Page 94 of Remember Us This Way

“Okay, so there’s probably a few things you need to know about this school before you decide to get too close to me,” I say, giving her a fair warning about what it will mean to be my friend. “I um . . . I’m dating last year’s quarterback, which kinda put me on the shitlist with the cheerleaders, and well . . . the cheer captain, Shannan. She was supposed to graduate but didn’t. So now she’s repeating her senior year, and I can guarantee now that Noah’s not here to scare her away, she’s going to try and make my life a living hell.”

“Shit,” she says, her brows arching. “She sounds like fun.”

“Oh yeah, she’s a real treat,” I tell her. “I’ve been mobbed in this very cafeteria too many times than I care to count. Not to mention, she trained the whole student body to chant trash every time I walked into a room last year.”

“That’s um . . . kinda terrifying, but also,” she says in a teasing voice, “props to her for having that kind of pull over such a big school. That’s certainly impressive.”

“I mean, I have other descriptive words for it, but sure, let’s go with impressive.”

Hope laughs, and her blonde ringlets fall over her shoulder, framing her pretty face. “Seriously though, I’m not into that shitty behavior. I find it embarrassing. People who act like that . . . I don’t know, they might as well be holding a sign above their heads saying I’m insecure. It’s not cool, and I’m sorry that you were tormented like that over something so silly as being with the person you love. At least, I don’t mean to make assumptions that you’re in love with this mystery boyfriend of yours, but like, are you?”

I laugh, a wide grin stretching over my face, and before I can even respond, Hope’s grinning right back at me. “Oh yeah. You’re definitely in love with this guy. What did you say his name was? Noah?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” I say. “Actually, you might know him. He would have been a senior at St. Michael’s last year, but he transferred.”

“Quarterback, you said?” I nod and she scrunches her face. “Maybe. But to be completely honest, I’m not into football. Now, those scrawny computer nerds with cute faces who blush every time a girl looks their way—Now that’s what I’m into. As for your boyfriend, the name kinda rings a bell, but I couldn’t put a face to the name even if I tried.”

I smile. The thought of having a friend who isn’t in love with my boyfriend eases my fears and makes me want to keep her. “Um . . . Okay. So totally don’t judge him on this, but you might know him as the guy who burned down your principal’s office.”

Hope’s jaw drops, and she gapes at me. “No way,” she breathes. “Okay, yeah. I know exactly who you’re talking about.” She laughs and shakes her head, almost unable to believe what she’s hearing. “Wow, girl. I have to be honest. You don’t strike me as the kind to go after the typical player bad boy.”

“Dare I ask what type you think I would go for?” I ask, not bothering to correct her on the typical player bad boy comment. She wouldn’t understand.

Hope looks at me for a moment, really thinking it through. “I don’t know,” she says thoughtfully. “You definitely seem like a girl who goes for the athlete type, someone with a sexy body, but not someone high up on the roster who’s going to give you a hard time when it comes to other girls. I don’t think you’re interested in that shit. Maybe like, the typical nice guy, golden-retriever vibe.”

I laugh. “In that case, you have me pinned pretty well. That’s Noah all over. Only he has a mean streak for anyone who wants to screw with me and doesn’t let the outside world see the real him. Ask anyone in this school, and they’d say Noah is the biggest ass they’ve ever met, but not me. I’ve known him since we were . . . Well, since I was born really. He was my first friend, and he’s been right by my side ever since. He’s the only one who’s ever truly had my back.”

I don’t bother to explain those three dark years, that’s definitely a conversation for when I know her better. But I already know, without a doubt, that I’ll be comfortable opening up about it and telling her all about Linc.

“You know, that is honestly the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Best friends growing up together and slowly falling in love.”

“Oh, there was nothing slow about it,” I scoff. “I was madly in love with him at thirteen, and it’s only ever gotten stronger. He tells people all the time that we’re two halves of the same whole.”

“Soul mates,” she murmurs, her blue eyes shining with fondness.

“Exactly,” I tell her. “What about you? What’s your story?”

Hope scoffs. “Compared to that, my story is boring. I’ve never had that big, all-consuming first love or had any issues with nasty girls. I’m just . . . plain Hope. Just hoping to get through high school without any drama—but maybe a handful of parties.”

“You know what?” I say, a genuine smile resting across my lips as I meet her kind, icy blue eyes. “Stick with me. You sound like everything I could possibly need.”

38

Zoey

My luck has more than run out.

We’re four weeks into senior year, and just as I expected, Shannan couldn’t wait to play her wicked games. Only it’s so much worse than it ever was last year. She’s had time to plan and hit me right where it hurts. Rather than public performances to humiliate me, which would leave her vulnerable to witnesses, she keeps it private. Stalking me into bathrooms. Editing my face onto naked selfies to spread through the school. She’s even gone as far as hacking into my phone and spreading some of my risqué texts with Noah.

Tarni hasn’t been any better either.

Now that she’s got her friends back and is no longer the school outcast shamed under Noah’s reign, she’s moving back up the ranks and taking revenge in the form of snide comments and insults. Though, I know Tarni better than she knows herself. This is only the beginning.

School is about to become my biggest nightmare. The little six-year-old version of me who was fighting cancer would even pity me now. If I didn’t have Hope, I’d be lost. She’s been my rock over these past few weeks, and despite the little time we’ve known each other, she’s become closer to me than Tarni ever was, and she knows more about my life and who I am as a person. What’s more, outside of Noah, she gives me something to be excited for.

Hope isn’t shy about her dislike of Shannan, and because of how genuine and kind she is, she naturally draws people in, all of whom stand with her against Shannan when she brings out the claws. So far, it hasn’t rattled her. Shannan’s used to people not liking her, but Hope makes me feel optimistic that things will be better one day.

As for all of this, I haven’t dared to tell Noah.

---