My Spy

Chicken

"You really think Whitney was gonna come?" Annabeth asks before taking a long swig of her beer.

"She wasn't even invited. You know LulaBelle just did that to get a rise out of me," I say before cramming an entire fistful of salty popcorn into my mouth. Annabeth, Gus and I decided to drive over to Mel's, the only decent bar in Hollis, to drink away the ridiculousness of the morning. We all had sour stomachs from all the "cheese" we had to digest at LulaBelle's. She kept referring to her unborn child as the future prince or princess of Hollis while rubbing her minuscule baby bump. Our gag reflexes finally choked on the cheesiness when LulaBelle announced she was preparing a parade for the day the baby comes to announce the gender and the name.

"You really think LulaBelle is that vicious?" Gus asks me and as I reply, "Yep." I accidentally spit a piece of popcorn onto his shoulder and I watch him flick it off with disgust.

"What's the point of doin' that?" Gus asks and then says, "And finish chewin' before ya answer." I finish chewing and take another swig before continuing, "So she can bask in the glory of my downfall. Sawyer Sweeney jilted at the altar; she has to love every minute of the scandal." I'm about to pop up from the table to get us more drinks when a slice of light comes pouring into the bar from the door opening. We look over to see Austin's blonde head illuminate the dark space and Annabeth quickly smooths her dark chestnut-colored hair down and checks her teeth in a small soup spoon.

"Well I don't know if Mel's is prepared to have such royalty in here. I don't think kings should be drinking from peasant's pint glasses," Gus jokes under his breath as Austin and Ryan stroll over to us. There was a time not too long ago where Austin wouldn't be caught dead within two feet of his little sister, but now we are all hanging out as one big group- the change will take some getting used to.

I notice Ryan scan the room with a slight grimace, as most non-locals do when they first step into Mel's.

"Well I see someone beat us to some more day drinking," Austin says as he slaps Gus on the shoulder. Ryan and Austin grab pub stools from the nearby table and drag them over to sit with us. A busty blonde waitress flies over to us and eagerly takes Austin and Ryan's drink order while spinning a tendril of her platinum hair. Something Austin says makes her giggle but Annabeth's glare tells her she's overstayed her welcome.

"I'll be right back with those drinks," she says as she winks to Austin while Gus gives him an overdramatic eye roll.

"Austin, when are you going back to S.C? You are completely ruining my game buddy," Gus complains and Austin gives Gus his million-dollar smile.

"Not trying to ruin your game Gussyboy. I have no interest in Hollis girls, trust me." I watch Annabeth deflate a little and she downs what's left of her beer.

"Well you might not be, but what about catalog boy over here?" Gus asks as he points to Ryan. Austin, for some reason, decides to answer for him, "Ryan doesn't either."

"Oh? Is catalog boy a fancy boy then?" Gus asks, hopeful that he doesn't have any more competition. "Otherwise, why wouldn't he want a dip in the Hollis dating pool."

"He ain't gay Gus," Austin clarifies with a laugh and Ryan looks to him clearly confused.

"What are you talking about? What's a catalog boy?" I slowly start shrinking into my chair, hoping to somehow become invisible- I know Gus is about to blab.

"Oh, these two girls here think you are a Brooks Brothers Catalog model or somethin'," Gus confesses and I think Annabeth and I turn the same shade of red.

"A Brooks Brothers model? Huh, is that a good thing?" Ryan asks completely confused, as I am sure he's never been told this before. At least not so specifically.