Cipher

Chapter Ten

“Hey Baby,” Summer heard. She told herself to be strong. She knew Cody would come crawling back, asking for forgiveness, and she decided it would be okay to forgive him. But she could not—would not—take him back.

She took a fortifying breath and spun around. Just in time to see Jenna lean against Cody and stick her tongue down his throat. His hand slid down, into the back pocket of her jeans. Apparently they didn’t care about the fact that they weren’t the only two people in the hall.

Summer’s heart squeezed into a tight knot. She’d been told they were a thing now, and she thought she was okay with it. But she wasn’t. No matter how badly she wanted them to, the six months she’d spent caring about Cody didn’t just go away. If he’d cared about her at all, though, it would’ve taken him more than a day to move on. That stung worse than watching it happen. Actually, watching it happen hurt pretty damn bad, too.

Oh, holy crap, don’t start crying. Don’t start crying. Summer hugged her books to her aching chest and headed to chemistry.

Troy glanced up as she neared his desk. “I parked next to your car today. What happened to it?”

Her stomach dropped. “Did someone hit it? My dad will never believe I didn’t do it, and I’ll never get to drive anywhere ever again.”

“I meant that it’s got something brown all down the passenger side.”

“Oh, that.” Summer sank into her desk with a sigh of relief. “Ashlyn’s soda had some issues, and I didn’t get a chance to clean it off.”

“Sounds like you two hit it off,” Troy said. “And you thought she hated you.”

“She did. I had to use my awesome personality to win her over.” The memory of the hours she and Ashlyn spent laughing and talking this weekend helped chase away some of the pain she felt over seeing Cody and Jenna in the hall.

Then she remembered the incident at the beach. “I ran into Lexi over the weekend.” Summer ran her thumbnail across the edge of the desk. “She, uh, wants to know why you’re not calling.”

“Did you tell her what I said about her?” Troy asked with a wicked grin.

“Of course not! You think I’ve got a death wish?” She shook her head, trying not to smile, since it’d only encourage him. “Can I just tell her that you’re interested in somebody else?”

“I am interested in somebody else.”

“Even better. I won’t have to lie.” Summer picked up her pen and doodled on the front of her notebook. “So, how was the rest of your weekend?”

“Nothing to brag about. As usual, it ended too quickly.”

“I’m actually looking forward to today.” Seeing her ex and his new girlfriend in the hall sucked, but at lunch, she planned on hanging out with her new friends and forgetting about all her other drama.

Kendall stepped in front of Summer, blocking her path. “Okay. I don’t know what’s up, but this is an intervention.”

“What are you talking about?”

Kendall put her arm around Summer and sat her down at the table she used to frequent. From here, she could see Cody and Jenna. Jenna sat on his lap, feeding him his food like he couldn’t do it himself. What were they, birds?

“We’re all worried about you. I know you’re going through something, and I know it’s hard since Cody moved on so fast.” Kendall looked over at him and Jenna, wrinkling her nose at the grotesque display of affection. She turned back to Summer and lowered her voice. “But it’s social suicide to be hanging out with that Reject Group all the time. They’re odd people.”

Summer glanced toward The Misfits’ table, noticing the empty space next to Marcie—her place. “I guess I’d rather kill my social life than ignore the cool people I met. I don’t understand why it has to be one or the other. I should be able to hang out with both. In fact, you should give them a chance. They’re cool.”

“Ew. The nerdy twins are so weird.”

“Yes, they’re a little…unconventional. But Aaron and Darren are two of the nicest guys I’ve ever met.” In fact, she felt bad she’d ever thought of them as nerds. Although, she was starting to think nerds were the new cool.

Kendall threw up a hand. “Look. You need to remember the people who’ve been your friends since you got here. You didn’t even call me back yesterday.”

“I was busy.”

“I know. Hanging out with your new friend at Dog Beach.”

“I don’t see why I can’t be friends with everyone.” Summer’s attention accidentally drifted to Cody again. With him right there, it was hard not to look at him. “I can’t be over here with that going on.” She jerked her chin toward the making out duo. “I’ll catch up with you at practice.”

“Then go to the other side of the table.” Kendall lowered her voice, so only Summer could here. “Trust me, you need to hang with us at lunch today. People are starting to think you’re turning your back on us, and I can’t keep sticking up for you. Don’t mess everything up now.”

Not wanting to piss anyone off, Summer decided she should spend some time with Kendall. She moved to the other side so she wouldn’t have to witness Cody and Jenna making out.

“So guess what?” Lexi asked. “I heard Allie McKay’s dad is sleeping with her little brother’s nanny.”

Summer took out her Oreos, deciding to attack them before eating her sandwich. She pressed them together, watching the delicious frosting ooze out. “Aren’t her parents divorced?”

“Yeah, but the nanny’s like twenty-five.” Lexi glanced from face-to-face, obviously hoping to see the shock.

Summer didn’t have it in her to fake it. “So what?”

“Oh, that’s right. It doesn’t bother you because your dad likes younger girls, too.”

Summer dropped her Oreo. Heat was rising up, burning through her veins. She glared at Lexi, fighting the urge to lung across the table and strangle her. “Tiffany’s not that young.”

Two creases formed between Kendall’s eyebrows. “I thought you didn’t like her.”

“If she makes my dad happy, who cares?”

“Hypocritical much?” Kendall put her hand over Summer’s. “Come on, we’re only talking. Don’t get so worked up.”

Summer slid her hand free and picked her Oreo back up, even angrier at Lexi when she discovered most of the frosting was now smudged on the table.

The conversation moved to the new shoes the girls had gotten at the mall. Kendall and Lexi described their new purchases in excruciating detail. The whole time Summer kept wondering what was going on at The Misfits’ table. When she’d first sat with them, she’d longed to get back to her old friends. Now that she was here, all she wanted to do was go talk and laugh with her new ones.

“So, why have you been ignoring me in favor of the Reject Group?” Kendall asked, climbing the stairs to her bedroom.

“I’d appreciate if you didn’t refer to them as that.” After dance practice, Kendall insisted Summer come hang out. She had tentative plans to meet up with Ashlyn, but she knew mentioning that wouldn’t go over too well, so she’d told Kendall she could only stay for a little while. She had no idea it was going to turn into a bash session. “They’re nice people and I feel like I need a change.”

“And that means dumping your best friend?”

Summer sighed. “I’m not dumping you. You’re busy with Jack. We do different things. I understand that. It doesn’t mean we’ll stop being friends.”

“But I’m still your best friend, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. ‘Cause I need you. Lexi’s been driving me crazy.” Kendall walked into her bedroom and stepped in front of her closet. “Tell me what you think about the new dress that I bought for my party.”

“Party?”

“My birthday party on Friday, silly. I know it’s going to be weird for you to come with the recent break-up and all, but you absolutely have to be at my birthday party.”

“Right,” Summer said, then tried to inject some enthusiasm into her words. “Can’t wait.”

Summer walked into her house and tossed her keys off to the side. Female laughter floated into the room, meaning Tiffany was here. Thinking about what she’d said earlier today about her dad’s girlfriend, Summer plastered on a happy face and moved toward the kitchen.

“I’m home,” Summer said as she neared the kitchen. Always a good idea to warn people of your entrance when couples are involved. She waited a few seconds and then stepped through the doorway.

Tiffany was clacking around the kitchen in four inch stilettos. Her dark brown hair was styled in a sleek updo, and she had a frilly apron covering her wrap dress—she had a dress like that in every possible color and pattern. Dad was sitting on the stool, watching her like a lovesick puppy. Ugh.

“Hey, Dad. Tiffany.”

Tiffany beamed at her. “Hi, Summer.”

Summer worked up a genuine smile and actually waved. There. She’d been nice. “I’m going to head upstairs and—”

“Tiffany decided to make us dinner,” Dad said. “Why don’t you set the table?”

“I really need to make a call because—”

“You can do it later. Right now, I’d appreciate you helping us out.” Dad shot her a look, making it clear it was more than a polite request.

Summer trudged over to the cupboard to get the dishes. The plates they owned no longer coordinated, and half of them were chipped. She grabbed the closest in color scheme. “It smells really good.”

Tiffany cracked the oven door open and peeked inside. “Your dad said you like lasagna. I hope you like mine. It’s a family specialty.”

“Anything other than soup or take-out is pretty special to us. I’m sure it will be as good as it smells.” Balancing the silverware on top of the plates, Summer headed into the rarely-used dining room and set them down on the table. A big pile of mail sat in the middle, so she scooped it up and stuck it off to the side. Most of the time she and Dad ate in front of the TV, and she preferred it that way.

Dad brought in salad dressings and placed them in the middle of the table. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Tiffany put a lot of work into dinner, hoping to get some time to talk to you. She wants to get to know you better.”

“I don’t see the point,” Summer whispered. “I’ve already got more friends than I can handle, and she’s dating you not me.”

Dad crossed his arms and locked eyes with her. His hurt expression made her feel two inches tall. “Dating me involves getting to know you, too. You know that, so try to be nice.”

“I am trying.”

“Try harder,” Dad said and then headed back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, they were all sitting around the table, eating dinner. Summer put a lot of effort into listening to Tiffany and adding to the conversation, trying her best to make Dad happy. Again, Summer couldn’t help thinking Tiffany was all wrong for him. The woman liked opera and plays. She sold extravagant works of art for a living. Her fancy personality just didn’t mesh with Summer and Dad’s fast food, low-key lifestyle.

“Doesn’t the feta cheese and dill add an interesting kick?” Tiffany asked, pure excitement stretched across her porcelain features.

Even her food’s pretentious.

“It was delicious. The whole meal was amazing.” Dad tossed his napkin onto his plate.

“Thank you, John.” Tiffany leaned over and kissed his cheek.

There it was. The way she said John. The way she kissed his cheek. The way she came into their home and rearranged things. The way she was nothing at all like Mom. Of course, Summer would’ve hated it even more if she was like Mom.

“I really should go do my homework,” Summer said, not wanting to watch any more affection between them. It was easier to be nice from afar.

Dad started stacking plates. “I’ll have to remember that when the choice comes between dishes or homework, Summer will choose homework. I’ve finally cracked the code.”

“You’re hilarious, Dad, honestly.” Summer stood and turned to Tiffany. “Thanks so much for dinner.”

Then, before she got roped into another conversation she didn’t want to be part of, she hurried away. What she really, really needed to do was call Ashlyn. Just when she’d been making progress on their friendship, she’d accidentally stood Ashlyn up.

“Hey,” Summer said when Ashlyn picked up. “What’s up?”

“I’m just watching some television. You know, since my friend never showed up to hang out.”

“I know. I’m so sorry. Practice went long, Kendall needed something, then I got home and Tiffany had cooked dinner. Apparently the world was going to implode if we didn’t all sit down together to eat it.”

“I figured you decided to ditch me and go back to your old friends,” Ashlyn said, and though her voice sounded the way it had when they’d first met, Summer could hear an edge of vulnerability in there, too.

“I swear it’s not like that.” Summer couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “I was really bummed we couldn’t hang out.”

The silence on the other end caused Summer’s stomach to drop. Great. She’s back to hating me. Her chest tightened, and she was picturing a disappointed Angel of Death. That sick sensation was even filling her body again.

“Well, you’re going to make it up to me,” Ashlyn finally said. “Tomorrow morning. Meet me at my place at five forty-five.”

“Wait? Like in the morning?”

“That’s what I said. Bring your swimsuit and your clothes for school. You’re not going to stand me up again are you?”

“Are you going to murder me and throw me into the ocean?”

“Yes, of course,” Ashlyn said. “And I want you to be in your swimsuit so it doesn’t look suspicious.”

Summer laughed, glad to hear the humor back in her friend’s words. “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”