Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot Page B

Jello, cookies and stealing my little brother’s stash of Skittles until you come back. Tell your mom that, would you? If I become a diabetic this weekend, it’s her fault.”
    Vere planted one last line on Jenna: “Just don’t call everyone, telling them that Dustin McHugh is an ugly loser. Give him a chance. Not everyone can be all...normal...you know?”
    “Pffft. NOT making me feel any better about him.”
    Vere smiled and went on, “ I’m trying to have an open mind. The guy takes me way out of my comfort zone though.”
    “Oh God. Now, you’re scaring the shit out of me. I’m not hanging out with him. This is not happening to us.”
    Vere but her lip to stop a giggle. Jenna had epic gossip-networking skills. This information would send her all over Facebook and into text-landia with chatter that would spread quickly.
    On the way down the stairs, Vere added, “Remember. It’s what’s INSIDE a person that counts.”
    “Not in our high school.” Jenna snorted. “Tell Charlie he sucks too, and not to miss me,” she added.
    “As always. I’m sure Charlie will be heartbroken to not see you all weekend long,” she said loudly. Her brother was in the back hall getting his football gear together.
    “What?” He frowned.
    “Jenna says, ‘Hi’ and, ‘Don’t miss her too much’ .”
    Charlie raised his upper lip in a disgusted sneer. “Tell that girl they still have a few spots at the special high school for creepers, and that she should go there and stop stalking me.”
    “I heard that!” Jenna giggled, completely not offended. “Your brother so wants to date me.”
    Charlie paused. “What did she say?”
    “Something about how you know you want her.”
    Charlie answered with a round of loud, dramatic dry heaving.
    Jenna, hearing him, laughed louder. “He’s such an ass. I’m going to die without you, Vere. Text me when you make it back to town.”
    “I promise.”
    Charlie butted in with a whisper. “Call the freak back later,” he said knowing Jenna would hear.
    “Did he call me a FREAK?” Vere held the phone away from her ear so Charlie could hear. “I heard that you EGG-HEAD-UGLY-JOCK!”
    He paused to roll his eyes at the phone while shooting Vere a hilarious, co-conspirator eyebrow wiggle. He spoke in a really quiet voice, “Dustin has been in the car, waiting this whole time. If he messes with you, say the word and he’s dead. K ? I don’t care if he’s famous. I will trash him.”
    “Shut up. And shut up!” Vere said, rolling her eyes at Charlie’s endless, overprotective impulses.
    “Are you telling me to SHUT UP?” Jenna’s voice squeaked through.
    Vere turned back to her phone. “No. Not you. Charlie. Gotta go. Call you when I can. Promise.” She glanced at the waiting Charlie and couldn’t resist. “Oh. And Charlie says, bye beautiful .”
    She hung up fast before Jenna could hear Charlie yell, “I DID NOT SAY THAT. I said, BYE FREAK, that’s what I said!”

11: my new bestie

    VERE

    Vere made it to the garage and flung her bag into the back of the new, white, VW Bug she and Charlie shared.
    Dustin McHugh was there, sitting ramrod straight. As she got in, she noticed the guy was so large that he seemed to fill every extra inch of space inside the car.
    “Hope I didn’t take too long.” She smiled. “Can you try to slouch or something? I don’t want anyone to get a good look at you until you’re ready, or fixed, or...”
    “ Unmade. ”
    “Yeah. Unmade.”
    “That’s the official term.”
    Her smile wavered at his dark tone. “I’m sure this is going to be all kinds of fun. Why do you look so terrified?”
    “Maybe because you appear to be too excited about frosting the cake that marks the end of my life?”
    “Oh. Is that what this is? I’m sorry. I just love doing costumes, that’s all. I guess I didn’t think about what it all means to you....”
    He blinked, seemingly ignoring what she’d said. But she got the feeling he wanted her to