things she couldnât get over. It wasnât always black and white.
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chapter four
Kya pointed at Brady. Sheâd brought him over along with her DVD of The Virgin Suicides . We were at her favorite scene in the movie, where the boys take the Lisbon sisters to a school dance. Brady was almost fast asleep on the sofa beside her. She wrinkled up her nose, lifted her hand to her forehead, and made a capital L sign with her fingers.
âLoser,â she mouthed to me and glared at Brady.
Apparently, his number was up. I faked a smile, kind of sorry for Brady. He certainly didnât know heâd failed a major test. One should never show boredom during a viewing of The Virgin Suicides .
Boyfriends were disposable to Kya. Sheâd treat boys like crap and theyâd fall at her feet, trying to win her over. Usually theyâd turn to me for help. I got to play the friend role. Over and over again.
Brady reached up to grab her hand and mumbled something I couldnât hear, but she pushed him away and jumped up from the couch. Distracted from the movie, which was much more her favorite than mine, my insides squished with unease for Brady who didnât even know he was past his expiration date.
âYou want a soda, Grace?â she said, walking toward the stairs.
âHey, what about me?â Brady called.
She ignored him and his face drooped, betraying his disappointment. Once she made up her mind, there was really nothing to stop it.
âSure. Iâd love a soda. Oh, and make yourself at home,â I called, well versed in the art of sarcasm, thanks to my mom.
Kya turned back to stick her tongue out and then smiled, disappearing down the stairs toward the kitchen. I heard the fridge door open and her voice and my brotherâs. Indie treated her better than he did me most of the time.
âKya says youâre into paintball and stuff,â Brady said to me.
I looked at him. Eloquent, Brady. Especially since weâve been in the same school for three years and youâre only now bringing this up.
âYup,â I turned my attention back to the screen. No use trying to bond with him at this point. Ex-boyfriend-to-be. Soon it would be my job to ignore his existence; he just didnât know it yet.
Kya returned up the stairs, holding three cans of soda. She tossed one to Brady. At him really. It almost smacked him in the head. Then she walked over to the couch where I sat and scootched in, snuggling up beside me, handing me a can, and then resting her head on my shoulder. She plopped up her feet up on the coffee table in front of us.
âOh, I almost forgot,â she said, and reached into her hoodie pocket and pulled out a box. She tossed it in the air. âNerds for my nerd.â
I grabbed it. âYay!â I ripped open the box with my teeth, poured some in my hand, and held out the box but she shook her head.
âSo. There a party tonight?â she called to Brady.
âI thought you wanted to stay in? Watch a movie. At your bestieâs.â He imitated her voice on the last sentence and frowned at me as if it was my fault Kya could make him do whatever she wanted. Including hanging out at my place on a Friday night. It really was something, how much boys liked her despite the way she treated them.
I ignored him, less and less sorry for his impending heartbreak. I poured Nerds into my mouth and swirled them around my cheeks with my tongue.
âI told you, Grace is grounded,â she said to him. âAgain,â she growled at me and shoved her elbow in my side. âOn Friday night.â
Brady spoke slowly, as if thinking carefully about his next words. âDanny is having some people stop by. His parents are home. But we could go there if you want.â
âNah. I donât want to leave Gracie alone.â Kya sipped her soda loudly. âBut you should go. You like parties.â
Brady protested but Kya interrupted. âNo,