Four Letters in Reverse (FLIR #1) (7 page)

D
ID I CALL HIM
or not?

Now, that was the question. And it was a tricky one. I mean, what would the conversation entail between Person A and Person B?

What would Annabella and Owen have to say to each other to warrant a phone conversation?

“Well, you could apologize, AB,” I said to myself as I clutched the piece of paper in my hand. I was surprised the ink hadn’t rubbed off with the amount of times I had folded and unfolded, and busied myself with the paper for the last couple days.

Yes. And apology would be a good start.

“No, no, no. It would be better to apologize in person.”

“Shh!”

I ducked my head in embarrassment, realizing that I had just been caught talking to myself.

I was holed up in the local library reading one of my assigned readings for English class. At least, I was trying to. And, it wasn’t really an assigned reading. Ms. Cooper told us that we were to each pick a book, any book, but it had to have the following criteria: age appropriate, fiction novel more than two hundred pages, and with a conflict and resolution. Once we read the book we had to write a report on it pretty much discussing the major themes and overall message of the story. We also needed to examine whether or not we would have done the same thing as the protagonist in the story.

It took some time to figure out which book I wanted to use for the assignment. I mean, there were so many books out there, it was difficult to just pick one. Matty made fun of me that it took so long for me to choose one. He had pretty much walked up to an isle and randomly chosen a book.

Me?

I think it took me roughly three hours to decide between two. The one that I had finally picked was called
Unfiltered
. It was about a teenaged girl suffering from a disease where she said everything she thought and it was basically her dealing with everyday life. The synopsis captured me. I mean, I couldn’t imagine not being able to control what I said. To have every word that flowed through my mind pass my lips as well?

I might make someone sad without meaning to, or blurt out a secret that was never mine to tell. I might drive away the friends closest to me, or declare to my crush that I actually liked him.

I shook my head at the thought. That would be the embarrassment of the year, to admit to my crush my feelings for him. I mean, what if he didn’t feel the same way?

Ugh.

Despite how interesting this book was, my mind wasn’t focusing. Instead of focusing on the book, I was focusing on random things like girl armies and strawberry froyo and whether or not I should make my first phone call to a boy that wasn’t Mateo.

“Can I sit here?”

Glancing up from my book, I found Owen staring at me with a serious look on his face.

“Sure,” I said softly.

I kind of wasn’t surprised to see him. Owen always seemed to be nearby nowadays, like I had this crazy gift of conjuring him up whenever I needed him.

Which was comforting, in a way.

He immediately sat down across from me but seemed to find the table extremely interesting because he wouldn’t look up.

Realizing I still had his phone number in my hand, I immediately scrunched up the piece of paper. Sliding my hand across the wooden surface, I inconspicuously dropped it inside my open backpack on the ground. I stared at the crown of his head for the longest time, trying to get the nerve to speak.

He looked up suddenly, catching my eye.

“I’m sor—”

“What are you—”

We both paused and eyed each other.

Owen sighed, smiling. “You go first.”

I chewed on my lips nervously. “I just wanted to know what you were doing here.”

“I asked Mateo. He said you were working on the English assignment?”

I held up the book in my hand. “Yes.”

He leaned forward on his chair. “You didn’t call me.”

Why, he sure was blunt. Was that a characteristic only popular people had, like Carolyn?

“Honestly? I didn’t know what to say.”

“And now?”

“I want to apologize for the other day and the whole Carolyn … thing. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you. You were only trying to help.”

“Apology accepted.” He laid his hands flat on the table. “I wanted to say I was sorry too. I didn’t mean to come across like I was taking her side ‘cause I wasn’t. She’s my friend but what she did wasn’t friendly and I guess I’m just disappointed. You obviously don’t have to forgive her but she is sorry.”

I hated the sincere look on Owen’s face because it made me feel like a horrible person that I didn’t really believe Carolyn.

I mean, if she was so sorry, why didn’t she tell me this herself?

It was like Owen read my mind. “I think she’s embarrassed. I hope she comes around though, sooner rather than later, and apologizes, because she’s going to have to get used to you hanging around me more.”

“Yeah?” I asked.

He nodded, grasped my hand on the table, and squeezed. “Yup. Definitely.”

I smiled, squeezing back, and for the rest of the afternoon, Owen and I spent it in the library, reading quietly to ourselves like we were in our own little world.

I
T WAS NOT LIKE
I was waiting for Carolyn to apologize to me after Owen mentioned it, but every time I’d see her at school, I braced myself.

But she never approached me, not until one bright and sunny Thursday afternoon in gym class.

I hated gym.

I hated gym even more since I had to wear glasses now because sometimes keeping them from falling off my face was a sport in itself.

But I especially hated gym because of a pair of eyes that would stare at me like laser beams trying to zap me into smithereens.

Today the laser beams were glaring at me through the volleyball net. My evil nemesis.

Carolyn.

I wasn’t used to being hated on. This was a new experience and one I didn’t particularly like. I mean, I’d like to think I was a nice person and a great friend. I did my part of the group assignments; I held the door open for the person behind me.

So having a classmate obviously not liking one Miss Annabella Callaghan didn’t feel really nice.

Hannah and Mateo kept telling me she was just jealous.

“Carolyn has set her sight on Owen but it’s not happening in this lifetime so she’s projecting her frustration on you,” Hannah had said vehemently once Matty spilled the beans.

“Just ignore her,” Matty had advised.

Ignore her.

That was easier said then done. Especially right now in gym class.

My team was winning, no fault of my own. But Hannah was a beast on the court and her serves made everyone duck for cover.

Carolyn seemed even more frustrated that she and her minions were currently down in points. I watched her as she tried emulating Hannah’s prowess, each and every volley or serve she made directed at … me.

Sigh.

I had never moved so much in gym than today. By the end of it, I was a sweaty mess. I glared at Hannah who looked like she was basking in bliss as she talked to our gym teacher. I loved the girl to death but I was definitely envious of her athleticism. And I was really grateful that she always seemed to be right there, saving me from a volley to the head.

“Annabella.”

My heart sunk and a feeling of dread surrounded me like a dark cloud. I turned.

Ugh, I forgot about her.

Carolyn faced me with the fakest smile known to mankind plastered on her red stained lips.

Why is she wearing so much makeup?

And in gym?

I was still trying to figure her out that I almost missed what she said.

“I still think you suck,” she said, scary smile still in effect.

Uh … what?

I glanced toward Hannah for help but she was still engrossed in conversation with Mr. Beech so I turned back, mentally putting on my shield of armor.

Bring it, Caro.

“But I’m supposed to apologize to you so here I am, apologizing.”

Are. You. For. Real?

I looked over her shoulder and noticed Owen and Bruno hanging out in the distance wearing basketball shorts, then glanced back at Carolyn.

Oh.

She was just doing a show for Owen’s benefit. I frowned, not believing that some people could suck so much. What was I supposed to say to that?

Thanks?

I looked over at Owen again and saw that he was staring back with a hopeful grin on his face. I sighed, then faced Carolyn once more. This time I had my own fake smile.

OMG, I can’t believe I’m doing this.
“Thanks for that sincere apology, Carolyn. This is me, accepting.”

I knew Caro wasn’t expecting that and she faltered for a second.

I lost the mock smile and looked at her seriously. “I’m going to accept your apology because it seems to make Owen happy if I did. Plus I really hope that you’ll mean it for real in the future.”

As I moved on ahead, walking toward Hannah who was finally free, I stopped and stared back at Carolyn. “Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll actually be friends. But I won’t hold my breath.”

I walked away with a grin on my face, proud of myself.

Way to go, AB!

I had left Carolyn Young speechless.

I
HAD THE WEIRDEST
dream ever. I actually didn’t remember most of it but I knew it involved aliens. Yes, scaly green aliens with tentacles for fingers and volleyballs for heads. A group of them chased me down an empty mall as I screamed for dear life dressed in my gym uniform.

I was pretty sure I was running away from a bajillion Carolyn Youngs.

If I had to interpret this dream, I would think that it meant that I should definitely stay away from gym class. Maybe I’d try to get out of it next class by faking a headache, or tummy ache. Despite my brave front, I was not looking forward in a repeat battle of me versus Caro.

Hannah would say that this was a bad omen. That because the dream took place at a mall, I should probably stay away from them for the time being. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d tell me to run home after school and sprinkle salt at my door then hide under my bed, or better yet, inside my closet, until sunrise.

Hannah watched a lot of TV.

Mateo wasn’t here to be my voice of reason so I had to be the practical one here. Obviously there would be nothing wrong with taking the bus after school to the mall, which was exactly what I did.
Nothing would come after me
, I kept repeating to myself.

At least, not in broad daylight.

It was weird being at the mall by myself and with the dream and all, I still felt a little apprehensive about the whole excursion. So I would treat it the way Jade treated the mall whenever she had to go: an in and out mission that was to be done in the fastest way possible, and with the least amount of causalities.

With the money Mom had given me earlier burning a hole in my jean pocket, I sprinted throughout the department store, tossing in anything and everything in the shopping cart, from plastic cups to flavored coffee creamer.

Operation: The Anti-Baby Shower.

Kimber, my older cousin, said it would be too much if we actually had a banner or sign but personally, I thought it was a neat idea. Since Jade was so adamant about not having a baby shower, Kimber had the idea to still do something for Jade, but not the typical way, so Jade would still be comfortable.

Hopefully she wouldn’t chop anybody’s head off.

No gifts, no baby stuff, no speeches.

There was a lot of no’s for this anti-shower and I still really didn’t get it, but I would do my part in making this the most successful anti-baby shower ever.

As I walked out of the department store, hands full of bags, I was proud of myself. I was given a task and I totally passed it with flying colors.

“Wild’s friend.”

I paused at the words that seemed to be directed at me and turned. A couple feet away from me in front of the music store was a guy probably a couple years older, staring at me with a half-smile.

His dark blond hair was in a complete shag around his head with headphones wrapped around his neck.

“Come here. I won’t bite.”

I glanced down at my phone and saw that I had fifteen minutes before Dad picked me up so I walked over to where he stood.

“I saw you at the school the other day.”

He sighed. “Yup. I saw you too.”

“You’re Owen’s friend.”

“And you’re Wild’s friend.”

I looked at him curiously. “Why do you say that like he’s two different people?”

He shrugged then pointed at my bags. “Shopping for the zombie apocalypse?”

“No,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “It’s for my older sister.”

“Is she single?”

“You wish.”

He smiled. “I like you.”

I made a face. I don’t know why but it was easy to talk to him. Maybe because I knew he wasn’t dating my crush. “Please don’t.”

“You’ll be good for Wild.”

I looked at him, surprised. “What?”

“You are definitely going to be in Wild’s future.”

I blushed deeply. “Are you psychic or something?”

“Just perspective.”

“You’re weird.” I couldn’t believe I had actually voiced it out loud.

But it was true.

He took out a pack of gum and offered it to me. I shook my head; he shrugged, then tossed a stick of gum in his mouth. “I’ve been called worse, trust me. So Wild’s friend,” he said, redirecting the conversation, “summer’s just around the corner. Any plans?”

With the start of summer just a few months away, I was itching for the day when I finally got to close my books and have fun for three blissful hot months. Mom and Dad didn’t know it know yet but I planned to have the most epic summer. My parents were the greatest, but a tad overprotective at best.

They’d have to let go of the reigns eventually. Might as well start sooner, rather than later.

“Maybe exploring the city, do things I’ve never done, just have fun with my friends.”

“You’ll be in high school, yeah?”

I gave a nod.

He grinned. “Guess I’ll see you around more often than not, Wild’s friend.”

Did that mean we’d be going to the same school? I wasn’t sure and he didn’t say anything further.

Cryptic much?

My phone buzzed and I looked down, seeing it was a message from Dad.

Parked out front, hun.

I sent a simple
k
, then looked up. “I’ve got to go. But it was nice meeting you …” I realized I didn’t get his name.

“Crash.”

I made a face. “What kind of name is Crash?”

“The only one that I answer to.”

“Okay…” I found
Crash
very confusing. He started to walk away and I couldn’t help but yell, “Wait!”

He turned, looking back curiously.

“Don’t you want to know my name?”

He shook his head. “Nah. Takes the fun out of it.” Then he walks off whistling a tune I’d never heard of and I frown after him.

So that’s where Owen gets it from.