Page 11 of Instant Karma

I put my fingers back on the keyboard, refusing to let Quint or karaoke or anything else derail my focus. This is the last homework assignment of sophomore year. I can do this.

“Hey, Quint!” yells Jude, his hand shooting up into the air in greeting.

My jaw falls. “You traitor!”

Jude turns to me, grimacing. “Sorry, Sis. He caught my eye. I panicked.”

I take in a slow breath through my nostrils and dare to glance toward the front of the restaurant. Sure enough, Quint and his friend are making their way toward us. Quint is grinning, as per usual. He’s like one of those dopey puppies that are incapable of realizing when they’re surrounded by cat people. They just assume that everyone is happy to see them, all the time.

“Jude, what’s up?” says Quint. His attention swoops to me and he takes in my textbook and computer, his smile hardening just a tiny bit. “Prudence. Hard at work, as always.”

“Quality work doesn’t just appear out of thin air,” I say.

He snaps his fingers. “You know, I used to think that, but after a year of working with you, I’m beginning to wonder.”

My eyes narrow. “Sure was nice running into you.” My sarcasm is so thickI almost choke on it. I look back down at the screen. It takes me a second to remember what the assignment was.

“Quint,” says Jude, “this is our friend Araceli. Araceli, Quint.”

“Hey,” says Quint. I look up through my lashes as they bump fists. With Quint initiating, it seems like the smoothest, most natural greeting in the world, even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ari fist-bump anyone before. “Nice to meet you, Araceli. Cool name. You don’t go to our school, do you?”

“No. I go to St. Agnes,” she answers. “And you can just call me Ari.”

I make a face, but my head is still lowered so nobody can see it.

“And, oh, this is Morgan. She goes to the community college in Turtle Cove.” Quint gestures to the girl, who has lingered a few steps away and is watching the stage with something akin to dismay. When Quint says her name, her focus swivels to us and she produces an uncomfortable smile.

“Nice to meet you,” she says, polite but lukewarm.

There’s a round of awkwardheys andhellos, but Morgan’s attention has already returned to the stage, where someone is singing a country song, crooning about cold beer and fried chicken.

“Morgan says the food here is great,” says Quint. “She wants me to try… what are they again? Ton… Tol…” He looks questioningly at Morgan.

“Tostones,” she says, returning her attention to her phone. She looks angry as she punches the screen with her thumbs, and I have a vision of some nasty text war happening between her and a boyfriend.

“They’re really good,” says Jude.

Quint gestures at the karaoke setup. “I wasn’t expecting dinner to come with free entertainment.”

“Neither were we,” I mutter.

“It’s a new thing the restaurant is trying.” Ari pushes the song binder toward the edge of the table. “Think you’ll sing?”

Quint laughs, sounding almost self-deprecating. “Naw. I’ll have mercy on the poor people of the boardwalk. Would hate to scare away the tourists so early in the season.”

“Everyone thinks they’re terrible at singing,” says Ari, “but very few people are really as bad as they think they are.”

Quint cocks his head to one side and looks from Ari to me. “I’m sorry. You’re friends withher?”

“Excuse me?” I say. “What does that mean?”

He shrugs. “I’m just so used to your criticism, it’s strange to have someone give me the benefit of the doubt.”

“Hey, look!” yells Jude. “It’s Carlos! Just in time to prevent a painfully awkward moment.”

Carlos passes by, carrying a tray of empty glasses. “Just checking on my favorite table. Are you guys joining them? Can I get you some drinks?”

“Uh…” Quint glances at Morgan. “Sure. A drink sounds good. What are these?” He gestures to our matching reddish beverages.

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