“You aren’t gay,” she said. “He forced you.”
I stepped from behind Mikey. “Do I look like I could force him?” I asked incredulously. “Seriously? And besides, nobody forces someone to be gay.”
“Then you tricked him,” she said.
Hastings abandoned her and stood beside Mikey and me. “Shut the fuck up, Jennifer. Jesus Christ! You are notthatstupid,” he railed.
“What the . . . ?” she asked, huffing and puffing like someone had knocked the wind out of her. “You can’t talk to me like that, Hastings.”
“The fuck I can’t. You need a person that will call you out on your shit,” he countered before spinning in a circle and gesturing to the assembled crowd. “We get it, Jennifer. You’re fucking hot and we all know you’re on the top of the food chain, but for fuck’s sake, girl, they just want to be in love. Let ‘em be.”
“How can . . .?” she started, looking at everyone frantically. “But, why can . . .?”
Hastings stepped up to her. “Because being gay is okay, Jennifer.” He turned to Mikey and held out his hand. “I give mad props to Hill for showing up here with Cooper. Mad fucking props.”
Jennifer’s face fell in defeat. “But . . . but . . ..”
Hastings yanked her toward him and planted his lips on hers. At first, shestruggled to fight him off. Was his move bold? Did it border on violating her rights? Of course it did, but Jennifer began to relax and let Hastings continue to jam his tongue into her mouth. The crowd began hollering and wolf-whistling at the pair until they eventually parted.
Jennifer looked shellshocked.
“I’ve always wanted to do that,” Hastings declared, pulling her to his side and claiming her like a caveman would do.
A flummoxed Jennifer went along with it.
“Lead the way, boys,” he said to Mikey and me. “We have some shit to celebrate tonight.”
Mikey led me to the dance floor when the music came back on. Teacher chaperones had watched the entire thing unfold and were impressed with how it went down, backing away after Hastings defused the argument. I’d been right. Hastings had the hots for Jennifer the whole time.
Mikey pulled me close and whispered in my ear. “Nowthatwas weird,” he exclaimed. “And you think I’m the one acting strange in this town?”
And just like that we were officially a couple. Summer here we come.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO: Mike
Our eighteenth birthdays were here before we knew it. Coop was excited because he said he felt like a legal adult and everything. I felt old. This was my eighteenthandmy twenty-eighth.How to broach that subject?
“You fucking look amazing, Hill,” I joked, studying my reflection in the mirror. Still not a single wrinkle. I noticed facial hair for the first time. Officially the second time, but I couldn’t remember the first.
A knock startled me and I jumped away from my bedroom door.
“Michael, are you up, honey?”
I pulled the door open. “Hello, Mom,” I said, bowing and motioning for her to come in.
She rolled her eyes at me good humoredly. “I’m glad someone’s happy,” she said before scowling at the dirty clothes thrown about my room. “You’re eighteen, honey. Could you please pick up after yourself?” I had bad news for her. I was a decade older than that. Still hadn’t learned. Doubt I ever would.
I pulled her in for a hug. “What has you all up in arms so early?”
Mom had gotten used to and seemed to love how affectionate I’d become. I was her son. I loved her and I wanted to show her. “I have a mile-long list of things that I have to do before the party,” she said. “I’m falling behind and Druzella just called.”
“What didMadameDruzella want?” I asked, speaking eerily and haunting.
“Why do you insist on calling her that?” she asked, fussing a hand at me.
I wanted to remind her that she had spoken of Druzella long before I’dmet her. Or was that long after now? But of course I couldn’t mention that.
“She seems like a madame to me. Very mystical woman, Mom.”
