Chapter 8

When I wandered out of my bedroom the next morning, the girls were gone and I was very relieved. It was only 8 A.M. and I was already starting the coffee maker. It was Sunday and I planned to stay home all day, possibly remaining in my pajamas.

   It was hours later when Caleb emerged from his room, joining me in front of the TV.

   "So, how was the party?" he asked right away, after pouring himself a coffee.

   "Party?" I asked, trying to play dumb.

   "When I came in the lobby it was 1A.M., and the pool party was clearing out. I just assumed you and your friends were there?" He was smiling, at least.

   "Oh, uh, yeah. We went to the party, but -"

   "Iris, you're seventeen. I don't really care that you went to a pool party," Caleb said, then let out a laugh.

   "Okay."

   "Why was it here, in my building, though?" he wanted to know.

   "Uh, two kids from my school live in the building... they were hosting the party," I told him slowly.

    "Ah. I guess I've probably seen them around."

  "Yeah, maybe. How was your jam session?" I changed the subject.

  "Oh, it was awesome. Just Josh and Ty and I, we jam at Ty's because he lives out in the middle of no where."

  I nodded, picking up the remote to change the channel. That had gone much better than I'd anticipated.

  "Plans for today?" Caleb went on, now back in the kitchen, looking for breakfast.

  I shook my head. "Just going to start my novel, for English."

  "Oh, right. Well, that's good." He looked a bit surprised, but I didn't say anything else.

  Caleb had every right to be surprised. I wasn't sure what my dad had told him exactly, but it was obviously not that I was a perfect, A+ student who never got into trouble. In San Diego, there were so many distractions. The beach. The parties. Friends. Boys. And then Sheldon. At least here, I would have to drive awhile to get to the beach, and so far I could handle the friends. Boys, though, were out of the question.

   The next school week went fast, as we settled into routine. Classes, assignments, lunch, gossip, testing, reading, repeat. The only class I really disliked was P.E. We had to wear these tiny shorts and t-shirts and run laps, do stretches, play sports that I had zero interest in. And I was out of shape. But I had Polly, who was turning out to be pretty cool. She was sarcastic and funny, and apologized profusely about passing out drunk in my uncle's apartment.

   "Don't worry about it," I told her, mid week, while we were jogging out in the field during gym. I was trying to keep up with her, actually.

   "It's so embarrassing, that I'm still not over that drama," she told me quietly. "Like, it was months ago."

   "I get it," I said, but stopped before I said too much.

   "Do you? How?" Polly wanted to know.

   "I... went through something similar... in San Diego," I answered quickly.

   "Ohhh damn," she nodded, but I wasn't sure she believed me. "I just want to know how to not care anymore."

   I swallowed hard. "Well, I ran away from it."

   Polly stopped jogging, grabbing my arm. "You moved back here, you mean?"

   I nodded, already knowing I'd regret telling her that.

   Just when it seemed like Bennett - who I knew I could not be seen talking to now - had stopped trying to talk to me, he stopped me in the hall at the end of the week. I was late for 3rd period, so I barely slowed down. I hadn't seen him much at school, as he wasn't in any of my classes. But no one was around in the hall now, as we were seemingly both tardy.

   "Iris," he said, walking faster to catch up. "Hey."

   "Hi," I said back. "I'm late for Geography."

   "Yeah, I'm late for Bio," he told me, like this was not a big deal.

   I glanced over at him but kept walking.

   "I wanted to ask you if you want to get a coffee sometime. After school? Or this weekend?" he went on.

   I was caught off guard by this but tried not to show it. "I can't."

   "Uh, why?" he asked right away.

   "More than one reason," I told him.

   He smiled. "Can you tell me any?"

   I stopped walking at the doorway of my Geography classroom. "This is me."

   Bennett looked amused. Or maybe annoyed. "Of course it is."

   I forced a smile in his direction before I slipped into the classroom.

   I couldn't go for coffee with him because I was not doing the dating thing this year. I was not going to allow myself to be distracted by boys or parties. I also knew Josie and Polly would hate it if I hung out with Bennett, Kelly's brother. I needed them, now. Having them on my side was like a safety net, in high school.

   At the end of the day, I chatted with Carley for a few minutes by my locker and then left to walk home. The walk was quiet and I decided to stop in to the thrift store across the street from the cafe, Java Hut, where I had gotten coffee the week before.

   The same young girl was working at the desk. This time I wasn't looking for anything specific, but I felt like browsing. Or maybe I just didn't feel like going home right away.

  "Hey," the girl called out. I was the only shopper in the store. "Can I help you with anything?"

   I looked over and smiled at her. "Thanks. I'm just kind of browsing. And I didn't want to go straight home from school."

   "Oh, I know the feeling. That's why I work here," she laughed, then shook her head. "Well, actually, it's my cousin's store."

   "Oh, that's cool," I replied, while I looked through a rack of sweaters.

   "I guess. She works during the day and my sister and I work evenings... so... you know... it's fine." Her eyes were dark, very brown, and her hair was down today, thick and wavy.

   "Do you go to school around here?" I asked, pulling out a cardigan that I liked.

   "I go to CH, it's not far I guess. We get out at 2:30P.M. and I come right here. Wait, do you go to the fancy private school?" She stared at me, realizing I was in my uniform.

   I pulled at the bottom of my now un-tucked shirt. "I do."

   "Oh, how's that?"

   "It's... fine. I guess," I answered, walking towards the counter now.

   She nodded and I paid for grey cardigan, after trying it on.

   "This is so cute," she told me as she scanned it. "Oh, I'm Maribella."

   "I'm Iris," I said, then added, "see you again, I'm sure."

   "I'll be here," she finished.

   I crossed the street again and turned at the corner, back towards the condo. As I walked up to the building, there was Bennett, sitting on the steps. He stood up when he saw me nearing him.

   "What are you doing?" I asked him, shaking my head.

   "I have a spare for last period, so I -"

   "You were sitting here, waiting for me?" I interrupted, annoyed.

   "Well, yeah." He shrugged, this goofy smile on his face.

   "Can you just... not?" I asked, trying to step around him.

   "Please just give me one of those many reasons why I should stop trying to ask you out?"

   "Polly and Josie are my friends," I said stupidly.

   "Yeah, and?"

   "They hate your sister," I explained slowly.

   "I thought that was all water under the bridge?" Bennett was still smiling, as if he thought I'd change my mind just like that.

   "It's not. Polly is still messed up about it, what Alex did, and..." I bit my lip. Why was I even telling him this?

   "Okay, I get that. But why does that matter? You can't be friends with me because Alex is dating my twin sister?" he asked, still standing in front of me.

   "Twin?"

   "Yeah... you didn't know?" he grinned again, so I could see his teeth.

   I shook my head. "It matters because I need Josie and Polly, you know?"

   "They don't even know me. Like, I've gone to school with them for two years and we've never had a conversation," he went on.

  I walked past him and into the building, but of course he followed.

  "Kelly's your sister... sorry. Also, who says I want to be friends with you?" I asked, since he was still close behind me.

  "Ouch."

  "Sorry, but I have to do what's best for me right now."

  I walked towards the elevator.

  "Fine," he said, but smiled again. That damn smile.

  "I have to go," I told him.

  "Uh, I have to go up, too."

  "You're not using this situation to find out what floor I live on," I said, keeping a serious face.

  "Fine. I'll take the next one." He pushed the button for me, then stood back.

  "Okay," I nodded, then felt relief as the elevator doors opened.