Trouble is a Friend of Mine

‘And?’


‘And I don’t know. I do know I don’t want to live with Dad and Shereene.’

‘So you want to stay?’

‘I want to stay.’ I told her about Dad and the thing he wanted me to sign, but I didn’t tell her about the Caymans. I kept that back for a rainier day.

‘Zoe,’ Mom said. ‘I – I think maybe deep down, I did know your father … that something wasn’t right. And … I’m sorry I forced you to help me pretend. I just wasn’t ready. I needed more time.’

To finally hear her admit it. To finally hear her say I wasn’t crazy …

‘Mom. Just … thank you.’

First day back at school, I realize that the kids are treating me even weirder than usual. Walking down the hall, I leave a wake of interest behind me that includes both students’ and teachers’ stares.

Henry is waiting for me outside homeroom and he gestures at me to follow him.

‘I still don’t know how you found out where we went after we split up that night,’ I say.

‘After I dropped off Sloane and Bill at the hospital, I drove around the motel until I spotted a trail of feathers starting at a bush on Rush Street. I figured it was your skirt,’ he says. ‘Looked like a bunch of parrots had a pillow fight all the way across town. It got pretty obvious after a couple of blocks he was headed back to your neighborhood.’

Some girls walked by and stared at us pointedly.

‘What’s their problem?’ I say.

‘Uh, yeah … that’s kinda what I need to talk to you about. Sloane heard you and I danced together and she’s … not happy,’ Henry says. ‘She thinks …’

‘What? That’s ridiculous,’ I say, even though I’m thinking, Yeah, you’d better worry about me.

‘Totally ridiculous. I mean, she might as well worry about Digby,’ Henry says.

And with that, I deflate. ‘Speaking of. Where is he?’

‘He must’ve left by now. He said you wouldn’t answer his messages.’ There’s reproach in Henry’s voice.

‘He told you about the money?’

‘Yeah,’ Henry says. ‘Did he tell you why he needed it?’

‘No, why?’

‘I should let him tell you himself. By the way, this thing with Sloane … don’t take what she says seriously.’

‘What’s she saying?’

‘Got to go. I have two late warnings already.’

At roll call, Mrs Scott stares at me after she calls my name. At lunch, I could swear the cafeteria lady gives me extra fries. All day long, no one bumps into me, either accidentally or accidentally on purpose.

I’m curious to see what my new celebrity status will let me get away with, so I return to the main bathroom. Here, the girls have decided to act like I’m nothing special, which is fine by me. They’re working so hard to not pay attention to me that one girl backs into me, knocking loose the tampon I’d tucked up my sleeve. It rolls across the floor and another girl walking to the sink tramples it flat. There’s a round of giggling that immediately dies when Sloane intervenes.

‘Seriously, Heather, you’re such a pillowcase,’ Sloane says. ‘Gimme one of yours. And don’t try to pretend you don’t have one. You can’t wear fat pants three days in a row and not expect people to notice.’

Sloane gives me the tampon, but when I reach for it, she grabs my hand and pulls me close. ‘Take care of business and meet me outside.’

Sloane’s waiting for me when I get out of the bathroom. She leads me to the stairwell and after shooing away a couple approaching second base, digs right into me.

‘If you think you have a chance with Henry …’ she says. ‘Stay away from my boyfriend.’

‘He asked me to dance, Sloane.’

She’s clearly not expecting anything but a denial or apology, so my response enrages her. Which amuses me.

‘I will cut you.’

‘Can’t stand in the way of love, Sloane.’

Sloane’s face reddens and she grabs me by the shirtfront.

‘Calm down, okay? He’s all yours. Nothing’s going on between me and Henry,’ I say. ‘We’re bros. Seriously.’

Sloane lets that hang a couple of seconds before she decides she believes me.

‘So Digby left town?’ Sloane says, like we’re suddenly cool.

I shrug.

‘And we’re supposed to keep our mouths shut about Marina. Yeah, right,’ Sloane says. ‘I’m saving that for right after the first debate between our fathers.’

Ah, yes. The political rivalry between Marina’s and Sloane’s dads. ‘But you didn’t even see her, did you? I mean, you never actually saw her, right?’

‘Well, but … she was there … right?’

I shrug again and enjoy the perplexed look on her face. On that high note, I leave her in the stairwell.

After the final bell, I’m at my locker, packing my books for the weekend. Mom’s promised to help with ‘Convicted in Absence’ now that Digby’s flaked on me, so I’m feeling better about my chances of actually getting it written.