I roll my eyes. “Not today.”
He laughs. “I need to see this. I’m coming with you.”
"You were already planning to eat there. Your girlfriend sits at that table."
Tucker shrugs. "Still. This is epic. You’ve never abandoned the table with our teammates for a girl before.”
Rue’s table is near the back, tucked beside the tall windows that overlook the grassy field, and she’s already there when Tucker and I arrive. Meredith and Mabel sit across from her, their trays pushed aside while they talk. With amusement, I note that Carlton, Dot, and Zayne are sitting with them. It’s weird to see them all together, especially after all the drama Little Birdie blasted about them not too long ago, posting about Dot and Zayne liking each other while she was supposed to be Carlton’s girl.
As Tucker and I approach, I half-expect Rue to ignore me, but she doesn’t. She glances over her shoulder at us, and at first she regards me with furrowed brows, but quickly recovers and smiles warmly at me.
My heart aches as I sit next to her, sliding my tray onto the table and stealing one of Tucker’s breadsticks before he can protest.
Tucker throws me a grin and plops down next to Mabel. The rest of the table gets really quiet, and Meredith throws me a look I can’t read. Mabel offers a small wave.
"So," Dot says, clearly trying to keep things light, "how long have you two been a thing, exactly?”
Rue answers before I can. "A little while. We were keeping it quiet."
"And now you’re not?" Mabel asks, smiling.
Rue shrugs. "Little Birdie already spilled it. What’s the point of hiding anymore?"
"Makes sense," Mabel says with a dreamy smile. "You’re cute together."
I laugh. “Thanks.” Throwing an arm around Rue’s shoulder, I stuff some breadstick into my mouth. “I still can’t believe LittleBirdie is back to begin with.” Rue stiffens a little under my arm but doesn’t push me away.
“Yeah, me either,” Zayne says, looking lost in thought beside Dot. He whispers something in her ear, and she offers him a reassuring nod.
“I think we should all try to figure out who it is before they can ruin our lives again,” Dot tells everyone, and a unanimous murmur of agreement sounds from around the table. Rue opens her mouth to say something, but Mabel jumps in first, and the conversation moves on before Rue ever gets the chance. I don’t miss the way Carlton’s gaze seems to hang onto Dot’s every word, or the way it traces all her movements, even though he’s with Meredith now and Dot is clearly happy to be with Zayne.
Rue tries to speak up again. “Wait, I was going to say?—”
“Sorry to interrupt, Rue, butoh my gosh, that reminds me,” Meredith cuts in, and just like that, Rue’s thought disappears into the noise. Meredith leans into Carlton as she talks.
“I think Rue is trying to say something,” I cut in.
Everyone waits, and she finally gets her chance to speak. When she’s done, Rue shifts closer beside me. For a second I think she’s about to say something else, but instead she lightly nudges my shoulder with hers.
A silent thank-you.
I get the message.
I lift my arm around her shoulders like it’s the most natural thing in the world. To everyone else it probably looks like we’re just being affectionate.
But the warmth of her against my side makes my brain completely forget how to function. And then Rue reaches up to play with my hair. The gesture makes my entire body feel unstable. I know she’s only doing it for show. I know this.
But still, the way it’s making me feel is real.
I try to think about something else,anything else, the rest of the day at school, during basketball practice, and driving home. But when I get to the front door, Olivia blocks me from entering. She crosses her arms with a sly smile on her face. Chai Guy is waiting at her side like some sort of guard dog, already baring his teeth in a deadly little snarl because I came too close to her.
“Now what?” I mutter. “Can I please just get through the rest of this day without any more drama?”
She arches an eyebrow. “Meet me in the living room.”
It’s all she says, but it’s all she has to say. Olivia has her good moments, but she’s also the kind of person who can dig up dirt on someone faster than a shovel can remove a weed from the ground. I’m usually the victim of her antagonism, which she claims is meant to “toughen me up” so I’m not too sensitive when I’m forced to live in the real world. I just don’t remember ever signing up for these lessons of hers in the first place.
I practically throw myself at the sofa, smashing my face into a throw pillow. “What is it?” My voice comes out muffled.
