Breakaway by Kat Spears

anymore to go to the movies or just hang out and have a few beers down at the park.
    I hadn’t seen much of Mario, who now spent most of his time out with Travis and his other tree thugger friends. Mario’s hair had gotten longer and shaggier and now he wore crystals around his neck and every other fashion choice that offered clear evidence he was smoking a lot of pot and listening to bad electronic music. We used to make fun of people who listened to Disco Biscuits, and now he was one of those douche bags.
    It was early when Jordie picked me up and drove us toward the north side of town to catch the Metro.
    â€œI don’t know what I should do, Jaz,” Jordie was saying as he drove. “I mean, we have been going out almost every night for three weeks, so it isn’t as if it would be weird if I asked her not to see other people. But it’s not like you ask a girl to go with you after junior high school. How are we supposed to become a couple?”
    â€œI think people just start to assume when you are together that much that you are a couple. For God’s sake don’t ask her to go steady or anything lame like that,” I said. My mind wasn’t really on Jordan’s problem. I didn’t think much of his relationship with Cheryl and didn’t expect for it to last very long anyway.
    â€œI saw you eating lunch with Alexis in the cafeteria the other day,” Jordie said. “Man, to hear her tell it, you guys are like boyfriend and girlfriend now.”
    â€œWhat the hell are you talking about?” I asked with a frown. “I’m not into Alexis at all.”
    â€œYou’re telling me you aren’t sleeping with her?” he asked skeptically.
    â€œI’d sleep with your mom before I slept with Alexis.”
    â€œPiss off,” he said as he shoved my shoulder. “Anyway, your mom is the one who’s a MILF.”
    â€œYou need your head examined,” I said.
    â€œWhat?” Jordie asked in all innocence. “Your mom’s young. What is she, like thirty-five? She’s hot, man.”
    â€œStop talking or I’m going to bust your lip,” I said. We rode in silence for a while as I tried to think of a casual way to ask about Raine. Jordie hadn’t mentioned her lately, hadn’t said anything about our failed double date. When I did mention her, it came across as just idle conversation. “I ran into Raine the other night at the library.”
    â€œYeah, she mentioned it,” Jordie said. I wanted to ask him what she had said, why she had mentioned it, but I didn’t want to seem too interested.
    â€œShe was there with some guy. Brian. You know him?” My question was casual but Jordie raised an eyebrow before answering.
    â€œYeah, from the club. He goes to W and L,” he said.
    â€œThey a couple?” I asked, now realizing that no matter how casual my tone was, it was still obvious I was showing way too much interest in Raine.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Jordie said. “Brian’s had a thing for her since we were all in middle school but I’m not sure she feels the same. Besides, she’s got a thing for you.”
    â€œFor me?” I asked in surprise. “Are you joking? She hates my ass.”
    â€œWhy do you think Cheryl made me set it up so we went on a double date for our first date?” Jordie asked. “That was because Raine wanted to get with you.”
    â€œYou’re crazy,” I said dismissively, but my mind was working overtime.
    â€œIf you say so,” Jordie said with a shrug.
    Just about every girl at school had shown an interest in me since Sylvia died. Mostly I figured they just wanted some of the glory of the spotlight, to be noticed. Maybe Raine wasn’t any different, but since she was already beautiful and rich, she didn’t really need any help from me to be popular.
    Jordie parked near the Metro station and then we rode the train