The next morning, I woke up early enough to go down to the beach and watch Jett and Creep surf before school like always, but something stopped me from going. It just felt weird. Instead, I dawdled over my cereal and took unusual care choosing my outfit. I stood in front of the closet so long, I finally got disgusted with myself and dressed in my standard shorts and a hoodie. It was too late to go to the beach so I walked straight to school.
I got there before The Gator, so I only found Sixx lounging on our regular place on the wall. When she saw me she called out a greeting.
“Morning, Glory. What’s up?” Sixx perched on our wall as effortlessly as if she were gracing the top of a baby grand piano. She apparently had dressed for it, too. Today, she wore a leopard print tank dress with black satin gloves and a matching pillbox hat, à la Jackie Kennedy. Sixx had a natural exotic style without even trying.
I looked down at my faded jean shorts and navy blue tights with my trusty Converse sneakers and wondered for the millionth time how anyone even saw me standing next to Sixx, much less talked to me. She embodied being an alternative fashionista and I looked like a street urchin.
“Sixx, you look amazing. That would have been a great outfit for the party this weekend. You should’ve saved it for that.”
“Maybe I will. But I might find something else equally awesome by then. You should come with me. Find something stunning for the big date and all.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it that.” But a tiny part of me thrilled to the idea that it was a ‘big date’ and that I even had one at all.
The rumbling in the parking lot signaled the arrival of The Gator. Soon, Jett and Creepshow joined us on the wall. Jett came up and hugged both Sixx and I then assumed his usual position, but it was Creep I watched with interest. I had wondered if there was going to be any weirdness between him and me, and sure enough, he hung back and didn’t immediately come up to me like he usually did.
I snapped my head in Sixx’s direction, accusing her with my eyes of spilling my most recent revelations. She rolled her own eyes in response. Clearly, she hadn’t said a word. Just as clearly, I would have to burst this tension bubble. I hopped off the wall and walked over to where Creepshow stood, trying to look necessary.
“Hi, Creep,” I said, far too brightly. “How were the waves this morning?”
Creep gazed at the ground and shuffled his feet. Finally, he looked up at me. “They were great. How come you didn’t come down like you usually do? I thought we’d see you there.”
I thought fast. “Oh, I overslept. Barely made it to school on time.” I laughed nervously.
“You know I’ll always give you a ride to school, Juice.”
“I know. Thanks, Creep. I’ll probably make it down there tomorrow or the next day. Especially if the waves are that great.” Creep looked pretty happy about that prospect.
Jett came up to us then. “Okay if I interrupt the lovefest? Let’s talk about this party this weekend. What up with that, Juice?”
Sixx sauntered over and the four of us hovered together while we talked about Mason’s invitation. Of course, we all decided it would be the perfect opportunity to scout for a new host body for Shane. I finally had to admit to everyone that I hadn’t heard from Shane since the day at the beach parking lot.
“He really hasn’t shown up anywhere since then, Juice?”
“No, Jett. He hasn’t.”
“You think he’s torqued over you gettin’ with a new dude?”
I shot an annoyed glance at Jett. “I did not ‘get with’ Mason. I met him is all. And I hardly think Shane is shallow enough to punish me over just meeting someone.” But in the back of my mind I wondered if Jett hadn’t hit on the real reason Shane had made himself scarce lately. And I wondered when I would see him again.
“I wouldn’t worry about it, Juice. He needs you. He said so himself. And he waited for you, like, sixty years, right?” Sixx tried to make me feel better, but it had the opposite effect with Creep.
“I don’t know why he had to choose Juice anyway! There’s hundreds of other kids in this freakin’ school. Why her!” Creep exploded. He grabbed up his backpack and stalked off in the direction of the school gym.
I was blown away. I’d never seen him act like that before. Was that him “crushing” on me like Sixx had been talking about? I turned to her for confirmation but she just stood there with her mouth open. I tried Jett next, but he just shook his head.
“Knew that would be coming,” he said. “My boy’s been holding it in for a while now.” Jett got up and slowly started after him. He took a couple steps and turned back, like he had forgotten something. “You know, Juice, Creep’s been spun on you for a long time now.” He paused again. “He’s one of the good ones, you know?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just eased back around and strolled off after his best friend.
Sixx and I stood in place. Apparently she was as unable to move as I was. “Wow. That’s about the longest I ever heard Jett talk at one time.”
“Me too. I hope Creep isn’t mad at me.”
“Didn’t you hear anything Jett the Prophet said? Creep can’t be mad at you. He’s in love with you.”
“What-ev. I don’t think I can handle anymore of this. I feel like I’m living in some kind of alternative universe. Boys don’t like Juice! That’s the world I know and understand! What the heck is happening here, Sixx?”
Sixx leaned over and gave my shoulders a squeeze. “It’s a brave new world, girlfriend. And you are smack in the middle of it.”
I’d just opened my mouth to give her a smart answer, when the morning class bell rang. Finally!