Free Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Becca Ann

a girl? ”
    Dude. Do not want to talk about this with Mom. But I’m honest. “Yeah. Is that all right?”
    “Oh Brody, I don’t know…” She bites her bottom lip and takes a few breaths. “I mean, I’d like to be the cool Mom, but I just don’t think having a girl here while your dad and I are out is a good idea. Especially if you’re cleaning your room. Call me crazy, but it worries me.”
    Ugh. “She’s just a friend.”
    “Then why are you cleaning your room?”
    “Because it stinks.”
    “Brody…?”
    Damn it. She’s not goin’ to let this happen. “Look, Mom, Hayley and I are just gonna—”
    “Oh! It’s Hayley?” She cocks her head , and I nod. “Well, that’s fine.” She swipes her hand through the air. “I thought… I was assuming it would be… never mind. You kids have fun. I’ll be home around ten.” She kisses my forehead—ugh—and leaves.
    Uh… okay. That was weird. But at least I don’t have to worry about Parent Patrol.
    I check my phone for the millionth time. Still nothing. I texted Hayles the second I woke up and it’s been about four hours. What the hell? Did she forget or somethin’?
    Maybe I should just go get her. Tell her I just happen to be in the neighborhood and wondered if she still wanted to hang.
    There is somethin’ seriously wrong with me. Girl’s turned me into a psycho.
    I snatch up a pair of gym shorts and toss them in the pile of laundry. Then grab the garbage and trudge upstairs.
    Crap . The kitchen and front room are a disaster too. Not nearly as bad as my room, but bad enough I gotta clean it before Hayles gets here. If she gets here.
    It’s only 2:00. Chill out.
    I check my phone again as I pull the front door open.
    “Fart! Brody, you scared the poo out of me.”
    There she is. Drenched to the bone, big smile on her face and a grocery bag in her arms. She scared me too, but I don’t let her know. Not sure what comes outta my mouth, but she laughs.
    “Can I please come inside, even though I’ll drip everywhere?”
    “Yes! Get your crazy ass—” She flinches. Oh right. “Sorry. Butt in here.”
    I drop the garbage and run to get her a towel.
    “Thanks,” she says as I wrap it around her. I kind of want to rub her shoulders and dry her off myself, but I bet she’ll slap me if I try. “Lookie what I brought you !” She thrusts the grocery bag in my arms and tugs the towel around her tighter.
    I can’t help the laugh barreling out my mouth. “Cheeseburger Doritos. Did you give another cashier an interesting story?”
    “Nah. But maybe next time.” She smiles and wipes a few raindrops from her cheeks.
    “Why the he… heck did you walk here?” At least I caught the swear this time. Didn’t realize I was so bad at that.
    She shrugs and follows me into the kitchen. So much for cleanin’ everything before she got here. “I like the rain.”
    “I was goin’ to pick you up. You never answered my texts.”
    “Yeah, sorry. I don’t have my phone on me today.”
    Her eyes drop to the floor as she sits on the bar stool. Is that all she’s going to say about it?
    “Uh, am I going to have to ask?”
    “Ask what?”
    “Why you don’t have your phone.” I rip the bag of chips open and dump some in a bowl. Guess I didn’t have to worry so much about the corn chip smell.
    “We’re not going to talk about it.” Her voice is stern , but she’s smilin’ with her eyes, so I know she’s not all that serious.
    “Drop it in the toilet or somethin’?”
    I could listen to her laugh all day. She shoves my shoulder and rolls her eyes. “No. But it is a bit… waterlogged.”
    Before I can ask what she means, she grabs a chip, sniffs it, and then jams it in her mouth.
    “Okay, so these aren’t as bad as I thought. You’ve got good taste.”
    “Told you.” Laughing, I open the fridge and pu ll out two cans of Coke and nod to the front room. “You want to play another game?” I’m up for another slaughter, since that was crazy