys she used to cry over when she was fourteen.”

  “What do you mean ‘used to’?” Keesh laughs. “Our moms still cry over them. It wasn’t quite a million dollars, but I heard my dad say it was money well spent.”

  “Huh. I thought our dads were pissed they’re spending so much money on New Kids,” I say.

  “One night my dad had the guys over for poker night, including your dad, Meg, and they were talking about how all the money our moms are spending on The Block was worth all the sex they’re having.”

  “Ewww,” I squeal, feeling my face bunch up in disgust.

  “Yeah, they were all saying they could get their wives to do anything after a concert. I guess our moms come home and get a little freaky-deaky in the sheets.”

  “I think I’m gonna be sick.” Keesh so did not have to tell me this. I could have gone the rest of my life not knowing my mom comes home from her NKOTB events and pretends my dad is one of those guys, or maybe all of them. Gross. So gross.

  Nine

  “Okay, enough about the Beantown boys. Tell us what Ben said,” Keesh says. I can’t help but laugh at the way we know all the New Kid lingo, and we weren’t even born when they hit it big. Our moms have completely brainwashed us.

  Shaking my head, I snap myself from my thoughts. “Oh yeah. Okay, the boys went bowling together.”

  “Bowling? That’s the big secret? I thought you meant they were hooking up with girls,” Keesh responds.

  “I’m not done,” I tell her. “They went bowling and there were a group of girls there too. Five to be exact. And guess who was one of them?”

  “Amy?” Steph says.

  “You mention her name in my house again and I’ll take out your eye with that nail file.” I glare at her, and she smiles. “No, Thelma. And guess which two of the boys she took care of, if you know what I mean?”

  “Oh my gosh. Seriously, Meg. Please tell me she didn’t hook up with Josh or Trav. You know she’s been with so many guys, and maybe some chicks too, that you can do the whole six degrees of separation with her.” Keesh shakes her head. She’s really bothered by this.

  “What’s that?” Steph asks, looking up with a raised brow.

  “It’s this idea that everyone is connected within six people from each other. But with Thelma, it’s like three. Name a person,” Keesh says.

  “Amy,” Steph replies.

  “Are you kidding me?” I yelp.

  Steph grimaces. “Sorry.”

  “Okay, so I don’t think Thelma’s ever hooked up with Amy. But Amy knows Jacob, and he did her on multiple occasions. That wasn’t even three. Only two degrees of separation.”

  “That’s gross,” I tell them. “But no, she didn’t get with Trav or Josh. She tag-teamed the brothers. Ben said she started with Eric, moved on to Frankie, and then finished off with Eric again. Sick, huh?”

  “Well, they are siblings. I bet their momma always told them to share,” Keesh jokes.

  We all bust up laughing, amused by our jokes.

  “Wait, that’s not all. Travis and Josh made out with some girls at the park,” I say.

  “At the park?” Steph says.

  “Yeah, I guess they all wanted to go somewhere where they could get nasty, so they left the bowling alley and went to a park.”

  “What about Ben and Dominic?” Keesh asks.

  “Ben said he fooled around with one of the girls in his car, while the others went off to find dark secluded spots. And Dom left wi
th another chick in his van. He didn’t go to the park with them.”

  Steph bows her head and starts filing her nails again. But this time, for real. And she’s getting a little rough.

  “Hey, stop. You’re going to draw blood,” I tell her.

  “I feel like such an ass. Here I’m feeling all guilty about going with Ethan to the dance and Dominic is actually dating. And I know what he can do in that van. I haven’t gone out with anybody else. Shit, I haven’t kissed anyone but him.”

  “Then don’t feel bad about Ethan. Go and have a good time. They can obviously shut off their feelings, so we should too.”

  “There’s only one problem,” Keesh says.

  “What’s that?” I ask, although I’m not sure I want to know.

  “We haven’t come close to getting dates to the dance. None of the guys I’ve talked to have even mentioned it.” She has a point.

  “Well, we’re gonna have to step up our game. Tomorrow, it’s on.”

  I wake up early the next morning. Looking my best is going to require time. I can’t just go up to a guy and start a conversation with my hair in a ponytail and Chapstick on my lips. I’m going to need a little more help than that.

  When Lydia pounds on the horn, I’m not running out half-dressed with wet hair. Instead, my hair is silky straight and flows like the wind. I put some color on my eyes, along with eyeliner and mascara, and even used the latest plumping lip gloss. My mouth should be shouting kiss me to my unsuspecting targets. They’re not going to know what hit them.

  “Dang, girl,” Keesh comments as I jump in the back with her. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”

  “No kidding,” Lydia says. “Your eyes like gorgeous. You need to show me what you did.” Lydia is three years older and asking me to share eye shadow techniques with her. Cool.

  “I thought we were going to step it up today,” I explain. “We can’t just say we’re single. We need to look like we’re on the market and interested.”

  “Oh yeah,” Steph says. “I just didn’t realize you had to get all dolled up to do that.”

  Lydia scoffs at her sister. “Girl, you need to wake the hell up. Pull your shirt down a little and put on some lipstick. You look dead. And looking like you belong in the morgue is not gonna get you a man.”

  “Wrong there, sister.” Steph smiles.

  “Yeah, Steph already got asked to homecoming,” Keesh explains. “It’s Meg and me who need a date. Pass me your mirror.”

  By the time we get to school, Keesh has made a transformation. Not that she needed to. The girl could roll around in dirt and shave her head and she’d still be stunning. Damn her. All she did was change the color of her lipstick and put some bronzing powder on her cheeks. Now, instead of being just beautiful, she looks like a freaking goddess. Not that I’m complaining. I’m happy to benefit from being her cute friend.

  We get to first period early and I scoot my seat around to talk to Eric and Shawn.

  “Did you guys finish the reading?” Really? That’s all I can come up with? I’m so not good at this. I’m totally cool talking to Eric but he’s not the one I’m interested in right now. Shawn is pretty cute. He’s tall with spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes. And he has these giant hands. He could probably hold both of mine in only one of his.

  “Nah. I was too busy this weekend,” Eric says.

  Steph laughs.

  I add, “Yeah, we heard. Long nights with the Headmaster.”

  “You didn’t, dude,” Shawn says. “Thelma?”

  Eric blushes, but the smirk on his face tells all.

  “Yeah, he did. And he was even nice enough to share with his big brother. You’re such a giver,” I tell him, reaching over and pinching his cheek.

  He swats my hand away playfully and says, “Yeah, I was. You should ask her.”

  “Ah, no thanks. I’ll take your word for it.” I roll my eyes. We really didn’t need to hear that.

  “Can’t believe you tag teamed her with your brother.” Shawn scratches his head. “Guess they don’t call her Crash for nothin’.”

  Eric snickers, a silly grin plastered across his face.

  “Why crash?” I ask.

  “Because she’ll hit anything that comes her way.”

  That is an awful nickname, but I can’t help but laugh with the others.

  “Hey, weren’t you two together?” Shawn asks.

  Eric and I look at each other, stone-faced.

  “Yup, but that was a long time ago,” Steph answers. “Meg’s free. You?”

  Nothing like getting straight to the point.

  “Nope,” Shawn says. “I’ve been with my girlfriend since eighth grade.”

  Now, that’s a conversation killer. And a complete anomaly. Three years? That’s like thirty in teen relationship years.

  Whatever. So much for fantasizing about his big man hands.

  Next.

  Today we’re getting assigned new lab partners. This totally sucks. I don’t see why we can’t pick our own. We shouldn’t be forced to work with people we don’t know or don’t like. Keesh and I sit patiently while the teacher calls out the pairs and new seating arrangements. Just because some idiots decided to make rockets out of chemicals and empty water bottles doesn’t mean the whole class should be punished. I’d be more worried that the guys even knew how to make the devices than about letting friends work together.

  “Maybe we’ll get paired with one of those guys,” Keesh says, wiggling her pointer finger toward the corner of the room. “This might not be bad after all.”

  There are three good looking guys left. I cross my fingers behind my back that I get one of them. I don’t care which one. I’d even take the one who looks like he just rolled out of bed. I’ve seen messy hair, but I highly doubt he did that on purpose. It looks like a bird’s nest on the right side of his head. But his eyes are killer—almond shaped, long lashes, hazel.

  Damn. Two down, partnered with each other. That blows. Bedhead guy is left. Nope. Not for me. Keesha gets him.

  And I’m paired with …

  Oh. Wow.

  I get the guy with the goofy science shirt. I get the geek. Really. This is what my life has come to. When do we get to switch partners?

  “Hi.” He waves with one hand and pushes up his glasses on his nose with the other. “I’m Brody.”

  Brody? That’s an interesting name.

  “Hi, I’m Meg.”

  “I know,” he mumbles as we both sit at table three.

  “Nice shirt,” I tell him, looking closely at the fire combusting from a stick figure’s ass. “So, should I be worried?” I probably shouldn’t joke since I just met him, but who wears a shirt that says I make my own science? I have to laugh.

  He chuckles too. “No, I don’t think so. I just thought it was funny.”

  “It is.”

  “So did you get any love from Revenge of the Nerds?” Keesh asks me on our way to ASB.

  I giggle. “He was all right. How about you? How was bedhead?”

  “Not only did he forget to comb his hair this morning, he also forgot to brush his teeth,” she says, waving her hand in front of her face. Nasty. “I tried to offer him a piece of gum, but he wouldn’t take it.”

  “Well, at least my geek smells good.” And he did. He smelled nice. Clean and fresh, like my dad’s soap.

  Ten

  Landing a date to the homecoming dance took a lot longer than expected. I finally got someone to go with me just six days before the bleeping dance. It was no easy feat. I’m pathetic.

  After trolling the school and talking to practically every male specimen in the eleventh grade—and even some freshmen and sophomores—my quarky lab partner and I are going to homecoming. Together. He’s kinda grown on me. Last week he gave me a KitKat in class, which was really thoughtful. Actually, it was cute. The chocolate bar was sitting on the lab table waiting for me at my station. So a few days later, when Keesh and I made a Slurpee run, I brought him bac
k a jumbo-sized Coca-Cola flavored one that matched mine. He drained the thing in record time, squashing his hand to his head every time he got a brain freeze. It was hysterical to watch. Our teacher wasn’t too pleased with me bringing a giant beverage into class, but she let it slide. Brody is the teacher’s pet. He can do no wrong in any teacher’s eyes. I’ll have to keep that in mind.

  Since we became partners, we’ve also gotten the chance to get to know each other. Unlike our other classes, we actually have a lot of time to talk in chemistry. This teacher doesn’t instruct much. We take notes for about ten minutes, and then work with our partners on answering questions and completing small labs. And we can chat all we want while we work. It’s a nice break after studying silently all morning.

  Brody and I have an understanding. We listen. We give each other opinions, from the outside. It’s nice to have someone to talk to who’s not part of the crew.

  I learned Brody recently got dumped by his first girlfriend. He still likes her a lot. I can tell, even though he says he’s over it. Whenever we talk about relationships he just grunts and shrugs it off. Usually he’s very serious, but when it comes to his ex, he gets all weird. Poor guy. I know how he feels. It took me a long time to get out of my sweats and comb my hair again after Alex and I broke up. Sometimes, I still feel like crawling under my covers and listening to Adele wail on my iPod because I still miss him. Just when I think I’m over him, something creeps up on me and I get all weepy. Again.

  On Monday, we were having our usual bonding moments over broken hearts. I don’t know what possessed me to tell him all about freshmen year. How I fell in love with Alex. How Amy took him from me and then started fucking Eric, who was my boyfriend at the time. I spilled my guts about going out with Alex all year till he dumped me because I’m just a little kid to a big bad college guy.

  And I told him about Travis, how he and I keep hooking up but we’re not a couple. Brody thinks I don’t want a real relationship with Travis because I’m still not over Alex. Maybe he’s right. Maybe not. I’ll probably always have feelings for Alex. He was the first guy I ever loved. I know he loved me too.