Something More by Jackie Khalilieh

Author:Jackie Khalilieh [Khalilieh, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra Book Group
Published: 2023-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

The mood at our table Monday morning is like a balloon with all its air released, deflated but unable to return to its original shape. Which is also kind of like Mom’s stomach, a truth I’m reminded of every time she squeezes herself into shapewear. Mel fills Cat and Odelia in on what happened to her Friday night. I didn’t tell Cat anything on the drive home because, for one, my parents were there and, two, it didn’t feel like it was my story to share. Now I sit by, pretending to listen; my mind is elsewhere.

I look up to see three pairs of eyes on me. “What?”

Mel smiles. “I was just saying we all owe you an apology.”

“You tried to tell us you were worried about Mel. Maybe if we’d teamed up, we could have stopped this from happening,” Odelia says.

Cat sits with one elbow propped and her face resting in her hand, almost as if she’s forcing herself to stay awake.

“Let’s just be thankful nothing worse happened,” I say, brushing off their attempt to apologize. I don’t know why I’m always doing that. Like I’m not worthy of an apology. “Actually, to be honest, I was pretty annoyed Friday. Not only for not listening to me about Mel, but because it was supposed to be a girls’ night, and the four of us didn’t spend any time together.”

“You’re right,” Odelia says. “We’ve all been so wrapped up in our own guy drama, we haven’t stopped to ask how things are going with you. I’m sorry, Jess.”

“So am I.” Mel nods.

Cat shifts in her seat and scrolls through her phone. She doesn’t pipe in to apologize or admit her own shortcomings. It makes me question why I’m keeping her secret.

“It’s okay,” I say, my eyes focused on the other two. I don’t need an apology from Cat. I already know the truth about her.

Odelia and Cat get up to use the bathroom before morning bell, and Mel comes over to my side of the table. There’s a big grin on her face. “So, Levi was pretty wonderful Friday night.”

I bite the inside of my cheeks to fight back my own grin. “He was, wasn’t he?”

“What did he say to you in the school parking lot?” she asks.

“He admitted he liked me, and he said he needed time to figure things out.”

She leans back in her seat. “That’s good. It means he’s planning on dumping Liv.”

I shake my head. “We’ll see. I’m not holding my breath.”

“Jessie, you don’t always have to overanalyze everything. Levi likes you. You like him. Let that be enough for now.”

I want to believe Mel, but every time I get my hopes up, my heart breaks. And not just with Levi.

I make a pit stop at the lockers before homeroom. Just as I’m about to place my gym bag inside, my phone vibrates. A text message from Levi appears on the screen.

Chandler, I haven’t stopped thinking about you since Friday. ♥ Joey

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