Joie

 

It was like the calm before the storm. Everything with the play was running smoothly. Eric stopped pestering me about my relationship with Cole. Ha. What relationship? Cole showed up on time for rehearsals and was by all counts the perfect little actor. Things at home seemed to be okay as well, for now. Mom was more sober these days. I’d seen evidence of her being in her office working on her computer. It was password protected so I couldn’t tell what she was working on, but I figured even if she was just getting on there to pay the bills that was a good thing, right?

I supposed the weirdest thing happening was the frequent disappearance of mom’s car. It wasn’t unusual for the thing to sit in the garage for weeks at a time. Mostly when she went out, mom called a cab or was picked up by friends. But lately it seemed like it was gone all the time and I didn’t think she was the one driving it.

She’d also mentioned this Davis character a couple of different times and I wondered if he was the one using her car. It seemed likely that he was. Maybe it was silly, but every time mom brought up Davis I got this uneasy feeling. I hoped it was just my imagination.

I was wrong.

 

“Hey, you need a ride?”

I closed my eyes and sighed, resigned. I was still in the school parking lot and my bike had a flat. I held my hand out, watching as fat snowflakes landed on it. Would winter never end? It was almost April for heaven’s sake.

“Come on, Jo, hop in.” Cole jumped out of the driver’s seat and flipped it forward.

Glaring at my bike, I stomped over. Why did it have to be Cole? Why did it always have to be Cole?

“Hi, Joie.” Cole and Brianna.

Great.

“Hey.” I slid into the cramped backseat and cringed, suddenly aware of where I was and who I was with. Hadn’t I just seen these two getting out of this very backseat a few weeks ago- the windows all fogged up? Ew.

I folded my arms across my chest.

“Buckle up,” Cole said like I was a five-year-old and couldn’t remember to buckle my seat belt. I yanked the strap and locked it in place.

It was the worst kind of awkward. And if his fingers drumming on the steering wheel were any indication, Cole was just as uncomfortable as me.

“So, Joie. How’s the play coming along,” Brianna asked with forced cheerfulness.

“Fine.” I didn’t want to talk to her. I didn’t want anyone to be under the impression that there was any possibility of friendship.

“Cole says you wrote the play yourself.”

“Yep.” Because really that wasn’t a question.

I stared out the window, but I could feel her eyes on me. Curious. Judging. She must have gotten the hint because she turned to face Cole. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as her hand snaked up, her fingers twirling in the hair at his nape.

“Mom said I should invite you to dinner. She made salmon. Your favorite.” Her voice had turned all soft and gooey.

I snorted and fought the urge to throw up. Maybe walking home wouldn’t be so bad. I was pretty sure anything would be better than this. Just as I was about to demand Cole let me out, Brianna’s gaze snapped back to me.

“What?” She was clearly annoyed.

“Cole hates fish.”

“You do?” Brianna’s hand dropped back into her lap.

Feeling a little bad, I allowed myself to meet Cole’s gaze in the rearview mirror. There was no other way to describe the look in his eyes other than ‘Gee, thanks.’

I widened my eyes and shrugged a little. I’m sorry, okay.

Brianna interrupted our non-verbal communication. “Is that true? You don’t like seafood?”

“Umm,” Cole stalled.

Brianna’s sharp eyes were on me again. “And how would you know that, anyway?”

It was my turn to be surprised. I lifted a brow at Cole in the mirror. He rolled his eyes. Apparently, he hadn’t told Brianna about our past friendship. I guess I wasn’t all that surprised. I hadn’t discussed my friendship with Cole with anyone either.

“Because on a camping trip when we were eight, Cole stuffed himself silly on fish we’d caught and then spent the whole night throwing it back up. He never ate fish again.” That had been both horrible and hilarious. No one had been able to sleep that night, what with all the retching sounds Cole made for hours and hours. Being the best friend, I was at the time, I made sure to keep him company, rubbing his back and refilling his water cup so he could swish out his mouth each time. Come to think of it, I got a little queasy at the thought of eating fish, too.

Eyes narrowed, Brianna looked as though she were seeing me for the first time. “You and Cole went camping?” She turned her attention from me to Cole. “You went camping with her?”

“We were eight, Bri.” If a person’s voice could roll its eyes, Cole’s just did.

“And you don’t like fish,” she persisted.

Cole cleared his throat. “Well-”

“It’s a simple question, Cole. Do you or don’t you?” Brianna’s body language spoke volumes as to how much trouble Cole was in right now.

I tried to feel bad. I really did.

“He hates it.” I was just trying help a friend. I promise.

“Jo-” Cole warned.

“You ate the salmon my mom made. The first time you ate at my house. You ate every bite and said it was your favorite.” A broomstick wasn’t any straighter than Brianna’s back right then.

Cole squirmed in his seat.

“I bet he threw up every bite first chance he got,” I sniggered. I should stay quiet. I knew I should. I just couldn’t seem to help myself.

Brianna gasped. “Did you?”

“Seriously, Jo-”

“Don’t talk to her! Tell me.” Brianna was good and mad at this point and I was downright glad we were pulling down our street. Although, I was a little concerned about how I was going to get out of the car since one of them would have to let me out. I was betting Brianna would be the first to make a move.

“Yeah, Cole. Tell her.” I don’t know why I was enjoying his discomfort so much, but I was downright entertained. Maybe it was because I was smashed into the leather seat where I knew they spent time making out.

Cole made eye contact in the mirror again.

I stuck out my tongue.

The muscles in his jaw twitched.

He pursed his lips. He was holding back a laugh!

Cole swung into his driveway and threw his car into park. Brianna didn’t waste any time jumping from her seat and pulling it forward, so I could get out.

“Thanks for the ride, Cole,” I snickered as I scooted across the seat.

“Anytime. Thanks for getting me in trouble with my girlfriend.” He slid his hands through his hair.

“Anytime,” I repeated and lifted myself out of the backseat.

Brianna stood, glaring, her arms folded across her chest.

I gave her my cheekiest smile and wiggled my fingers in her direction.

“I’ll get you in the morning, Jo,” Cole shouted from inside the car.

“Thanks,” I called back, entertained by the storm brewing in Brianna’s eyes.

It was silly, I knew that, I thought as I made my way across the street to my house. Brianna was Cole’s girlfriend. I had no business wanting to sabotage their relationship, let alone doing it. Suddenly, I felt remorse. Not really for anything I’d said in the car, that had all been true, and teasing Cole was funny. But I did feel bad for the result of riling Brianna up and leaving Cole to deal with it. That hadn’t been nice of me. Cole had done me a favor by giving me a ride home.

Beyond all that, I knew I wanted to make Brianna mad because I had more history with Cole and still felt some kind of claim on him. But that was silly. I had relinquished whatever claim I had on Cole, as a friend or anything else, a long time ago. Getting all frustrated because he’d moved on was ridiculous and small.  

I made my way to the front door without the usual trepidation, my mind still on Cole and Brianna and my feelings about all of it. I wish I’d been paying more attention.