The Weight of Blood (42)

“So. I heard a little rumor that Mad Mad Maddy is going to prom. Know anything about that?”

Wendy gulped, the tension palpable, yet made no move to close the distance between them. “I . . . I was going to tell you.”

“When, exactly? After you told everyone else?” She swayed, thigh bumping into a sofa arm.

Wendy’s mind worked fast to find a problem-solving tactic before a fight could reach epic proportions. It’s not like she wanted to make Jules mad, she hated the idea of a blow-up happening in front of the entire school. She decided to try to downplay and smooth it all over with a compliment. “It’s just one night,” she said, with a forced laugh. “It’s totally no big deal. And you’re still going to the . . . regular prom. You’re going to look so pretty in your dress! You won’t even see—”

“That’s not the point!” Jules screamed, bringing the house to a standstill.

Wendy bit her lip. This time, Kenny rubbed her back.

Jules grabbed a bottle of vodka off the coffee table. “You know she ruined my life, right?” Her eyes set on Kenny. “And you, her predictable puppy, you’re just going along with it?”

“It was my idea,” Wendy said, jumping up, her words shaky. “Leave him out of this.”

She snorted. “Nice. Practicing for The Real Housewives of Springville, I see?” Jules’s claws were fully out now.

“Jules, can we go somewhere private and—”

“Why are you helping her?” Jules interrogated. “Don’t you realize what she’s done?”

“She didn’t do anything,” Wendy insisted. “We did something to her. I know it was a joke but . . . we really hurt her.”

“So what?” Jules slurred, her steps unsteady. “Seriously, why should we give a fuck about Maddy Washington?”

“Because she’s a real person!” Kenny shot back. “Try putting yourself in her shoes. That’s if you can.”

Wendy stuttered to a confused silence. He didn’t even yell on the field. Why was he coming to Maddy’s defense so aggressively?

Jules snorted in disgust. “Oh yeah? Really? Tell me, have you ever talked to Maddy Washington before all this? Have either of you ever said more than two words to her before now? Ever been by her house or know what college she’s going to?”

Kenny froze, his jaw going slack.

“Right. You don’t even know her! And just because she’s Black now, you’re trying to stick up for her when before you were laughing along with us. So don’t sit and judge me for not giving a fuck about someone I don’t even know, putting her above my REAL friends!”

The room fell silent, all eyes on Wendy. She flushed red, glancing back at Kenny, who gazed down at the floor.

Wendy sighed. “Jules, I’m—”

“Hypocrites! The both of you. That’s what y’all are!”

Kenny pushed himself out of the chair and turned to Wendy. “Come on. We’re leaving.”

“Are you really going to let this guy tell you what to do?” Jules balked before sneering at Kenny. “Don’t think for a second you’re better than any of us because you can throw a freaking ball. People have been blowing your head up for years, and I’m sick of it.”

“Yo, Jules,” Kenny said, a smirk on his lips. “How about you stop worrying about Maddy and me and start thinking about what gas station you’re gonna work at? Considering no school is gonna touch you now.”

Wendy gasped as Jules stood motionless, eyes flooding with tears.

He set his beer down and walked off, the crowd parting to make way.

“Fucking dick. You know he’s not even that good, right? Probably some affirmative action recruitment bullshit.”

Wendy gaped at Jules in horror. She turned toward the door and followed. “Kenny, wait!”

“Hey! We’re not finished!” Jules shouted.

Kenny was already down the front walkway as Wendy shivered in the chilly night air, avoiding the stares. How could Jules say something so disgusting? Didn’t she know how hard he had worked?

“Wendy!” Jules grabbed her arm, digging her hot-red nails into Wendy’s flesh. “You’re supposed to be my best friend,” she shouted, hurt in her eyes.

“I am your best friend,” Wendy cried. “But . . . what you did, we did, it was really shitty.”

“But she ruined my life!”

“I know. And I’m . . . I’m just trying to make everything right.”

“God, Wendy, no one’s falling for this con you got going on! Everyone knows you’re doing this to look all innocent for Kenny, trying to secure your bankroll ’cause your parents are broke, and it’s fucking pathetic!”

The words knocked Wendy’s teeth in. She was used to hearing Jules spit her vitriol. But not at her, never at her. It was the last straw.

“You know what, Jules?” she started with a shaky voice. “Maddy didn’t ruin anything. She didn’t do anything to you. You did this all on your own. YOU threw the pencil. YOU came to the rally in blackface. There’s no one to blame here but YOU.”

Jules lost her composure for a fraction of a second before her eyes narrowed. She shook her head with a scoff. “Oh, we’re so done. No more sleepovers, no more shopping in my closet, no more rides to school, and no more being my best friend!”