Page 117 of Something in Between

“I didn’t actually hear it from Dylan. Julian asked. But Lo said it’s fine.”

“Good enough for me,” she says, finally opening her locker and grabbing a brush to run through her hair.

“I figured it was,” I say. “Just do me a favor and stop calling him.”

“I did,” she says, pulling out some tangles. “He actually texted me once.”

“What did he say?”

“Nothing really.”

“Come on, tell me,” I say, sitting on the locker room bench. “I’m just curious.”

“He said he misses me.”

“You don’t believe him?” I ask.

She puts her hair up and closes the locker. “It’s hard to feel I deserve it. I put him through a lot of pain.”

“You don’t have to deserve love,” I say to Kayla. “You just get it.”

Kayla and I head outside toward the parking lot. “Will he even talk to me at the party?”

“It doesn’t really matter, because you’re getting a chance.Youhave to talk tohim. You can’t expect him to do all the work,” I say. If anything, that’s what I’ve learned from my own relationship. You’ve got to row the boat together.

* * *

Royce drives Kayla and me to Lo’s party. I tell him he has to because Kayla likes to drink, so she shouldn’t be driving herself or anyone home. Also, if the party goes south for her, let’s say, if she trashes a lamp or a guitar because of Dylan, then we need to be able to pull her out of there. Royce sort of thinks it’s all funny, but I want him there with me. Kayla tells her family that she’s spending the night at my place.

“Have to keep my options open,” Kayla says in the car. “Hey, Royce, how come we never hang out withyourfriends?”

Whoa, where did that come from? Why is she attacking him all of a sudden? I’m about to defend him when Royce answers her.

“I don’t have many,” he says with a shrug. “I don’t like a lot of people.”

“Oh,” Kayla says. “So how’s Mason?”

“Don’t even go there,” I say.

“I was just curious.” Kayla applies a dark layer of lipstick. She looks great. All pink. Dress, nails, everything. If ever there was a color meant for her, dark pink’s the one.

“He’s fine,” Royce says, steering around a corner. “He’s back at school.”

“It’s okay,” Kayla reassures me. “I’m over what’s-his-name.”

“Just try to have fun,” I say.

“I will,” she says. Kayla turns her attention to Royce again. “No, I’m serious, how come you never bring any friends over? Embarrassed to take your Filipino girlfriend from the Valley around your rich white private school buddies?” she says, slurring her words a little.

“For your information, I’m taking Jasmine to prom,” says Royce, sounding highly irritated.

“Kayla,” I say, suddenly realizing what’s going on and why she’s so abrasive. “You’ve been drinking.”

“How d’you know?” she says.

“Listen to what you’re saying! You’re also starting to slur. What did you have?”

“Half a glass of Dad’s favorite bourbon. I drank it just before I left.” She smiles.

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