Page 26 of New Year

“Obviously,” she says. “You can’t go to prom alone, and you don’t want to be left out when we go to couple stuff. Even just hanging out, you don’t want to be the fifth wheel, do you?”

“No,” I admit, my stomach tight with dread at the thought of them all going to movies or dinners and not inviting poor, sad Sky who doesn’t have a guy to go with.

“And then there’s Valentines,” she says. “It’s just around the corner, and even if you don’t want to go out on a date, you need someone to send you candy grams at school.”

“Right,” I say, cursing myself for not thinking ahead like she does.

“Just remember he has needs too. It’s not really his fault he hooked up with Elaine. Women may be the weaker sex, but men are weaker when it comes to that stuff.”

“Exactly why I need this,” Daria says, standing from raiding the panty drawer and holding up her lacy black ensemble. “Colin won’t be able to resist me any more than Todd could resist Elaine’s powers of seduction.”

I’d point out that I have no powers of seduction, as evidenced by my epic fail on New Years, but that is a story that will never pass my lips.

But maybe I don’t need them. Todd is not a stranger I met on the beach. He’s an ex, someone familiar and comfortable and predictable. Someone who maybe I should listen to next time he asks me to hear him out. He’s tried to talk to me, butI blew him off because my pride was hurt. Clearly my pride is not as important as my reputation if I want to stay in the group, though.

“What do you think?” I ask Daria, biting at a hangnail and cringing as I wait for her to scold me, to give me one of her pep talks about girl power and knowing my worth.

“You’ve come to the right person,” she says. “You know I love playing matchmaker.”

I sigh, the last shred of hope slipping away. “Yeah, okay.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell him to pull out all the stops if he wants to win you back,” she says with a wicked grin. “Prepare to be treated like the goddess you are.”

I don’t know whether it’s guilt or reluctance making the pit open up in my stomach. But it’s not like I’m being pathetic and going back to a guy who cheats over and over because I’m so in love. He never broke my heart because he never had it. Nothing’s changed. We were always each other’s second choice. And if I have to have a boyfriend to belong, to be part of the group, then he’s the obvious choice.

The only choice, if I’m honest. It’s not like guys are filling up my DMs, and Todd is there for the taking. All I have to do is say yes.

“Sounds good,” I say, the words dry as sawdust in my mouth.

It takes approximately seven years for them to finalize their undergarment situation for Valentines Day, at which point going back to Juice King and hanging out with my surly coworker sounds like the most fun I’ve ever had. The only thing that could be worse than knowing what underwear Chase will be taking off Lindsey is seeing it happen.

“Oh my god, I can’t wait for Colin to see me in this,” Daria says, swinging her bag and twirling around in the middle of the corridor. “He’s going to eat his heart out anddie.Let’s get pizza!”

“Oh, I can’t,” Lindsey says quickly. “I better get home.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she says, but her shoulders slump, and she looks suddenly exhausted. “My cousin got in a fight with the Dolces and had to go to the hospital. Mom wants us all to go visit him.”

“Oh my god,” I say. “Why do you they keep messing with your family?”

“They’re crazy,” she says, grimacing. “But apparently Colt started it.”

“How’s your brother?”

“He’s out of the coma,” she says. “They said he’ll make pretty much a full recovery, which is a miracle.”

“Wow, that’s amazing,” I say. “I’m happy for you.”

Which is true, even though I didn’t like Preston. That doesn’t mean I want him to get hurt, especially not when it makes Lindsey look so sad.

ten

Now Playing:

“The Sign”–Ace of Base

When Lindsey’s gone, Daria and I grab Sbarro’s and sit at one of the tables in the food court. “That’s a really nice way to put what happened,” she says.

---