Page 17 of New Year

“Hmph. What did you say?”

“Something mean,” I say, even more guilty now.

“Good. You shouldn’t have to put up with that. You’re not going to take him back, are you?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“Well, if you do, make him work for it,” she says. “You deserve better.”

What’s with everyone telling me what I deserve? First Chase, now Daria. Maybe I don’t deserve better. Maybe after what I would have done with Oliver, and what I would have done with Chase at the lookout spot, I deserve a lot less than Todd. Maybe I didn’t do anything either time, but I would have. It wasn’t for lack of desire that I didn’t sleep with either boy.

“What about Elaine?” I ask. “Isn’t she with Todd now?”

“Yeah, and the fact that he’d brave her wrath by apologizing earns him a few brownie points,” she says. “But it won’t last. It never does. Elaine just likes a guy that will do anything for her. But once he’s proven he will, she has no more use for him.”

“Exactly,” I say. “He will do anything for her—including dump me next time she comes calling.”

Before she can answer, the couple in question takes their seats, Elaine looking annoyed as Todd lumbers into his spot, trying to wedge his huge body in.

“Alright, enough about you, let’s talk about me,” Daria says. “You have to come over after school and help me pick out what to wear on my non-date with Colin.”

“I wish,” I say. “I’m still grounded. I’d have to take Lily if I wanted to leave the house because Mom doesn’t trust me not to sneak out.”

“Smart mom,” she says. “But too bad for her, your sister loves me. Bring her along.”

“I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask for fashion advice.”

“Obviously,” Elaine says, giving me a scathing look. “Is that your mom’s fleece?”

Daria ignores her. “I don’t want to bother Lindsey with it, and the other choice is the snake emoji in human form.”

“Thank you,” Elaine says. “That’s what I would have chosen to represent me.”

Colin slides in next to Daria, flashing Elaine a saucy grin across the table. “Hey, Red,” he says, his voice dripping with insinuation.

Daria glares, but Elaine just smirks back at him as she unscrews the cap on her vitamin water. “I see you haven’t changed,” she says, arching a brow.

“Why alter perfection?” Colin shoots back.

“So, Colin,” Daria interrupts, giving Elaine a warning look. “What time are you picking me up tonight?”

“The search is all day, so we can join whenever,” he says. “You coming, Elaine?”

She wrinkles her pretty little nose. “And tromp around in the mud for three hours? No thanks. I don’t know why you’re still looking. They’re obviously dead.”

A collective gasp goes up around the table as everyone glances at the end to see if Lindsey heard. Luckily she’s too engrossed in whatever Chase is saying hear that her best friend is a heartless bitch. Todd’s gone stock still, and even Colin looks a little uncomfortable.

“Elaine,” Daria hisses. “Too far.”

Elaine shrugs. “It’s true.”

“I’ll go,” I volunteer, hoping to move on from the topic of Elaine’s treachery. “I’ll have to bring my sister, but she was fine last time. If you want to give me a ride home, we can swing by and pick her up on our way to your house.”

“Yay, perfect,” Daria says, back to her usual cheerful self.

I feel a little seed of pride inside my chest for diffusing the situation. Maybe the group needs me after all.

six

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