Read Online Present Perfect by Alison G. Bailey - Free Book Online Page B

You have to ask a boy, silly.”
    “Don’t do that again.”
    “What?” Beth asked.
    “Call me silly. Eccentric is fine. Quirky I like. Just not silly. I don’t like silly.”
    “God, you’re weird sometimes.”
    “Weird is acceptable as well.”
    We had a few more minutes left during lunch period, so I decided to work on my color a little bit. Leaning back on the bench, I closed my eyes, and tilted my head up, letting the sun warm my face. I hadn’t been brave enough to get highlights in my hair, like Bitchan i had suggested, but I had gotten some sun over the summer, and was trying to maintain.
    Beth and I sat there in silence. She had been acting kind of strange lately, but I chalked it up to that was just Beth. She acted weird at times, especially when she had a boy on the brain. I peeked out the corner of my eye and saw her biting her nails.
    “I’m thinking about asking Noah,” she said in a low breathy voice.
    When I heard her words, the only body part that moved was my mouth when I asked, “Noah who, about what?”
    “Noah Stewart, about going to the dance.”
    I sat completely still for a full minute, attempting to process what she just told me. I tried to hide any visible signs of my increasing irritation, but my jaw was clench, and I could feel my nails digging into my thighs. The heat of anger and jealously surged inside me. Slowly I sat up and turned to face her. I put my best poker face on. I couldn’t let on to Beth how I was feeling. I needed to stay calm when I explained to her how incredibly stupid she was for even thinking about asking Noah.
    “That’s ridiculous,” I said.
    “Why?” She asked, lowering her hand from her mouth.
    “Because it just is. He’s not going to go to a lame dance with you.”
    “Why not?”
    “Well, number one, he hates dancing . Number two, if he were going with someone, it’d be with me. It would be the first dance either of us went to and we do all our firsts together. Number three, the two of you can’t go out together without me.”
    “Why can’t we?”
    “Because I’m the glue,” I said,
    “The glue? What?” Her face was pinched together in confusion.
    “The glue. Noah and I were friends first. Then you moved in and I became your friend first. I introduced you to Noah. Then you became friends with him.”
    Beth looked at me as if another head had sprouted from my neck. I slowed my speech down hoping my point would be clearer to her.
    “I introduced you and Noah. You two wouldn’t be friends if it hadn’t been for me. The glue . I’m the common bond between the two of you. Noah and I can hang out together. You and I can hang out together. But you and Noah can’t hang out without me.” I placed my palm to my chest. “The glue. I’m the glue.”
    Beth stared at me for a minute, and then shook her head. She looked down at her wringing hands and took a deep breath. “I’vealreadyaskedNoahtogoandhesaidyes.” She exhaled loudly.
    “Excuse me?”
    “I’ve already asked Noah to go and he said yes.”
    “How long have you and Noah been planning this little dance date?” I threw her a raised eyebrow, but kept my voice steady and calm.
    “Not long,” she hesitated. “A couple of days… or weeks…or maybe a month.”
    “A month!!” I leaned in closer to her.
    Beth wouldn’t make eye contact with me as she stammered through her words. “I needed at least a month. I had to get a new dress and shoes and…”
    “Why didn’t either of you tell me this? I should know about these things.”
    “We weren’t sure how you would react. You’re a little weird when it comes to Noah.”
    “Weird? You know that’s the second time you’ve referred to my friendship with him as weird,” I said, annoyed.
    “Maybe weird is the wrong word. Possessive. You’re very possessive of Noah.”
    “That is so not true.”
    “You get crazy jealous when other girls come around him.”
    “I don’t get jealous. I just don’t think they’re good