Slammed

so I decide to sit it out in my jeep. That’s two classes in two days. I’m becoming a real rebel.
     
    I take my seat in history and Eddie swings in behind me.
     
    “ You skip math and you don’t take me with you?” she whispers from behind me.
     
    I turn around and she draws her neck in and pouts.
     
    “ Oh. You slept in.”
     
    Makeup. I forgot to bring my makeup. Eddie reaches into her purse and pulls out a cosmetic bag. She can read my mind. Isn’t that what best friends do?
     
    “ My hero,” I say as I take it from her and turn around. I pull lipstick and mascara out, along with a mirror. I apply it quickly and hand her the bag back.
     
    As we walk into third period, Will makes eye contact with me as he mouths, “thank you.” I smile and shrug my shoulders, letting him know it wasn’t a big deal. Eddie pinches my arm as she walks past me, letting me know she saw our exchange.
     
    You wouldn’t know by looking at him that Will got ready in less than three minutes. His black pants are wrinkle-free, his white shirt tucked in at the waist. His tie…oh my god, his tie. I let out a laugh and he glances in my direction. He must not have noticed he put his tie on first this morning; it’s barely visible underneath his white shirt. I tug at the collar of my shirt and point to him. He glances down and pats his chest where his tie should be. He laughs as he turns and faces the chalkboard and corrects his wardrobe malfunction. The other students were still taking their seats and chatting, but I know Eddie saw what just happened. I can feel her staring a hole into my back.
     
    ***
     
    Nick throws himself into the seat next to me at lunch. Eddie is sitting right across from me. I expect her to give me the eye but she doesn’t, she’s just as exuberant as ever. She already knows too much. I’m afraid she may assume it’s more than it is. I was late for school today; Will obviously got dressed in a hurry. She has every right to bombard me with questions but she doesn’t. I respect her for that-for respecting me.
     
    “ New Girl, what time we leavin’?” Nick asks as he’s piling his food together.
     
    “ I don’t know. Who’s driving?”
     
    “ I’ll drive,” Gavin says.
     
    Nick looks up at Gavin. “No way, man. We’re taking my dad’s car. No way I’m riding in Monte Car-no.”
     
    “ Monte Car-no?” I look at Gavin.
     
    “ My car,” Gavin replies.
     
    “ What’s your address Layken?” Eddie asks. I’m shocked she failed to obtain it the first time we met.
     
    “ Oh I know where she lives,” Nick says. “I gave her a ride home. Same street as Mr. Cooper. We’ll pick her up last.”
     
    How does Nick know that? I flush as I glance down to my tray and stir my mashed potatoes, attempting to seem oblivious to Eddie’s stare.
     
    ***
     
    Nick and Gavin are both sitting in the front seat so I take the backseat with Eddie. When I climb in she smiles a friendly smile. She’s not going to press me. I breathe a sigh of relief.
     
    “ Layken, we need your help,” Gavin says. “Settle something for us will ya?”
     
    “ I like disputes. Shoot,” I say as I put on my seatbelt.
     
    “ Nick here thinks Texas is nothing but tornadoes. He says they don’t have hurricanes because there’s no beach. School him.”
     
    “ Well, he’s wrong on both counts,” I say.
     
    “ I can’t be,” Nick says.
     
    “ There are hurricanes," I say. "You forgot about the little area known as The Gulf of Mexico . But there aren’t any tornadoes.”
     
    They both pause.
     
    “ There’s definitely tornadoes,” Gavin says as he rolls his head.
     
    “ No,” I say. “There’s no such thing as tornadoes, Gavin. Chuck Norris just hates trailer parks.”
     
    There is a moment of silence before they break out in laughter. Eddie scoots closer to me in the backseat and cups her hand to my ear.
     
    “ He knows.”
     
    I hold my breath, thinking back on conversations that might give me a clue who she’s talking about.
     
    “ Who knows? And what does he know?” I finally ask.
     
    “ Nick. He knows you aren’t interested. He's fine with it. There’s no pressure. We’re just friends tonight, all of us.”
     
    I’m relieved. So relieved. I was already planning out how I would let him down.
     
    ***
     
    I never did get to taste the pizza from Getty’s that I had delivered last night. It’s heaven. We had to order two, since Nick is eating a whole one by himself. I