Bitter

thirty - cal

   I know it was my idea for Lydia to hang around Haley and get any information out of him, like what his next move would be or maybe something about the person dumb enough to do some of his dirty work. But that didn't make it any less weird seeing her with him on Monday morning, in the hallway at school. They were talking about something, and the longer I watched them while the current of students flowed around me, the longer curiosity ate at me. Haley looked to be the one carrying the conversation because Lydia, with arms crossed, would often nod and that was it. I hadn't texted her yet (it was still strange seeing her number in my phone), but I felt it was about time. We hadn't spoken since Jason's party.

   What's he saying? I tapped out on my phone, then sent the message. I lifted my gaze to see Lydia still talking to Haley, hoping she'd decide to look at her phone soon. I doubted it though. Actually, it was probably a good thing she didn't check it now and see the text, not until she was well away from Haley.

   I turned my attention to Marco and Meg who were eyeing Lydia and Haley like I'd been. They didn't seem too concerned about her (they looked more entertained than anything), so I guess Lydia had told at least one of them why she was going to be around Haley still, even after what had happened with Marco.

   Marco had been completely quiet when he and I had left the party on Saturday at around 3 AM. Zach had gone with Aly already and Lydia and Meg left together so I never saw any of them again that night. It was just Marco and me. I'd asked him if he was okay and he insisted that he was. I'd walked him all the way to his house and before he snuck back inside, through one of the windows, he told me he was sorry.

"For what?" I'd replied, standing in the grass of his front yard.

Marco swallowed, his expression pained. "For not believing you. About West," he had explained, then turned to open the window. Before he climbed in, he mumbled a faint, "Thank you," and vanished into his dark, dead living room.

Seeing him with Meg across the hall, he definitely looked more alive than he had on Saturday so that was good. Meg had her hand on his arm and when Marco finally saw me, he nodded once and I gave him a half-hearted smile. Looks like she had found someone to go to homecoming with after all. It was coming up fast, at the end of the week, and I'd decided I was going alone. It was too late to ask anyone anyway.

   The warning bell rang, signaling that first period was about to start in five minutes. I had Anatomy with Jason again and I'd refrain from talking about Haley (since he'd literally be right there in the class with me). I'd just pretend like everything was normal and after school I'd go to soccer practice and I'd wait for a text back from Lydia. That is, if she hadn't already switched up and gone back on our plan.

I headed for class which was in the direction of Haley and Lydia, and since Haley's back was turned, I locked eyes with Lydia over his shoulder and pointed to my phone. She instantly looked back at West and I slipped my phone back into my pocket, strolling by them through the doorway.