Thursday
Kennedy flopped down on my bed. “What’s with the flowers?” she asked.
The roses Matt had given me were in a vase on my nightstand. It had taken me forever to find a vase this morning. I’d eventually found it tucked all the way in the back of a cabinet I couldn’t reach unless I was standing on a chair. I had completely forgotten that the flowers were there, or I would have suggested we watch TV instead of hanging out in my room once we were finished with our homework. My thoughts came to a halt. The flowers weren’t the only evidence of Matt’s visit. His jacket was slung over a chair in the corner. Luckily Kennedy was busy staring at the roses.
“Did Felix send you these?” she asked when I didn’t respond to her first question.
“Yup,” I said without even really listening to her, as I tried to slowly slide over to the chair.
Kennedy started to turn and I threw myself into the chair to block the jacket from her view.
“I never took him as the sending flowers type,” she said and shook her head. “I can’t believe you broke up with him right after he sent those.”
I pulled my blazer off and tossed it behind me on the chair to cover up the jacket. I breathed a sigh of relief that it wassuccessfully hidden. The roses could be explained away. But Felix didn’t have a varsity jacket. Especially not in whatever large size Matt’s broad shoulders needed.
“Did he do something?” Kennedy asked. “To make you just want to be friends with him instead?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m just trying to focus on myself right now. And with everything with Uncle Jim…”
“He told you?” Kennedy asked.
I frowned. “Told me what?”
She stared at me for a minute, her eyes scanning mine, before looking back at the flowers. “Told you about who you’re related to. Duh.”
I laughed. “No, I didn’t corner him at school and demand answers. Don’t you think I would have told you instead of going over English notes? I’m pretty set on our plan for tonight. I just meant the whole me being forbidden to see Felix outside of school thing.”
Kennedy waved her hand through the air. “He’s already letting you see me outside of school again. I’m pretty sure he’ll ease up on Felix too. Just give him a little more time.”
I made sure my blazer was perfectly covering Matt’s jacket before standing up. “Regardless, I think it’s best if I’m just friends with Felix.” I plopped down on the bed next to her. “How are things going with Cupcake?”
“Delicious.”
I laughed. “I’m serious. Are you happy?”
She crossed her arms behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. “How can I not be happy when he brings me cupcakes every day? He literally showers me with sweets. And he’s cute. Don’t you think it’s cute that he calls me babe?”
“Mhm. So very cute.”
She kicked my ankle with her foot. “Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not,” I said.
“You hate him.”
I pressed my lips together. “I don’t hate him. I was just surprised to find out that you liked him. I thought maybe you would have mentioned your crush on him after he nailed me in the face with a dodgeball.”
“Well, that hardly seemed like the time,” she said with a laugh.
“Fair enough,” I said, laughing too.
There was a knock on the front door.
I sat up. “Weird. Uncle Jim must have forgotten his key or something.” When I answered the door, Kennedy’s mom was standing there with a smile on her face.
“Hi, Mrs. Alcaraz.” I turned away from the door. “Kennedy! Your mom is here!”
Kennedy ran into the kitchen. “Can I stay a little later? Por favor?” She drew out the “o” in “favor” in a way that made her mom smile.
