Chapter 11

“God, I’m so excited,” Kate whispers. She’s practically squealing. I want to be excited for her, but instead I’m just left feeling kind of sad. “Can you believe Gabby wants to hang out with me again? She’s like, the most popular girl in school and she keeps wanting to hang out with me.”

I nod as I pull on my jeans. All she’s been talking about ever since she joined the cheering squad is Gabby. Gabby could simply smile at her and Kate would act like Gabby just extended her the greatest kindness. It’s weird and I don’t like it. I just don’t like Gabby. I don’t like the way she always acts like I’m not there. Would it really kill her to treat me a little bit nicely? I also don’t like the way Kate changes around her. Am I just being jealous? Am I being possessive because I’ve always been Kate’s best friend, and now I suddenly come second? I’m not really sure.

“She invited me to go to the shopping center tomorrow. I really can’t wait. What should I even wear?” she mutters, lost in thought.

I frown. “Tomorrow? But tomorrow is marathon day,” I whisper. Kate and I catch up on all our shows in one go every Wednesday evening, because that’s when the new episode of our favorite show used to air. It’s been a tradition for years, and even when we’re sick we never miss it. It’s our little mid-week break. Helen allows it in return for us not watching too much TV on other weekdays. One time I was so sick that Carter had to carry me into their house, blankets and all, just so I wouldn’t miss marathon day.

Kate pauses and looks at me, her brows scrunched up in anger. “Seriously, Emilia? It’s just marathon day. We can always catch up on our shows the day after. Or, you know, just watch without me. I don’t care.”

I bite down on my lip and look away. She doesn’t care? That’s new. Last year I watched one episode without her because she was grounded and she didn’t speak to me for weeks. Yet now she suddenly doesn’t care?

“Uh, okay,” I murmur. “I’ll do that, I guess.”

Kate nods and waves it off like it’s nothing. She continues to gush about Gabby while I finish getting dressed. Not once does she consider inviting me along. I’d rather eat my left arm than voluntarily spend time with Gabby, but it would’ve been nice if Kate at least asked. I’m surprised she’s in the locker room with me at all. After all, Gabby isn’t in here. I have zero doubt that she’s hanging around Carter the way she always does. Is that why he’s been coming to watch us practice? Because he enjoys her attention? My heart drops at the thought of it.

In the first few weeks after Kate joined the cheering squad, we’d always just wait by the car or he’d drive us home and get Helen to pick Kate up later. Yet now he’s suddenly always at our cheering practice, and I can’t help but wonder if Gabby has something to do with it. Both Kate and Carter seem so taken with her. What am I missing? Why am I the only one that doesn’t like her? Maybe I really am jealous.

Kate is practically skipping when we walk out of the locker room. Usually it pisses her off when her friends hang around Carter, but I guess this time it’s different, because she smiles when she sees Gabby and Carter together. It’s almost like this time she’s counting on Carter to bring her closer to Gabby. She runs up to them and I’m left behind by myself. I walk towards them slowly, wishing I could just walk home instead. I feel left out and I’m tired of feeling this way. It wasn’t so bad when she first joined the cheering squad, but lately it’s getting worse. I’m always the odd one out, the awkward one, the unpopular one. It’s bad enough that I feel unwanted in my own home, but now I’m starting to feel unwanted around Kate too.

“Emilia?”

I turn around to find a tall blonde guy calling my name. He looks familiar, but I can’t recall where I know him from. I frown and smile at him politely. He freezes and cups his neck.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” he asks. I blush and shake my head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He sighs and looks down at his shoes. “It’s Anthony. Tony, from down the block?”

I look at him with wide eyes. “Tony?” I repeat in complete disbelief. He chuckles at my expression and nods. “I — wow. You… you look different,” I stammer. He used to be really small, and to be honest, really snotty. “I didn’t recognize you. I’m so sorry.”

He shakes his head and smiles at me, his cheeks tinged pink. Tony has lived near me for years, and every once in a while he, Kate, Carter and I would hang out at the nearby playground. I haven’t seen him in a while, though. He definitely doesn’t look like the snotty little kid he used to be.

“We aren’t in the same grade, so we don’t share any classes, but I see you occasionally. Every time I see you I want to say hi, but you’re usually so busy,” he murmurs.

I frown. Tony and I go to the same school? How did I not know that? It makes sense, because why else would he be standing in the school gym? Besides, our town isn’t exactly big. We have a grand total of two high schools to choose from. I don’t think I’ve seen him in the halls even once, though. I suddenly feel even more embarrassed and stare down at my shoes awkwardly.

“I’m here to pick up my sister. Layla?”

I look up at him in surprise. “Layla is your sister?” I ask. “How come she never mentioned it?” I say more to myself than to him. Layla is even more of a wallflower than I am. She’s quiet, but she’s an incredibly good dancer. I don’t think I’ve ever even had a real conversation with her. Even when she was younger, she never liked going outside, so we never really played with her growing up. We rarely even played with Tony, come to think of it.

“Ah, well yeah, she’s my sister. I usually wait for her outside, but I saw you standing here and I just thought I’d come in and say hi.”

Tony smiles shyly and I can’t help but blush in return. He’s acting all flustered and cute, and I don’t know how to respond to that at all.

“I thought maybe we could catch up at some point?” he says, his voice so soft I barely even hear him. I nod and glance back at Kate, but she’s so caught up in Gabby that I can’t catch her attention.

“Maybe we could go see a movie or something tomorrow?” Tony says, and I blanch. Is he asking me out? I thought he meant he wanted to catch up with both Kate and me. My surprise must show, because his cheeks turn bright red and he looks away.

I look at Carter. How would he respond if I agreed to go out with Tony? I grit my teeth when I realize that all of his attention is on Gabby. My stomach twists uncomfortably and I’m instantly enraged. I turn back to Tony and look up at him.

“Yeah, sure. Why not?” I say.

Tony grins and exhales in relief. “Okay, great. I’ll wait for you after school, and we can just leave together.”

I nod, suddenly a little flustered. This is a date, isn’t it? My first ever date.