Chapter 30: Have Some Information

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"Hey, you doing alright?"

"I'm okay," I told Allie over the phone, pitching my voice to make it coarse, "Just feeling under the weather. Running around yesterday in all that rain did a number on me."

"With both you and Catalina out, I almost had to resort to talking to Chelsea at lunch. Thankfully Bonnie came to talk about her bees."

"She saved you there," I chuckled, leaning on the arm of Mason's leather sofa as we chatted, "I'll be back tomorrow. Have you checked in with Catalina? She was stressing about AP Chem homework when I checked in on her earlier."

"Oh, yeah, I talked to Mrs. Roberts about Catalina's family situation and she got an extension. I tried to get you in the clear too, but she said wanted a doctor's note if you were sick."

Mason, sitting at his desk across from me, looked up then from his examination of Margret's drawing. He raised his eyebrows and mouthed: 'Paul can help'.

"I think I can get one. Or just cram work in between naps."

Allie's intuition clicked immediately and her voice filled with implication, "I assume Mason's taking care of you?"

"He is," I admitted as the devil caught my eye and grinned.

"You're not at his house, are you? Or is he at yours? Oh my god if he's at yours and your dad isn't home - "

"Allie," I laughed, quickly cutting off that train of thought, "I'm sick. I'm hardly in the mood."

"Waitwaitwait," she gasped, "'In the mood? I didn't say anything about that, I mean, the two of you haven't even kissed yet, right? Right?! Or are you not keeping me up to date on - "

"I've kept you up to date," I assured her patiently, "There's been no... bases involved yet."

I saw Mason duck his head and bring a hand to his mouth, feigning intense concentration.

"Yes, right, you would tell me though, wouldn't you?"

"I'm not going to get graphic with you."

"No... I just want to know if it's romantic or not. Like, when and where? You know? And if he's good at it. And if he uses tongue on the first kiss, ugh, you know that's a red flag - "

"That's getting pretty graphic."

"Oh, come on."

"I'll tell you the when and where... and maybe I can divulge whether he's a good kisser, but that's it."

Mason clicked his tongue but shook his head good-humoredly.

"Wait..." Allie suddenly whispered, "Is he there with you right now?"

"What do you mean? I've had you on speaker this whole time - "

"Stop, I'd literally die," she gasped, mortified, "Anyway, I gotta see how Catalina's doing. I was thinking of making some corn-muffins afterschool to bring over to the Romeros, so I need to get started."

"Yes, they should be home by now," I checked the clock, "Send them my regards."

Allie laughed, "What are you, eighty? But sure, yeah, I'll bring your regards over with the muffins."

"Sounds good, bye!"

"Bye!"

I tapped the conversation closed and set the phone on the ridge of the couch cushion.

"You're going to update Alissa Brown on all the bases we get to?"

"'All'?" I raised my eyebrows, "Rather presumptuous, don't you think?"

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