Page 5 of It's in the Contract
Noah’s vibe is distant and aloof, but he’s that way with everyone. He’s like a grasshopper pie—cool and minty like the spearmint gum he’s always chewing. I frequently remind Suzy that he has a sweet interior, like the chocolate crust of the mint ice cream pie, but she doesn’t believe me.
I jump up and move to throw my arms around him, but Noah takes a step back. “Hang on, there. You’re going to make me drop my food.”
I lower my arms, awkward embarrassment thrumming through me. “I missed you. I didn’t hear from you all week.” I try to keep the neediness from my voice, but I’m not sure that I’m successful. People at tables next to us whisper and point.
Noah stares at me for a beat before glancing around the table. He nods at Troy, smiles at Dana and Kayla, then says to Suzy, “’Sup, Soo Yun.”
Suzy glares. She hates being called by her Korean name. “It’s Suzy, tool.”
“How was your vacation?” I hurry to ask. I take a seat, but Noah doesn’t follow. He continues standing next to me, not setting his tray down, not moving.
“Callie, we need to talk.”
I look up at him, and my heart sinks down into my perfect pink boots. “Umm . . .” I catch Suzy’s expression out of the corner of my eye, and her eyes are angry and aggressive, her pre-tennis match face. Dana has a worried frown on her face. Kayla is next to Dana attempting to show her pictures of Italy on her phone.
“Okay, let’s talk. Should we go somewhere?—”
“We’re done, Cal.”
A hush falls over the lunchroom. It feels to me like everyone freezes, forks midway to mouths, conversations put on pause. All eyes are upon us, trying to take in the juicy drama unfolding.
I blink. “Wha . . .? I must not have heard you right, I thought you said?—”
“I’m breaking up with you. It’s over.” The way he enunciates slowly, like he’s talking to someone stupid, makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. The way he emphasizes thathe’sthe one breaking up withme, in front of everyone . . .
Noah turns to leave, as if that’s that.
Troy stands, following after his friend. “Hang on, dude?—”
Noah looks over his shoulder, his baby blue eyes boring into me. “There’s nothing left to say. We’re done.”
I crumple inside, and my eyes sting. My freshly painted nails dig into my palms. I’m clenching my fists so hard that the number twenty-two is probably going to be etched into my skin. I stand. “That’s it? You’re not going to give me an explanation or anything? You’re just going to dump me in front of everyone and leave?”
Mortification wars with anger inside my chest, a hot tumble of emotions. I can’t believe he would do this where everyone cansee. Tom Sheppard at the next table has pulled out his phone and is filming, covering up his mouth to hide a laugh. Kayla is staring at me, one hand over her mouth, her eyes glittering.
“Why?” My voice comes out small and wobbly. “Why now?”
Suzy stands, her lunch forgotten. “How dare you? You worthless jerk! Callie is way too good for you, and you know it.”
I put a hand on Suzy’s arm. “Suzy, don’t?—”
And then Brielle Williams walks through the lunchroom doors, and the attention turns to her. Her presence demands it, with her confident smile and an aura of being large and in charge. She rocks the “bigger girl look” and somehow makes me feel like skinny is going out of style, with her tanned skin, bright blue eyes, and eyelashes to her eyebrows.
Brielle strides in like she’s walking down a runway, one foot in front of the other, her legs shown off by a white mini skirt that she’s paired with a turquoise sequined tank top. Brielle is trailed by her best friend, Katrina, who is a shorter version of Brielle. A copy, from the obviously dyed blonde hair down to the skirt and top. The only difference is that Katrina’s face has the unfortunate resemblance to a horse.
My stomach flips.
“Ugh. Brielle,” Suzy mutters.
“Over the summer she made sure to dm me every day commenting on my outfits, and they were not nice things,” Dana says, her pale green eyes moistening. “She said that if I’m going to hang out with the popular crowd, I should at least dress like it.” Troy tightens the arm around her, bringing her closer to him.
Suzy lets out a growl. “Brielle likes to put everyone around her down to make her feel better about herself. She’s done it to me and Callie for our entire lives.”
I give one sharp nod. I glance at Noah, and he’s staring at Brielle with a soft expression that makes my insides lurch.
“What are you guys talking about?” Kayla giggles. “I’ve always liked Brielle. She’s so cool, doing her plus-size beauty pageants and posting about body image on social media all the time.”
Brielle saunters right up to Noah and puts a hand on his chest. Katrina follows on Brielle’s heels. I expect Noah to back away or move Brielle’s hand, but instead he leans forward and gives her a kiss.
