Bad Like Us, page 2
“Piper,” Karly says, her focus still fixed on the road as she navigates the hairpin bends.
“What?” Her blue-gray eyes pale in the weak sunlight, darting between Karly and me.
“Stop.” Karly sweeps aside some of her bangs. “You’re in everyone’s business, it’s too much.”
Piper’s fingers slip away from my shoulder. “Eva doesn’t care, we’re bonding. She and Miles were always together, so I was just wondering.” She smiles sweetly at me.
I eye the camera lens suspiciously. “Miles and I are just friends,” I say to Piper. “We’ve always been just friends. Nothing more.”
“Okay.” She falls back into her seat. “Never mind, then.”
My gaze wanders back to the winding road, and we fall silent for the first time in a while. That tends to happen whenever Miles is mentioned lately.
But it doesn’t last long because Piper turns her questioning to Alice. “How about you, babe?” she asks. “Are you seeing anyone at the moment?”
I watch Alice’s response in the mirror. She smiles, but her discomfort is palpable, and I know that it isn’t just Piper’s nosiness that’s getting to her—this isn’t the kind of thing that Alice likes to talk to anyone about, including me. She’s just private that way. “Nope,” she says. “Not right now.”
Piper threads her arm through Alice’s. “Aw. But you’re so pretty, though.”
Alice shifts in her seat. “Oh. Thanks.”
“Wait,” Piper says suddenly, her gaze jumping back to me. “We need to find you girls someone on this trip. All of you.” Her hand is back on my shoulder. “I’ll make it my mission.”
I twist around to face her and muster a noncommittal noise, hoping that’s enough to respectfully decline any matchmaking attempts orchestrated by Piper Meyers. Her dating life is a roller coaster that I have zero intention of emulating.
She squints in my direction. “Oh, and in case you were thinking about it,” she adds, “do not go there with Danny.” She holds my gaze and shakes her head remorsefully. “I know you guys are friends with him and all,” she says, looking between Alice and I, “but trust me, you do not want to cross that line. He’s not boyfriend material. Total nightmare.”
Alice clears her throat. “You and Javier seem good, though,” she says, clearly reaching for something positive to steer the conversation along. Neither of us feel comfortable when Piper criticizes Danny. Unfortunately, Piper rarely seems to pick up on our tense expressions or diversion attempts.
She toys with her hoop earring. “For real, I know. Javier is so attentive and considerate. My love languages are words of affirmation and quality time, so he and I are so much better than Danny and I ever were.” She exaggerates a shudder.
“Yeah,” I agree, breathing out a laugh. Danny kept most of their turbulent relationship private, but I still caught glimpses of the drama unfolding on Piper’s social media accounts. Tearful rants only to be deleted an hour later and replaced with cryptic memes like know your worth and let go of that which does not serve you. Miles, Alice, and I did our best to be supportive of Danny while he and Piper were on-again, off-again for months, until finally Piper and Javier became the new thing, and Danny was out.
Until they started talking again, and we somehow ended up on a group trip to Oregon.
Piper’s phone pings from the back seat. “Oh, it’s Javier,” she says, reading from the screen. “See how we are so in sync? I was literally just talking about him.”
“What did he say?” Karly asks.
“Just that the guys are stopping for gas.” She looks up from her phone. “Javi says there’s a truck stop coming up. We should meet them there.”
Karly glances at the digital map on the dash, then gives way to a flustered sigh. “Okay. Did he say where, exactly?” The markings are still MIA from the display.
“No.” Piper starts typing back as she talks. “But it’s all one road, right? We’ll get to it eventually. Just keep going.”
A shadow falls over the car as a cloud passes the sun. It makes me shiver a little. I glance at the road map again as we head deeper and deeper into nothing.
PIPER
ALBUM: SAVED VIDEOS
Hi, besties! It’s Piper, filming live from the back seat of Karly’s car! We’re nearly five hours into our road trip, kinda lost, but all is good, loves.
Here’s Karly in the driver’s seat. She’s such a trooper. As you can see, Eva called shotgun ahead of me. Bitch. Just kidding, I love her, really! And Alice and I owning the back seat. Say hi, Alice!
Guys, please go follow Alice. I’ll mention her @ in the comments. We’re totally bonding on this trip, and I’ve seen her IG. She posts the most stunning pictures. She’s an artist and creates these beautiful, almost cinematic drawings inspired by her roots in Botswana. She’s created this piece for World Wetlands Day, really spotlighting environmental conservation across the country. And I just... No words. Extreme talent. As you guys know, I suck at art. I don’t even enjoy it, drawing and that kind of thing. For real, if I could have the work done for me, I’d totally do it. Oh, shit. I probably shouldn’t say that because there was this huge cheating thing that happened at our school and our friend got expelled. It was a whole drama, and everyone is just cringing. Major secondhand embarrassment. It’s giving me anxiety just thinking about it. So, to be clear, I am not advocating cheating, you guys. That stuff always comes out, anyway.
Okay, I’m going to go because everyone’s hating on me right now! They think I talk too much...and they’re right!
Love you guys. Kiss, kiss.
EVA
We keep following the lost road until we see a signpost for Bobby’s Roadside Diner. Behind a row of gas pumps, there’s a mini market with a simple restaurant attached. Karly slows the car and pulls into one of the empty parking bays.
The Demarcos’ black Ford is already here. The cargo bed is loaded with surfboards and bags, all held down with ropes and straps. Immediately, I spot Colton leaning against the truck as he fills up the gas tank, his ball cap shading his eyes. He glances our way and lifts his hand in a greeting. On the other side of the truck, Noah has his head down, securing the bags in the back. When Karly cuts the engine, he glances up and then crosses the paved lot toward us. His sandy blond curls move in the breeze.
He stops at the Prius and leans against Karly’s open window. His lips twitch with a smile. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Karly says.
There’s been times where I’ve wondered if Noah and Karly are low-key into each other, judging by the way they talk quietly at the back of class or swap secret looks when they think no one’s watching.
I smile to myself at the thought. Noah seems like a good guy; he gives off super laid-back surfer vibes—contradicting the fact that he comes from an extremely driven family of academics. Miles once mourned for an entire week when he found out that Noah’s older sister, Samantha, had a GPA one point higher than his, taking the school record. It was a whole thing. Fortunately, Noah’s grades were never a threat to Miles’s ranking in our class—Miles’s words, not mine. Karly is a little more put-together than Noah, and she doesn’t strike me as being particularly outdoorsy in the way that he is, but she’s fun and bubbly. I could see them together.
“You made it, then,” Noah says. His sweatshirt sleeves are pushed up to the elbows, and he rests his tanned and muscular forearms on the frame.
Karly tilts her sunglasses down and peers at him over the rim. “Yeah. How much longer until we get to your uncle’s place? These roads are intense.”
“It isn’t far from here,” he says, his blue-gray eyes moving between all of us. “Maybe an hour. Are you guys doing okay?”
Piper leans forward, wedging herself between the two front seats. “Oh, we’re fine,” she says, batting her long eyelashes. “Aren’t we, ladies?” She taps my shoulder. “We’ve just been talking all about you, Noah.”
His neck flushes red, and Piper laughs. I’m pretty sure I’m blushing, too, from the suggestion in her tone.
“She’s kidding,” I assure him, and Piper giggles again.
“Where’s Javier?” Piper asks.
“He’s gone inside to get a table.” Noah nods toward the diner across the lot.
“Oh, nice of him to wait for his girlfriend,” Piper says, rolling her eyes. Then she drums her manicured nails on Karly’s arm. “Will you buy me an iced coffee, K? You’re richer than I am.” She swats Karly’s arm before hopping out of the car and sidling past Noah. Karly gets out after her and they head toward Bobby’s Diner, their arms linked, and their shoes clicking fast on the tarmac as they make their way toward the entrance.
Noah raps on the hood of the car before trailing after them. Before I get out, though, I swivel around to face Alice. “Are you surviving?”
She gives me a too-bright smile. “Yeah,” she says. “Totally fine. You?”
I squint one eye. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, Eva. I’m actually having a good time.”
My eyebrows knit. “Really?”
“Yes! Aside from the occasional awkward conversation, I’m having fun. Aren’t you?”
“I guess,” I say slowly. “But it’s just that I know how camera shy you are and...”
“I’m getting used to it,” she says with a wave of her hand. Then her eyes light up. “Piper’s been so complimentary about my art, and she says she’ll share some of my pieces on her page. That’s huge exposure—she’s got a ton of followers.” She claps her hands, colorful bracelets jangling on her wrists. “Yay.”
“Yay,” I agree.
“Piper’s the sweetest person.”
“Oh-kay.” I lower my voice. “Blink twice if you’re wearing a wire.”
She laughs and unbuckles her seat belt. Leaving it at that, she climbs out of the car.
“Okay, then,” I say to myself. I step out onto the pavement, and the Prius locks with a jaunty beep before Karly, Piper, and Noah disappear into the diner with Alice trotting behind.
Colton makes his way over to me as I cross the lot. He smiles as he intercepts my path, but the expression is a little uncertain, like he’s wondering if I want him to walk with me.
“Hey, Eva,” he says. “How’s it going?”
He’s several inches taller than me, and broader than I remember—I guess he’s grown a lot since our days of elementary school parties. In the hazy sunlight, his eyes are a deep ocean green, a shade darker than Danny’s, and there’s a smattering of freckles beneath his lower lashes.
Colton and Danny share a lot of the same features, the dimpled smiles, straight teeth, and cowlicks in their wavy brown hair. They’re both around six feet tall, but Colton’s a little more athletic-looking with a deep tan even in the winter. A product of their Italian heritage.
It’s funny. Even though Danny’s more studious, I’ve always thought of Colton as the more levelheaded and practical of the two. Sometimes Colton seems like he’s carrying the world, and Danny’s just coasting through it with his head in the clouds.
“All good,” I answer. “You?” My cheeks suddenly feel hot. To my shame, I often find myself blushing when I’m one-on-one with Colton.
“Five-hour car ride with Danny and Javier.” He presses his lips together and raises his eyebrows. “Fun.”
I laugh. “Yeah, I can imagine.”
He takes off his ball cap and runs a hand through his tousled brown hair. “Wanna swap cars?” He’s got a cute half smile going on, and I can’t help but smile back.
“No, thanks,” I say. “Anyway, we’ve got Piper in ours, so we’re expected to join in with her Instagram Lives. I’d wager that’s more painful than the whole Danny-dated-Javier’s-girlfriend awkwardness.”
He holds up his hands. “Alright. You win.”
We start toward the diner entrance, and in the light breeze I catch a rush of the sports spray that he wears.
“So...” I start twisting the strap on my messenger bag, folding it back and forth. My eyes travel over him as we walk. “Are you still working at Summits?”
He grins, and a dimple hollows his left cheek. “Yeah, weeknights and Saturdays. I haven’t seen you in there in a while.”
Colton works at the mountain and water sports store downtown. They sell tons of outdoor equipment and have a coffee shop and clay rock-climbing wall at the back. Whenever I go in with my parents, my dad always makes a point of talking to Colton. Colton shakes his hand, and Dad’s eyes crinkle with a smile as they discuss the latest stock. Mom and Dad always ask Colton how his mom is doing, and Colton always has the same response—fine—then he moves the conversation along.
“Hey, tell your dad we’ve got that roller power unit he was looking for a couple of weeks back,” he says. “If he still wants it, I can hold it for him.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll let him know.”
“Tell him I said hi, too. Your mom as well.”
“I will.” I know my parents like Colton and Danny. The boys were always firm favorites at my birthday parties—probably because they were the only kids who’d help load the dishwasher or listen intently to my parents’ long-winded stories. They’d always stay later than everyone else, too. Sometimes, I got the feeling they didn’t want to go home. I remember one time, after my tenth birthday bowling party, it got pretty late and their mom still hadn’t shown, so my dad gave them a ride home. But when Dad got back to our house, I saw his 4X4 pull up in the driveway with the boys still in the back seat.
I never directly asked my dad why he didn’t drop them off at their own house that night, but I overheard him talking to my mom in the kitchen. “...I couldn’t just leave them,” he’d muttered. “...Anna must be working late. I tried calling her.” I didn’t hear my mom’s response, I just crept quietly back to the den where the boys were flicking through movies on Netflix. Mom came into the room a few minutes later with a tray of hot cocoas and a huge bucket of popcorn for us to share. Her eyes looked a little glassy behind her overly cheerful smile.
Colton’s voice jolts me from the memory. “I’m glad Danny managed to convince you guys to join us this weekend.”
I gather myself quickly. “Yeah. Me, too. It was Piper’s idea, actually.”
His smile turns strained. “Yeah, I heard. I didn’t know she and Danny had been talking again.”
“Neither did I until a couple of weeks ago.”
We reach the entrance to the diner, and Colton holds the door open for me to duck through.
The restaurant is pretty quiet, apart from the clanging of plates and an old-fashioned stereo playing faintly in the background. A long counter runs along the back wall with a couple of older men seated on stools, sipping coffees or polishing off plates of food. Along the front window, there are some tired-looking booths with a view of the parking lot. Our group has gathered in the booth farthest from the door. Danny and Miles are together on one side with Miles’s slender frame and blond hair just visible behind Danny. They’re kind of hard to miss, actually. Miles is wearing a fluorescent yellow T-shirt with the word MARVEL printed across his narrow chest, and Danny is in a psychedelic sweatshirt that reads “A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...”
On the other side of the table, I find Alice seated closest to the window, next to Noah, Karly, Piper, and Javier. Piper is perched on Javier’s lap with her arm locked around his neck, and Javier is holding court with a wide smile and one hand knotted through his grown-out black curls. Their laughter travels across the diner.
While Colton heads toward them, I scan the restaurant for the bathroom sign. As I start for the opposite end of the diner, my phone buzzes with a text message from Piper.
Do you know?
I frown at the screen and look back toward the booth. Piper’s still on Javier’s lap, her fingers tangled in his hair. She raises an eyebrow at me before carrying on with her conversation. The sound of her laughter floats across the diner over the clang of plates and drone of voices.
I type back. What??
I see her look at her phone, and then type. Staring at my screen and the little flashing ellipses, I wait for a second.
A moment later, my message alert pings again.
Nothing. Don’t worry.
COLTON
Danny keeps tapping on the table. He’s on his second coffee, focused on pouring the sugar dispenser and watching the granules sink into the drink.
We’re all crammed into one booth. My shoulder keeps knocking Danny’s because I’m trying too hard not to invade Eva’s space, and Danny can’t give me room because Miles is squeezed in on his other side, next to the window. Miles has been staring out into the parking lot for a while, only talking when someone tries to pull him into the conversation.
Next to me, Eva stirs her coffee. It’s one of those milky, frothy ones that come in a tall glass. She chews on the end of the wooden stirrer, listening to Piper talk.
“Where are you going to college, Eva?” Piper asks. She’s on Javier’s lap, and his head is rested against her shoulder.
Eva shifts in her seat. Her gaze flickers to Miles, but his eyes stay trained on the parking lot beyond the window. “I don’t know,” she says. “I haven’t heard back from my schools yet.”
Opposite us, Karly takes a small sip of soda. “What is that you want to major in?” she asks Eva.
“Wait,” Piper interrupts, raising her hands. “I know this. It’s chemistry or something boring like that, isn’t it?”
“Marine biology,” Eva corrects.
I already knew what her answer would be. She used to talk about it back when we were kids. Her eyes would shine whenever she’d talk about legendary sea creatures or ocean depths that hadn’t been explored. A smile tugs at my mouth, because I like that she’s still her, still going after her dream.
