Page 7 of Inseparable
“Writing out the pact,” I say, sending them both a “duh” look. “We’ll all sign it and seal it with ourblood.”
“Nuh-uh,”Aydensays, shaking his head. “I’m not cuttingmyself.”
“Pussy,” Devin proclaims, smirking.
“Amnot,”Aydenprotests.
“Aretoo,” I say, holding out my finger to Devin. “I’m not afraid. Do it.” He holds my wrist, and my skin tingles from his touch. We stare at one another, and for a split second, time seems to stand still. I feel a brief, sharp sting as he makes a small incision in the skin at the top of my finger, but I don’t react. His eyes don’t leave mine as he makes a cut in his own finger, and we smile at oneanother.
“Oh, all right,”Aydenhuffs, holding out his hand, trying not to grimace as Devin makesthe cut.
We sign the piece of paper and press our bloody fingers to the page, repeating the words together.
The awesome-threesome will never die. Best friends for infinity. No matter what, we will always be there for each other.
I turn over in the bed, feeling a multitude of congested emotions in the aftermath of my dream. It’s quite prophetic that that memory should return to me now. I remember that day as clearly as if it was yesterday. I remember how happy I was that night, believing our bond would last for eternity. God, I was so naïve. I sigh, curling into a ball as knots twist and turn in my gut. I could continue to wallow in the past or get my head out of my ass and go do something. The latter wins out, and I yank the covers off and hop up with determination.
After I’ve showered, dressed, and eaten, I head out to my balcony with my book bag, aiming to go over my study notes again for the math test tomorrow.
The sun is high in the sky, and even though the air is warmer than last night, I’ve always been a cold creature, so I bring the blanket out with me. Sinking into the beanbag, I fix the plaid blanket around me, trying to ignore Devin’s scent which seems to have embedded itself into every fiber of the material. I remove my book, pad, and pen and settle into studying.
An hour later, I toss my books aside with a sigh. It’s no use. I can’t focus my brain. My mind is still too preoccupied with the two boys in my life. I think about Devin’s insinuation last night—the implication that Ayden is hiding romantic feelings for me. It’s true he hasn’t been with many girls, and he hasn’t had a steady girlfriend since tenth grade, but I don’t believe it’s for the reasons Devin suggested. Ayden has his heart set on college football and then NFL. As our school’s star quarterback, with an impressive record on the field, he has a good chance at making it.
Ayden and I are a lot alike in many ways.
From an early age, both of us have known what we wanted to do with our lives, and we are both stubbornly determined and focused on those goals. For as long as I can remember, Ayden has lived and breathed football. Although he doesn’t talk about it to me much anymore, his dedication is clear for everyone to see. For years, he’s spent every weekend practicing with his dad, going to all the local games, and attending all the Hawkeye games in Kinnick Stadium. His dad, Carl, had had a promising football career until it came to a devastating end when he broke his leg at nineteen. I know he’s so proud of Ayden and rooting for his only son to have the sports career that was denied him.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I fish it out, smiling as Mariah’s face pops up on the screen. “Hey, chica.”
“Hey, yourself. You want to meet at Mona’s?” Mona’s is the most popular diner in town. I work at The Good Eats Diner, across the road, which is popular with an older crowd.
“Sounds good. Meet you there in twenty?”
I leave a note on the counter for Mom, in case she wakes up early and wonders where I am. Then I grab my purse, keys, and my jean jacket and hightail it out of the house. My old VW Golf chugs to life, and I offer up thanks. If it wasn’t for Devin and his mad mechanical skills, old Betsy would be in a metal grave right now. Dev has brought her back from the brink so many times. Mom offered to buy me a new car last month, but I turned her down. I don’t want her spending her money, and I’m rather fond of my battered little car. Call me sentimental, but Ayden and Devin helped me choose it when I turned sixteen and got my driver’s license, and letting it go feels like a betrayal of our friendship. Which is ridiculous, especially considering our relationship is all but in the toilet right now.
I park in front of the diner and jump out, waving at Mariah through the glass. She’s nabbed our favorite spot in the middle of the diner beside the window. I love people-watching, and it offers the perfect position to observe without being obvious.
“I ordered your usual,” Mariah says as I slide into the booth across from her.
“Cool. Thanks. So, how did last night go? I want all the details.” Mariah went with her boyfriend, Cody, to one of the senior parties last night. I sometimes go with them, on nights when I’m not working, but I wasn’t feeling it last night. I hadn’t been in the mood to watch Devin slobbering all over the latest groupie. And if I’d known he wasn’t going, I still would have stayed home in the hope that he’d come over.
I’m pathetically predictable.
“It was kind of boring until Devin showed up.”
I shake my head, harrumphing. “Yeah, that figures.” I should’ve known he’d go partying once I booted him out. As that old saying goes, a leopard doesn’t change its spots.
She leans over the table with her mouth open to speak as Jennifer brings our coffee. “If it isn’t my two favorite gals.” Her wide smile is genuine.
“Hi, Jenn. Thanks.” I smile at the kind, older waitress. She’s worked at Mona’s for as long as we’ve been coming here, and she was super generous with her time and her advice when I started waitressing myself.
“Any time, sweetie. Food won’t be long.” She affectionately ruffles the top of my head.
Mariah waits until Jennifer is out of earshot. “What don’t I know?”
Mariah is the only one who knows about my crush on Devin. I don’t have many female friends—growing up a tomboy and having two boys for best friends pretty much put paid to any lasting female friendships when I was a kid. Once I became a teen, things changed, and, suddenly I had a whole bunch of new girlfriends. Until I figured out most of them were using me to get to Ayden and Devin. I’ve been overly cautious since then. Apart from a couple of girls I’m friendly with in school, Mariah is my only real girlfriend. We’ve been close since we were fourteen, and I trust her with my life.
“Dev dropped by last night.” I proceed to give her the lowdown on everything that happened.
