Page 7 of If This Gets Out

I go to my room and put Cleo down on my bed. My old room had punk band posters all over the walls, but this one is totally barren. It’s more adult, but also worse. I grab a faded T-shirt and a pair of sweats, and go to the shower. I’d never be allowed to wear this somewhere I could be seen, and I think that’s kind of the point. Right now, Zach Knight from Saturday is checked out. I’m just Zach again. Finally.

When I come back out, I see that Mom has also changed into her PJs. There are two plates of cake on the coffee table, andAmerican Ninja Warrioris paused on the TV. A wave of nostalgia washes over me, and I’m fifteen years old again, watching TV with Mom like we used to every night. Before seeing Mom turned into a biannual thing.

I sit down, and pick up my plate as Mom hits play.

“So,” she says. “Have any girls made it past the meet and greet?”

I check my smart watch. “I’ve been home twenty minutes.That’show long it takes for you to start prying into my personal life?”

“I’m not prying, I’m curious. Come on, who is she?”

I keep my stare steady. “I haven’t really been dating, I’m focusing on my writing at the moment.”

“Well, okay then, Mr. Mysterious.”

“Are there any guys in your life?” I ask.

“I’m not telling if you’re not.”

I roll my eyes.

A text from Ruben arrives, and I smile as I read it.

I miss you already!

“What’s that smile for?” asks Mom. “Is it a girl?”

I tilt my phone away. “It’s just Ruben.”

“Already? Didn’t you just say goodbye to him?”

“Yeah but he’s my—Ruben.”

Mom musses my hair. I leave it; I like it better this way anyway.

I type back:I miss you too man.

Ruben responds with a thumbs-up, which Iknowis just to annoy me. I’ve ranted to him before about how I think they’re passive-aggressive.

TAKE THAT BACK.

He gives me another thumbs-up.

Bastard.

I smile, then I turn my phone off, with no plans to turn it back on for at least forty-eight hours.

Whatever happens, happens. It can wait.

Zach Knight of Saturday is officially checked out until I get to Angel’s party.

Angel’s party is, in a word: ridiculous.

He wasn’t even kidding about the peacocks. I can see a few of them now, strutting their stuff on the lawn. They’re on leashes, held by handlers in green jumpsuits. So yeah. Ridiculous is the only appropriate word. This venue is enormous, built in front of a large lake, and a lot of the free space has been done up like a fair, with stalls and entertainers. There are two carnival rides: a pirate ship and a spinning one with a rotating arm. There’s even an enormous bounce house.

For who? Who knows?

As utterly over the top as this whole setup is, I can’t help but smile. It’s so very Angel. Plus, there aren’t any paparazzi or fans here, and while there’s a big crowd, it’s only people in the game. Security guards prowl the perimeter, which means I don’t have to have my guard up as much as I normally do. In terms of safety, anyway.

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