obvious demands for attention, and that one is no different.”
“I sort of thought maybe that would make it seem legitimate. Like, maybe my dad had some poinsettias he needed to sell, you know?”
“Christmas is months away.… Never mind. What did he reply?”
She shows me the text. I’m not sure. You’d probably have to ask my sister.
“Wow,” I say. “Man of few words.”
“I’m still trying to figure out what to say.”
“How about: Wow, you must be going for Son of the Year. Nice work, tiger .”
“I can’t text ‘tiger!’” she squeals.
“What have you got to lose?”
Making a little eek sound, Coco taps out the text and turns to me, smiling gleefully. She really is so pretty, especially when she smiles. Such lovely eyes and natural blond hair. She just needs to wear a tiny bit of makeup. And maybe pluck her eyebrows. And stop dressing like she’s four sizes larger than she is. Coco has a gorgeous figure, all boobs and curves, but was much bigger in high school, when I first met her. I think she’s stuck in that mentality.
Her phone buzzes. What are you, the Parent Police?
“I should say ‘Yeah, spread ’em!’” says Coco, laughing at her own daring.
“Try … I might be. I might not be. I guess we’ll never know .”
Eric responds right away. How’s life in the big city anyway, Miss Coco?
“Now you ignore him,” I say firmly.
“What?” says Coco. “But he asked me a question! Finally! He never asks text questions. I always have to ask the text questions.”
“No, you wait till tomorrow, then say, The big city is giving me terrible hangovers. At least, I’m blaming the city. It can’t be the booze. It alludes to the fact that you’re out and busy on a Saturday night.”
“I’m not. I have no plans.”
“That’s not the point. As far as he’s concerned, he’s just one of the many men you could be texting. So wait till tomorrow, and he’ll be thinking about you all night.”
“Ahh…” says Coco, realization dawning on her face. “God, this is so cool! I always imagine us falling in love after years of best friendship. It would be so romantic. My mom and dad were best friends for years, did you know that? Then they fell in love.” She sighs happily. “That’s what I want.”
“I hate romance,” I say. “And love doesn’t last.”
“Love does last!” She’s scandalized. “You have to fight for love. You do!”
“You shouldn’t have to fight for anything.”
Then my phone buzzes again. It’s a text from Angie.
PARRRTEEHHHHJJKt887
“I thought Angie was still upstairs.…” I murmur.
“Angie?” says Coco. “No, I saw her leaving when I went to the bathroom earlier.”
“Shit.”
If she can’t even text clearly, she’s not in good shape.
I text back. Are you okay?
She replies. HELLZYAH! Four coldy flu tablets and a Dr Peppetfw with tequillll. In cab to Lwer Eas tSde, Ludlow/Grand u comin?
I’m not an overprotective friend, I’m really not. But I have a feeling something is very wrong.
So I run upstairs to change into a nonfood-marked dress and heels. Part of me is delighted to have an excuse to dress up, is that shallow? Oh well.
“You know what, Coco?” I say, poking my head in the kitchen before I leave. She’s sitting at the kitchen table with a hot chocolate, reading her book. “Maybe there is one thing you should fight for. Your friends.”
CHAPTER 8
I get out of the cab on the corner of Ludlow and Grand, and I can already hear the raucous, semi-scream-filled sound of a great night in action.
There’s music throbbing from the top of a three-story building and people are spilling out onto the balcony and fire escape. I think I’ve found my party.
The noise gets louder as I walk up to the third floor, stepping over couples making out and past a guy on the phone screaming, “I said to bring the corn dogs!” Then I get into the apartment. The lights are dim and when my eyes adjust, I can make out a packed
“I sort of thought maybe that would make it seem legitimate. Like, maybe my dad had some poinsettias he needed to sell, you know?”
“Christmas is months away.… Never mind. What did he reply?”
She shows me the text. I’m not sure. You’d probably have to ask my sister.
“Wow,” I say. “Man of few words.”
“I’m still trying to figure out what to say.”
“How about: Wow, you must be going for Son of the Year. Nice work, tiger .”
“I can’t text ‘tiger!’” she squeals.
“What have you got to lose?”
Making a little eek sound, Coco taps out the text and turns to me, smiling gleefully. She really is so pretty, especially when she smiles. Such lovely eyes and natural blond hair. She just needs to wear a tiny bit of makeup. And maybe pluck her eyebrows. And stop dressing like she’s four sizes larger than she is. Coco has a gorgeous figure, all boobs and curves, but was much bigger in high school, when I first met her. I think she’s stuck in that mentality.
Her phone buzzes. What are you, the Parent Police?
“I should say ‘Yeah, spread ’em!’” says Coco, laughing at her own daring.
“Try … I might be. I might not be. I guess we’ll never know .”
Eric responds right away. How’s life in the big city anyway, Miss Coco?
“Now you ignore him,” I say firmly.
“What?” says Coco. “But he asked me a question! Finally! He never asks text questions. I always have to ask the text questions.”
“No, you wait till tomorrow, then say, The big city is giving me terrible hangovers. At least, I’m blaming the city. It can’t be the booze. It alludes to the fact that you’re out and busy on a Saturday night.”
“I’m not. I have no plans.”
“That’s not the point. As far as he’s concerned, he’s just one of the many men you could be texting. So wait till tomorrow, and he’ll be thinking about you all night.”
“Ahh…” says Coco, realization dawning on her face. “God, this is so cool! I always imagine us falling in love after years of best friendship. It would be so romantic. My mom and dad were best friends for years, did you know that? Then they fell in love.” She sighs happily. “That’s what I want.”
“I hate romance,” I say. “And love doesn’t last.”
“Love does last!” She’s scandalized. “You have to fight for love. You do!”
“You shouldn’t have to fight for anything.”
Then my phone buzzes again. It’s a text from Angie.
PARRRTEEHHHHJJKt887
“I thought Angie was still upstairs.…” I murmur.
“Angie?” says Coco. “No, I saw her leaving when I went to the bathroom earlier.”
“Shit.”
If she can’t even text clearly, she’s not in good shape.
I text back. Are you okay?
She replies. HELLZYAH! Four coldy flu tablets and a Dr Peppetfw with tequillll. In cab to Lwer Eas tSde, Ludlow/Grand u comin?
I’m not an overprotective friend, I’m really not. But I have a feeling something is very wrong.
So I run upstairs to change into a nonfood-marked dress and heels. Part of me is delighted to have an excuse to dress up, is that shallow? Oh well.
“You know what, Coco?” I say, poking my head in the kitchen before I leave. She’s sitting at the kitchen table with a hot chocolate, reading her book. “Maybe there is one thing you should fight for. Your friends.”
CHAPTER 8
I get out of the cab on the corner of Ludlow and Grand, and I can already hear the raucous, semi-scream-filled sound of a great night in action.
There’s music throbbing from the top of a three-story building and people are spilling out onto the balcony and fire escape. I think I’ve found my party.
The noise gets louder as I walk up to the third floor, stepping over couples making out and past a guy on the phone screaming, “I said to bring the corn dogs!” Then I get into the apartment. The lights are dim and when my eyes adjust, I can make out a packed
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