July 5
I curled the last piece of my hair carefully, making an effort to make it look like I hadn't put any time into it at all, that I wake up with curls like in a shampoo commercial. Nate and Blake were going to be here in about 8 seconds to pick us up to go bowling, which was apparently a favorite past time of theirs. Two days of not seeing Blake and I couldn't get him out of my head for one second. I had to stop myself from texting him all the time, but couldn't help but wonder why he rarely texted me, other than if he'd just seen me to say goodnight. I couldn't complain, at least he spoke to me at all. I felt lucky to just have that.
"Let's go girls!" Nate barged in as always, and August ran over to give him a hug, which turned into a kiss, which ultimately led to a make out session in the door way. I slid past them and into the hallway, where Blake was leaning against the wall.
"Hey there, want to go to the car?"
"Absolutely."
"Getting pretty hot in there, huh?"
"What else would you expect?"
"Very True, Ms. Russo" He grinned at me. My heart fluttered and I remembered why I missed him. He made me feel incredible.
But that feeling was immediately wiped away when he opened the door to the back seat and Rebecca was perched in the middle seat, frantically texting away on her cell phone."Hey baby!" She said cheerfully, while staring me down at the same time.
Who says baby anyway? Girls like Rebecca, who are territorial and insecure and who have so many boyfriends they have to rename them baby so they don't slip up and call them by the name of an ex. Okay, so I was jealous, could you blame me? Maybe I could at least pretend to be happy for him if she were a nice girl. He could do much better.
Nate and August finally returned to the car, hand in hand and Nate sped off towards the bowling alley. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Blake and Rebecca kiss. I suppose I started sulking because Blake elbowed me.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I lied and smiled as sweetly as I could.
"Liar." He really looked concerned and I felt bad.
"I'm fine! I promise."
"Alright, alright. Are you excited for bowling?"
"I guess so! I'm pretty terrible at it. I once bowled a 19." He laughed, and my heart sang. I loved when I could make him laugh.
***
"You're a liar!" Blake yelled for probably the tenth time that night, as I scored yet another strike. He'd spent most of the night talking to me, while Rebecca sat over at a table with a friend, glaring every once in a while. This time she was jealous of me, and I didn't feel bad at all.
"I can't believe you said you were bad, you're just trying to hustle us!"
"This is a coincidence I swear!" I leaned my body towards him and he hugged me, swinging me back and forth.
"We should get going" Nate yelled over.
We all piled in the car again and Nate flipped on the radio and turned it up so loud no one could speak. Which turned out just fine because Rebecca wasn't talking to anyone anyway, she was obviously pissed because Blake had spent most of his time with me, only going up to talk to her occasionally. Thankfully, she was being dropped off first since she lived closest to the bowling alley. Blake kissed her goodnight and she then slammed the car door and stomped up to her house.
"I have to get gas." Nate broke the silence that filled the car after Rebecca's dramatic exit. August followed Nate into the gas station which left Blake and I alone in the car, they weren't gone ten seconds before Blake's phone went off.
"Hello?" and then the screaming. I could faintly hear what she was saying. Blake exited the car and I watched him yell back, but couldn't hear anything. I sighed, what a crazy bitch.
***
August and I ran to our room to make curfew, 3 minutes after was when we got in.
"Guess what?" August said grinning.
"You're pregnant?" I said pulling the covers off my bed.
"No!" She screamed and threw her jeans, which she had just removed, at me.
"Then what, McConnell!?"
"Nate said he loved me!"
"What? When?"
"Tonight, in the gas station, in the back, where they keep the soda."
"Oh! How romantic! Are you going to marry him?"
"Shut up!" She laughed, throwing her top at me this time.
"I wish getting ready for bed was always this fun."
"Bitch, with me it is. Go to bed."
"Goodnight, Mrs….Nate."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Man Stealer." My heart skipped.
"What?"
"You heard me. Go to bed." As soon as my head hit the pillow my phone vibrated, Blake of course.
Did you have fun?
Yes. I wrote back quickly.
So, you going to tell me what was wrong tonight?
I had to think of something or he would never leave me alone, I couldn't tell him the truth, that I was jealous and as soon as I saw Rebecca my mood was soured.
I was just thinking about Dean, you know.
I understand, but like I said Alex, he's an idiot if he couldn't see how amazing you are. What do you look for in a guy anyway?
I smiled, hoping he was asking for his own sake.
Someone who can make me laugh, and who is nice to me. Someone I can be myself with and who has the same interests as me.
Ooh, you're picky, but that's good. Never settle for anyone who doesn't deserve you. Goodnight Alex.
I held my phone to my chest and took a deep breath.
Goodnight.
