Page 36 of Off Limits

“We want you nerds to lighten up and come cut class with us.”

I roll my eyes. “Kye, you’re so rude.”

“Kidding!” he says quickly, shifting his tone and demeanour. “I’m just teasing. We want you smart girls,” he makes a flourishing gesture with his hand, to more laughter from Eric, “to come with us.”

“No,” I answer, just as Christine says, “Where?”

Ugh. Her eyes are bright and shiny with interest.

The boys exchange a smile and Eric answers, “We’re going to get high.” He raises his forefinger and his thumb to his mouth, as if he’s holding a joint.

No.

Christine looks at me and shrugs, her eyes gleaming with hope. “We only have Vocal Music,” she says.

“But we have another class after,” I counter. “I can’t skip both.”

“We’re all in Drama final period,” Kye points out. “You’ll actually perform better in Drama if you’re high.” He and Eric snort, and even Christine grins, and I get the sinking feeling that I’m on the losing side of the battle. If I don’t go, they’ll talk about how uptight and weird I am the whole time.

“Fine.” I open my locker to put my books back, trying to ignore my reservations.

We head out of the school, nodding confidently to Mrs. Minic, our math teacher, who eyes us suspiciously.

“Free period!” Christine sings out to her with a wave.

We walk around to the parking lot at the back of the main building, and with a click from his key fob, Kye’s Jeep beeps and flashes its headlights.

“Are we driving?” If I get caught, for any of this, Jean-Luc will kill me.

“Nah.” Eric opens the back door and hops in. “We’re hotboxing.” Christine gets in the back beside Eric and I climb into the passenger seat with a sigh. I don’t want to get high. I’m not sure if it’s too late to bail and go back to class.

“Wait!” cries Eric. “We didn’t get snacks. We should get them before so we don’t have to open the doors.”

“Yeah, man,” says Kye. “You two go. We’ll wait here.” He hands his bank card back over the seat to Eric. “One-one-one-one,” he adds, giving Eric his PIN.

“Let’s go,” says Eric, and he and Christine hop back out of the car, leaving Kye and I sitting up front.

“The store’s, like, a ten minute walk,” I point out in confusion. No one pays any attention.

I watch their backs retreat around the building until a crackling sound pulls my attention back to Kye. He’s pulled a vape pen out of pocket and takes a long inhale before passing it to me.

“No, thanks,” I say primly. He blows a huge billow of smoke out in a cloud, searing my eyes and lungs.

“C’mon, Holland. Don’t be such a tight ass.”

“Don’t want to.”

He shakes his head, a smile playing on his lips. “That’s what I like about you, you know. You’re kind of different.”

“Because I don’t want to get high after lunch?”

He snorts. “Because you know what you want, I guess. Because you do your own thing.”

I’m not sure what to say. I think this is the nicest Kye has ever been to me, and for a moment we’re both just looking out the front window in silence while I debate whether or not to say thanks. Then Kye asks, “You need a drive home today?”

I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed. “Actually, no. Not today. My dad’s, uh…my dad’s back at the office again, so he’s coming to get me.”

He turns to look at me in disbelief. “Dude, seriously. What is with your dad? You are literally on my way home. Or you could take the bus like basically everybody else. Does he, like, not let you out of his sight or something?”

---