Reaching into their purse, Cya pulled out their phone and unlocked the screen. “Fine. What’s your number?”
Instead of rattling his number off, he took the phone from Cya’s hand and opened their contacts app. They made a disgruntled noise but didn’t say anything as he added his number under the contact name,“Your New BFF Dex.”He took a quick selfie, flashing the peace sign, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. Snickering to himself, he made it his contact picture, then texted himself, listening for the respondingpingfrom his own pocket before he handed Cya’s phone back to them.
“All set.”
“Wonderful,” they grumbled as they dropped their phone into their purse without looking at the screen. A sleek, black sedan pulled up to the sidewalk, and they turned toward it. “This is me.”
“Okay, I’ll catch you later then.” He lifted a hand, palm-out. “Goodbye high-five?”
With a noise of disgust, they turned away from him, sans high-five, and folded themself into the back of the sedan. The door shut, but the car didn’t pull away. He heard muffled voices arguing inside, then a minute later, the window scrolled down. Scowling, Cya cast him a grudging glance from the corner of their eye.
“Do you need a ride?” they offered through clenched teeth.
“Nah, I got a student transpo-pass, but that’s real nice of you to offer.”
“I didn’t. Hemersyn did.” They pointed to their driver, and Dex ducked down enough to peer through the window at the older Avia behind the wheel. He lifted a taloned hand and waved.
Dex waved back. “Oh, ’sup, my man. I’m Dex.”
“Hemersyn. You sure you don’t need a ride home?”
“He said he didn’t,” Cya hissed, and Hemersyn cast them a mischievous grin.
“I’m just double-checking. It’s called being polite,” he said in a rebuking tone, and Cya slumped lower in their seat and pouted like a chastised child.
At the Avia’s expectant look, Dex shook his head again. “Thanks, but I’m good. I’ll just catch the tram.” To Cya, he said, “See you around, bestie.”
“Not your bestie,” they snipped as they rolled up their window.
“Not yet,” Dex said to his own reflection in the car window. “Give it time. You’ll see. It’s destiny, remember?”
The only response he received was the car slowly pulling away. Chuckling to himself, Dex watched it disappear down the street, then he headed to the tram stop.
When he got home, he dropped his gym bag and backpack in the entry and flicked the light switch several times, making the biggest lamp in theliving room flash on and off. Jasmyn might have been in her room, but if she was anywhere in the main living area, she’d see it.
His mom had already left for her night shift at Gluttony hospital, so he didn’t bother calling out to announce he was home. It wasn’t like Jasmyn would hear him.
Like thinking her name had made her materialize, his thirteen-year-old sister appeared in the doorway to the living room.“You’re late,”she signed.
“Had to stay after class for a bit,”he replied.“You eat already?”
She nodded and gestured in the general direction of the kitchen.“Food’s still warm.”
“Homework done?”he asked, but she’d already turned to go back into the living room. Instead of chasing after her, he grabbed his bags and headed to his room.
When he returned to the living room, Jasmyn was curled up on the couch with a book in her hands and a pair of big headphones hooked around her neck. He could hear the blasting music, something techno with lots of bass. The speakers of the headphones pressed to either side of her neck, so she could feel the beat.
Dex tapped the top of her head to get her attention, and when she looked at him, he signed,“Homework?”
“Done,”she replied dismissively.
“All of it?”he checked, and she huffed in a way only a thirteen year old could, like he was purposefully going out of his way to annoy her.
“Yes, all of it.”
“How was school?”
She closed her book, giving him her full attention.“Fine. Tommi G. asked me to the spring fling dance, but I’m already going with Tommi S.They were gonna fight about it, so I told them I would go with both of them. Problem solved.”
