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bobby the cat

    "So that's what I happened," I finish.

     Trey and I are sitting under the bleachers, having our respective lunches of sandwiches and sushi. We decided this was a safe spot that won't raise a few eyebrows.

    "I find the whole thing weirdly convenient." Trey comments as he takes a big bite of his sushi. "And inherently interesting. She basically left her best friends for you. In public. Why?"

    "Aren't you suppose to be the genius?"

     It's weird now. She's not exactly smiling me in hallways... but she acknowledges me, like a nod, but more than a nod. It's so much better than when I started, but I can't describe it.

     I don't even know what it is.

     "Is that why she invited me to her house the other day?"

     I spit out my water, the remains hitting Trey's sweater. "She did what?"

    "Jesus, Addie!" He wipes his sleeve like it's on fire, and gives me a sharp look. "Yes, we were playing badminton until late evening and she didn't have a ride — "

    "You were with her the entire evening — "

    " — so I offered to drive her home, and she allowed me."

     I stare at him with my mouth agape. "So you're telling me the first time you're alone with her, you didn't even tell me?!"

     A crease appears on his forehead as he thinks about it. Then he nods.

    "Trey!" I hit him on the shoulder.

    "Harassment against males is actually a thing that exists — "

    "What did you guys do in her house?"

     He stares daggers at me while rubbing his shoulder. "We talked."

     I scoff. "Sure. No, seriously."

     Trey raises an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"

     I let out a single laugh, but fall short when he looks serious. "You want me to believe that you, Trey Gonzalez, the notorious womanizer — "

    "Socialite," he corrects.

     I bristle. "You want me to believe that you and Justine just talked, while you two were alone in her house?"

    "Yes."

     My hands shoot up. "Unbelievable."

    "Actually," he quips. "very much believable. You see, I already did your number four."

    "Four?" I frown. "There hasn't been a number four yet."

    "Has there?" His grin turns mischievous as he grabs the List from his pocket, already bunched up and wrinkled. I gave it to him last time; I didn't realise I hadn't asked for it back. He hands it to me.

     On the paper, there's a title on top that says The List and three numbers below with my handwriting. But there's another number, and the cursive script is not mine.

     I gasp. "You did not."

    "I did." He's grinning so freakin' wide.

    "Why does your handwriting resemble my doctor's?" I mumble, tilting my head and turning the page around like the answer is right there. "Anyway, compliment her cat? I didn't even know she had one."

    "Me neither," he shrugs nonchalantly. "But I found out very quickly that Bobby means a great deal to her."

    "Bobby," I repeat, looking at him. "Bobby the Cat."

    "That is correct."

     We both look at each other dead in the eye and burst out laughing. It's crazy how the past few weeks have been. Trey and I end up staying under the bleachers longer than I thought, because honestly, I think we secretly just enjoy each other's presence. At least I do. But I'll never admit that to Trey; I'll never live it down otherwise.

     I look at the time. "Shoot."

     He glances up from his last bite, concerned. "What?"

    "I have to meet up with Justine and the girl in three minutes," I mutter. She wants to meet by the lockers before our first play practice, and I'm still trying to get used to the fact that she wants me around. Voluntarily.

     Trey gives me a lazy smile. "Already part of the group, are you?"

     I roll my eyes. "It's temporary." Just after I say it, though, there's an odd feeling in my chest. And now I just feel weird.

    "Right," he clears his throat as he gets up. "Just temporary."

***

     When I reach the girls, they're already talking about the cat.

    "He's kind of disgusting," I can hear Iris scoff. "His fur is always all over the place. And he scratches me a lot. Seriously, Justine, you should keep him in a cage or something."

    "Then how will I show off his cuteness?" Everyone laughs, and Justine smiles. She can rule the world with that smile. But it quickly falls short.

     When her gaze lands on Iris.

     I've noticed for a while about those two. Ever since the night of Iris's party — the first number on the List — I realised Iris likes to control Justine a lot, even when it appears that Justine is the ringleader of the group. Maybe... maybe she's not at all.

    "But he's dangerous!" Iris retorts.

    "Don't worry, he only scratches people he doesn't like."

    "So why would he scratch me?"

    "No idea." Justine feigns confusion, and when I stand in front of her, she meets my eyes. We're both biting our lips, containing our laughter. "Addie, hey. Nice of you to join us."

    "Nice of you to invite me."

    "How nice," Iris mutters, inspecting her nails.

     Shoot. I hate making an enemy. Does she hate me now?

    "Come on, Addie," Justine gestures to me, looking carefully between Iris and I. "We have play practice. Don't want to be late."

     Are we finally on the same side? And did Iris just glare at me?

     Nevertheless, this is the second time she's left with me. I already did feel a barrier shifting. But now I'm feeling if maybe I regret it.

     Once we get to the auditorium, though, thoughts of Iris fly out the window. I'm too entranced by the sight in front of me.

    "Let's do that, Lysander," Justine says, her script in hand. Her voice echoing in the room. "Find something to cushion while you sleep. I'm going to rest my head on this little slope."

     Trey grabs her hand to stop her. It's part of the script. "We can both sleep together on the grass. We'll have one heart, one bed, two bodies, and one faithful vow."

    "No, Lysander. Please, for my sake, sleep a little farther away. Don't sleep so close to me."

     Everyone on backstage leans in for this one line.

    "Oh, sweetheart," Trey murmurs, brushing his finger on her cheek. Now that's not part of the script; but Justine being Justine, keeps her cool. Except for turning stiff as a board. "When lovers talk to each other, their hearts should understand each other. I just meant that our hearts are joined, so we can think of them as one. Our two bodies are linked together by the promises we've made. So let me sleep next to you."

    "If I lie next to you, I won't lie to you — I'll be faithful to you."

     I think Mr. Allen sniffs and sheds a tear.

     Then I realise everyone's looking at me.

    "Oh!" I blurt out. Someone snorts behind me. "Uh — " I clear my throat, appearing to the stage, " — I've been through the entire forest, but I haven't found any Athenian man..." I look at Trey and Justine, who's pretending to sleep. "Wait a second, who's this? He's wearing Athenian clothes! This must be the guy! And here's the girl, sleeping on the dirty ground. She shouldn't lie near this rude and heartless man!"

     Trey peeks an eye open at that and glares at me.

     I pretend to throw the potion at him and squint at the script again. "Uh... jerk."

     Someone coughs from backstage.

    "Alright, let's break a leg," Mr. Allen mutters.

     The crowd disperses, murmuring against each other. 

     But everyone is still reeling from the absolute chemistry in that scene — one that was ruined by me, of course. I can't help but feel like it's all because of the List: Trey noticing Justine's uneasiness in Iris's party, the badminton play-off, the hamburger almost-date. It's all to build up for this one scene right here.

     Later on, when they start a new scene, I pluck a random seat from the theatre and plop on it. Puck isn't a popular character with a lot of lines. (And I think Mr. Allen is secretly happy to be rid of me.)

     But I gain company pretty quickly.

    "Enjoying the show?" Jude asks in the rough tone of his, slumping on the seat right beside me.

    "Which one?" I grin.

     He rolls his eyes but smirks. "Gotta give it to you, Hale, I doubted you for a bit."

    "Thanks for the vote of confidence." I turn to him. "And how do you feel about all this?"

    "No fucking comment. But a little bit impressed." Jude points a finger at me. "Don't tell Gonzalez I said that. Or... maybe..." he frowns. "It should be you I'm impressed with."

     I bite my lip. I usually like to brag about my title as puppet master, but this time, I feel uncomfortable. "Anyway, Hermia and Lysander are horrible names, though."

     Jude doesn't respond for a while, and I hope that he can't see that I'm desperate to change the subject. He gives into it. "I've known worse."

    "You couldn't have." I lean further on the seat. "My full name is Adelaide, so I bet you can't beat that."

     His green eyes glint with mischief. "Want to know a secret?" 

     Jude leans in, and surprisingly, I lean in as well. 

    "My real name is Jupiter."

     I gape at him. "No fucking way." He's growing on me.

    "Yes fucking way." His grin is stretching so much he has dimples, obviously amused at my reaction. Then he frowns at me, as if realising what he said, and clears his throat as he leans away again. I blink at him.

     "Well." I'm not sure what to say. I focus back on Trey and Justine. "They sure have real chemistry. Who would've thought, huh?"

    "Damn right," I hear Jude mutter, but he's not even looking at them. "Who would've thought?"

A/N: I call this chapter "Addie interrupting Trey for ten minutes straight."