Page 44 of Wicked Dreams

The text is waiting for me when I check my phone at lunch. It’s only one day after Caleb’s, um,visit.

I resolve to wear pants for the rest of the week. It’s getting colder out, especially in the mornings. It wouldn’t be a leap to make an argument against the skirts hanging in my closet.

Besides the text, he’s been completely ignoring me.

Acting like nothing happened.

It was enough this morning that I did a double take. He didn’t do anything crazy to me in the courtyard before school, even though Riley and I were prepared. Savannah preened nearby, but he stuck close with his three friends.

Maybe it’s not just me he’s ignoring, but everyone else?

Riley and I decided to venture into the lunchroom. Another oddity of the week. We find a table in a back corner, and someone else from one of Riley’s classes joins us. They’re not reallywithus, although they look nice enough. They introduced themselves as Jacq. Even in the uniform—pants and a loose-fitting shirt—their style is instantly clear. Buzzed, bleach-blonde hair, oversized, pink-framed glasses, and glitter highlighter spread across the tops of their cheeks. I’d imagine outside of the uniform their wardrobe is even more impressive.

“You used to be friends with that?” Riley points with her spoon toward Savannah.

She sits with her cheerleader friends at a table in the center of the room, taking up as much space and noise as possible. Today’s a game day, which means the football players are wearing their jerseys and the cheerleaders are in their uniforms. They stand out against the monotonous sea of white shirts.

“Um, yeah, when I was like nine.”

Jacq laughs. “Bad choice, dude.”

Riley nods. “I’ve got to agree. You had poor taste as a nine-year-old.”

“Well, I was friends with Caleb, too.”

“Like,friends-friends? Or, you went to the same school and kind of knew each other?—”

“Definitely friends-friends. I don’t want to talk about that.” I can’t get into the whole complex thing right now. Not when we’re surrounded by enemies.

Enemies who are also called classmates.

Jacq makes a face, but Riley must suddenly be reminded of an earlier conversation. This morning, I whispered to her what happened.

I couldn’t keep it to myself. I mean, I don’t know what the fuck to do. I gave him a terrible blow job, and he decides it’s the best he’s had?

Okay, he didn’t quite say it that way.

But it wasn’t bad enough to warn him off…

And what was Riley’s first question, you ask?Did you use teeth?

I should’ve.

“Have you come up with a plan?” she asks now.

“A plan for a diabolical mind-fuck of Caleb Asher? Yes, yes I have.” I make them wait a minute before I say, “I need to find a boyfriend.”

Silence.

Shock.

“What? Who?”

Jacq laughs again, but quieter. To themselves.

I shrug. “I’m not too picky. I just need someone to hold my hand and maybe kiss me… Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Who’s kissing you?” Caleb asks from directly behind me.

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