Free Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg Page B

of it.
    “Yes, no big deal at all.” Danielle gave that smirk that let me know another one of her patented zingers was coming my way. “Now do you care to explain why your cheeks are so red?”

    I always went to Levi’s mom when I had a question of the female variety. But I didn’t feel comfortable asking her what to wear to the track meet. I knew she would’ve probably been excited to help me, but I wasn’t sure how excited she would be about my having feelings for somebody. Anytime Levi and I got into one of our little bantering conversations, I’d catch our parents giving one another those looks. Those aren’t-they-so-cute looks. I was sure she’d be happy, but another part of me thought she wanted Levi and me to be together.
    As much as I didn’t think Ian was into me that way, I also realized that maybe I wouldn’t be so preoccupied with Emily and Levi’s relationship if I had one of my own. I did love distractions.
    So I went to the only other person I trusted for girly advice: Emily.
    I sent her a quick text that I was coming over, and left for her house. I was too excited to wait around for a response. It wasn’t unusual for either Emily or me to stop by the other’s house unannounced.
    I was only a few steps away from the front door when it opened. For a split second I assumed Emily had seen me approaching the house. But someone else stepped out of it.
    Troy.
    “Hey, Macallan!” he greeted me. “How’s it going?”
    The door swung open and Emily jumped outside. “Hey, what a surprise!”
    “I sent you a text,” I stammered, trying to make sense of what I was witnessing.
    Emily waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, no worries. Troy was getting the, ah, homework assignment we had in history.”
    Troy looked at her weird. “Yeah, sure. Catch you later.” He walked down the street like he didn’t have a care in the world.
    “It’s not what it looks like,” Emily assured me once we got to her room.
    “Then what was it?” I asked. I refused to sit down next to her on her bed. I folded my arms and waited for her explanation.
    “Troy and I were just hanging out. Honestly. I’m trying to get to know him better. Last time I checked, that wasn’t a crime.”
    “What about Levi?”
    “Levi knows.” She picked up a magazine on her nightstand and started flipping through it like we were done with this conversation.
    We were not.
    “Levi knows what?” I prodded.
    “He knows that Troy was coming over today to study. They’re friends.”
    “Yeah, some friend.”
    “It’s complicated.”
    I was so sick of that excuse. Because that’s all it was: an excuse. “Then explain to me. Because honestly, Emily, I have no idea what’s going on with you lately.”
    Emily dropped the magazine as if I was being the unreasonable one. “I’m just confused, that’s all. And I’d appreciate it if you weren’t so hard on me. We can’t all be perfect like you.”
    I glared at Emily. I didn’t appreciate that she was trying to turn this around on me. This had nothing to do with me. Although it felt as though it did.
    She could tell that I was still waiting for a response. “Listen, I like Levi, I do. He’s so sweet and cute. But I also like Troy. So I’m spending time with Troy just to see if, you know …”
    “No, I don’t know.” I could practically hear the icicles cover each syllable as they came out of my mouth.
    Emily sulked. “I like them both. I want to make an informed decision before I choose.”
    “Are you being serious right now? What you’re doing to Levi is completely unfair.”
    “I know.” Emily looked sad. “I do. I promised myself that I had to make a decision by graduation.”
    “That’s over a month away,” I reminded her.
    “Please, you’re not going to tell Levi what’s going on, are you?”
    I got up and headed for the door. “Really, Emily? I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

Where to start?
    I got it. When somebody tells you you’re seeing things that