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even more reluctant to return to the group. I wasn’t in a party mood even though Aidan’s good humor had lifted my dark mood somewhat.
    “No. I wish I did but that’s a little out of reach right now. Especially with rent and tuition.”
    “Too bad,” I said. I pulled myself away from the win-17

    JOSH ATEROVIS
    dow and followed Aidan back to the living area.
    The music had moved on to something a little softer and the mood seemed to be as mellow as the music.
    Laura and Gabe were still sitting closely on the couch with plenty of room for another person, but Joey had perched himself on the arm of the recliner. The blonde was resting her hand rather possessively on his thigh.
    “Hi, I’m Will,” I said pointedly since no one seemed to be planning on introducing us anytime soon.
    “Nice to meet you, Will. I’m Shelley,” she said. “I’ve heard a lot about you from Joe here,” she added, giving his leg a little squeeze to punctuate her pronouncement.
    I lifted one eyebrow and tried to make eye contact with Joey, but he seemed to have suddenly found the carpet pattern extremely fascinating.
    “Joe seems to have been doing a lot more talking about me than to me, because I’m afraid I’ve never heard anything about you.”
    For a moment, everyone froze and a very awkward silence followed. I forced a laugh, in an attempt to undo the damage, and everyone smiled uncertainly. Joey was still busy trying not to look at me.
    “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out. I’ve had a bad day.”
    “It’s okay, I understand,” she said graciously. She had a rather pronounced southern drawl that I couldn’t quite place. I guess she was pretty if you liked the type: long white-blonde hair, big blue eyes, pouty lips and big boobs—she had the whole package. Personally, I thought Laura was much prettier. Her father is black and her mother is a full-blooded Cherokee. The results were quite stunning. Her flawless skin was the color of caramel and her large almond-shaped eyes were a dark 18

    REAP THE WHIRLWIND
    chocolate brown. She had high cheekbones and her jet-black hair hung almost to her waist. She and Gabe made a striking couple. Gabe is Hispanic and quite handsome.
    He was only a year older than Joey, Laura and I, but he seemed much more sophisticated. Maybe that was just because I hadn’t known him all his life, as I had Joey and Laura. I didn’t have any milk-shooting-from-the-nose memories about him. He seemed to be good for Laura; he complemented her in every way. He wore his straight black hair short and spiky and his dark good looks matched hers perfectly.
    “So you had a bad day?” Laura asked after a brief but loaded pause. Leave it to Laura to pick up the one thing that I didn’t want to talk about.
    I waved my hand dismissively. “I don’t want to talk about it. So, Shelley, do you go to school with Joey...er, Joe?”
    I ignored the looks on everyone’s faces; the dirty look Laura shot me, the curious ones from Gabe and Aidan, and the uncomfortable expression on Joey’s face. I kept my focus carefully on Shelley’s pointy little face.
    “Yes, we’re both in Professor Strauss’s American History class. That’s where we met on the first day of school.
    He asked me out the next day and we’ve been going out ever since. But it’s only been two weeks, so I guess that’s why you haven’t heard of me,” she added quickly.
    She cast Joey a look that clearly said, “Help me out here!”
    but he was still engrossed in plush pile.
    Well, that explained why Joey had been so busy the last two weeks. I was surprised how hurt I was.
    “Yeah, you’re right,” I said with venom in my voice.
    “Two weeks is not really long enough for a best friend to tell someone they have a new girlfriend.” I stood up 19

    JOSH ATEROVIS
    and almost had to sit back down as my knees buckled.
    “If you’ll excuse me, I think I need some fresh air.”
    “Will!” Laura said sharply.
    “I’m...I’m sorry. I’m going to...go take a walk...or something,” I