Chapter Fourteen
Kassidy
#7– Hang out with the guys
Eating lunch with a group of boys is surprisingly entertaining. Prior to coming to Oakhollow High, I hadn’t spent a lot of time hanging out with guys. Kate was my best friend for years. She may have been my only friend. Sitting hunched over my sandwich, I listen to Archer and Mac argue about which video game is better. I don’t play video games, so I have nothing to contribute.
“Man, this is why you two don’t have girlfriends,” John butts into Mac and Archer’s disagreement.
Archer glances at me briefly, and my cheeks flame. So far, our relationship is strictly platonic. But there is something between us. Something unspoken. Something unofficial. Even his friends behave as if we’re a couple.
“What are you talking about? Chicks dig me, dude,” Mac retorts, his face scrunched up in a look of mock offense.
“Yeah, okay.” John laughs.
“It’s true,” Mac says back, raising his brows. “Ask your mom.”
Archer chuckles, but John narrows his eyes. “I’ve told you before not to bring my mom into your sick jokes.”
“Who says it’s a joke. She’s single now, right?” Mac responds.
My insides twist at John’s expression. Clearly, Mac took it a step too far.
Without a word, John gathers his things and stalks off.
“Oh, come on, J. Don’t be like that. It was just a joke,” Mac calls after him.
“That was low, man. Even for you,” Archer mutters under his breath, once John is out of earshot.
Mac narrows his eyes. “What do you mean, ‘even for me’?”
Dread ripples up my spine as my mind travels back to a similar conversation with Kate.
“I’m not insensitive, Kass. You’re just overly sensitive.” Kate tossed a glossy strand of blond hair over her shoulder.
I shrank from her words, knowing she was right. It was just a joke. Nothing more. Besides, it’s no secret I was a little overweight. Everyone snickered about it. At least Kate had the balls to say something right in front of me.
“Besides, if it bothers you so much, do something about it,” Kate continued. “I’ve offered to help you, even go with you on runs or to the gym. Whatever it takes. You know I’m here for you, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know.” Kate was a good friend. That was the truth. Even though her words stung, I shoved them down deep, telling myself not to get offended by them.
“Seriously, Mac,” Archer is saying now. “You know you always push things too far.”
Mac’s face is hard, his mouth a tight line. Shoulders tense, I wait for the anger that I know is coming. But to my surprise, Mac nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ll go talk to him.” Wearing a chagrined expression, he stands up, backpack in hand. Before leaving, he looks down at Archer. “We still getting together tonight for our movie marathon?”
“A movie marathon?” I ask, curious.
“We downloaded a bunch of old, classic movies,” Archer answers, with a smile that betrays how passionate he is about this. “It’s for film class.”
“That’s a lot of homework.” I’d always figured the reason you took film class was to spend an hour at school watching movies instead of doing academic work.
“Well, not really. It’s sort of extra credit.” His face reddens slightly.
“Not like he needs extra credit. Mr. Film Producer here could ace the class in his sleep,” Mac says.
“Film producer, huh?” Intrigued, my gaze rests on Archer. He said he was into movies, but I had no idea it was anything more than a hobby.
“Yep. He’s the reason the Playlisters are famous,” Mac says, but Archer cuts him off.
“I thought you were gonna try to catch John.” Archer pins Mac with a challenging stare.
“I will,” Mac answers. “Are you sure you want to watch old movies? We could do something…I don’t know…fun.”
“Watching old movies is fun.” Embarrassment passes over his features as if he just realized what he said. “I mean, whatever.”
Mac swats him in the chest. “Dude, it’s fine. I’ll see ya tonight. It beats staying home, anyway.” He looks at me. “You should come.”
“Me?” I press my hand to my chest.
“Yeah, we could use a girl.” He flashes me a crooked smile. “Archer here can get pretty handsy, if you know what I mean. Starts to think we’re on a date or something. I mean, I know I’m pretty, but…”
This makes me giggle. The last word I would ever use to describe Mac is “pretty.”
Archer shoots Mac a harsh look, and the giggle dies on my lips. My heart sinks. I had been so close to saying yes, but not if he doesn’t want me there.
“Um…no,” I mumble, staring hard at the ground, unable to look at either of their faces. My lower lip trembles a little. Maybe Kate was right. I am overly sensitive. “I’m…um…busy tonight. You know, doing stuff…yep…stuff.” Why do I keep rambling? And what kind of answer is that? I have stuff…um…stuff. Man, it’s a good thing I never went into acting.
“What kind of stuff?” Mac asks, as if he knows I’m lying. Not that I blame him. I sound like an idiot.
“Mac, if she’s says she’s busy, she’s busy. Leave her alone,” Archer says firmly, and my stomach bottoms out.
Chomping down on my quivering bottom lip, I take a deep breath. If I start bawling right here, they’ll think I’m crazy.
The bell peals, startling me. I freeze until it passes. At Hamilton the bell wasn’t quite so loud, and I’m still getting used to the shrill, ear-piercing noise. Grateful that it’s over, I reach for my backpack.
“Guess I’ll have to talk to Johnny boy later,” Mac says with a grin.
“That was your plan all along,” Archer points out.
“Oh, ye of little faith.” Mac clucks his tongue. “I gotta jet. My class is clear across campus.”
That’s another thing that’s different about Oakhollow. The campus is huge. Hamilton’s campus was so small you could walk the entire thing twice during passing period.
“See ya,” Archer calls to his friend.
“I better get going, too,” I say softly, without looking at him.
“Okay. See ya later, Kassidy.”
He’s the first friend I’ve had that calls me Kassidy. To everyone else I’m Kass. But I like the way he says my name. It sounds special. I could listen to him say it all day long.
Shaking my head, I blend in with the sea of students filling the hallway. I’ve got to stop thinking about Archer this way. He’s my friend. Nothing more. He’s made that perfectly clear.