Losing Romeo by A.J. Byrd Page B

down. You’re going to choke.”
    I cram in the last bite of meat loaf and then hop up from the table, taking my plate and glass to the kitchen sink. “I’ll be back in a few,” I tell everyone at the table and run out of the apartment. My mind is still reeling over this whole shoplifting thing, and I’m even more stunned that it’s my grandmother who’s delivering the news to me instead of Tyler. I rush over to the next building and pound on the door. After waiting a full minute I try again.
    â€œCome on, Tyler. I know you’re in there.”
    KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
    â€œI’m not going anywhere until you open this door!” Finally I hear someone approaching the door and feel a surge of triumph. However, after the locks are disengaged and the door swings open, I’m the one who’s surprised. “Mr. Jamison! I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were home.”
    â€œI think that much is obvious.” He runs his hand over his head. “Come on in. I think that Tyler is in her bedroom, trying to ignore me. You’re more than welcome to see if you can get a little more out of her than I did, if you want.” He steps back and allows me to pass through.
    â€œThanks.” I enter the apartment and take one glance around. The place looks like a hurricane hit it.
    â€œExcuse the place,” Mr. Jamison says. “I’ve been busy and Tyler has been stubborn.”
    I flash him a half smile of understanding and then make my way through the living room and then down the hallway to Tyler’s bedroom where I knock on the door.
    â€œShe’s not going to answer,” her father says. “She’ll think it’s me, and I think she has on her iPod.”
    â€œOh.” I glance at the door and then slowly turn the knob.Surprisingly, it’s not locked. “Tyler?” I push open the door and slip my head inside.
    On the bed, Tyler is propped up on a mountain of pillows and bobbing her head. When she glances up and see me, there is some relief. A smile curves across her face.
    â€œHey, you,” I say, easing into her private sanctuary. “Long time no see.”
    Tyler pulls the white ear plugs from her ears and sits up. “I’m surprised that he let you in.”
    â€œI came by after school, but no one was here or no one answered the door.”
    â€œMe and my old man are sort of engaged in a little game.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œYeah. We’re trying to see who can stay mad the longest. I’m going to win this one hands down.”
    â€œOookay.” I stretch my eyebrows and decide to let her just have that. I’ve never understood her and her father’s games anyway. I step over piles of clothes on the floor and then find a clean spot on the bed and sit down. “So how are you doing?”
    She shrugs. “All right—considering.”
    I nod and then fold my arms.
    â€œI guess that means that you’ve heard,” she says.
    â€œHeard about what?” If she can play dumb then so can I.
    Tyler glances away. “You know what.”
    I’m quiet for a moment because I’m both confused and disappointed in my best friend. But telling her that surely isn’t going to help matters much, and lately it is way too easy to put my foot in my mouth and land on Tyler’s badside. It was just a month ago when I told her I understood why her mother left her. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    She huffs. “What is there to say? I screwed up. I was at the wrong place at the wrong time—”
    â€œOr you were hanging out with the wrong crowd?”
    Another huff. “Michelle and Trisha are all right.”
    â€œHow can you say that? Look what happened!”
    â€œWhat? Like we’ve never shoplifted before?”
    â€œYeah, like when we were younger.”
    â€œRight. We’re sooo old now.” She makes a face and then rolls her eyes.
    â€œWe’re