Page 12 of Liar & Champion
I watched her go for a long time before I shook my head and kept walking. Walking away from her was filling me with all kinds of regrets. Still, if she wasn’t interested, she wasn’t interested. I’d just have to scratch her off the list.
Chapter Six
LIAR
Ididn’t have a class. I had an hour spent curled up in the back of my Camaro resting up for my next class. I liked Nix, the brute, the champion. He wasn’t as self-absorbed as you’d expect someone that pretty to be. I’d seen the nerd waiting for him, and the guy was a walking punching bag. He needed some self-defense skills and confidence, and like a champion, Nix stepped in to save the day. Not a lot of people had time for that. I’d expected Stina the Vile to derail him after class, but he had an appointment with a geek to get root beers and didn’t have time for a hayride.
Also, he was interested in me, but once I said no, he backed off like he really would just be friends with me if that’s what I wanted. I could count on one finger the other guys I’d met like that. I pulled out my phone and checked my messages. The last one was a week ago, a zombie emoji.
I texted Beastie.
First day of classes are a riot. Stina of the perfect breasts says hello. Also, I’m going to the bowl later if you want to show up.
I sent it and grabbed a bottle with particularly nice pills. I took two and then drank some water. He hadn’t gone boardingwith me for so long. I mostly hadn’t gone, just played around the house when my aunt wasn’t around to tell me to take it outside.
He didn’t take long to respond.Maybe I will.
I sat up. Then I’d have to go. I texted quickly.It will be boring.
His response was almost immediate.Nothing with you is ever boring.
What was that supposed to mean? Did I want to pick a fight? Kind of, but he’d win. He always won, because he wasn’t dying, and I was. He had no problem pointing out that fact when I got too cocky. At least he was texting me.Thanks. What are you doing?
Texting. You?
Curling up in my back seat popping pills. You should join me, or your friend, Trevor, the addict. Do you think we’d all fit? Now that sounds like a party.
You should rest.
I scowled at that last text. That meant that he wasn’t going to text me anymore for a week. But if he was actually going to be at the bowl, then I should rest up for it. There was nothing better than boarding with Beastie.
I was a little bit unsteady when I showed up with my board, helmet and pads at the bowl, or the local skate park with its huge central divot. On a Tuesday afternoon, it wasn’t packed, but there was a good crowd. I’d already spent a lot of energy today, but life’s too short not to take some sweetness when you can, and skateboarding into the sunset was as sweet as it got.
“You made it!” Bea crowed, holding out her arms for a big hug.
Huggers were great, they just always left me bruised. “Yeah, I figured I should show up Bosky on his turf after he insulted me today.”
She grabbed me into a too-tight hug before pulling away. “Did he insult you? It’s the push-up bra thing. He’ll never forgive you for that bet you made, but it is one of my favorite memories, him skating around the block in your bra and singing that song. Ah. Good times. I still have it as my phone’s home page.”
I grinned at her. “It was pretty awesome. I can’t believe he actually did it.”
“He had to when you won the bet, or Beastie would have…” She trailed off and gave me an awkward smile.
“He’s not as scary as he looks.” That wasn’t exactly a lie because he was probably fifty times scarier than he looked. He didn’t look that scary.
“Sure. He’s sweet as pie as long as no one looks twice at his girl. I mean that in a totally platonic way, because everyone knows that the two of you are just friends, only friends, and nothing more than friends until the day you die.” She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
I adjusted my elbow pad. “See you on the other side. It’s fly or die time.” I parked my board on the edge and then let go. I forgot about everything when I was caught between that moment of lift and weight, and I never got tired of it. With the whole crew there, Bosky acted cool, giving me nods when I landed a perfect trick like it was all him. It was hilarious, or that may have been my meds. I felt almost good until the very last loft in the sunset. Not so good when I came down and my legs went out. I recovered, but it was a sign that the fun was over. Too bad good things always had to end.
“I’m done,” I said, hauling myself and my board up the lip.
“You’re taking off already?” Bea asked, holding an arm out for a hug. Seriously. She was going to give me internal bleeding one of these days.
“You wanna get something to eat?” Bosky asked with a smile that was almost respectful. Weird.
“I wouldn’t want to cut your ride short. I’m going straight home, heat up some leftover pizza and get started on my essay.” Yeah right. I’d eat salad after I’d blended it with some fruit.
“Why don’t I keep you company on your ride home?” he asked with another smile like that, weird.
