Stake You

Chapter Five

I hung out at Maisy’s place after school. She had dance practice four times a week and a part-time job of her own, so I was kind of touched that she would give me the little spare time she had. I longed for her energy. She was the bright spark who never tired, and I liked that about her. Maybe because I was permanently in a slump.

“That was kind of madness today,” she said as she rolled over on her bed to switch the song on her mp3 player.

“Ha. Which bit?”

“I don’t know. You being calm when someone called you a bitch?”

I grinned back at her. “Everyone calls me a bitch. I’m used to it by now. Water off a duck’s back. The weirdest bit was that new kid jumping in like he knows us. What’s his deal?”

“Okay, he’s a bit eccentric, but he’s so freaking pretty I can let it go.”

“I don’t get why everyone is fawning over him any chance they get.” I frowned. It bothered me way too much.

“Haven’t you seen him?”

“Yeah, I mean, he’s okay if you’re into the emaciated look, but he skulks around trying to act enigmatic and shit. He’s such a fake.”

I truly hated the persona he tried to put on. That intense, brooding, I act all distant because I’m obviously awesome crap that boys all of a sudden seemed to think worked on girls. Although he had done pretty well so far if Maisy and Shauna were anything to go by.

“So you like a bit of meat on their bones?” Maisy asked, grinning.

I shrugged. “I suppose. Better than Skeletor Junior, anyway.”

“That might explain Deco, I suppose. Which I’ve never really gotten.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” I said.

“Oh, thanks for the credit. Maybe try me and then see?”

Sighing, I stared at the posters on her walls. Her room hadn’t changed much in the last four years. “Deco was… safe. Or so I thought.”

“Safe,” she echoed. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

I threw a pillow at her. “It was just easy to say we were together and never have to do any of the actual relationship stuff.”

“So you never…”

I shook my head. “I’m abnormal, right?”

“I don’t know. You never seemed into him. That’s what I don’t get. Why be with someone you’re not crazy about?”

I stared at her meaningfully.

“Oh,” she said slowly. “Oh, Dev. That’s pretty sad.”

“Works for me. Or at least it did.”

“But if everything was different, and you weren’t such a complete wimp, what kind of person would you go for?”

“I should kick your arse for that wimp comment.”

“You don’t think it’s cowardly to avoid love in case it hurts?” she said frankly, uncharacteristically serious. “I mean, if you can’t even tell me what kind of person you’d like.”

“You’re so annoying sometimes. I’d go for someone who is the opposite of Sully.” I stuck my tongue out at her.

“Hmm, let me see. Goofy, available, and buff. Let me think. Someone like Base?” she said cheekily.

I burst out laughing. “Oh, Maisy, you’re lucky I had a good sleep last night.”

“Come off it. All of that angry flirting has to come from somewhere. And I remember a time when two were becoming quite close.”