Chapter 6 - How Do I Look?

21 1 0
                                    

July 3rd, 2002 - Taylor

I could barely sleep after my quasi-fight with Busta. I was still angry about the things he said to me and the lack of apology, but the more I thought about it, I realized I didn't really give him a chance to say sorry. I hardly waited for the car to stop moving before getting the hell out of there. 

Busta also kind of had a point about me just jumping in the car and making him drive me home. I was feeling really confused about it all. Was he the jerk, or was I the jerk? Maybe we were both being jerks.

I heard a truck roll up our driveway early in the morning and that's when I remembered the text I sent my mom. I looked out my window and, sure enough, it was the landscapers, complete with Busta in tow. 

Now I was feeling even more conflicted. What was it about him? He was awkward and goofy, but I couldn't deny the way my pulse quickened just at the sight of him. I didn't know what to do, so I figured it was time to call in reinforcements.

A couple hours later, Kiki, Amber and Brandy were all over pow-wowing in my room with me. I explained the whole car ride ordeal, and was met with a pretty universal reaction.

"Who says that stuff to someone they barely know?" Kiki exclaimed.

"He doesn't deserve the time of day from you after pulling shit like that," Brandy said, shaking her head.

"Yeah Tay, it's your birthday tomorrow. The last thing you need is some loser ruining it for you," Amber added. "Not worth it."

I  laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling. The more they got down on Busta, the more I wanted to stick up for him. I guess deep down I was hoping they would tell me to give him another shot, and then I could feel justified doing it. But it looked like I was outnumbered.

"Wait, he works for Mt Blue Landscaping and they are here. Is he HERE?" Kiki asked, her eyes wide.

"Um no. I mean, I don't know. I was asleep when they got here. But I think it's just Carl and that other guy out front." Whoops. That little white lie just came out of no where. 

"Are you sure?" Brandy pried. 

"Pretty sure.," I mumbled. "Look let's go lay by the pool. You are right, I should be concentrating on my birthday tomorrow, so let's just go relax and get our tan on." 

"And what if he really is here?" Amber gave me a look like she wasn't buying anything I said. For good reason.

"Then we flat out ignore him," Kiki answered, before I had a chance to.

We all changed into our swimsuits, grabbed some magazines and catalogs and headed out back. We stepped out on the porch, and there was Busta, up in one of the big palm trees on the far side of the pool, messing with the lights.

Under her breath, barely audible, Amber whispered, "I knew it. I freaking knew it."

"Oh. My mom said you guys would be finished by now," I said. I was on a roll, might as well keep the fibs coming.

"More lies," Amber muttered. 

"Going as fast as I can, trust me," Busta yelled down. 

Kiki forced out a little laugh. "You know what might be fun? A beach day. C'mon Tay, we can get out of here."

I had to put on a tough act for my friends if I was going to get away with this set up. "No way, I am all greasy already, I don't want to get in a car. This is my house, this is my pool, and if I want to get a killer tan for my party tomorrow, I need to start laying out now. I'm sure my 'butler' won't mind." 

Where We BeginWhere stories live. Discover now