Twelve Steps to Normal(39)
It’s a kind gesture, one that fills me with unexpected comfort. I realize that, at this very moment, I have an opportunity to attempt to convince Nonnie to leave as part of my list. I can easily do it, but I don’t. For the first time since they arrived, I don’t mind her company.
From downstairs, Peach hollers that dinner is ready.
I turn to Nonnie. “I ate earlier.”
“Well, I surely can’t say no to pizza.” Her gaze focuses on Wallis, who is spread out on my area rug. “C’mon, boy. I’m sure there will be leftovers.”
Wallis rolls over onto his back, making himself even more comfortable.
“Wallis,” Nonnie warns.
Wallis’s tongue flops over the side of his mouth.
“It’s okay,” I say. “Really. He can stay in here.”
Her eyes widen. “You’re sure?”
My eyes find Wallis’s. It’s not his fault someone left him, too. So I nod and with one last glance at the both of us, Nonnie leaves.
The tension in my chest eases, although I can’t explain why. I feel like I should be angry at Peach and my dad for acting like everything is fine, but I’m not. I just feel sad. And more alone than I did before.
Wallis watches me from the rug as I spend the next few hours reading chapters for history and getting on and off the internet to see what my friends are up to. I google a step-by-step breakdown of my algebra homework before giving up and brushing my teeth.
As I’m walking back to my room, I spot something propped up against my door.
Confused, I bend down to pick it up. It’s a CD case. Queen’s Greatest Hits.
I’ve had to listen to this every morning for the past week. Nonnie is basically giving me the power to trash this, but I know I won’t.
Even though I’ve memorized all the songs, I slide it into my laptop’s CD drive. I play the album softly as I climb into bed. I want to be the strong person Nonnie seems to see in me, but the truth is I’m not sure that’s who I am.
FOURTEEN
COACH VELASQUEZ HOSTS AN EARLY morning Wavettes meeting on Tuesday, and as I’m leaving the dance room, I spot Breck studying pages of his chemistry book outside of the gym.
“Riveting stuff?”
He looks up, then grins. “Ah. Yeah. Not so much.”
“Hey, so, what’s with you wanting to join the decathlon?” I fold my arms. “And you better not tell me it’s to mess with Lin.”
“Why would I want to do that? I like Lin.”
He sounds genuine, but I wait for more.
“Okay, fine.” Breck groans into his hands before looking back at me. “I want to prove I can be good at something other than basketball because… I’m not sure I want to play in college.”
This wasn’t the answer I was expecting. “You don’t?”
“Nah. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll do it if I get a sick scholarship—money is important. But, you know, my brain is pretty dope.” He taps the side of his head, smiling. “And I think competing with the decathlon team could be fun.”
I study him, somewhat surprised. Breck likes partying and basketball as much as Jay, but Jay never took his grades super seriously. He was fine being average. And from what Lin told me about Breck’s GPA, he works hard. Really hard.
“I’ll talk to her.”
He closes his textbook. “You will?”
“Just don’t let her down,” I warn. “You already have basketball, but this team is important to her.”
“I won’t,” Breck says, and I can tell he’s being earnest. “I swear.”
I glance at the clock. The bell is a few minutes away from ringing. “I’ll see you at lunch.”
Breck waves, and I turn down the hall and head to my locker. I need my English textbook for first period, although I wish I could skip it and consume my stress about my chemistry test in the form of glazed donuts.
“Did it work?” A voice says from behind me.
I turn around. Alex is standing there, the sleeves of his black undershirt pushed up to his elbows. The gray T-shirt he wears over it has an upside-down stegosaurus printed on it. I’m not sure what it means, but knowing Alex I can only guess it’s a film logo.
“Did what work?”
He smiles. “The excuse. From yesterday?”
“Oh.” I move out of the way so he can access his locker. “Yeah, it did, actually. Thanks.”
Alex opens his mouth to say something, then closes it. I follow his gaze down the hall. Lin sprints toward us, stopping when she sees me.
“This sucks. I stopped by the Pick Up the Park sign-up sheet and only five people have signed up so far! Five!”
Alex shuts his locker, then turns toward us. “I don’t want to tell you how to run things.” Lin looks over at him, a curious expression on her face. “But maybe next time schedule the cleanup on a Saturday? Most people have things going on after school.”
Lin’s eyes widen, like she can’t believe she didn’t think of that. “Oh! You’re so right. I need to tell Andrea.” She tucks a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “But you’re still coming, right?” She looks at Alex. “And you, too? I saw your name on the list, I think.”
“Yeah,” Alex tells her. “I need volunteer hours.”