Page 71 of Never Have I Ever
“And Grayson Carter?” Gabi asks. “What’s that about?”
“Nothing,” I say, sipping my drink. When I look up, all of them are staring back at me, waiting for me to explain. I sigh. “He just happened to be there. He’s helping me with something.”
“With what?” Leila asks.
“Something,” I say with a shrug.
“Are you hooking up with Grayson?” Gabi asks.
I don’t reply. Instead, I take a long sip of my drink, wanting to avoid answering.
She gasps. “Oh my god, you totally are.”
Leila laughs. “Who are you, and what have you done with Rosalie Whitton?”
“I want to reinvent myself,” I tell them. “I’m becoming a different version than the Rosalie Whitton you know.”
“But I love her,” Leila says. “She’s my best friend.”
I shake my head. “She’s boring.”
“Rosie. You couldn’t be boring if you tried.” Leila says, repeating her words from the party.
Madi nods. “I second that.”
“I third that,” Gabi mumbles, holding up her hand in the air.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Madi says to Gabi.
She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I never know what you mean,” Madi says, making us all laugh.
“Do you have plans tomorrow?” Leila asks. “I was thinking of going to the party the football team is hosting.”
I groan. “I can’t. I have to go to New York.” I close my eyes, regretting my decision to say yes to attending the event.
“I’ve always wanted to go to New York,” Madi says. “Fashion capital. It sounds amazing.”
I nod. “It is when I don’t have to be around my mother. She drains me.”
“Then don’t go,” Gabi says. “She can’t exactly ground you.”
I nod. “True, but she’s relentless. She’ll never stop. It’s better if I get it over with than have her yelling in my ear for hours.”
Gabi glances at Madi’s phone that’s sitting on the table. “What time is it?” she asks.
Madi checks her phone, then turns to Gabi. “Then-thirty, why?”
Gabriella stands from the table, picking up her drink and downing it before placing it back on the table. “Because I’ve got to go.”
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“Nowhere. I’m just tired.” She opens her mouth to imitate a yawn that’s obviously fake. “Good night,” she says before turning around and heading out of the door.
We stare at the door that closed behind her, wondering what the hell just happened. Leila and I look at Madi, waiting for her to explain.
She shakes her head. “Don’t ask me,” Madi says. “I can’t keep up with her.”
