Shut Out(13)

And I wondered why Chloe was the only girl willing to come out and say she liked sex. Maybe because the others knew she was called a slut or a whore for liking it so much? But I didn’t understand that, either. Like Chloe said, it wasn’t like she slept with other girls’ boyfriends.

I also wanted to know why Mary had been the only one willing to confess the opposite—her virginity. Because I didn’t think for a second that she was the only one at the table who hadn’t yet made that leap.

When everyone had sworn on the magazine, I handed it back to Ellen. “You can make the soccer girls take the same oath,” I said.

“Sure thing.” She tucked the magazine into her backpack again.

“All right,” I said. “So here we go. I’m thinking we should all keep in touch via e-mail. We’ll need a support group to get through this, and it’ll keep us organized. But I definitely think we are onto something here. We can win this way.”

“For your sake,” Kelsey said, getting to her feet just as the bell for third block rang, “I hope so. This better work, Lissa.”

“It will,” I assured her. “I know it will.”

The girls began to move in a herd toward the door. I started to turn to Chloe, who was still sitting at the table with me, then noticed Ellen, lingering uncertainly near the library door.

“Hey,” I said, walking over to her. I’d picked up my pen again and was already spinning the cap. “Thanks for coming. I know this is all really weird. The football girlfriends and being around me and… whatever.”

“I’ll always come if you want me to, Liss.” She gave another small smile and put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it briefly. Then she turned and left the library.

I thought I’d lost Ellen for good because of this feud. Because our boyfriends hated each other. But maybe, I realized, I could end the war and get a friend back at the same time. The thought made me smile.

Chloe eased up beside me. “You ready for AP Bio?”

“Sure,” I said, turning to face her. “Thanks, by the way. For agreeing to this.”

“Yeah. You owe me.”

“Well, at least the stupid fight will be over soon,” I said. “Won’t that make up for it?”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “Lissa, I couldn’t care less about the problems between the teams. I know it’s stupid, and I know it affects you, but it doesn’t really have an impact on me, since I’m not really committed to any of the boys.” She shrugged. “I didn’t do this to end the fighting. I did it because I know it’s important to you. And you’re important to me.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Chloe.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she said, picking up her messenger bag. “I also did it just to spite Kelsey, so it wasn’t totally selfless. I hate that bitch.”

I laughed.

“Come on,” she said. “Mr. Hall will flip his shit if we’re late.”





chapter six


That afternoon, as Chloe and I walked out to the student parking lot after last block, Randy jogged up behind us. “Hey, Lissa, hold up a sec.”

We stopped, and I turned to face him. “Yes?”

He came to a halt a few feet from me, looking momentarily confused. “Something wrong?” he asked. “You look upset.”

“It’s noth—ow!” Chloe had just elbowed me hard in the side, and now she gave me a stern look. I sighed. “Okay, fine. Yes, I’m a little upset, Randy.”

“Shit. What did I do?”

“Okay, my work here is done. I’ll give you two some privacy.” Chloe brushed past me and walked over to her convertible. I saw her climb onto the hood and pull her long legs up to her chest.

“So what’s wrong?” Randy asked. He was already dressed in his workout clothes for football practice.

I kicked at a small chunk of loose pavement, a little harder than I’d intended, and it skittered across the parking lot, colliding with a Dumpster a few feet away with a loud thud.

“Didn’t your mother teach you to use your words?” Randy joked.

I looked at him sharply.

“I—Sorry,” he said. “I know you don’t like to talk about… sorry.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s rewind. What’s wrong? What did I do? Tell me.”

“Look,” I said, forcing the word out of my mouth. Chloe was right. I needed to open up and tell Randy how I felt. “It’s just… I’m not cool with being your…” My eyes stayed trained on my hands, where they wound and unwound in a steady rhythm near my waist. “Your booty call.”

“Booty call?”

“Last night,” I reminded him. “My room. You bribed me with flowers before ditching me. You were there; I’m sure you remember.”

Suddenly, the lightbulb clicked on over his head. “What? That? That wasn’t a booty call, babe. It’s only a booty call if you’re not with the girl. But we’re in love, so it’s cool.”

“Not to me,” I muttered. “It hurt. I felt used. I’m tired of you ditching me for this stupid fight, Randy. It really bothered me last night. It’s been bothering me for a while, actually.” I stared at my feet and shoved my hands in my pockets so I’d stop wringing them.