"So what, now we're going to live together?" Jamie takes another step towards me. "That's your idea of a good plan?"
Unwilling to back down, I poke a finger at his chest. "This is my family's house. Not yours. I have every right to be here."
"Newsfl...
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Eight years ago
"Love is dead."
Ana's revelation came from the depths of the toilet bowl her head was currently hanging over. I patted her back reassuringly, still holding her pink hair back with one hand.
"Who hurt you, jellybean?" Reyna lounged in the bathtub I was sitting on the edge of, a safe distance away from the vomit. She didn't really know Ana—she was more my friend—but there was nothing like the bathroom of a party to bring girls together.
"Ethan," Ana wailed.
Behind her back, I mouthed, Love of her life.
"The love of my life!"
"I know, honey." I rubbed a comforting circle on her back, and winced as the fresh tears brought on another round of puking.
Reyna cackled at the look on my face. "It's worse because you're sober. I've still got some if you care to share." She offered me the plastic cup she was holding, sloshing half of it over my skirt in the process. "Whoops."
"With my family's track record?" I shook my head. "The last thing I need is to end up like Christy."
Christy, who'd failed a grade because she was too high to do the work and then had to take another year off when she got sent to rehab. Christy, who was five years older and should definitely not be in high school at the same time as me. Christy, who told everyone she was still 19 even though she was only a few months away from being 21. No way was I going to risk following in her footsteps.
"I'm sorry," Ana hiccuped. "Sorry you have to take care of me when this stuff ha-happens."
"It's not your fault," I promised, not bothering to pretend like what she said wasn't true. "Ethan's the one who owes both of us an apology."
"What'd he do?" Reyna wanted to know.
"I can't talk about it." Ana wiped at her mouth with a Kleenex I'd handed her. "Can we discuss someone else's love life please?"
I wiggled my eyebrows at Reyna, who promptly pulled her black bangs over her face and slouched even deeper into the tub. She'd spent all night complaining to me about how her soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend was nagging her about bringing her GPA up, because he (a junior) wanted to make sure that she (a sophomore) would be able to apply to the same colleges as him. Reyna was brilliant and could have easily brought her grades up if she, like me, wasn't a classic underachiever. The idea that there was something wrong with this had deeply offended her, and I agreed in solidarity.
"Don't look at me," she ordered.
"Lissa?" Ana's tone was hopeful.
"Sorry babe." I shrugged. "Nothing to report."
"Liar!" Reyna stabbed an accusing finger at me. "What about the boy you've had your eyes glued to all night?"
Before I could argue, Ana's head popped up. "Tall? Blonde? Looks like the guy that played Anakin Skywalker?"
