“First, my type would never be caught dead doing a keg stand,” I point out. “They’d be in the library, studying, taking their future seriously. And second, don’t act like you’re not diving headfirst into the frat life the moment your toe hits campus. That’ll be you in a year and a half, getting your stomach pumped after ten Coronas too many.”
Nori snorts. It’s far too easy to visualize.
Renner looks slightly wounded. “You really think I’ll be some sketchy frat guy in college?”
“It’s your destiny, as one of the most popular guys in school,” I confirm.
“Last time I checked, I had free will. But okay.”
“Come on, Renner. Most girls would eat their own arm for a chance to make out with you, and you’re too weak to resist the power that comes with that,” Kassie points out.
A shiver rolls down my spine as I zero in on his perfectly shaped lips. For a split second, I wonder if he’s really as good a kisser as Kassie said.
He lets out a deep laugh and the thought vanishes. “You really think girls would dabble in cannibalism for a shot at this?” He gestures dramatically at his bod with a french fry.
“Yes,” I reluctantly admit. “For god knows what reason, everyone loves you.”
“Except for you.” He pretend frowns at his lunch tray.
I don’t bother to correct him.
“I’ll have you know, I’ve been turned down by many girls.”
I open my mouth in pretend shock. “Who turned you down? I’ll need to get their autographs.”
“Carrie-Anne Johnson in seventh grade. Nathalia Green, just last month, actually. And—”
“You’ve been turned down by two whole girls in your entire seventeen years of life. The pain!” I clutch my chest in faux agony as Nori and Kassie snicker.
“Hey! My ego is very fragile.”
“I’m aware of that. Anyways, Nori, Mike is a potential. It could be a good opportunity to get some advice on meal plans,” I say, drumming my chin.
Renner looks at me like I’m an extraterrestrial. “You’re really gonna spend prom night talking about college meal plans? Talk about a buzzkill.”
I poke a mental pin into my imaginary J. T.-shaped pin doll. “Sorry, I didn’t realize talking about our immediate future was so boring.”
He shrugs. “We have less than two weeks left until graduation. I’m not wasting it thinking about college.”
“So anyway . . . ,” Nori pipes in, trying to steer us away from another brawl. “J. T., who’s your lucky prom date?”
“Why? You wanna go with me?” He gives her his stupid wink, which strangely, only he can pull off without looking like a raging pervert. He’s kidding, obviously, because everyone knows Nori is going with Tayshia. They’re back together after a monthlong breakup.
Nori gives him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. “You’re not equipped to handle me. Sorry, bud.”
“J. T., I told you in the group chat that Andie is waiting for you to ask her,” Kassie says, examining her leopard-print fingernails that she spent all of last period painting. Her voice trails when she realizes her mistake. They have a separate group chat, without Nori and me. I found out last year when she asked me to take pictures for her photo shoot at the park. I haven’t admitted I know about it, because I’m fairly certain someone else must have started it. Kassie wouldn’t intentionally leave me out.
“Wait—Andie? She’s not still with that Travis kid from St. Ben’s?” Renner asks.
Andie has been Kassie’s second best friend for longer than the usual—around six months now, since they started working together at Kassie’s parents’ store. Andie has the IQ of a Twinkie （though I don’t hold that against her）， but she’s an effortless kind of cool. The girl who can rock a baseball hat and her boyfriend’s flannel and still look dainty and cute. Meanwhile, the rest of us look like Home Depot trainees. She’s also supermodel tall and confident enough to flaunt her midriff on the regular. Basically, the opposite of me.
My relationship with Andie is similar to Kassie and Nori’s. We’re friends, according to the niceties of high school, but I can guarantee we won’t stay in contact after graduation. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not a bad person. She’s just one of those people I don’t want to be left alone with because we’d have nothing to say to each other.
“She and Trav were never official. He was too clingy,” Kassie explains. He also showed up to every party a six-pack deep, wasted to the point of peeing in Ollie’s pool. But she leaves that part out. “Andie needs someone to match her energy. Someone with more confidence,” Kassie explains, winking at Renner.