Double Clutch - Реинхардт Лиз (книги полностью бесплатно TXT) 📗

“That would be fun. Pack the IKEA catalog in case you want to look through it tonight.”

I stuffed a change of clothes for the next day, pajamas and a toothbrush and toothpaste in a bag with some nail polish and my iPod and pillow. I met Mom in the kitchen and we got in the car, ready to go to Castle Video.

“So, how was school?” My mom had a serious lead foot, and I watched the speedometer so I could warn her if she did more than ten over.

“Good. My classes are all really decent. I even like gym this year,” I admitted.

“I always had a feeling you might be a closet athlete. Good for you, Bren. It’s about time you started to really let yourself shine.”

I smiled wanly. If only she knew that what I seemed to be excelling at was kissing multiple boys in a single day.

We went in and I grabbed the Nicholas Sparks movies. I convinced Mom to rent two for herself and Thorsten, and then she bought a couple of big tubs of microwave popcorn and some soda for Kelsie and me.

She dropped me at Kelsie’s with a quick kiss. “Keep your cell on. Love you, baby.”

“Love you!” I called, and she waited until I was in the door and Kelsie’s mom waved before she pulled away.

“It’s so nice to see you again, Brenna,” Kelsie’s mom said.

“It’s nice to see you, too, Mrs. Jordan.” I liked Kelsie’s warm, sweet mom. Unlike my mother, Kelsie’s mom gave her plenty of space and didn’t ask many questions.

Kelsie crashed down the stairs. “Hey Brenna! C’mon up!”

I smiled at her mom and followed Kelsie to her bedroom, which was definitely not Barbie pink. It was a deep purple and covered with posters of Salvador Dali paintings, Janis Joplin posters, and black and white photos of local places and wildlife that I was pretty sure Kelsie had taken. The carpet was covered with rugs that looked like Indian saris, and there was another silky sari-like covering on the bed. Kelsie had plants all over and white twinkle lights around her windows and ceiling. They made the room seem warm and cozy.

“I love your room.” I stood in the middle and spun slowly, taking it all in.

“Thanks. Look.” She pointed to a picture stuck in the corner of her bureau mirror. It was Kelsie and me in eighth grade at our dinner dance. I was wearing a short black dress with a metallic, shiny overlay and my hair was curled. Kelsie was wearing a short purple halter dress and her hair was in a fancy updo. I had my arm around her and we were smiling big, cheesy smiles.

“Wow,” I laughed. “We were big time dorks.”

“Oh yeah,” she agreed. “What’s that?” She pointed to the popcorn tub I still clutched in my hands.

“Mom thought we’d want snacks.”

“Your mom is the best,” Kelsie gushed, and I felt another layer of guilt, thinking of all the times my mom bemoaned Kelsie’s butt or hairline. “So how’s it going riding your bike to school? It’s been weirdly cold lately, right?”

“Yeah, but, um, it’s been okay.” I so didn’t want my thoughts going anywhere that had anything to do with Saxon or his stupid ideas about us. I decided the best way to put him entirely out of my head was to talk about someone who was so much better. “There’s this guy in my Tech class.”

At the word ‘guy’ Kelsie’s eyes lit up. “Yeah?” she asked eagerly.

I felt the giddiness and excitement well up in me. “He’s so cute. His eyes are gorgeous. They’re the weirdest color, like silver. Anyway, he’s getting his license in November and he offered to drive me home when the weather gets colder.”

“That’s so cute,” Kelsie squealed. “He’s making plans for you in November? That’s adorable! What’s his name?”

“Jake Kelly.” My heart fell into my stomach when I saw Kelsie’s face. “What? Do you know him?”

“No. Not really. I mean, he had a reputation a year or two ago as kind of…it’s not even important. A year can be a long time, and it was rumors.” She suddenly became transfixed with the throw pillows on her bed.

“Kelsie.” I looked her in the face. “It’s, like, your duty as a friend to tell me what you know about this guy. I’ve only known him for two days. If he’s shady, I need to know so I can stay away from him.” But I hoped I would be cool with whatever Kelsie told me, because I knew I was kidding myself if I thought I could just drop Jake with no problem.

“No! I’ll tell you what I’ve heard, but I want you to know, I don’t know this guy and it could all be totally exaggerated, rumor-mill type stuff.” She took a deep breath, then dove in. “I heard that he has been with a lot of girls. Like, everyone. And that he is supposed to be some big conquest. Apparently, girls in Tech rip each other apart to get him to take them out. And he’s supposed to be, you know…” Kelsie looked uncomfortable.

“What?” I sat on the edge of my seat.

“Good. Like, sexually good. Really good.” She raised her eyebrows up high.

“Oh.”

One piece of me was devastated by the idea of Jake with so many other girls, having sex with them. It made him seem kind of cheap and gross. Another part of me was confused and wanted to talk to him about it. It just didn’t make sense. The Jake I knew was definitely really good looking, but he seemed kind of shy and not like what Kelsie was describing. But I didn’t know. And a third part of me, the part I was pretty embarrassed about, was completely curious. What had he done? How many girls? Did he want me that way? It was exhilarating and humiliating at the same time.

“Don’t make that face, Brenna. It’s a rumor. And a totally exaggerated one for all we know. Don’t take it too seriously, okay? Just, maybe talk to him before you…you know.” She nudged me with her elbow.

“No.” I shook my head. “I’ve known him for two days, Kelsie. I’m not even sure he likes me.”

She snorted. “Please. Are you for real? You’re all every guy at Frankford can talk about.”

“What? Seriously, this is one sad little farm town if I’m the hot news.”

Kelsie rolled her eyes. “C’mon, Brenna. You’re hot.” She giggled at my blush. “You’re a sexy, sexy mama and you know it! And you’re smart. And you’re a mystery, with your trip to Europe for a year and your cool wardrobe and your Share Time thing.” Kelsie waved her hands around and popped her eyes out, then whispered, “Mysterious Brenna Blixen.”

I waved my hands around too. “Dork,” I whispered back, and we both fell on the bed laughing. Then we watched the movies and talked about celebrity couples who just did not make sense and the fact that the couple in The Notebook should totally get together again in real life.

“I don’t care if they’ve been apart for a million years. They’re so perfect,” Kelsie sighed, applying thin coats of black paint to my toenails. I was okay at toenail painting, but Kelsie was an artist. She could paint all sorts of tiny things that look just like decals. She was doing tiny pink skulls on my nails, and they were intricately detailed and assembly-line identical. It was a little creepy how good she was.