Liars and Losers Like Us(47)

“Really? Meaning you weren’t in love with him, or you never—you know? You two were dating for a while, right?

“Ugh. Not that I want to get into it right now, but we were only dating for a couple months and we never …”

Our server bounces up to the table, popping his head over my menu. “Hey there, I’m Jake, I’ll be your server. You two ready to order or ya need more time?”

Good save. Thanks Jake. We order and Sean leaves for the bathroom. Of course Chip sees me. Of course. He’s probably got an app that alerts him whenever we’re within a hundred feet of each other. As he glides my way, I chant over and over in my head: please don’t come up to me, please don’t come up to me, please don’t.

“Bree?” he yells. “Hey Bree!” He sidles right up against the table. “How’s it goin’? I see you’re here with that football player guitar guy. Interesting.”

“His name’s Sean.”

“I knew that. So, is Sean your new boyfriend or something? He takin’ you to Prom?”

“Chip, I’m pretty sure I’ve told you that I’m not really trying to be friends, okay? It’s not your business.”

“Oh, sure. I get it. I can’t talk to you in front of your new friends. Give me a break. You know these guys are idiots.”

And then as if it wasn’t bad enough, Jane slides up next to Chip. I shoot him a dagger. Thanks for shouting me out Chip.

“Well, look what the cat drug in. With Chip Ryan. Am I interrupting a drug deal or something?”

I glare. “Sorry Jane, we’re out of Go-Go Juice this week. Did you need another ride somewhere?”

“So, you two are hanging out now too?” asks Chip.

“I was just coming over here to congratulate Bree here on officially stealing my Prom date. Guess all’s fair in love and war, right?”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Love?”

Chip pushes Sean’s sweatshirt over and sits across from me. “You’re really going to Prom with him?”

Jane leans in over the table, gripping the edge with both hands. “She sure is. After he already said he’d go with me. You two haven’t even been hanging out that long. Have you had sex with him yet?” She blinks her chunky spider leggy lashes.

Chip watches us like a movie.

My anger steamrolls the anxiety that’s been fizzing in my stomach since Chip walked up. My teeth unclench as I glare into Jane’s eyes. “Are you done here?”

“Just what I thought,” she says. “You know, I’m a big contender for Prom Queen and I don’t even have a f*cking date now. Which smells a lot like horseshit if you ask me. I’m not trying to be mean, but you don’t stand a chance so there’s no reason for you to use up one of our king nominees, especially one of the good ones.”

“Not trying to be mean.” Chip laughs.

“Use up?” The anger pushes me to my feet as I leer back at her. “It’s not my fault that no one wants to go with you. I mean, you’re walking into a diner with a tiara on your head. Your attention whoring is so goddamned sad.”

Jane sighs, shaking her head slowly. “Really? Ouch. That hurts right here.” She makes a duckface and cups her left boob.

“It’s not my fault the guy you’re screwing has a girlfriend he obviously isn’t going to leave. At least not before Prom.”

Jane squishes her lips into a tight “O” and raises her chin.

I continue, “You and Todd do have something in common, though. You don’t give a shit about anyone else, and he doesn’t give a shit about you.” The permabitch grin leaves her face for another split second so I smile, “Maybe you should decline your nomination like Maisey did.”

“Good call,” says Chip. “Yeah Jane, how about you off yourself the way Maisey did, too.”

Jane’s face falls and her words come out in almost a whisper. “Screw you, Chip.”

“No, screw you,” he answers. “Everyone knows Maisey killed herself because you’re such a bitch.”

Jane’s eyes glisten as she pulls her shoulders back, and the way her fists open and close have me worried she might throw a punch.

“What’s up, guys?” Sean steps between me and Jane and there’s a wave of Thank God, as he places a hand on each of our shoulders.

Jane adjusts her crown and faces Sean. “Just talking to Bree here, you know, details about Prom, your sex life. All sorts of TMI, but don’t worry, my lips are sealed.” She narrows her eyes, “For now, anyway. Later, guys.” She walks off.

“You sittin’ here?” Chip asks Sean from the booth.

“Yep,” answers Sean. “Pretty sure that’s my sweatshirt you’re sitting on.”

“Sorry man. My bad.” Chip gets up and Sean moves past him to sit back down in the booth.

“You okay over here?” Sean says looking from Chip to me.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I slide back into my seat.

“Yeah, man, she’s all right. I was just saying hi.” He turns to me. “See ya Bree.”

I exhale as Chip walks away. “Oh my god. I don’t get why he can’t leave me alone. I’m beginning to think I can’t go anywhere with you without running into my two favorite people.”