Rolling Dice [sample]

10: Rolling Dice

I don’t really say anything much, and then she exclaims, “Oh, no, no! Not like that. I don’t, like, hook up with every hot guy who comes my way. Not like that! Making out with every hot guy who comes my way though, that’s a different thing completely…” She winks and she and Summer laugh. “But yeah, I don’t sleep around.”

“I didn’t suggest you did.”

“I know, I’m just saying. You might’ve been thinking it.”

“Oh. For the record, I wasn’t.”

She laughs, and slurps the last of her milkshake. “How’s your love life been then, Madison? Come on, tell us a little gossip about yourself. Any sex scandals? Games or truth or dare gone awry?”

I snort, and shake my head. “Yeah, right.”

“Oh, come on,” Summer says, giggling. “Spill it all.”

“There’s really nothing to spill,” I say. “No… sex scandals, no truth or dare games gone bad. Nothing.”

“Never had a boyfriend?” Summer sounds like she seriously doubts that, almost like it shocks her. I’m kind of flattered she thinks I could’ve had a boyfriend, actually.

I would’ve stammered a vague answer and tried to avoid answering, but why should I lie to them? It’s not something I should be ashamed of, but I can’t help it. When you spend years being ridiculed and trying to keep to the shadows, you kind of learn what people want to hear from you to fit in.

But I steel myself and say, “Nope, never had a boyfriend.”

Tiffany holds up her hand, palm out. “Don’t leave me hanging here.”

I give her the high five. “We should start a club.”

Summer and Tiffany both laugh at that, and I have to smile, since they think I’m funny.

“How about kissing guys?” Tiffany asks. “You’ve kissed a guy, right?”

I laugh, hoping it doesn’t sound as nervous as I feel. “Why?”

They’re not going to let me stall though; Summer elbows me playfully. “Just answer, already, we’re not going to judge you or anything.”

I close my eyes briefly and take a deep breath.

“No. I’ve never kissed a guy.”

The two of them exchange a glance and look surprised. I’m flattered, actually, that they look so shocked, like they legitimately think I could have kissed a boy.

“I’m totally setting you up with Bryce,” Tiffany announces happily. “Summer, don’t you think they’d be cute together?”

“He’s totally into you,” she agrees. “Go for it. It’s not like there’s anything stopping you.”

I shrug. “I barely know him.”

“Then you get to know him,” Tiffany says. She pulls out her phone, tapping away at it as she carries on talking. “I’m all over it, don’t worry. A little get-together at my place Friday night. My parents are out then, some conference out of town. I wasn’t planning on doing anything but I cannot resist now. It’s perfect. Just a small thing, though.”

“How small are we talking? Like, fifty people?”

“Yeah,” Tiffany says. I don’t bother to point out that fifty people hardly seems like a small get-together. “I’ve got this all under control, Madison, don’t you worry. You and Bryce will be the Brangelina of Midsommer High in no time.”