“There are always ways to improve,” Duke clarifies.
“I hear you have your choice of colleges next year. Any closer to picking one?”
Considering how many times people ask him about college when I’m around, I can’t imagine how much Duke has to deal with that question. It has to get old—I know I’m sick of it. Maybe because it reminds me that he’ll be gone next year.
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re closer to picking?” I ask.
“Getting closer.”
My dad stares at him for a long time, and I wonder how he could think there is something to analyze in that question.
I grab my dad’s forearm, and he turns his attention to me. “Well, Dad, we’re pretty tired. Where do you want Duke to sleep?”
His face is hard when he says, “The room across from mine.”
I wait outside the bathroom, toothbrush in hand, for Duke to finish. The doorknob rattles, but he doesn’t come out. Soon the door is banging against the frame.
I take a step forward. “Are you okay?”
The door goes silent. “I think I’m stuck.”
I laugh. “Just unlock it.”
“I’m trying.” The door shakes again. “Stupid Norm doors,” he mutters.
I lean my cheek against the frame. “See the little lock in the center of the handle? Just turn it a hundred and eighty degrees. It’s old, so it kind of spins. Don’t turn it a full circle or it locks again.”
The door swings in, and he’s suddenly right in front of me. “I’m free,” he says. “How’d you know all that? Are you a Norm-relic expert?”
I smile. “I got trapped in there earlier.”
He bites his lip. “You look cute without makeup.” We trade places, crossing in the doorway. He lets his hand slide across my waist. “Good night.”
When I get back to the room after brushing my teeth, Laila is already in the trundle bed, texting.
“Are you talking to your make-out partner?”
“Rowan? No. It’s my mom.” She tucks the phone under her pillow. “What do you think of Rowan anyway?”
“I think he lives too far away to put any effort into analyzing him.” The minute I say that though my mind drifts back to Trevor. “What was with all his questions? Why do you think he’s so curious about our school and stuff?”
“I don’t know.”
I stare at the wall, where moonlight, projected through the blinds, stripes the darkness with white. “You know who Duke kind of knows?”
“Who?”
“Trevor.”
“That guy you tried to do Thought Placement on?”
“Yeah.” I prop myself up on my elbow. “And he was kind of a jerk to him.”
“How so?”
“Trevor came all the way to the locker room to tell Duke that he did a good job, and Duke and his buddies laughed at him. Duke couldn’t even remember his name.”
Laila laughs. “Are you feeling protective of the cute Norm boy?”
I collapse back down onto my pillow. “No,” I say without conviction. He was cute though.
CHAPTER 26
ig-NO[R]-Mi-ny: n. public shame
Ever since Friday night, I feel terrible. I can’t even look Trevor in the eye. I feel like I’m partially responsible for what happened to his shoulder just because my old school is to blame.
Rowan runs up to me in the hall at school and grabs me by the arms. “Addison, Addison,” he says, out of breath. “I’ve been looking for you.”
I nearly drop my notebook but manage to keep it in my grip despite Rowan’s hold on my arms. “What’s up?”
“Stephanie’s throwing a party for Trevor tonight. You have to come.”
“Is it his birthday?”
“No, this is even better. Today he can throw again.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. And he wanted a party?” Considering what we talked about the other night, how he realized he would never play football competitively again, a party seems like the last thing he would want.
“No, of course not, it’s a surprise.”
“Rowan, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“No, it’s a great idea.” He looks around and then lowers his voice. “So how’s your friend Laila doing? Has she asked about me yet?”
If Rowan thinks Laila kissing him on the cheek is a big deal to her, he is going to be sorely disappointed. “Um … no?”
He scans the hall. “There’s Katie. I gotta go invite her.” He starts to leave but then turns around and writes on my notebook cover. “That’s Steph’s address. Six o’clock. Don’t be late.”
At five forty-five I show up at Stephanie’s house. I know I have to talk to Trevor about my old school, about the fact that I’m not actually from California at all. If I don’t, I might be eaten alive by the guilt that is now in the process of gnawing a hole through my stomach. I vow that I’ll find the right time tonight.
Stephanie answers the door, and her smile disappears. “Oh, hey, Addison.”
I look her up and down. “You’re wearing your cheer uniform.”
“The whole cheer team is here. It’s supposed to remind Trevor of how we first met.”
“Oh.” I wonder if Trevor wants to remember that. Okay, not completely true—what I really wonder is if I want Trevor to remember that.