The Kiss Off

The Kiss Off - Chapter Seven

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Chapter Seven

After we hauled the stupid thing off her and locked him in the backyard again, Mom slammed the front door and handed each of us (except for Rory’s friends) a stack of paper. They were “found” signs.

‘The pound was practically full and half the dogs there had diarrhoea,’ she said. ‘So, stupidly, I thought we could keep him until we find his owners.’

‘Yes!’ Rory said.

‘Or they free up some space at the pound,’ she looked at Rory. ‘Whichever comes first. In the meantime, we are putting these flyers everywhere. Flooding the neighbourhood. You understand?’

‘Yes Mom.’

‘Everyone is going to know we have that thing, so for the love of God, somebody better recognize it.’

She went to the kitchen, muttering to herself something about a headache and needing to lie down. 

So the dog had a temporary free pass. I had this weird feeling, I couldn’t decide if I was happy or disappointed. Either way, it didn’t matter. I dropped my pile of posters on an end table in the living room, right next to the red twine Ty had used as a leash the other day. I went to pick it up, to throw it in the trash but hesitated. I left it there. A small smile crept onto my face, a completely involuntary smile, too. I had to go upstairs and work out my outfit for next Saturday. Sure it was still over a week away, but I wanted to look good. As I took the stairs back up to my room, I ran my fingers along the digits he had inked into my forearm, his digits, one at a time.  The smile drooped as I realized that I still had to get through this Saturday: Ugh, I had Mads and Dev’s group date thing.

Van and I spent the whole of Saturday afternoon raiding Mads’ closet, trying to find her the perfect outfit because in the meltdown mode she was in, she was in no way capable of doing it herself. Something cool, but not too dressy. Had to be casual, but hot. After agonizing about it all week, we still weren’t sure if he thought it was a date thing or just a group hanging out thing. But he seemed to be looking forward to it. He smiled at Mads and told her as such as he walked passed us at morning break yesterday, and she went all kind of giggly and shy and red. I think she really likes him.

So we were in Mads’ room, Van and I scrutinizing every top she owned (we’d already decided on the denim mini skirt and strappy sandals) and Mads was kind of pacing, forehead furrowed as she glared at herself in the mirror.

‘I’m hideous.’ She said, throwing her hands in the air in defeat. ‘Why am I doing this to him?’

‘What are you talking about? Doing what?’ I asked.

‘This. Tonight, why am I subjecting poor Dev to the hideousness that is me.’

‘Oh shut up Mads,’ Vanya said. Mads crossed her arms and huffed.

‘I’m with her.’ I nodded at Van as she tossed another top into the ‘hell no’ pile in the corner.

‘You’re pretty and nice and sweet and he likes you. You don’t have anything to worry about.’

‘And you can hardly notice the pimples anymore,’ Vanya said helpfully. Mads gasped and slapped her hand to her chin. I pulled it away and clasped both her hands in mine, squeezing them reassuringly.

‘And you’ve got us there to help you.’

For a moment she seemed to be settling down, but then she pulled her hands away, strode to the other side of the room and declared: ‘I’m not pretty, I’m horrible, I’m hideous, I’m disfigured!’