Page 44 of Counter Bet

Me: The first time Rick decided to climb my trellis, he lost his grip and fell off just as my dad came around the corner, looking for the dog. Rick landed right at his feet. My dad had steam coming out of his ears for weeks.

Rick had to master the art of sneaking in undetected like a stealthy ninja. He never fell off the trellis again.

Dallas: *laughing emoji* That made me laugh :)

Me: Trust me, it made me laugh too! Your turn.

“Are you coming?” Hailey asks, tightening her ponytail.

I hurry to read Dallas’ response.

Dallas: Sunsets at the beach. I grew up on the coast.

I smile, my fingers flying over the screen.

Me: When are you coming back to school?

Dallas: Soon.

* * *

Dallas keeps messaging me random texts here and there asking for happy memories or secrets, but she’s still not at school.

I don’t dare ask her why. It feels intrusive somehow.

I’m walking back from the library on Thursday after lunch when I spot Ben and the others hiding behind the bleachers. I pause my steps.

I can smell the weed from all the way over here.

I should walk away and leave them to it, but before I know it, my heels sink into the grass. My treacherous feet carry me over to where they stand.

Matt spots me first, raising his eyebrows in surprise. He nudges April next to him and lifts his chin.

She sneers at me. “Should you fraternalize with poor kids like us? What would your rich football friends say?”

Her words sting, but I don’t let it show. I won’t let her intimidate me with her prickly personality. I understand her animosity toward me, even if it isn’t warranted.

Ben is sitting on a boulder, so I make my way over to him and heave myself up. It takes a few attempts.

He sucks on a joint, pinching it between two tattooed fingers. “Want some?” he asks, holding it out to me.

I wrinkle my nose. “No, thanks.”

He shrugs and offers it to Josh. “Your loss, princess.”

I pull my skirt down to cover more of my bare thighs. I look so out of place in my yellow sundress with its thin spaghetti straps. The boys wear their usual ripped black jeans and black t-shirt combo.

Everything is black.

Ben sports scuffed black and white vans, and April is dressed in a black knit dress with fishnet stockings and chucks.

Steph, with her brown and unruly curls, wears leather pants and a black crop top with a print of Kurt Cobain on the front. Nina is similarly dressed in skinny black jeans and a hooded dark gray jumper with the arms cut out. Her combat boots have neon green laces. It’s the only dash of color in a sea of black.

Matt breaks the silence when he winks and says, “Your fruit bowl turned out good.”

I feel a blush creep up my neck. I don’t know what made me flick paint on him.

April rolls her eyes and accepts the joint from Steph. “Thanks.” She looks at me. The tip glows orange as she takes a deep drag. “Why are you really here?”

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