Flip the Bird by Kym Brunner

Author:Kym Brunner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

EIGHTEEN

I STOOD NEAR CHARLIE’S AND REED’S LOCKERS, recounting the horrible scene at the Johnny Appleseed festival, my dad’s ultimatum, and ended with my fast-talking on the bus to smooth everything over. “Today at lunch, I’m taking the plunge and asking Lucy if she wants to hang out with me on Friday night.”

“Whoa! Is this the same meek Mercer who needed help asking Marcy Feldman to the graduation dance last year?” Charlie threw his books on the floor, and then used his foot to stuff his coat and mounds of gym clothes and other crap into his locker, before slamming it shut.

I rolled my eyes, both at his comment and the disgust level of his locker. “I didn’t need help, just advice.”

Charlie raised one eyebrow. “Advice in the form of me walking over there with you, and starting up a conversation with her that ended with ‘Mercer wants to know what you’re doing for the dance.’”

I pushed his shoulder, laughing. “Shut up. I wasn’t that bad.”

Reed grabbed a spiral notebook and his algebra book from his locker. “I’ve got some advice for you. Go out with someone you don’t have to lie to.”

“Oh, burn.” Charlie grinned, watching my reaction.

“Shut up, Reed. I did tell Lucy that I couldn’t go to any more protests.”

“Wait. So you’re still staying in HALT?” Charlie stuck a pen behind his ear.

I shrugged. “Not exactly. Things are still sort of up in the air.”

The bell rang and Reed slammed his locker. “Did you tell her about Flip?”

“Not yet, but soon,” I snapped, not liking his tone.

“Sure you will.” He shook his head as he walked away.

“Back off, Reed,” I called out, but he didn’t turn around.

I balled up my fists, settling for a weak fist pound on the locker. “Did you hear that? What a douche.”

Charlie pinched my shirtsleeve and pulled me the opposite way, toward our classes. “Eh, what does he know? He changes girlfriends faster than he changes oil. He’s like Lincoln—​loves ’em and leaves ’em.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I mumbled. Was that what Lincoln was doing to Lauren? Or was Zola the one who’d be leaving? I didn’t want to think about that now. “So wait, are you saying Reed likes Lucy too?”

“Not that I know of. But like you told Flip the other day, ‘May the best man win.’ Go get her, Merky.” Before we parted ways, Charlie gave my upper arm a little punch. Seeing as it hurt only a little, I figured I must be getting stronger from all of my apprentice duties.

As I walked to the gym, I thought about Reed’s comment. Since when had he become Mr. Honest? He had copied my algebra homework before class tons of times. Did he tell every girl he liked the truth—​that he spent every spare moment restoring old cars and dirt biking around Mount Trashmore? Did he mention that he got mostly C minuses and Ds on his report cards, and that was with tutoring help? I doubted it.

Besides, all this lying would end if Lucy and I started going out—​which is exactly why I needed to ask her today.

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