Page 51 of The Sidekick

“She told you to ask me for advice?”

“No. She doesn’t know that I found you, and she doesn’t know I read your diary either. I felt closer to you after reading it and thought, what the hell?” Shade looks so flustered and let down by my lack of reciprocating best friend feelings that I feel a little bad. A microscopic speck bad, but still. “You’re not the only person they’ve treated like a verbal piñata. It’s hard to find my way through that.”

And he wants to be in a relationship with them? Who’s the crazy one here? I guess he really likes people to be mean to him.

“What if my advice doesn’t work though? I’d be setting you up to get hurt. I won’t do that to you, jerk or not,” I frown, trying to work my way out of this conundrum.

“Is that what happened? You took your own advice, and it backfired?” He doesn’t sound smug about the idea that I messed up again. He actually seems concerned. So much for trying to distract him with a ton of questions.

“Yeah,” I confess and bite my lower lip to control the sudden tremor that started there.

“What did they do?” Now he sounds really mad, and I meet his translucent gray stare with surprise. I don’t want to answer that if I can get away with it.

“We aren’t talking about me right now.” Try ever. “I’m not sure if my advice will work in your case.”

“Because we’re all guys?” He gives me a scowl and abruptly stands to start pacing.

“No,” I scoff. “Because I think you’re a sidekick, like me.”

That gives him pause, and I nod at him emphatically. “I think my advice didn’t work for me because I’m not main character material. I mean, you have potential, so maybe it will work? It worked for Andi because she’s a main character, I know it.”

“Are you telling me not to take risks because you think my life isn’t filled with drama?” His tone is a mixture of surprise and exasperation.

I huff in frustration. No one ever gets it.

“Why aren’t you a main character? Can’t you graduate and get there?” His sarcasm is not appreciated.

“Good night, Shade,” I glare at him and begin putting the candy and sodas in the fridge to make it clear that the night is over. I walk to the door and unlock it to gesture him out.

“I’m broke.”

I blink at him in surprise with his blurted confession.

“What? What happened?” The words fall out of me, filled with concern, as I close the door and lock it again.

He stands in the living room, looking at everything but me and rubbing the back of his neck again.

“Don’t be embarrassed. Stuff happens. I’ll help you. What do you need?” The reassurance blurts out without my permission. I shouldn’t care what he’s going through. He tracked me down and hid in my car. Wait, what if he was sleeping in there? Oh my gosh.

I rush to the closet in the bedroom, dragging out a blanket and pillow. I toss both items into his surprised arms and tell him sternly, “One night only. We’ll figure something out for you tomorrow after my doctor's appointment. Just try and get some sleep. You’ll be ok.”

I head to my room and firmly close the door.

Babygirl,

I have your computer. I’m holding it hostage until you come home.

Yours,

Trevor

Chapter Nineteen

Tera

I try to leave the apartment the following day without my brand-new shadow, but he’s relentless. He wants to go everywhere that I do. He was standing outside the bathroom door when I got out this morning. I had to go back in for another shower because he scared me so bad I peed a little. I’m pouting as I drive while he stares at the buildings around us.

“Why are you following me everywhere?” I demand through gritted teeth. It’s like he’s a duckling that’s imprinted on me. It’s cute but really frustrating.

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