The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things(59)

“Yeah,” she admits.

“I can probably stay one night with Lila if that would make you feel better. And you’ll be back on Sunday, right?” I can’t imagine that she’s considering a long holiday. My aunt hasn’t taken a vacation as long as I’ve lived with her.

“That sounds good.” From her expression, she’s relieved. She’s apparently okay with letting me stay one night alone, but two makes her feel neglectful, I guess.

“He’s buttering you up so you’ll be willing to go to sci-fi conventions, huh?”

Aunt Gabby smirks. “That’s a possibility.”

“Heh. I’ll talk to Lila. When are you going?”

“In a month or so, the weekend before Thanksgiving.”

Which means it’s almost Halloween. The warm weather won’t last too much longer; it’s weird, some years, the trick-or-treaters need to bundle up over their costumes, and other times, it’s so warm, it almost feels like summer. I wonder how it’ll be this time. Not that I go out—I generally stay home and give out candy. I tease Aunt Gabby about giving away that sugary junk, but she just grins and says she doesn’t want her house egged or her trees TP’d.

The rest of the week, school is quiet. If I was skittish, I’d say too much so. Because I notice Dylan watching me, but he doesn’t make a move. I go about my business: planning the recycling drive, working, seeing Shane, doing homework. And I leave cheerful Post-its on people’s lockers, like usual. I’m walking with a little more swagger these days instead of rushing around with my head down. Maybe it’s my new attitude that results in so many people talking to me between class. Whatever the reason, I like the change.

Friday morning, Shane’s escorting me to my first class. “You wanna do something tonight?”

Duh.

“Yeah. Our choices are limited, though.”

“I’d kinda like to hang out at your place if that’s cool.”

“Sure. If you want, come over after school.” That will save him a ten-mile round trip.

“I’ll meet you at our locker, then.” He drops me off at my classroom with a kiss on the forehead. A teacher catches it, but since it isn’t mouth-to-mouth contact, she contents herself with a frown.

Lunch is weird. Ryan pulls up a chair, joining us at the new integrated table. Things are a little crowded, but people are talking a lot about the recycling drive, so it’s not awkward. Gwen has talked her dad into sponsoring the operation, so he’s permitting people to drop off stuff at his hardware store, and she’s even gotten him to rent some proper containers.

“We’ll need people to ferry stuff over from the school,” Tara is saying.

Kenny immediately volunteers his mom’s minivan to earn a smile from Tara. Then he starts texting, which makes me think that his mom knows nothing about this. I stifle a smirk.

“So what’re you doing tonight?” Lila asks, as the others discuss Green World stuff.

“Hanging out with Shane.”

“Oh.”

I swear she looks disappointed. Now I’m torn. I don’t want to be one of those girls who gets a boyfriend and stops hanging out with her friends. Hoping Shane will understand, I say, “Do you want to come over? We’re probably going to watch a movie.”

She arches a brow at me. “Sounds awesome. I love preventing people from making out.”

Before I can think better of the impulse, I nudge Ryan with an elbow. “Wanna do movie night? Shane and Lila are coming.”

“Usual time?”

I nod. Only then do I look at Shane, as our date has doubled. “Hope this is okay,” I whisper.

“Too late to be asking now.” But he doesn’t look mad.

I realize I’ve done it again, made plans without asking him. I’m just not used to being half of anything. When I spent all my time with Ryan, we were a closed circle that didn’t let anyone else in.

“I’ll make it up to you.” I whisper the promise. Both his brows go up, then my face heats like a radiator. “I mean. Uhm. We can do something, just us, before you go to work on Saturday? I can make a picnic if the weather’s nice, and we can eat in the park.”


“Okay. I’ll bring my work clothes and change at the store.”

Soon, lunch is over, and I get through the day. After classes end, Shane meets me at our locker, as promised. It occurs to me that we have a few hours before the others arrive. This can be a mini-date. Since we’re not in a hurry, I push my bike and Shane walks alongside me.

I’m about to jokingly suggest he needs some way to keep up with me when I spot a yard sale. There’s an older woman puttering among the tables, and I can’t resist. It’s not that I love rummaging through other people’s junk, but sometimes I can find cool stuff that doesn’t cost a ton. Aunt Gabby appreciates it when I do my own clothes shopping.

“Do you mind?” I ask.

“Go for it.”

While I’m poking through piles of T-shirts, Shane wanders toward the garage. In fact, this is more of an everything-must-go sale, since it’s lined up on the lawn, up the driveway, and beyond. I find a couple of vintage T-shirts, priced cheap, along with various tank tops. This stuff looks like it’s from the eighties, but it’ll work now. Off the shoulder tops are coming back.