Page 37 of Fraternizing with the Enemy
“Don’t apologize,” I hurried to say. For some reason, her apology made me feel bad. “I just needed time to process it myself. That’s why I didn’t come back. You… you know that, right?”
“Of course.” Jade’s dark eyes traced my face. “You really liked him, didn’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue, and Logan’s face flashed in my mind’s eye. I looked around, and it didn’t look like anyone was eavesdropping. “Besides, it’s a rule. You… you said it at the open house. No dating rivals.”
You say it like it’s against the law.You’d never choose me over your school spirit. Even if you actually liked me.
“I’m proud of you.” Jade reached out and smoothed her palm down my head, taming some of the frizz by the delicate touch. “I’m proud of you for following that rule. For choosing us.”
What I didn’t tell Jade was that I’d fought the urge to text Logan all weekend. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her. “Speaking of us, you… you made sure no one suspected at the table on Friday, right? Like, no one knows that the guy I was talking to?—”
“Is a Bulldog?” Her voice was a near whisper, but the words spoken in the Brentwood hallway still nearly gave me a heart attack. “Don’t worry, I handled it. Riley was ready to blab, but I stopped her.”
Great, so Riley was now keeper oftwoof my shameful secrets. “Were you afraid I wouldn’t choose us?” I asked her. “The Top Tier?”
Jade shook her head, winding her arm around mine. “Nope. I trust you to the end, Mads.”
Something in me sighed with what felt like relief. She hadn’t doubted me. Not even for a second. “And I’ll follow you to the end.”
Jade beamed at me, the glimmering smile chasing away some of the darkness that cooped up in the corner of my chest. Jade might’ve been rough around the edges at times, but I knew I couldn’t have done better having her as a best friend.
As we walked arm-in-arm down the hallway to the cafeteria, moving with the flow of the student body, I made a decision then and there. I wasn’t going to be Depressy Madison anymore. I was going to be School Spirit Madison—the co-captain, Top Tier, senior-year legend. I was going to channel every ounce of pep I had left, even if it killed me. No more wallowing over stupid boys with stupid eyes and that stupidly adorable, puppy-like smile.
I wasn’t “staying stuck” in high school—I wasinhigh school, and shame on him for trying to talk me out of enjoying it. Screw Logan Castle and his stupid Jefferson varsity jacket. He didn’t know what he was talking about.
No more brooding over school spirit–suckingvampires. My wooden stake? Pom-poms and face paint. Logan Castle was not making another appearance in my head anytime soon.
Since she packed her lunch, Jade went straight to the table while I joined the lunch line. Ten minutes later, I finally emerged with my greasy slop of spaghetti.
“Jeez,finally,” Riley huffed as I sat down beside Landon, her eyes narrowing. “Took you long enough.”
“The lunch line was long.”
“I’m about to send out the list,” Jade said as she readjusted her grip on her phone. Her case was our Brentwood High colors, of course, matching her cheer uniform. “I’m sending it to the girl who does Brentwood Babble.”
Put your money where your mouth is, Madison. “I’msoexcited,” I gushed, twirling my spaghetti with my fork. “Sending it to Babble is so smart, Jade.”
“I seriously can’t believe the group last year didn’t do that. It’s, like, the easiest way for everyone to get notified at once. What was her name again? Eve, or something. Amy?”
At the other end of the lunch table, Reed said, “It’s Ava. The least you could do is remember her name.”
Jade didn’t look up. “She’s just Babble Girl.”
“She’s the reason you’re popular.” Reed’s tone was mildly disgusted. “Without her, no one could care less.”
“She started Babble sophomore year. It’s not like it’s been around since the dawn of the Top Tier.”
“Yeah, and isn’t it funny how you were a nobody freshman year?” he countered, arching an eyebrow. “A nobody until her blog.”
Jade rested her hands on the table, finally deigning to give him her full attention. “Babble doesn’t make us popular, Reed. If it did, you and your lack of posts would put you at the loser table.”
“At least I don’t have to fake news to be important.”
My own eyes widened as Jade’s flashed. “You’re lucky you’re still sitting here after you quit the football team on Friday,” Jade hissed. “So I’d shut your mouth if I were you.”
“Okay, okay,” Connor said to the table in general. From the quick glance he gave Jade, it was clear he was more concerned about her response than Reed’s. “Let’s just take a breath and drop it, yeah?”
Reed shook his head, but didn’t say another word.
