“I sure as shit ain’t talking to your mom.”
“Dude, you’re my ride,” Axel laughs nervously like he’s waiting for me to start laughing.
“Sucks to be you, then. Get out. There’s something I have to do.”
Irritated, Axel flings the car door open and climbs out.
“Take your shit with you.” I throw him the bong and the bag of weed he left behind.
“You’re going to leave me here? With a dick bong in the middle of a parking lot? Seriously, dude?”
In response, I push the gear into reverse, back out of the space, and drive away at full speed. I pick up on his last words through the opened window as I’m taking off.
“What could be so important that you have to go rightnow?”
Axel is nothing but a small silhouette holding a dick-shaped bong in my rearview mirror by the time the answer comes to me. Dad won’t fire the Gemstone bitch?
Fine.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t get her to quit.
* * *
Diamond
Aveena: How’s the first day going?
I quickly read my best friend’s text as I hurry down the sidewalk with Lexie. One more walk down this block and the granny across the street might burst a blood vessel.
She’s been giving me the evil eye from her porch for two hoursnow. Two hours. She’s definitely one of those people who think dogs only exist to piss on their lawn.
Okay, I’m stalling.
I tiptoed down the stairs this morning, terrified that I’d find my housemate waiting for me in the kitchen.
With an axe.
Or a bar of gold.
Or whatever weapon rich people use.
I felt good about sticking up for myself last night, but daylight Dia? She isn’t quite as confident. Especially after my phone call with Mr. Richards this morning.
He apologized for failing to warn me about his son’s return, then offered me more money to keep working for him, no questions asked. You know you’re in for one hell of a summer when even your boss knows his kid is a nightmare.
I couldn’t turn him down. I need a car before the beginning of senior year—special mention to my big brother, Jesse, for plowing into my old one while drunk off his ass.
I already have the perfect car lined up.
Brenda, a waitress working at my dad’s restaurant, is selling her bug car and promised to save it for me if I can make payment before the end of the summer. Hopefully, Mr. Richards keeps on raising my salary every time he feels guilty about his evil spawn.
Realizing I didn’t text my best friend back, I shoot Aveena a message while Lexie does her business on the sidewalk.
Dia: Let’s see. I haven’t kicked anyone in the balls yet, so… it’s going better than yesterday?
My phone dings with her response a nanosecond later.
Aveena:That was oddly specific?