Page 25 (1/2)

"Got another stick put up your butt? I didn’t know another one could fit, you’re so tight-assed!" I call

"Be quiet," He snaps I turn back to Wren, who’s gone a little white

"Everything okay?"

Wren nods "Yeah It’s just…been a long since I’ve been around Jack like this I didn’t knoas co, otherwise I wouldn’t have –"

"Yeah, h, huh? No choice but to beat his ass and send hihth circle of hell whence he caaion of darkness, then Look, I better go check on Kayla Be right back"

The girl’s bathroom smells like hairspray and hand soap Kayla is at the , uh, ht? Since I know it’s not okay Since this is like, the four millionth time that jerk has made you cry"

Her lip starts wibbling, and she drops her eyeliner and runs into my arms

"He told me…he told me Wren and I would make a better match! He shovedintolike jet planes right now and the ht actually be on to so But I can’t say that in front of Kayla

"Do you…do you like Wren at all?" I ask softly

"He’s a nerd!" She wails "A student council nerd who spends all his time with homeless people! And he’s not even close to Jack in terreat dilemma of looks over personality We can’t have it all! Nobody’s perfect! We’re all shallow even if we don’t admit it! Cities will rise and fall and the universe will collapse from its own inevitable heat-death!"

"W-What?" She sniffs

"I’ Wren is actually not that bad"

"Oh Okay That was a lot of words"

"Look, you’re gonna fix up your onna have fun Don’t let sourpuss-in-boots-that-are-craet to you! You’re beautiful –"

She glares

"- uh, not beautiful! You’re funny! You’re adequately able to function! All good things on the dating checklist Either Jack ise up, or you’ll find so of a wail escapes her lips, and I retreat

"You will NOT find souy so much, shit, why don’t you just ask him out?"

"You don’t think I’ve tried that? I’ve asked him out fifteen times this year!"

"How?"

"Facebook"

I slap my palm to my forehead "I mean a real sort of ask, like walk up to him and form words"

"What if he rejects me?"

"You will then say; "Gosh, you’re really pretty and all but I have to inform you that if you don’t accept onna co and trustforever on hiure it out, okay? You’re right – the first step is to fix o back out there!"

She turns to the htfully trashed movie star face and it’s that exact moment I realize it’s time for an intervention I march back outside, down my entire cup of soda, and plop next to Jack

"Kayla stares at your butt a lot" I announce

"Yes," He agrees