The Heartbreakers (20 page)

Rule 11:
You must never date your girls' Exes
.

Alexia looked over at Ben sitting on her living room couch. She was still amazed that she had a boyfriend. It'd taken so long that she'd begun to question her date-ability. Like maybe there was something wrong with her and she'd be single for the rest of her life.

It probably helped that Ben was so outgoing and forward, unlike her. He'd been so goofy right from the start that she felt comfortable around him and didn't clam up as usual.

Maybe that'd been her problem all along. She just needed to meet someone who was comfortable with himself. Ben was definitely secure with who he was.

“What?” he said, catching her staring.

“Nothing.” She looked away as her cheeks turned red.

Ben scooted down the couch and rested his head on her shoulder. “Pet me, love,” he said, snuggling into her.

She laughed and ran her fingers through his messy hair. “So what are we doing tonight? You want to watch a movie?”

He sat up. “Well, there's this party for the basketball team. I want to make an appearance at least. We could watch a movie then head over there?”

Probably someone she knew was going to be there and she didn't want her friends finding out about Ben yet. How could she tell them when they were all going through breakups? Her being the only one with a boyfriend right now would separate her from the group. Instead of it being four single friends bonding and hanging out, it'd be three single friends and one with a boyfriend.

“I don't get into parties,” she said, hoping that would be excuse enough not to attend.

“It's not one of those parties. It's for the basketball team. The coach is probably there and Matt's parents. It'll be cool. I promise.” He grinned, showing all his teeth.

“Nah. I don't think I want to go.”

The grin slid away. “Something wrong, Alexia?”

“No. Why?”

Brow furrowed, he rubbed his bottom lip with his index finger, thinking. “You know, now that I think about it, you avoided me all week at school. And whenever I suggest going out into public together, like somewhere where we'll be seen, you talk me out of it.”

Did he know she was keeping him a secret?

“Well, I'm just a very…introverted person.”

“Bullshit,” he said softly. “Tell me the truth.”

“Uh…”

He crossed his arms over his chest, kicking one leg over the other knee, waiting. “Is it because I'm so handsome? You're afraid of mass hysteria among the female population?”

She giggled nervously. At least he was still joking with her. That was a good sign except, something told her when she admitted the truth, he wouldn't be in the joking mood any longer.

“It's because of my friends,” she said, then everything poured out in one long, run-on sentence. “So for now,” she finished, “I want to keep this…us…between us.”

With a sharp intake of breath, he stood, towering over her while she remained on the couch. “No,” he said.

“What?” She got up. “What do you mean, ‘no'?”

“I'm not some dirty little secret, Alexia.”

The natural grin he always wore was gone, replaced with something close to embarrassment.

“You're not,” she said, frantic. “I just don't want to hurt my friends.”

“But you'll hurt me?” The corners of his eyes crinkled with confusion. “I don't get it.”

Quick, think of something! Alexia thought. He looks like he's about to run and you'll lose the only boyfriend you've ever had. And in record time, too! Raven couldn't even top this!

“Listen, Ben,” she began, guilt edging her voice, “I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just…”

“What?”

“Just give me a few days. Okay?” She wrung her hands. “I'll tell my friends that we're together.”

“Take as much time as you need.” He grabbed his coat off the couch. Shrugging into it, he looked over at her. “Call me when you tell them.”

“Wait. You're leaving?”

He stopped, hand on the front door. “Yeah. I'll see ya later, okay?”

“Ben?”

He stepped outside, closing the door softly behind him. Alexia ran to the front window and watched him climb into his car. She hoped he was kidding, that he'd get back out of his car and laugh hysterically and she'd laugh, too. But no, he started up the engine and drove away.

“He was serious,” she muttered.

Suddenly she knew or at least had a better understanding of how her friends must have felt when their boyfriends broke up with them. Alexia felt like she had to fix it or go somewhere and be proactive about it, but there was nothing to do but to watch Ben drive away. That was the worse feeling of all, like you were helpless, like everything was out of your control.

But that wasn't true exactly with Alexia, because she could fix this, unlike her friends. Their boyfriends had broken up with them. There were no second chances or invites to call later when they figured it all out. But Ben had extended a second chance, and Alexia had to take it.

But not yet. Alexia's friends were important to her. This wasn't about Ben, he was making it about him. She just wanted to keep her friends
and
have a boyfriend. That was possible, wasn't it?

Her friends hadn't been very good about juggling both, but Alexia was determined to try. The plan, at least in her mind, had been to wait until her friends went through The Breakup Code and were finally over their exes. Then she'd tell them about Ben. But not before then.

Kelly laughed, forgetting that her mouth was full of taco salad. She threw her hand over her mouth as the hysterics
continued. Across the table, Drew's eyes were watering, tears streaming down his face.

“I have pictures,” he said, wiping his face.

“No way! I want a copy. Todd would never be able to pick on me again if I had a picture of him in girl's underwear.”

“You could use it as a threat. Tell him you'll post it all over the school,” Drew said, dipping a fry in ketchup.

“Totally. Of course, I'd have to hide the picture in a safe deposit box, since he'd probably tear my whole room apart trying to find it.”

“That's true.”

“Does he know you have pictures?”

Drew nodded. “He tries to find them every chance he gets.”

“I bet he never played another game of Dare after that.”

Drew popped the fry in his mouth. “Nope. I'm the reigning champ and probably will be till the day I die.”

Their server, a twenty-something woman with extremely long blonde hair, came up to the table. “Can I get you guys anything?”

“No, thanks,” Drew said. “Kel?”

“I'm fine.” She smiled.

“Okay. I'll get you your check.” The waitress flashed a smile at Drew, clearly interested in more than serving him dinner. Beth—that's what her nametag said—had been flirting with Drew since they came into Striker's an hour ago. Either Beth sensed that Drew and Kelly were just friends, or Beth didn't care.

Kelly was waiting for her to ask Drew for his phone number. If Drew went up to the register alone, maybe that's when Beth would make her move.

Beth was so not Drew's type. Sydney was short, dark, and had a fiery personality. Kelly always thought they'd made a great couple. Beth was none of those things, at least from what Kelly had observed while being there.

“Here you go,” Beth said, laying the bill on the table facedown.

“Thanks.” Drew flashed his drop-dead-because-I'm-gorgeous smile and Beth nearly did. Except Kelly suspected Drew had no idea how his smile affected people or that he
was
so damn gorgeous.

“I'll be right back.” He grabbed the check while reaching for his wallet with the other hand. Kelly turned in the booth to watch him saunter up to the front counter. Beth was there waiting, conveniently.

She tapped several things in on the touch-screen register. Drew handed over a twenty, which Beth held on to for several seconds as if prolonging his stay. She handed his change over, then, eyes darting around, she asked him something. Drew paused, smiled, then nodded toward Kelly.

Beth's face fell. “Oh,” she said, nodding.

What was that all about?

Drew grabbed two mints from the crystal bowl by the register and came back over to their table. “Here. I got you a mint,” he said, tossing the red-and-white-striped candy on the table.

“Thanks, but I'm not a huge fan of mints. You keep it.”

Drew frowned. “Oh. Yeah…Sydney…she likes mints. I guess it was habit, grabbing them.” He scooped the mint up and stuffed it in his pocket. “Sorry.”

“It's no big deal.” Kelly stood, putting her coat on. “So, did the waitress hit on you?”

He laughed. “No. She asked if you and I were together.”

“Oh? What did you tell her?”

“I said yeah.” He shrugged.

Kelly's mouth dropped open. “You did what?”

Frowning, Drew leaned over. “It's no big deal, Kel. I didn't mind paying. You can pick up the bill next time.”

Kelly relaxed and shook her head at her own stupidity. “I thought…I mean…the way the waitress had been acting…I thought she had asked are we together, like boyfriend and girlfriend.”

Drew scrunched up his nose. “You don't think that's what she really meant, do you?”

Before Kelly could answer, Drew shrugged. “It doesn't matter either way. Come on.” He threw a five-dollar bill on the table. “Let's go.”

She followed him outside, unable to ignore Beth staring. Like it was Kelly's fault Drew wasn't into her.

Whatever.

In the truck, Kelly shivered, the cool air of night having crept in while they were eating. Drew turned the engine over and blasted the heat. By the time they pulled up in front of Kelly's house, the cab of the truck was a good eighty degrees.

“Well, thanks for taking me to the party and out to dinner.”

Drew shrugged, propping his arm over the back of her bucket seat. “I had fun.”

“Me, too. Oh, and hey, you have to get me a copy of that picture of Todd.”

“Will do.”

Kelly reached for the door handle, but Drew put his hand on her forearm. “Wait.” She stopped. “Kel…that thing…
in the diner…” He shifted, setting both hands in his lap. “Would you, uh, want to do this again? With me?”

Kelly swallowed hard. Sometimes, like now, Drew's eyes unnerved her. “Like, as friends?”

He turned sideways in his seat. “No.”

Now her mouth was bone-dry. Swallowing was impossible. “Uh…Drew…” He was asking her on a date. Kelly had wanted to hear something like this from Drew years ago, before Sydney, before he spent two years dating her best friend. It was too late now, though.

No matter how much she liked him then, now it was too late. She couldn't have him, she couldn't hurt her best friend. But more important…

“Drew, I know you broke up with Sydney for whatever reasons, but I think you still love her. You guys were perfect for each other and no matter how much we get along or have fun, you're thinking about her.”

The mints proved that and the comment about doing math with Sydney…not that she was going to point it out specifically and embarrass him.

His flicked his gaze down. Kelly finally felt like she could breathe.

“So are you turning me down because you don't want to hurt Sydney, or because you think I belong with Sydney?”

“Both.”

“Do you think we should get back together?”

“Do you want the truth?”

He looked up again. “Yeah.”

“Then, yes. I think you miss her but you don't want to admit to it.”

Shifting again, he turned to the driver's-side window, propping his elbow on the door rest. “We just weren't getting along anymore.”

“Did you try to get along?”

He shrugged. “Maybe I jumped ship too soon.”

“She misses you, too, you know.”

“I know.”

The front door of Kelly's house opened and Todd stuck his head out. “What the hell are you doing out there?” he shouted. “Emily dumped me!”

Drew grunted, shaking his head. “We told him, didn't we?”

Kelly laughed. “Yeah. I'm not letting him live this one down, either.”

“Well, you should go wipe his nose. He's probably crying like a little girl.”

Kelly nodded, pulling the door open. “Thanks, Drew. Really.”

“You're welcome.” He gave her a sheepish smile, the one Kelly knew he reserved for the people closest to him, the
real
smile. “See ya later.”

Nodding, she shut the door and watched him drive away.

Rule 23:
I know you can't wait for this moment: If you come face-to-face with The Ex, you must let him know what he has lost by flirting with him, touching him, and doing whatever the situation calls for.

The Thursday before open-mike night, Raven still hadn't figured out what she was going to do. Defy her mother? Or quit the band? She shook her head at her own thoughts as she headed toward third hour.

Footsteps fell around the corner of the next hallway. Raven slowed. The heavy boots on the tile—
dum, dum, dum
—told Raven exactly who it was. Not only that, but she could sense Caleb was nearby, like a deer might sense some moron trudging through the woods. Instinct told her to run, run far away!

She hurried, trying to get into the next hallway before Caleb saw her.

“Raven! Wait a sec!”

Too late. Raven cringed. Should she pretend she hadn't heard him? Keep going? Disappear inside the bathroom? Maybe she should run right out the door and never look back.
Caleb was like a thorn in her side now. She was almost embarrassed that she'd gone out with him at all.

“Hey,” he said, slipping in front of her before she had the chance to run. “I got you something.” He pulled a rose from behind his back.

“What's this for?” she said.

“It's an apology.”

Was he serious? Had she somehow stumbled into the fourth dimension? Because this was not the Caleb she knew. The Caleb she knew didn't apologize for anything. He probably didn't even know the meaning of an apology.

“Caleb—” This was really not a good time for him to play her. She had been in a bad mood since her mother forbade her to sing with Horace's band.

Singing and hanging out with those guys had been the one good thing she had done since Caleb broke up with her. She looked forward to every single practice she could sneak in, but now she hadn't been over there in almost a week and it was starting to get to her. She missed Horace and Dean and even Hobb. She missed singing.

It was this bad mood that propelled her to do what she did next.

She took the rose from Caleb's hand. “Thanks, baby,” she cooed just like she used to when they were together. Giving the rose a customary sniff, she got in close to him.

Running a hand down his arm, she flicked her eyes up. His lids were at half-mast as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her into him. She snuggled up and tilted her head as if waiting for a kiss.

Caleb leaned over, and just as he went in for the lip-lock, Raven turned her face away. “Sorry,” she said, tapping the
rose against his chest, “but you broke up with me, remember?” She arched a brow. “Then humiliated me in front of the whole school by kissing some random chick. Take your rose and shove it, Caleb, ‘cause us breaking up was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

With that, she swiveled on her heels and walked away.

That
was like a breath of fresh air, Raven thought. She slouched in her chair as she waited for the final bell to ring and her US history class to begin. Or, really, for Horace to show up and take the seat next to her.

Less than a minute later, he walked in the door, his brown leather boots scuffling across the floor. He smiled when they locked eyes and he made his way through the aisle of desks over to his.

“Hey, Ray,” he said, turning sideways in his seat. “Are you still grounded?”

“Yeah,” Raven said, rolling her eyes, “but I'm working on my mother. I just can't promise anything.” Dread filled her stomach even thinking about it. “Working” on her mother wasn't going to get her anywhere, most likely. Her mother was stubborn as a mule when it came to the things she thought were “good” for her daughters.

“Open-mike night is this weekend. We really need to practice at least once before the show,” Horace said.

“I know.” Raven tapped her pencil against her book. “Maybe you should find someone else.” It pained her to say the words aloud. She didn't want them to find someone else. She wanted to do it, and the thought of letting another
chick take her spot made the dread turn into a hard lump of envy.

“No way,” Horace said, and Raven settled with relief. “We want you. Your voice is perfect for the songs.”

A smile pulled her lips tight. She was probably glowing right about now. “But what if I can't get away?”

“We'll figure something out,” he said, sounding sure of it.

Raven, though, was having a hard time believing him.

“If it makes you that happy, you have to do it,” Alexia told Raven later that day at lunch. “You'll always regret not trying.”

Raven popped the tab on her can of Coke. “But what am I going to do about my mother?”

“You can lie,” Kelly said, ripping her turkey sandwich into tiny little bites.

“Like what?” Raven asked. “Tell her I'm studying at the library?”

Sydney snorted. “I don't think that'll fly.”

Everyone turned their attention to Sydney. She'd been grumpy all week. Raven figured it had something to do with Drew and the breakup, but Sydney wasn't confessing anything.

“Right.” Kelly nodded. “You could tell her you're at my house studying for a huge history test.”

“You can use me, too,” Alexia said. “Just let me know before, in case your mom calls or something.”

“Thanks, but even if I do get away to practice, my mother's still going to find out eventually. I mean, we're playing at the
open-mike night at Scrappe. My mom's going to be there, and then I won't just be grounded, I'll be locked in my bedroom forever with SAT workbooks and college applications.”

Alexia popped a chip in her mouth and crunched it up. “But if it's important to you, you have to do it. That's what my mom always says. You can't let something pass by because you don't have the courage or because someone says you can't. You'll regret not doing it and then what?”

Raven nodded, letting Alexia's advice sink in. Playing with Horace and the band made her happy, but it'd make her mother furious. What would her dad do? If anyone could understand her love for music, he could. And he might just be the only person who could talk Raven's mother out of the grounding.

Raven knew that the best time to catch her dad was on a Friday afternoon. He worked six days a week, sometimes twelve hours a day, but he always took Fridays off. He always said it was his favorite day of the week. There was something hopeful about Fridays.

Now he sat across from Raven at a red-flecked table in Striker's. He was the only one in the whole place who wore a full suit, a silk tie, and dress shoes that were shinier than the chrome appliances in the diner's kitchen.

Mr. Andrews pushed his wire-framed glasses back up the bridge of his nose and looked at his daughter. “So what's going on, Raven? Talk to your daddy.”

Raven hadn't called him “Daddy” since she was in seventh grade, but he always referred to himself that way and
she never corrected him. She took a drink from her chocolate shake then twirled the straw through the thick drink.

“Mom grounded me because I was singing with a band.”

Mr. Andrews inhaled deeply and crumpled a napkin in his large hands. “You know how your mother views music and bands.”

“I know.”

He shook his head. “Raven, I loved music when I was your age and I wanted it more than anything. Your mother gave me a chance with it and I failed. She doesn't want to see you fail. I don't want to see you fail.”

Raven's dad had been out of their house for so many years now that he'd developed a separate scent from Raven and her mother and Jordan. His was deeper, muskier, like woodsy chocolate. She smelled it now and suddenly realized how much she'd missed him. The fault for their recent silence couldn't rest entirely on him. She could have called him, too. When she asked for his help, he was always there. Like now. He would push aside any business he had to help his daughters.

“Dad, I need to do this.” She shoved her milk shake aside. “This is important to me—and how in the world am I going to learn anything if I'm not allowed to try? You and Mom can't always protect me. Please tell her to let me go to the school's open-mike night and sing.”

He picked up half of his BLT and took a bite. He wiped his hands on a napkin and chewed up his food before answering. The wait was nearly unbearable.

“Listen, I'm not going to tell your mother what to do. If she thinks what she's doing is right, then I have to respect
that.” He leaned forward conspiratorially and lowered his voice. “But let it be known that if I listened to what everyone else said, I wouldn't be where I am today.” He sat back and winked at her. “Now finish your milk shake.”

Raven took the glass between her hands and smiled. She knew exactly what she was going to do.