Chapter 6

  Car

  Felix purrs like an engine while investigating the new smells of the novel on my bed. My hand trembles as I stroke his head down his back, and up his tail. There are a few more buzzes from my phone where it ys face down on my bed, afraid to check what the texts say.

  Maybe she’s in trouble? Maybe she is just talking about the book. What if she’s telling me not to text her selfies because it’s bad enough she has to look at me- no. Casey is obsessed with me.

  Felix batts at my phone like a sign from the universe and rolls onto his side, spine against my leg. Little fuzzy paws tuck under his chin as if to say cmon mom, look at the god damn phone.

  I take a deep breath, lungs filling with the vender scent of my bed and the ‘hidden forest’ air freshener, bolstering my defenses like a powerup. Just pick up the stupid brick and swipe once. Read it. Then put it down.

  Fingers wrap around the phone. Felix wraps his paws around my wrist as it passes over him. Sorry bud, I have to do this. A slow dramatic lift and rotation and I peek at the text message notification. Index finger taps against it and I enter my passcode. My stomach ties itself in a buzzing knot as I fully open my eyes and read.

  “-Ooooo! Nice car!

  -Cute car!

  -Car

  -Car

  -CAT! CUTE CAT!

  -Your room is really not what I expected, are you secretly a suburbanite at home?

  -not that I was looking that close at your room”

  I start to type out a reply but an image starts to download so I delete my words and wait. The image finally pops up and it’s like fate decided to ruin my hype and sp me in the face. It’s a selfie of Casey and that stoned barista from the book store. He has his arm around her and their cheeks are mushed together and she’s…blushing and smiling.

  Another text message comes in saying “‘Brian said you were avoiding me when you came in earlier :(“

  “Tell Brian I could smell the weed in his pocket the second I entered the Folded Corner.” My fingers type faster than my brain can think. It’s already sent.

  -That’s what I told him! :D

  Wat time r u off work?-

  -1 hour. Y? U wana hang?

  With u? No. But I was gonna go to the mall.-

  I hate txting-

  -Brian said he can drive us :))))

  Fine. It’s better than walking I guess.-

  God damn Brian. I need to go let mom know I’m going back out. Felix is still ying against my thigh when my comparatively giant hand scoops him up and he lets out a skewed meow followed by another longer meow rattled by the speed at which I descend the stairs. My pace slows as I enter the kitchen.

  “Hello, mother. Your princess will be taking her leave for the afternoon, a journey to the mall over yonder.” I y the faux royal accent on thick.

  “Does the princess think it’s a good idea to spend her money on trash?”

  “I shan't raid the royal coffers. I will keep-eth thine spending under thirty shillings.”

  “Good girl. Be home by six, I’m making a rump roast.”

  “Yes mother, pig booty for dinner sounds great.” I say as I kiss her cheek.

  Felix wrestles himself free from my arms and I dash toward the front door and start putting my boots back on.

  “And stop smoking!” My mom shouts from the kitchen with a genuinely irritated tone. This is my signal to scoot and I’m out the door as soon as my ces are tied.

  A nice cold front moved in since I got home, what was a raging inferno of a sunny day is now a nice crisp refreshing day, warmth still licks off the asphalt as I make my way back to The Folded Corner. Reaching into my hoodie pocket I pull out a cigarette and my lighter and light it with a quick drag. Sorry mom.

  The walk back to the book store takes me maybe a half hour, the door gives way with that already too-familiar hiss and I spot the back of Casey’s head. She’s preoccupied with a customer so I head straight to the coffee counter and find Brian.

  “One medium columbian bck iced coffee with no sugar. One rge ice coffee, blend the ice and the coffee together to make a frappe then add strawberry syrup and-“

  “Just ask for one of Sugarplum's favorites.” Brian cuts me off with a smile

  “Yeah. One of Sugarplum's favorites…”

  “Coming right up. We don’t have the same whipped cream as CrunchBucks though but she won’t mind.”

  Of course he knows her preferences. Prick.

  “So how long have you known the Sugarplum?” I ask while leaning on the counter, definitely not judging his coffee making skills.

  “Oh damn. I dunno, my whole life I think.” His words sound like they took him a lot of effort to come up with.

  They’re childhood sweethearts. I can’t compete with that. Not that I want to compete, I’m just… fuck. What am I even doing here?

  After a few minutes Brian sets both coffees down on the counter in front of me and gives me an admittedly charming smile. I quickly yank my wallet from my hoodie and start pulling out cash before Brian puts his hands up and stops me.

  “Nah, it’s on me. You’re my sister's friend, I’m more than happy to give you guys free coffee.”

  My face flushes nuclear red when I hear him say that. I’ve been so stupid.

  “I know that look.” He says with a dopey smile.

  “T-thanks for the coffee…and thanks for taking us to the mall.”

  “No problem, I’ve been wanted to check out that new hobby store anyways, supposedly they’ve got a whole wall of Gunp.”

  I damn near drop the coffees when I hear about the new hobby store. Py it cool Brooke, be cool.

  “Gunp? Those little robot guys, I’ve seen em they’re kinda cool I guess. A whole wall of em? What’s the name of this store? My cousin loves building those.”

  “I’ll show you when we get there, you’re gonna have so many ideas for gifts for your cousin.” He says with a slothful wink.

  My scowl could break gss. I shake my head and make my way to the checkout counter to sneak up on Casey, she’s looking up some inventory on the computer. This is my chance.

  One step, two step, three step.

  “Casey!”

  The poor glitterbomb jumps out of her skin and winds up with a punch but I can tell she’s restraining herself. Bright red face and lip between her teeth. I can’t help but stare at the way her nose is scrunched right beneath the bridge of her gsses- stop.

  “I found a coffee for you.”

  “Yeah? Well I found a knuckle sandwich for you, Brooke! Don’t scare me like that!”

  “I simply just wanted to let you know I was here a little early, you don’t have to react so harshly.”

  Casey lowers her cocked fist and grabs the sugarbomb cocktail off the counter, eyes squinted at me while she takes a sip.

  “Brian sucks at coffee.”

  “He seems fine at coffee. I’m just better.”

  “Yeah, goddess at coffee, satan at customer interaction. I’m surprised you still have a job at-“

  Some sort of manager cuts into the conversation by shouting across the whole store “Casey, Brian, you’re both cut!” And Casey stares up at me expectantly.

  “What’s with that look for? Go clock out or whatever.”

  “You’re…blocking me in the clerk station.” She says softly like she’s trying her best not to scare away a frightened animal.

  I step out of her way and sip my own iced coffee before I get a chance to blush and run away. She steps past me and the scent of vanil flows across my face and I’ve never smelled anything better in my life. It’s different than her usual vanil, this one smells creamier, less sweet.

  I’m so done for.