Part 3 (1/2)
The ding of an IM lifted Claire out of her daze. She hurried toward her gray Dell computer. Was Cam finally ready to forgive her?
”Is it him?” Layne jumped to her feet and joined Claire. ”I knew the bangs would work.”
”It's only Ma.s.sie,” Claire moped.
”Only Ma.s.sie,” Layne teased. Ma.s.sie,” Layne teased.
They both knew six months ago a friendly IM from Ma.s.sie Block would have made Claire's life. That fact wasn't lost on Claire; she was just too depressed to acknowledge it.
Ma.s.sIEKUR: U CAN'T EVER LET ALICIA KNOW U KISSED JOSH HOTZ. WE'RE ON THE PHONE NOW. SHE'S BEEN TALKING BOUT HIM 4 LAST HOUR. U CAN'T EVER LET ALICIA KNOW U KISSED JOSH HOTZ. WE'RE ON THE PHONE NOW. SHE'S BEEN TALKING BOUT HIM 4 LAST HOUR.
Claire immediately positioned herself between Layne and the screen. But it was too late. She could feel the heat of Layne's minty breath on the back of her neck while she typed her reply message.
CLAIREBEAR: CALL U L8TR. TALKING 2 MOM. CALL U L8TR. TALKING 2 MOM.
Claire hit send and turned off her computer. ”So, what time do you have to be home?” She avoided Layne by straitening up the mussed comforter on her bed.
”You kissed Josh Hotz?” Layne dove onto the comforter and rolled around until she had undone all of Claire's tidying. ”Why didn't you tell me? When did you become such a big s.l.u.tburger with everything on it?”
”That's why.” Claire bit down on her thumbnail.
”I'm kidding, I don't think you're a s.l.u.tburger. I used to make out with Eli all the time in his laundry room.”
”You did?” Claire finally looked at her friend. ”Why didn't you tell me?”
”I didn't want you to call me a s.l.u.tburger,” Layne said.
Claire wanted to laugh, but all she could manage was a weak smile.
”Does Cam know?” Layne asked.
Claire plopped down on her bed and shrugged. She ran her fingers along the clear st.i.tching on her comforter, willing herself not to cry.
”Wait, is that that why Cam dumped you?” Layne slapped the bed. why Cam dumped you?” Layne slapped the bed.
Claire shrugged again.
”Come on, tell me. I hate that Ma.s.sie Block knows more about your life than I do.”
Claire tried to smile again but couldn't.
”Pleeeease.” Layne clapped her hands. ”I'll tell you something totally embarra.s.sing about me.”
”Only if you promise not to think I'm lame.” Claire lifted her head.
”Promise.” Layne held her palm in the air and crossed her heart.
”Fine.” Claire leaned in toward Layne just in case her eavesdropping brother and his fake dog were listening at the door. Then, in a hushed tone, she told Layne how Nina had made it look like Cam was over Claire and how that had driven her into the arms of another boy.
”So Josh told Cam you kissed him?” Layne unwrapped a stick of Big Red gum and stuffed it in her mouth. ”What a loser.”
”No.” Claire shook her head slowly. ”Cam saw us.”
”Brutal!” Layne shoved another piece of gum in her mouth. ”But it served him right for ignoring you, right?”
”I dunno.” Claire lowered her head. ”Turns out it wasn't really his fault.”
”How?”
”Later I found out Nina told Cam she'd put a Spanish soccer spell on him, that if he ignored me, their team would win the finals. She told him I knew about it, so he didn't think I'd be upset.”
”Didn't they lose that game?”
Claire nodded.
”So after the game, when Cam realized the whole spell thing was bogus, he came to talk to me, and that's when he saw...” Claire's voice trailed off.
”Why don't you just explain what happened.” Layne chomped on her gum.
”I tried.” Claire smoothed the foil on one of Layne's discarded wrappers. ”He won't take my calls or read my e-mails. Nothing works.”
”Wow, he actually fell for that Spanish soccer spell thing?”
”I guess people will believe anything when they're desperate.” Claire tugged on her short bangs.
”Maybe you should write him a poem,” Layne suggested. ”Those usually work.”
”You think?”
”Totally.” Layne nodded once. ”I sent one to my dad when I wanted a bike and the next week there was a brand-new Bratz Beauty bike in my driveway.”
”Wasn't that a surprise for your next-door neighbor?” Claire asked.
”Yeah, but when I told my dad I wanted one just like it, he promised to get me one for my birthday.”
”And you think that's because of the poem you wrote him?”
”It didn't hurt. Besides, Cam is a total softy. He's always burning CDs for you and bringing you candy. He's such a poem guy.”
”Hmmm.” Claire was reluctant to take any more of Layne's advice, but she did have a point. Cam was a total romantic. He was probably waiting for Claire to make an effort, something more than an e-mail or a text message. ”Maybe I'll try it.”
”You should.” Layne stood up and put on her white pleather trench coat. ”I better go. Dinner is early tonight because my parents are on some new diet where they can't eat past six-thirty p.m.”
”Wait.” Claire stood up and ran toward her door. She leaned against it until it closed, then stayed there, blocking Layne. ”What's your embarra.s.sing secret?”
Layne tightened the belt on her coat and threw her Suns.h.i.+ne Tours bag over her shoulder. ”Oh, that. It's no big deal. I'll tell you tomorrow.”
”No way.” Claire pushed Layne away from the door. ”You promised.”