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When she said nothing, only stared at me, I cleared my throat and repeated, “Can we call a truce?”
“I didn’t realize I was a part of the war.”
I felt her words like a blow, because she got me there. Not once had she done anything to deserve the crap we’ve put her through over the years.
My jaw tightened. What could I say to make her see me in a new light?
“You’re right. And I’m sorry, but I’d like to be friends.”
When she didn’t answer right away, I poked her in the ribs, flashing her a crooked grin. “Come on, P.”
“My friends call me that.” She let out a half-laugh and shook her head like the thought of being friends with me was crazy. “Yeah, sure. Friends.”
Chapter 15
TOPHER
Iglancedattheclock.ItwasnearlymidnightandIcouldn’tsleep.MythoughtskeptcirclingbacktoPenelopeandhowIcouldmakethingsrightforherwithoutrockingtheboatonmysociallife.Maybeitwasselfish,butIhadenoughonmyplatewithmyfather,choosingacareerpathandcollege,withoutcompletelyobliteratingthesocialhierarchyatLakeview.Thenagain,maybeIwasgivingmyselftoomuchcredit.Kingornot,maybeIwasn’tallthatimportantinthegrandschemeofthings.MaybeifIditchedJT,Mikey,andLucatomorrow,theywouldsimplymoveonwithoutmelikenothingeverhappened.
Would Lakeview royalty stay intact without their king? Part of me was afraid to find out because if they did, then I meant even less to everyone than I thought. Which was pretty damn depressing.
With a sigh, I rolled over on my side. The screen from my phone glinted in the glow of the moon, so I picked it up, opening my texts to Julie because I needed someone to talk to who didn’t see me as Topher Elliot, captain of the water polo team and King. I needed someone who simply saw me as that cute boy she met at a party, even if I did blow her off.
Me:‘Supbeautiful. You awake?
Julie:I am now.
I grinned. That’s what I liked about Julie. She didn’t pull any punches. She said what she meant. It made things easier. Unlike the constant guessing and cycular manipulation that happened among the chicks like Gabby that our group normally hung out with.
I clenched the hand around my phone as I thought about the letter sitting in the drawer of my nightstand. Then, without overthinking it, I sent off a text.
Me:What are your plans after high school? I know you mentioned college.
Julie:Yeah. I’m hoping to get into a really good school, maybe ivy league. But, honestly, I’ll probably go wherever I get a scholarship.
Me:I’m sure you’ll get into all your top choices.
Julie:Don’t be so sure. I don’t do much for extracurriculars, although I am a tutor. What about you?
Me:Hey,I have a friend that’s a tutor,and that’ll look awesome on your apps. As for me, do you want to know what my actual plans are as of now, or what I want to do?
Julie:Shouldn’t they be the same thing?
Topher:You would think so, but my dad wants me to take over the family business.
Julie:And you don’t?
Me:Would you think it’s lame if I said that I wanted to coach water polo?
Julie:Why would I think it’s lame?
Me:I don’t know. Let me ask my dad. He has a lot of reasons.Let me see . .it’s a crappy job. I can’t get rich. I would only be an employee instead of the boss. Because he worked his butt off building a legacy for me to carry on and I’d be throwing it away. Because our business comes with akind ofprestige and social status that coaching wouldn’t.Because he wants to run for mayor, which means he’ll need someone to pass the torch to.
Julie:Prestige, social status, money. None of those things make people happy. At least not by themselves, anyway.
Ain’t that the truth.
Julie:What would make you happy? Is it coaching? Teaching? Even if you only ever live an average middle-class life?
