Free Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles Page A

you’ve got the right guy?” She nudges Alex in the side and he laughs. She’s playful, perfect for him.
    “Sally’s a genius and loves to let me know it.” Alex turns to her. “Lucy’s the girl I’ve been telling you about. The one who got sick. You know, the girl who punched Justin in the hospital.”
    “How’d you know I punched him?”
    “I was in the truck bed. When Justin came out of the ER, he had a bag of ice on his eye. He told me to shove it. Solid punch, Lucy.” He puts his arm around Sally, being a good boyfriend. She is his priority.
    “When are you coming back?”
    “Tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m going to be the best painter ever,” I lie.
     “You ready for that ladder again?” he asks as he rubs Sally’s shoulder.
    “Absolutely, all the way up.” Alex’s friends shuffle behind him, pool sticks and chalk in hand. “Well, I’ll let you go. See you in the morning?”
    “Bright and early.”
    I return to Zach’s side and watch him win their doubles game. He puts his arm around me and I blush. He loves wrapping his arm around me. Marissa winks at me on the way to the restroom.
    “Darts?” Zach nods toward the board across the room where a group of guys have gathered. Throwing a dart in front of all of those guys doesn’t promise a shining moment for me. Or for Zach.
    “Uh, not really. But, listen, that doesn’t mean you can’t go play.” I’m a super-relaxed girlfriend. “Wouldn’t bother me a bit.”
    “Really? Awesome.” He dashes across the room and grabs the darts out of Matt’s hand.
    And there I am again, standing alone.
    So, I go to the bathroom. Something to do.
    I sit alone in the stall reading graffiti. Jenny <3’s Danny. Payton is a whore. Today, I will make a change! The walls are a mosaic of proclamations of love, life advice, and insults. My right thumb nail is rather sharp. I think about carving in my own life statement. What should I say? Don’t fall off ladders. Not amazing but whatever, it's something to do while Zach plays darts. I start carving the D .
    A clicking pair of high heels pass in front of my stall and the sink turns on. I see a pair of Converse sneakers pass in front as well. Why did I choose the middle stall? It always feels weird knowing people are standing right in front of me while I'm peeing. Thankfully, I'm just carving the wall.
    “Excuse you.” It’s Marissa’s voice.
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the sink would spray you.” The voice is gentle and sweet. Converse shoes. Sally.
    “Yeah, you wouldn’t realize that, would you? You are just a stupid, ignorant … like ... what? Twelve year old?” Marissa is looking hard for a fight. Sally looks more like an eighteen-year-old than her true fourteen-year-old self. If Marissa accused twelve, that means she's jealous.
    My abs tighten. A jealous Marissa meant for a nasty confrontation. I pick my feet up off the ground, not wanting to be there.
    “Oh.” Sally isn’t prepared with a comeback. She shows weakness and Marissa pounces.
    “What are you doing in here anyway?”
    “Uh, going to the bathroom?”
    “Well, this is the girls’ bathroom.”
    “I know.” Oh sweet Sally. She is going to have to do better than that.
    “Do you? Because with your hair, I’m pretty sure you’re an altar boy from the 1800s.”
    “I—”
    “Actually, no. If you were, you’d be skinny. I’m sorry,” Marissa’s heels click closer. “I was mistaken. You look more like a state-fair swine. All those pink, red, and disorderly freckles.”
    Marissa is really stretching for insults. This only strengthens Sally’s case for being gorgeous. But, at fourteen, how can she know?
    “Let me guess,” Marissa continues. “You had an entire burger for dinner?” Marissa waits for an answer which, thankfully, Sally doesn’t provide. “You did, didn’t you? Honey, if you want to look great like me, you can only eat a few bites.” Marissa’s heels click toward the door and then the door