Page 11 of Rumor Has It

“Excuse me?” I cross my arms, affronted. “I must’ve missed the part where we decided you would pick on me all day.”

“We discussed it in the meeting. Did you not get the memo?” She looks over at me, snickering.

I raise my brow. “Apparently not, but I’ll make sure to get mine next time.”

We sit in silence for what feels like a lifetime. Okay, so it’s been twenty minutes, but I have things on my mind, and I have no idea how to talk to this woman sometimes.

I begin to squirm with anticipation, which does nothing to help the fact she’s sitting next to me and watching my every move. It’s a double edged sword because I want her to notice me, but not if I’m being creepy.

“Seriously, if you don’t stop acting so freakin’ weird over there, I’m gonna flip. Did I do something wrong?” Her expression dulls, making me feel bad for leaving her in the dark. A stabbing pain guts me, and I decide to make my move and hope for the best.

I run my hand through my hair and draw in a deep breath. “So, prom is in a few weeks.”

“Ughh, I know.” She rolls her eyes. “If I have to sit through one more class with all of those girls chattering about their dresses and flowers, I’m going to shove axel grease in my ears.”

“That sounds painful and extremely messy.”

Her head spins. “Exactly! How can they talk about it twenty-four hours a day?”

“I meant … the grease.”

She chuckles. “Well, yeah, that too.”

“Prom doesn’t sound so bad.” I hold my breath, waiting for her reaction. Most of the girls in our class are trolls. They’ve never given Mackenzie a chance, so I understand why she has a bitter taste when it comes to them.

“It sounds like middle school all over again.” Her frown deepens, and every memory we’ve shared through those years flood my mind, making my palms sweat for her. They’ve made her life a living hell, but I want her to go, so I need to push this subject.

“We’re older now, who gives a shit about those people.”

Her face falls, along with my heart. “I know, and I don’t care, but they make it so hard on me. Your friends make me feel so beneath them.”

“Not my friends, our classmates,” I emphasize. “You’re my only friend.”

Her cheeks flush, making my chest ache. “I’m not your only friend, just the best one.”

“So…” I swallow hard and force myself to say what I’ve been trying to work up to for months. “Why don’t we?”

Her brow furrows. “Why don’t we what?”

“Go to the … prom.” I fidget while my stomach knots with her silence, but my nerves get the best of me when she doesn’t respond right away. I glance at her. “What?”

“You’re kidding, aren’t you?” She searches the mirrors. “Are you teasing? Wait, am I being punk’d?” Her eyes widen as she turns back to me.

“No, Mackenzie, you’re not being punk’d, and you won’t find a camera anywhere.” I take a long breath, trying to steel my nerves. “If I’m going to go, I was hoping you would go with me.”

A line appears between her brows. “Boone…”

I stop her before she can go on. “Listen, I know the hags we go to school with are evil, but if we go together, no one will say a word to you or about you in my presence. I want you to go with me.”

“You know it’s more than that… Wait…” She scrutinizes me, making me sweat profusely. “If you go?”

My eyes flicker to the road and back. “You might want to pay attention to the road.”

“And you might want to think this through a little more and tell me what’s really going on.” Worry etches her face.

“I’m considering going,” I stutter, worried my plan to make her jealous is going to backfire. Or at least, start a wildfire. “You know, just to say I did it once.”

Mackenzie’s lids lower, I shiver under her glacier stare. Why did I say anything? I should’ve waited. This is going to ruin everything I have planned for tonight.