four: spontaneity
I wear my new Prada knee-high black leather boots to school the next day for a boost of confidence. I meet Audrina in English, just like yesterday. The teacher, Ms. Black (Black—Jacob…I can't get him off my mind) greets me by name, mispronouncing it.
"Hey, Renesmee!" Audrina smiles. Her blue-black bob has a cascade of ribbons braided into it, creating a carefree, hippie-reminiscent look. "I love those boots! Where'd you get them?"
I didn't want to say Prada and come off like a spoiled brat, so I lie, "Payless. I like your hair today."
"Thanks," Audrina says, seeming satisfied at my approval.
At lunch, Audrina and I go straight to Carly, Em, and Brit's table, and I don't even look for Juliette. She'll find me. I know it.
"Omigod, Renesmee, I, like, totally love your dress!" Carly gushes. I look down at my flutter-sleeve blue paisley dress from Forever 21.
"Thanks. Me and Au—and Alice went shopping yesterday," I reply. All four pairs of eyes dart to Aunt Alice and back to me.
"Wow," Carly says in awe. "She's totally glamorous."
"Eh," Em sniffs. Her lips are red with lipstick again, and I'm beginning to realize it's her trademark of sorts. "Rosalie's prettier."
"But Alice dresses better," Brit argues.
Soon, Carly and Brit are pitted against Em and Audrina over who's prettier, Aunt Alice or Aunt Rosalie. I watch, laughing. "Hey, what about Mo—Bella?"
The four of them stop, Em in mid-argument, and glance toward Momma. "How about this," Audrina suggests, breaking the silence. "Alice is the best dressed, Rosalie is the prettiest, and Bella's the most mysterious."
Mysterious? Audrina doesn't know it, but she just dissed my mom to my face.
"I thing she's great, fun, and super sweet," I declare defiantly. Audrina looks startled, but luckily, Carly changes the subject.
"Oh my God," Carly sighs. "Your brothers are so hot, Renesmee! Too bad they're all taken."
"Ew." I wrinkle my nose at the thought of Carly with any of my uncles.
"How 'bout this: I'll take Emmett, Audrina can have Edward, and Carly'll take Jasper," Em suggests.
"Heck no! I want Emmett!" Audrina says.
"As long as I get Jasper," Carly adds, smiling euphorically.
I catch Daddy's eye and roll my eyes. Hopeless, I think jokingly. He laughs quietly in agreement.
"Do any of you girls have any, um, available, as in not my brothers, boyfriends?" I ask, winking and laughing.
"Moi?" Em exclaims dramatically, placing her hand over her heart. "I have seven!"
"Huh," I reply skeptically.
"Unfortunately, it's true," Brit sighs. "Not that she has seven. But guys love her."
"I think she's got her eye on this kid Tyler," Audrina confides, indicating a skater kid with dark shaggy hair.
"Do not!" Em protests halfheartedly.
"What about you, Aud? And Brit and Carly?" I prompt, honestly curious. I've never known anyone with a real, live, high-school boyfriend before.
"No," Carly tells me unhappily. She pulls her blonde ponytail in thought. "Brit does, though."
I turn to Brit, who flushes a delicate pink. "Really?" I ask, totally absorbed. "Tell me every single thing!"
"His name's Patrick," Brit says. She points out a blonde kid sitting with the soccer players. "He's amazing."
"Amazingly gorgeous!" Carly adds. She's quickly becoming known as the boy-crazy one in the group.
"And gorgeous," Brit allows. She laughs. "We've been together for seven months." Brit lowers her voice and motions for Audrina, Carly, Em, and I to lean closer. "And yesterday, he told me he loved me."
"Omigod!" Carly squeals.
"Congrats, Brit!" Audrina exclaims, breaking into a grin.
"That's fabulous," Em agrees.
And before I can stop them, the words come tumbling out of my mouth. "Jacob told me he loved me, too." As soon as I've said this, I have to resist the urge to clap my hand over my mouth.
"Hmmmmm….who's Jacob?" Em interrogates.
"Tell me everything!" commands Carly. "What's his full name? How'd you meet? How long have you been together? What does he look like?"
"Jeez, Car, let Renesmee breathe!" chides Audrina good-naturedly. I glance at her gratefully.
"Okay, well, his name's Jacob Black. I've known him forever. We've been together for…" I have to stop to ponder this. "A year. He's really tall and muscular, and he has long black hair, black eyes, and gorgeous reddish-brown skin..." I'm caught up in mental images of my Jacob…his smile, his laugh, his voice…
"Lucky," Carly says jealously. "I'd give anything for a boyfriend."
"What about you, Audrina? Any boyfriends?" I quickly try to steer the conversation toward Audrina, away from me.
"No, no boyfriends," Audrina says distantly.
"She's got some retarded secret crush, and she won't tell any of us about it," Em informs me. Audrina glares at her.
"C'mon, sweetie, you know we won't tell," prods Brit.
"C'mon, sweetie, you know I won't tell," Audrina mimics smugly.
"Tell them what?" a not-so-innocent voice questions. "I can keep a secret."
"Hello, Juliette," Audrina says stiffly.
I turn around and look at the blonde bitch herself. She's wearing a highlighter-yellow halter and dark skinny jeans. "What ate radioactive waste and then threw up on your shirt?" I ask innocently.
Juliette's eyes narrow. "Where'd you get those boots? Payless?" she shoots back.
"Prada," I correct smoothly.
"Prada, eh?" Juliette smiles patronizingly. "You know, honey, you don't need to lie to try to impress me. It won't work. I smelled those knockoffs a mile away."
"You didn't answer my question," I calmly point out. "And I'm honestly curious. What hurled on your shirt? Shame, it would have been cute."
"It was...oh, what was his name? Oh yes, your little boy toy. Jacob. I'm sure he's not a sleazeball, because he loves you. Oops, that does mean he's a sleazeball! I guess since you're probably a closet whore, you're perfect for him." Juliette laughs like poisoned sugar. "Does he really love you, or just want to get into your pants?"
I snarl under my breath. "Renesmee, hon, chill out," mumbles Brit, squeezing my hand. I breathe in and out deeply before saying, "I swear to God, Juliette, you're going to regret saying that."
"I am, am I?" Juliette says. "Well, in that case, I better get to my bomb shelter!" With a cackle, she flounces off.
"Renesmee, babe…" Brit starts.
"I have to go," I mutter, leaving the lunchroom in a rush.
Before I'm gone, I catch Juliette smirking.
oooooh, cliffy! i'm such a hypocrite doing that, bc i yell at other ppl for doing cliffies. oh well. review please! and just fyi, "Meteor" is on hiatus. idk if u ppl read "Meteor" or not but if u do, sry about that. i'm having major writer's block on it. oh well. lovelovelove, m
