Free Frenemies by L. Divine Page B

too,” I say as we back out of the driveway and head toward the beach. It’s a warm evening, but as soon as the sun sets completely, the night chill will hit. I’m glad I brought my sweater—the same sweater I let Nellie borrow over the summer and she didn’t get it back to me until the first day of school. That’s my girl.
    â€œJayd, you can’t let Tania get to you, I already told you that,” Jeremy says, turning Creed back up, but not so loud that we can’t hear each other.
    â€œIs it really that simple?” Maybe everything in his world actually is that cut-and-dry. To have a baby on the way, he seems remarkably calm. A little too calm, if you ask me. “Why doesn’t shit bother you that would worry the hell out of a normal person?” I say, realizing we’re heading for Palos Verdes. “And where are you taking me?”
    â€œWell, which question do you want me to answer first?” he says, trying to be a smart-ass, but I’m not in the mood.
    â€œTake your pick,” I say, returning his attitude tenfold.
    â€œWell, my dad decided to have a barbecue at the last minute, so I was hoping you wouldn’t mind coming back to my house for dinner instead of going out,” he says, casually dropping a bomb on me. I’m in no mood to deal with his dysfunctional family today. What the hell?
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me before now!” I yell, practically drowning out the smooth tunes. How could he spring a surprise like this on me?
    â€œWell, because I just found out when I left to come and get you,” Jeremy says, not realizing how upset he’s just made me. “What’s the big deal?” he adds, trying to make light of the situation.
    â€œThe big deal is that you didn’t tell me about it, so I’m not prepared. I’m dressed for coffee by the pier, not dinner with the family.” Rah would never pull no shit like this. He would just know better. And so would KJ, for that matter. It must be a cultural thang.
    â€œNobody cares what you look like. My parents love you.” Now, he should know both of those statements are the furthest thing from the truth. His mother’s a strange wench, and his dad’s always drunk, so who knows what he really thinks. But whenever I’m around them I feel like I’m on display.
    â€œJeremy, can we skip the social hour and just kick it, you and me?” I plea. Maybe if I’m sweet he’ll let me have my way. We have too much unsettled business, and we need to be alone to discuss it all.
    â€œJayd, stop being so self-conscious. As quick as you are to tell people off, I’d think you could care less about what people think of you,” Jeremy says, uncovering some buried resentment of his own. I knew he was embarrassed by my mouth, but I had no idea he was still upset about it.
    â€œAre you serious?” I say, ready to go off but trying to keep my cool. “You can’t be comparing you not telling me where we’re going so that I would know what to expect to me getting into it with Tania the other day.”
    â€œAll I’m saying is that you can’t have it both ways. Either you care what people think about you or you don’t.” I think things are just that simple from his point of view. His crystal-blue eyes sparkle as the last of the sun hides in the horizon, allowing the evening to begin. We’re almost up the hill, entering into Palos Verdes Estates. I’m sure many people envy the folks up in here. But personally, I’d rather be at home.
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    â€œHere we are,” Jeremy says, pulling up to the huge lawn in front of his house. The smell of the grill makes my stomach growl, even if I may protest the whole thing. The rest of our ride was uncomfortably silent. Jeremy can be so self-righteous sometimes it drives me crazy. He thinks he knows the best way always, and that’s just not so. I admit, I do have a slight