me, texas, and the popular boy

chapter 6

I woke up on Saturday morning at peak humidity. Because - get this - attics are literally the most humid places in the world. It was hard to breathe in there at that heat, and the air conditioning didn't reach up there. So that was a lot of encouragement to go downstairs and see if my father had picked up cereal or if I was eating stale toast for breakfast.

Every hope I had walking into the kitchen was met as my father was standing at the stove making blueberry pancakes.

"You shouldn't have Dad," I walked by and sat at the kitchen island that doubled as our dining table.

"What?" He looked at the pancakes, " Oh, you thought these were for you?"

"Dad."

"Margaret, children don't like pancakes. Remember?" He placed three pancakes on a plate.

As he finished pouring syrup on them I slid the plate in front of me, "Oops!"

"Jinkies," He poured more batter into the pan.

"Actually gross that you said that. Leave."

"I wish you would, Margaret."

"I am later today," I shoved a forkful of pancake into my mouth, "Suck on that!"

"What are you doing? Smoking doobies in the schoolyard?" He pinched his fingers together and brought them to his lips before he took a long breath.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm going to have a sleepover at Molly's at four"

"Is that Judd Nelson, or Anthony Michael-Hall?"

"I don't - What is that even from?" I took another bite, "Both of my friends will be there."

"Isn't that sad?"

"What dad?"

"You only have two friends."

"Goodbye dad," I got off my stool and made my way towards our living room with my pancakes.

"Educate yourself Margaret!" with that I turned out of sight.

~~~~~~

Perejil said she would pick me up at 3:30 as it was a bit of a drive. And at 3:29 I received the "I'm here" text. So I walked out the door.

Perejil drove her mom's old silver SUV around. She said it was better than her other option --which was walking. As I got in her car the radio was turned to the jazz station, and Perejil wore sunglasses, a black halter top, and black high-waisted shorts.

"What's up girly?" Perejil pulled out of my driveway.

"Nothing much, I have news that will change Molly's way of life."

"Telling her that the thread count on her sheets was different than she thought would change her life," Perejil laughed.

"Very true," I responded.

"So this is your first time at Molly's?" Perejil asked me.

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"Oh, nothing. You're probably just the only one in a twenty-mile radius who hasn't."

"Really?" That surprised me, Molly didn't seem all that social.

"Uh yeah," Perejil acted as though I should've assumed that, "If you didn't realize it, Molly is class president and her brother is a star athlete. In terms of high school, that might make them a little popular."

"But I usually only see Molly hanging out with the two of us," I thought of who else I had seen Molly speaking to.

"Well, yeah, she's smart, so she knows that we're actually much cooler than Georgia and her goons."

"I guess I never thought of it that way."

We sat in silence for a while listening to those funky beats. Until we pulled up to a gated road.

"Oh, and, her parents are definitely huge execs at Exxonmobil, so they make bank."

"Oh my god."

"I mean, they aren't billionaires or anything. But people call their house Manchester Manor."

I understood the name when Perejil parked in front of a stately brick house, with ivy growing up the sides. I stood in awe until the white door was opened by Molly.

"Thank god you're here," she was wearing a large t-shirt and athletic shorts, looking more disheveled than I'd ever seen her, "Like, Porter and I were supposed to be watching Lukas and Georgie while the nanny was out, but, like, Porter said that if I watched them now, he'd watch them when y'all arrived."

"Wow, so you're forever in our debts huh?" Perejil strutted in and I followed suit. Molly rolled her eyes.

Molly quickly ushered us through a parlor with two boys in pirate costumes fighting with wooden swords, up a grand staircase, through a hallway, and in between two similar doors.

Molly banged her fist on the one on the right, "Porter!"

"What!" a muffled shout was heard from the other side of the door.

"My friends are here. Go look after dumb and dumber!" Molly's expression was not a welcoming one when the door opened.

Molly's brother was handsome. His height was the only thing that would have you doubt that they were siblings. His hair was the same golden blonde as Molly's, and although it was quite short, you could still see the curls forming. His green eyes were just as emerald as hers as well.

He rubbed his face a looked directly at me standing behind Perejil, who was standing behind Molly, "I didn't know you were friends with her" he smiled.

I opened my mouth to start to respond, but my words came out of Molly's mouth first, "And just what is that supposed to mean," she spat her words as she stood on her tippy toes trying -- and failing -- to match his height.

"Relax Molly," He looked up and chucked, then looked back down at Molly, "The boys and I just took bets on something,"

Molly snapped, "On what."

"Chillll, it do not matter. I had my money on Fletch, but now that Georgia and him are starting to be a thing again, I think I've lost. Well of course except if I - well - no. I've lost."

Molly started again, "Doing things like this is dehumanizing and I won't stand for it." Molly motioned for Perejil and me to follow her into her room across from his. Just as I stepped into the room I saw him leaning against the wall, arms crossed, biting his lip.