Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend Part 7

"Uh, thanks Hayles." I don't know what I'm thanking her for.

Her cheeks match her red eyes as she says, "No problem. I'm glad the little pointers I gave you are helping."

Huh? Oh, right. She's talking about Quynn.

I nod, and she leaps back into her house before I get another word in.

Reason 7: I think about you before I think about her.

Two hugs. Both I can't get out of my mind. One was so quick I'm not even sure it happened, and the other was...

Amazing.

Incredible.

Confusing.

How can someone get so much from a hug? I can't stop thinkin' about it.

And she pulled away like I bit her or somethin'. A blast to my ego for sure, but why do I care? Hayles is just a friend.

Just. A. Friend.

It can't be anymore than that. I don't really know her, and she's helping me get another girl. A girl I've thought about more than any other girl. A girl who hugged me today too.

Then why can't I stop thinking about Hayley?

I slam my head back into my pillows, toying with the phone in my hand. I've been arguing with myself the majority of the afternoon. Call Hayley? Or leave it alone? Send a text? But that's pretty d.i.c.k-ish, and I'm freakin' worried about her.

My stomach hasn't untwisted since I held her. Maybe talkin' to her will solve the issue. I've already tried Tums.

In the end, I decide a text is the best solution to ease my stomach and not pry into her business so much she tells me to get away from her. Though, she'd probably say something more like, "Get the yellow freakin' bridge away from me!" Something totally off-the-wall in her cute lingo.

Hey. Wanted 2 kno if ur ok. Call if u can tlk.

I hit send before I have the chance to retype the message eighty times.

I don't know why I expect my phone to vibrate ten seconds after I send the sucker, but it doesn't. It doesn't vibrate for the next ten hours actually. Enough time for me to worry my pants off like a girl.

The five-in-the-morning text goes off just before my alarm clock.

Srry. Didn't get this till just now, & ur prbly asleep. I won't b at school 2day, but I wanna tlk 2 u b4 u go. Call when u can.

*Cause I'm too sleepy to think straight, I hit the call b.u.t.ton like the phone will blow up if I don't.

A giggle greets me before she says, "Wow, I didn't expect you to be awake already."

I clear my throat. Okay voice-box, don't make me sound like I'm half asleep. "Uh yeah, early riser." I pause and take a swig of water from the bottle on my nightstand. "So, what's up?"

She laughs again. "You're such a liar. I woke you up, didn't I?"

Thanks voice-box. I'm never askin' you to do anything again. "No, I'm just not all the way awake yet."

"Sorry."

"It's okay. I had to get up anyway."

"Well, I just wanted to offer up some advice for today, if you're coherent enough to hear it."

I slide to a sitting position, leaning against the headboard and clicking on the light. Yeah, I think this'll keep me awake enough to listen.

"Shoot."

"Okay, so I was thinking about how much time we've been planning on spending together, and it may give Quynn the wrong idea."

Whoa, wait. "You mean at the library and stuff?"

"That and the rides to and from school."

"Hayles, I've only picked you up twice." I rub my eyes, removing all the crust from the corners. "And besides, I was told to spend more time with you."

There's a long pause when I hear some m.u.f.fled noise in the background, but I can't put my finger on what it is. When Hayley talks again, she's whispering so soft, I gotta press the phone so far against my ear, I may as well shove the d.a.m.n thing inside my head.

"Um, why?"

I stifle a yawn before plowin' into it. "*Cause I'm fallin' behind in cla.s.s, and Ms. Stevens wants me to work on my signs with you."

"Sa-weeet!"

My stomach twists. She's excited to spend more time with me? Why does that make me happy to hear?

"This is perfect," she says quieter, but with no less enthusiasm. "Since I won't be in school today, you can say you had plans to study with me, but I'm sick. And you can ask Quynn to go over some signs after school."

Disappointment soaks my still sleepy body. Right. She's helping me get closer to Quynn.

Quynn.

Quynn.

I wait for a stomach knot, or that normal nervous feeling I get whenever I think about the hot-a.s.s girl I've been droolin' over for almost a year, and it eventually smacks me in the chest. Though it takes a lot longer than it used to.

"Uh, I'm not so sure about that."

"Oh my gosh, Brody. You'll be fine."

Major stomach twists now. The way my name sounds in her voice does somethin' weird to my insides. I think I'm goin' to need more Tums.

"So, why won't you be in school? Are you really sick?" *Cause she doesn't sound sick.

"Yeah. Got a major headache, so I'm slumming it at home today."

I nod, then remember I'm on the phone. "Uh, yeah. Hope you feel better."

"Thanks." She pauses. "Well, I'm going to go back to bed. Text me though if you need anything. I'll probably be super bored and will need entertainment."

"You got it."

There's another slight pause before she gives me a small, "Uh, okay, bye."

"See ya."

Click.

Is it lame for me to miss her already?

"I thought you had ASL down, man," Tanner says after I tell him where I'm headed after the last bell.

"It's nothin'. Quynn'll catch me up, if I can find her."

Tanner raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. Even though he's one of my best friends, he doesn't know about the inner c.r.a.p I deal with when it comes to my brother's ex. For one, Tanner is one of those people who would instantly start going off about her t.i.ts. And yeah, I'm not innocent in this area either, but I'd rather not talk about it openly.

"Hey, you're still coming over though, right?" He tosses his backpack on his shoulder and shuts his locker.

Whoops. Forgot about that. "Yeah, but it won't be till later."

"Bring Doritos."

I laugh. "Got it."

"Tanner!"

He whips around with a huge smile on his face. Girlfriend closing in. Time for me to go. Not that I don't like Dani, but I'd rather not be witness to the PDA, which I know is coming. I don't want to be the perv friend who likes to watch.

"Catch ya later," I say.

Tanner gives me a fist b.u.mp then turns to close the distance between him and the girl he hasn't seen for a whole two periods.

I pick up the pace down the hall when I hear the slurping behind my back. By the time I reach the front office-Quynn was office aide today-my stomach has planted itself firmly in my throat. Brody, just don't puke on her.

Sucking in a breath-hoping my stomach decides to move back where it's supposed to-I open the door and step into the semi-dark room.

"Uh, Quy-" She's not there.

I get to her desk, searching for her keys or her purse or something, but nothin'.

Not sure if I'm relieved or not. My stomach makes its way back behind my bellyb.u.t.ton, but I guess a part of me hoped she'd be here and we'd spend some time together.

Ah well. My signing isn't exactly the best way to impress her.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and my stomach leaps back into my throat. I texted Hayles every period today, but hadn't got a response. I do a pretty good impression of a twelve-year-old girl when I dig the cell out.

Boo. It's Mom. I mean, Mom's cool and all, but yeah...

"Hey."

"Hi honey," she whispers. I can picture her hovering her hand over the receiver. "I wanted to let you know Quynn is here. I know you see her every other day at school, but still. I know you miss spending time with her."

h.e.l.l yeah! "Thanks. I'm on my way home."

I do another impression of a twelve-year-old girl skipping toward the car, and my phone buzzes again.

Hayley.

Hey sry. Been sleepin off the headache. I'm better now tho. R u with Quynn?

No, but I will be. I don't feel like telling her that though. Not sure why.

Nah. She left b4 I could catch her.

That's honest. Instead of startin' the car and heading home, I wait for her response. I don't have to wait long. She's fast.

Feel like going 2 the library again? I gotta get outta my house.

Yes. I want to spend time with Hayles too. But how often does Quynn come over for a visit?

Never.

But she'll be there for a while. Probably stay for dinner.

And I'll be at Tanner's. Shoot, what do I do?

Hmm... Quynn'll be talkin' with Mom. They need time alone and stuff. And Hayles was pretty messed up yesterday. Better see if she's okay.

My stomach twists as I stop talking to myself and type in my reply.

How abt a game night at Tanner's house. U up 4 it?

Reason 8: You slaughter me at Ghost Recon.

"Wow. I think it's been way too long since I've bought Doritos. Look how many different kinds there are!" Hayley taps her thighs to the music playing over the intercom as we walk down the chip aisle.