Chapter 4

“No, I missed that part of the fight and the fallout,” I admit regretfully, remembering last spring. “But I heard plenty afterward. Though back then I really did feel sorry for Sean—especially his broken nose and swollen-shut eye.”

“Exactly!” Amber raises a finger. “You felt sorry for Sean, and so did everyone else, because everybody knows Palmer is no choirboy. And in my opinion, that would only make the article more interesting. Besides, Ashley, tell me honestly: isn’t a troubled teen returning to school life a positive event all by itself? It’s society’s victory over a narrow-minded system of rules! A new chance for a person, you know?… And that is why I respect Coach Hurley!”

I understand that very well, so I snort and smile without much humor, looking straight ahead.

“Tell Moran that.”

“Ugh.” The girl’s heavy sigh explains everything. “Old, nasty hag!” Amber sticks her tongue out to the side, bulges her eyes, and holds out trembling hands in front of her, pretending to be a dead zombie. “You’ll see, she’ll still be raising our children according to censorship rules while you and I are old like this and plotting how to get our hands on her skinny neck!”

It’s unexpectedly funny, and we laugh, even if there’s sadness in it. But my friend is in a lyrical mood, and after catching her breath, she adjusts the braids on her shoulder.

“Ash, do you remember who Matthew dated last year? I want to mention it in the new article—casually, you know how good I am at that. The school audience loves personal-life details, and I can’t remember. Was it Kate, Tamara, or Joanna Pickert?”

I think about it. Not that I kept track of Palmer, but he’s the kind of guy people notice, and guys like that are visible in any school. Besides, I had to see him more often than most during practices and games, when Sean invited me to the stadium.

“I think all of them and none of them seriously. I don’t remember him having a single steady girlfriend. Maybe they’re just friends? In any case, I never saw him at Patricia’s house. And I don’t go to Kate’s parties, you know that.”

“Friends? Ha!” Amber rolls her eyes. “He probably slept with every one of them and dumped them!” She nods confidently. “Like he’d ever meet the parents. Guys like that change girls like gloves and don’t give a damn about decency. Not to mention that a guy like Palmer isn’t exactly welcome in a respectable home. I personally wouldn’t leave him alone with my daughter in a bedroom!”

“Amber!” I snort in surprise, turning my head to my friend. “Don’t exaggerate. I think you read way too many bad-boy romances this summer.”

“Fine, maybe I wouldn’t leave him with my daughter,” my friend goes on dreamily. “But I would definitely stay with him myself. I’d even hang a sign on the door: ‘Do Not Disturb! Have Some Decency!’”

Couch suddenly bursts out laughing, but I manage to jab her in the side.

“Oh, come on, Ash!” Amber beams, dimples showing in her round cheeks, not even thinking of blushing. “We’re already eighteen, and we can talk about this. And Palmer is nineteen, I found out from Davis. I just don’t believe he’s all pure and innocent. Not with brothers like that. It’s written right in his eyes: sinful and unreliable. You think girls don’t understand that when they get involved with guys like him?”

“You’re probably right,” I agree easily. It really is hard to believe otherwise.

“Forbidden, sinful things are always sweet. That’s how it’s been, and that’s how it will be until the end of time. Fact!” Amber concludes. “There’s not much we can do about it. And yes, it hurts, but who thinks about that? People are drawn to entirely different nuances of relationships. And those nuances are exactly what interest me.”

Couch is interested in a lot of things, and always in detail. One day she’ll be a first-rate journalist—thorough and serious—but for now, Zachary and I are the ones guarding the gates of her “brilliant ideas.” Not always successfully.

“Wait,” I slow down and frown suspiciously, turning to her. “Ambi, are you plotting something?” I suddenly realize. “I’ve known you forever. Come on, confess. What gears are turning in that head of yours?”

“Well…”

I have to stop and take my friend by the hand.

“Amber?” I ask insistently, before her idea can gain full-blown obsession status.

“Nothing, Ashley.”

But I don’t let go. I lift my brows in question, and Couch gives in.

“Fine. Fine! I haven’t plotted anything yet, I only had a thought. There’s a difference!” Excitement flashes in her blue eyes. “I think I know who can knock Sean Renton off his pedestal, and very soon. Especially since it’s still a question whether he would’ve become captain of the Golden Eagles at all if not for that fight with Palmer.”

“No, Amber.”

“Yes! You think I like watching that jerk act like this? Like Ashley Wilson doesn’t exist? It wasn’t just you. All of us—Trisha and Zack, all of us—thought Sean was our friend. He could have told everyone you two broke up as friends, and then there wouldn’t be all this snickering. But instead he got full of himself and pretended he didn’t care about you! Yes, Ash! This isn’t the Sean we knew anymore, the one who used to hang around the newspaper office until forever. You definitely don’t deserve to be Kate’s punchline. How long are we supposed to put up with her?”

Amber finishes and lets out a sad breath, suddenly surprisingly serious, and I don’t know what to say.

No, the words are there, of course, but I don’t want to say them. And what is there to say?

“Ambi, you can’t force someone to be with another person against his will. I don’t believe that. Even if Kate did deliberately interfere in my relationship with Renton, he likes her, okay? We were all just in the same classroom, and it shows. And he doesn’t like me anymore. That’s all. I’ll survive. There’s enough other news at this school for people not to remember me for long. Feelings don’t obey logic. They’re either there or they aren’t. So there’s no need to get revenge on Sean or go looking for justice where there isn’t any. I’m fine, really.”

“Still, he’s not an eagle, he’s a woodpecker! He didn’t even say hi to me. Walked right past like I was invisible!”

“I’m sure you’ll survive that just fine, Ambi. Of all the people to think about! Especially now,” I smile and take my friend’s hand again, making her start walking, “when Palmer is back at school and we have to interview Hurley!”

Amber’s good mood returns, and now she’s the one hurrying toward Latin class after discovering there’s only one minute left before the bell.

“Easy!” she promises with a short laugh. “And about the news, you hit the nail on the head. I can just imagine what’s going to happen in the cafeteria during lunch today when bad boy Matthew shows up. I want to see that!”