Palindrome

Forty-Three

Chapter 43 

"You were supposed to be there too," I whine at the two bored friends of mine staring at me through the screen of my phone. Flipping through my drawers, I pull out a few necklaces that match with my formal outfits.

"Both of you," I add, sending a glare at Javed and Nagi, who are on a call with me while I pack for DECA state. Usually, it's an entire ordeal wherein Ma gets me to try on all my formal clothes and hers so that I have a carefully curated wardrobe for the three days that I'm there. Last year we spent an entire evening packing for state the day before, followed by Chinese takeout over dinner.

Seeing at the two of them were out to run 'errands,' I don't think that was happening today. So, I ended up calling Nagi, who claimed she was suffering from major FOMO. In the process, I forgot to tell Javed that I would be too busy for our physics session today. So here we are.

Nagi blows on her freshly painted nails, "Wear that for the award ceremony. Also, dude, I've been kicking myself for it ever since districts. Paxton won't stop yapping about what they've got planned this year."

"I had too much to do with HOSA and Robotics this year," Javed explains. Last year he said he would join in the hope that we would both make internationals and find an excuse to meet each other.

I really need to stop betting on internationals with important people in my life.

"Yeah yeah, I get it. You two future doctors stick to HOSA. I'll just be here. Alone," I complain though it goes over both of their heads as I get a simultaneous eye roll from my two best friends.

A sly smile makes it to Nagi's face as she tweaks an eyebrow up suggestively. "Two days of zero adult supervision with Paxton. A, I think you'll find yourself too preoccupied to miss the two of us."

Javed snickers, and I feign an act of throwing a pillow their way to shut them up. Obviously, it doesn't work because Javed taps a pencil onto his forehead thoughtfully, the cogs in his brain already turning.

"Let me get this straight, you're betting on making internationals to date this guy?" he clarifies, and I nod in acknowledgment.

Nagi pinches her fingers together, and I know what's coming when her lips set into a thin line. "And you didn't think that was the slightest bit, what's the word?"

"Stupid?" Javed supplies.

"Stupid," Nagi agrees.

Stupid.

Well, they're not wrong about that. Any sane person wouldn't ride on internationals considering they hadn't made the cut for the past two years, which gets me to question both my current state of mind and Paxton's since he agreed to this.

I could have just said yes.

It would have been so much easier considering the strain I've already created between the two of us. But then Paxton has zero doubts about me making it. Every time I bring it up, he waves off all my pessimism and threatens to kiss me with his busted lip.

Which for the record, I wouldn't mind.

Were it not for the fact that he needs to look his best for this event as a goddy state officer. So, there's been a strict rule against that activity for the past week. (Nagi finds it hilarious.)

"Do you think she's having a moment?" Javed wonders out loud, breaking my reverie.

"Nah, she's considering how stupid it was for betting on internationals," Nagi comments.

"You guys don't think I'm making it?" I question folding my clothes and stacking them up in my suitcase. It's of no use. I can barely squeeze anything in here without my dad's expert packing skills. Sighing, I cast aside the clothes and pay attention to my screen instead.