Page 80 of I Don't Need Your Protection
Clarissa glances at me and lifts a brow. “A zit on you? Yeah, right. Your skin is flawless. Ugh, my mom is stressing me out because of math. And it doesn’t help that my tutor is in college and so darn hot.”
“Are you flirting with him?” Jemma asks with bright brown eyes, pushing some of her curly brown hair out of her eyes.
“He has a girlfriend, but I might work my magic on him.” She gets up and smiles at us. “Ready for the sleepover? Oh my gosh, Addie, your outfit is so cute.”
I glance down at my clothes. I’m just wearing an old T-shirt and jeans. “Thanks.”
I follow the girls out of Clarissa’s room and out of the building, toward the student parking lot. She also has a car that looks like it was beamed from the future.
“I get shotgun,” Luna declares as she reaches to open the door.
“You got shotgun last time,” Jemma complains.
“I so did not.”
“Girls, how about we let Addie get shotgun?” Clarissa suggests.
Both Luna and Jemma frown at me, like I’m stealing their most prized possession.
I lift my hands. “I’m fine with sitting in the back.” I open the door and slip inside, not wanting to get in the middle of whatever feud this is.
Jemma slides in next to me and takes out a small mirror. “Ugh, my nose.”
“What’s wrong with your nose?” I ask. “It’s beautiful.”
She gives me a look. “What are you, my mom? It’s huge.”
“I don’t think so. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, right. I’d have to have mad confidence to walk around with this huge monstrosity. I’m so having plastic surgery as soon as I’m eighteen.”
“You have the right to do what you want,” I tell her. “But I think you look amazing just as you are.”
“Can we stop talking about your nose for a change?” Clarissa groans as she pulls out of the parking lot. “Thissleepover is all about having fun, not whining about our flaws.” She flashes me a smile through the rearview mirror. “I’m so happy you’re hanging out with us, Addie. Warner can’t stop talking about you. It’s so annoying.”
I perk up. “Really?”
“Yeah, it’sreallyannoying,” Luna says, rolling her green eyes.
“I don’t think he’s ever been so obsessed about a girl before,” Clarissa adds. “You must be really special, Addie.”
“Me special? No way.”
“I love this song!” Jemma raises the volume on the radio and starts to sing along with it.
“Oh my gosh, welcome to hell,” Luna grumbles.
“I hate the song.” Clarissa lowers the volume. “And you seriously need to stop singing along with the songs, Jemma. You don’t have the best voice.”
“And you sound like a frog when you sing,” Jemma retorts.
“Have you guys been friends for long?” I ask. “You act like you are.”
“Since first grade,” Luna says. “All three of us were the only kids at a charity event and we hung out all night. And we’ve been best friends ever since.”
“Wow, that’s so cool. I hope you guys stay friends forever.”
“As long as Luna doesn’t steal Bobby Wicker,” Jemma says, scowling at her friend.
