Everything I Didn't Say

n i n e

NINE

EARLY THE NEXT morning I got a text from Link.

Link: hey, I'll give u a ride to school this morning, don't make any plans :)

This left me with one small problem: Jared. What was I supposed to tell him? I didn't exactly want to blow him off because then I'd have to explain what was going on but, I desperately wanted to hang out with Link some more.

So ten minutes before Link was due to pick me up, I slipped out the front door and over to Jared's house, knocking briskly on the door. As I stared at the number 11, I wondered if maybe I'd accidentally woken his Mom up. What time would an interior designer even get up at?

But thankfully, for me, Jared answered the door, looking tired and disgruntled with untamed hair. At least he was dressed, that was a good sign.

He observed me in surprise. "Uh ... good morning?" he greeted uncertainly, leaning out of the doorway and peering down the street. "Is something wrong?" he wondered.

"Nope, everything's just great" and because everything was great, I couldn't keep the sappy grin from spreading across my face.

He raised an eyebrow, suspiciously. "Are you sure? You're acting kinda strange ..."

"No I'm not" I responded defensively.

"Then why are you here? I'm only due to pick you up in like, fifteen minutes. Wait - have I overslept?" he looked momentarily panicked.

"No. I'm just here to tell you that you don't have to worry about taking me to school today. Link's offered me one, instead" I explained.

He blinked at me. "Link?"

"Yeah, you know, my ..." I hesitated before saying "friend." Were we still 'friends' after the kiss last night?

"Oh, the guy with the quiff" he snapped his fingers in sudden recognition.

"He doesn't have a quiff" I muttered bitterly.

"Yes he does" he replied immediately. "And why, now, is he offering to give you a lift?" his eyebrows narrowed as he looked me over once, then twice. "And why are you wearing so much makeup?"

My heart had to soften to absorb his unintentional blow at me and I straightened up to my full height, refusing to look upset in front of him. "Well, for starter's he's just being nice - something you should learn to do before you go around making assumptions about other people" I snapped.

I turned on my heel and began stalking back across our lawns and towards my house. "What are you on about Isla? I barely even said anything! Isla! Come back!"

I ignored him and entered my house, shutting the door tightly. I don't know why I even had a sudden outburst at him, he certainly didn't deserve it. But what he'd said had somehow affected me and I wanted to prove some sort of point.

Either way, I already regretted it.

"What was all that about?" Mom asked, suddenly appearing in front of me as if from thin air.

"Whoa!" I jumped. "Where did you come from?"

"I sort of live here too Isla. Did you forget? I'm the person who sleeps across the hall from you and cooks you and your brother meals about five times every day" Mom rolled her eyes at me.

"We don't eat five times every day" I protested.

"Sweetie" Mom cupped my face in her hands. "You and Xavier are two of the greediest kids in Addison. I swear I have to restock the fridge each hour for you both."