Free Double Time by Julie Prestsater Page B

hanging. He had way too much hope behind those glasses of his.
     
    “ What time is the Brodester supposed to be here, honey?” Mom asks as she zips me up.
    “ Any minute now.”
    She steps back and scans me from head to toe. “I’m really disappointed you all aren’t meeting here so we can get pictures. It was starting to be a tradition.”
    I know how she feels. But I need to create new memories for high school. That’s what this year is all about. I can’t keep doing the same things I did with Alex. I just can’t. Plus, it seemed odd to get together for group photos without Josh and Travis.
    “ We’re gonna take plenty of pictures there.” She gives me her ridiculous pouty face with her bottom lip sticking out. “It’s not like our dates are BFFs. We’re trying to spare them more awkwardness.”
     
    When my dad finished interrogating Brody and trying to put the fear of God in him, we finally left for the dance. I heard Dad telling Mom he didn’t care how much of a nerd Brody is, he still had a dick and he could very well be a meth dealer since he was such a genius in chemistry. True, but it was still weird hearing my dad say dick .
    “ Where are we going?” I ask him, as we turn into the parking lot of the park near school.
    He gestures to a group of cars already there. “I thought we’d start Operation Jealous Ex-Girlfriend early.”
    “ And how are we going to do that?”
    He parks near all the others, cuts the engine, and turns toward me. “My friends usually come here before dances or football games for a little pre-party. Caitlyn will be here for sure. What do you say?”
    “ Sounds good to me.” I’m curious to see if this is going to work. We both unleash our seatbelts and get out. As I round the front of the car, I ask, “So what does this pre-party entail?”
    Brody reaches into the backseat and pulls out two Slurpees from the cup holders.
    “ Slurpees. Really?” I giggle. “This is what you call a party?”
    He smiles his devilish grin again. “Try it. Something special I came up with for you.”
    I take the straw between my lips and sip slowly. Mmm. Delicious.
    “ Tastes like Cherry Coke. What is it?”
    He sips his own. “It’s Coke flavor with some cherry rum. Is that okay?” He looks worried, like I’m going to freak out over a little alcohol. Me. Yeah, right.
    “ It’s perfect.”
    “ Yeah, and we won’t smell like a liquor store at the dance.” He puts his hand on my back and guides me toward his friends.
    “ Guess my dad’s talk didn’t faze you, huh?” I elbow him in the side.
    “ Not at all.”
    Brody does the whole fist bump handshake with all his guy friends and side hugs some of the girls. Hmm. They’re just like us.
    I recognize a lot of them from my classes, even though I’ve never really talked to any of them. It’s always been us and them. We’re all smart and get good grades. It’s just, they seem to be in the math or chess club, while we’re in ASB and get involved in the fun stuff.
    “ Everyone, this is Megan,” Brody tells them. They all look at me like I’m some sort of alien. Fake smiles spread across their faces, like they’ve just been given an ugly sweater for Christmas.
    I plaster on my most enthusiastic smile, showing my perfectly straightened teeth. “Heeeyyy, thanks for letting me join you.”
    “ Aren’t you that girl from the King’s dance last year?” a girl scowls at me. Caitlyn. I thought it was her, but now that I’m focused, I’m sure of it.
    “ That girl?” I question. “There were a lot of girls at the dance.” I look at Brody puzzled, and he looks confused too.
    “ You know, Alex Aguilar’s girlfriend. He came home from college and called you up to dance with him for his last dance as king.” She clasps her hands together, mocking me, and I want to smother her with her own sarcasm.
    “ Not Alex’s girlfriend anymore. Not since I met this guy.” I throw one arm around Brody’s neck and haul his face down