The Trouble With Flirting by Claire Lazebnik

Author:Claire Lazebnik [Lazebnik, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Girls & Women, Social Issues, Dating & Sex, Adolescence
ISBN: 9780061921278
Google: eQKLgux3CsEC
Amazon: 0061921270
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: 2013-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

scene five

I stay up late that night, video-chatting with William—whenever he has time to talk to me, I jump at the chance, even if I’m half-asleep. I text him once or twice every day, and he usually texts me back, but most of the time it’s Sorry, no time to talk. <3 you, Frannygirl.

The thing is, when your brother is twenty and has a serious girlfriend and is living in New York, it doesn’t matter that once it felt like it was the two of you against the world or that you used to crawl into his bed when your parents were fighting or that you sat next to him on the sofa when they told you they were getting divorced and the only thing that kept you from falling apart completely was knowing he was there at your side.

I know he loves me and he’s there for me if I need him, but he’s got his own life these days and doesn’t need me. So I’m grateful for any time he can give me.

He asks me if there are any boys in my life, so I tell him about Harry, keeping my voice low so I won’t wake up Amelia if she’s asleep—and she won’t be able to eavesdrop if she’s not.

“How does he compare with Tyler?” William asks.

I think about that. “Less serious,” I say. “And probably not as smart. But funnier. And cuter.”

“Yeah? You becoming shallow, Franny? Only caring about a guy’s looks?”

“It’s summer. I’m supposed to just have fun, right?”

“I guess. But it’s not fun to spend time with someone who turns out to be a jerk.”

“I don’t think Harry’s a jerk.” I hesitate for a moment, then say, “To be honest, there’s another guy here who I like more. He’s definitely not a jerk. He’s really sweet. And sometimes I think he likes me. But he’s already going out with someone.”

William tilts his head toward me. Or toward his laptop camera, at any rate. He’s handsome, my brother, but at this angle you can see that his hair is already thinning on top. He’s going to be bald before he’s thirty, just like our grandfather. “If he’s going out with someone else, why do you think he likes you?”

“Just the way he talks to me sometimes. And he does really nice things for me. Like he bought me these books today, just because I said I wanted them.”

“And how did the girlfriend feel about that?”

“She was a little pissed off,” I admit.

“Hmm.”

“That’s a pretty disapproving-sounding hmm.”

“Just take care of yourself, okay, Franny? Don’t fall in love with anyone who might hurt you. Which both these guys sound like they could do.”

“I’m not falling in love with either of them. I’m not an idiot.”

“Smart people can be stupid about this stuff.”

“Wow,” I say. “Can I quote you on that?”

“Shut up. I’m making a good point.” But he drops it.

A few minutes later we say good-bye, and I close my laptop and wonder whether I was telling the truth, whether I’m really not in love with either Harry or Alex.

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