For Zoey and Chase, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Chase even starts dating one of Zoe...
"He’s staying for supper, then heading off,” I said. It seemed that everybody had somewhere else to be. Even Dad was over at Chase’s house for their party. I was invited to a couple places but turned them down. Chase wasn’t interested in going far in his condition, although he didn’t want to stay at home and have all his parents’ friends fuss over him. His surgery was in a couple days, so he was understandably in a solemn mood.
The five of us settled down at the dining room table. I didn’t want to go too fancy tonight because I wasn’t sure what kind of food Alexa liked and Chase was no help. I did a basic chicken Caesar salad, ricotta gnocchi with creamy pesto sauce, bruschetta, and baked Alaska for dessert.
“Oh, wow!” Alexa exclaimed with a full mouth. “This is SO good.”
All right, maybe I’d wanted to impress her just a little.
“So,” Quinn said to me as she rubbed her tummy, “I think I have to end our friendship if I want to fit into my dress for the winter dance.”
“It’s six weeks away,” I reminded her.
“Oh, I’m only taking a break.” She eyed the remaining piece of baked Alaska in the center of the table. “I plan on stuffing my face more. I can start worrying about the dance next year.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got less than four hours.”
“Do you know who you’re going with?” Alexa asked Quinn.
Quinn raised her eyebrows. “There’s a certain drummer that I have my eye on.”
“Uh-oh,” I teased. “You know what they say about drummers?”
“That they have excellent rhythm,” Quinn deadpanned.
“No.” Chase looked at me. “That’s not it. Could you remind me, Zoey?”
“Oi, they’re so chuffed because they can bang a drum …” I started.
Chase graciously continued. “I been bangin’ on me table since I was a wee one. Where’s me groupies?”
“Dodgy, drummers are.”
Chase then delivered the punch line. “Blimey if I haven’t been bangin’ me head listenin’ to you lot.”
Quinn looked at the two of us. “Does anybody ever have any clue what you two go on and on about?”
“I do,” Chase and I said in unison.
Quinn looked at Alexa. “We should get out of here before I start banging my head.”
Not surprisingly, Quinn and Alexa left for their respective parties instead of hanging out with me and Chase. Darryl stayed a while to help me with the dishes since Chase needed to rest his leg. Darryl also helped me get Chase down to the basement so he could lie on the sectional’s chaise lounge.
“You need anything else?” Darryl asked.
“I think we’re good.” I gave him a big hug. He high-fived Chase and then left us alone.
“Now, is there anything else I could get you?” I bowed down as if he was my master.
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