Page 7 of Finding London

She plops another piece of her Pop-Tart into her mouth, her expression one of annoyance.

“It’s just, when you say something that doesn’t make sense, it makes you sound a little silly. I love you, silly and all…but I’m just saying.” I give her a sheepish smile.

“You canjust sayall you want, but I will continue to say what I want even if you think I sound stupid.” She narrows her eyes at me.

“I never said you were stupid.”

“Yeah, you basically did,” she huffs out.

I let out an exhale. “You’re right. Say whatever the hell you want. I’m in a bitchy mood, and I’m sorry that I’m taking it out on you.”

Paige crosses her legs underneath herself and leans in toward me, a wide smile on her face. “You’re forgiven. So, are you really still all grumpy over hot Army guy?”

I sigh. “I think so. The whole thing is ridiculous. I don’t even know him. I have no idea why his dismissal made me so mad.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure this is what we call the first-time blues.” She nods her head with her lips pressed into a line.

“Huh?”

Her hands flail as she talks, “It’s obvious, isn’t it? This is the first time you’ve ever been turned down, and your ego is throwing a pity party.”

I absently chew on my lip, thinking about her words.

She continues, “It was bound to happen, London. You can’t take it personally. Not everyone in the world will be attracted to you.”

I squint my eyes toward Paige. Irritation lines my voice as I say, “You make me sound like a stuck-up snob.”

“Well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She shrugs.

“We’re bringing my mom into this now?”

She’s right. My mom is a total snob.

Paige looks at me in confusion. “Why would I bring your mom into this?”

“You said that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“So?”

I roll my eyes. “That means that I’m like my parents.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Paige shakes her head. “I don’t know why you’re bringing your mom into this. Yes, she is a little snooty, but you know I would never compare you to her.”

I groan. “We’re talking about my parents right now because your little saying implied that I was like them.” My voice rises an octave with annoyance. “Did you mean to say,If the shoe fits? Because I think that might make more sense here if you meant that I can be a snob.”

“Yeah, whatever. All I’m saying is, you have established certain expectations, and this Army dude didn’t act accordingly, so you’re butthurt. You need to move on. You know what they say,The best way to get over someone is to get someone else under you.”

I laugh. “‘They’”—I raise my hands and bend my fingers in air quotations around the word—“totally do not say that, and now, you’re making me sound like a slut. Have you always hoped your best friend would be a snobby slut?”

She giggles. “I’m not calling you a slut—or a snob really, for that matter. You know I love you exactly the way you are. I guess all I’m saying is, we need to go out tonight. You know, to get you out of your funk.”

“All of that”—I raise my hand in the air, my finger drawing a circle between Paige and me—“was just to say that we need to go out?”

“Yeah!” She grins. “This awesome club band is playing at Necto tonight. Some of the girls were talking about going. I’m sure you could find someone to make out with. That would totally make you feel better.” She winks.

“I could use a night out. Good plan,” I say through a smile. “But, for the record, why didn’t he want me? I’m amazing.”

My phone buzzes against the couch, and I peer down to see my mom’s face on the screen.

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