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"Why don't you go outside and get some food from the barbeque?"
I give my mother a look. She rolls her eyes.
"Well, uh, then I'd have to change," I retort, motioning to my outfit: my old Mathletes shirt and a pair of ironic running shorts (they're ironic because I never wear them when I'm running. Not that I actually ever go running, but, uh, yeah).
"I don't think the other kids will care," she shoots back, raising an eyebrow, "and there's macaroni and cheese."
"Ugh, fine." Mac 'n cheese is forever going to be my weakness. Mom grins widely in victory, hands on her hips.
"Alright, I'll meet you down there," she exclaims before strutting out of my room. Wow. The way she's so proud would make a person think that getting me out of my room is nearly impossible. I mean, that's only partially true!
"You want to get me a plate while you're down there?" a voice asks. I spin around and see Turner, eyebrows raised in question.
"Come down yourself, why don't you?" I shoot back, stepping into a pair of flip-flops. He sighs and motions to himself. Oh, right. The blood-caked clothes. That could be an issue. "Ah. I forgot."
"So are you gonna bring me some food?" he asks, quirking his lips into a puppy-dog frown. Agh. He looks so precious... that look always gets me.
"Fine." He smiles and throws his arms around me. "But only if you get off me."
He immediately backs off, throwing his hands up. "Okay, okay."
"Don't go anywhere, alright?"
"You know I never do," he smiles as I start towards the barbeque outside.
It smells like summer and hot dogs outside. The sun shines brightly in the blue, cloudless sky. It's very idyllic, with the little kids running around with water guns and the adults milling around, congregating under the shade of Big Tree. Townhouses surround us on all sides except one, where the street is. Between the structures is a grassy area with a few benches, a grill, and Big Tree right in the middle. How suburban, right?
"Hey, Lily," somebody says. I look in the direction of the voice and see Evan Gallagher, a rising senior who lives in the townhouse directly opposite mine. Oh, he also has a massive crush on me.
"Hi," I mutter, stalking over towards the food table. The teenage boy follows me, hands tucked in the pockets of his cargo shorts.
"So, what do you have planned for this summer?" he asks as I grab a plate and scoop a helping of mac 'n cheese onto it.
"I'm not sure," I answer truthfully, grabbing a hamburger and the ketchup bottle.
"You know, we really ought to go out and see a movie or something... how does Saturday work?" he suggests, biting his lip. Uh, no.
