57 He wasn’t much of a well-known player, so his interactions with the team determined his popularity. Travis was the star quarterback of the team and Vince was set on becoming his close friend. Vince had just told me that Courtney Harris, a girl that I was basically dating, was making out with Travis Thompson behind the bleachers after the big game on Friday. “We literally hung out that exact night and the next two days,” I said back to Vince, sternly. “There’s no way she did that.” Vince liked to stir the pot a lot. He liked to stick his nose where it didn’t belong and start drama just for the thrill of it. That’s how he tended to be when his life seemed a little too boring for his liking. I knew he was trying to start this rumor for the sole fact that I hadn’t been hanging out with him this past week because I’d been seeing Courtney instead. I knew that he was not used to not hanging out with me every single day, so he was trying to end things between Courtney and me. Vince gave me perhaps the nastiest look I’ve ever seen upon his face—his eyes were squinted, and his nose was scrunched. “Are you kidding me right now? Why would I lie about that?” Did I mention that Vince disliked Courtney? Not just for the fact that she was with me all the time now, but because she friend-zoned him in the middle of the dance floor last year during the homecoming dance. I still remember it like it was yesterday: “I’m not interested, sorry,” she said to him and walked away. It wasn’t a good look for Vince; I had to act like I didn’t know him to save myself from the second-hand embarrassment. A lot of people laughed at him. He definitely did not like how I was the one who wasn’t friend-zoned. “I don’t know, maybe because she rejected you?” I said, upset. Vince’s mouth was wide open, and he hesitated to reply. “Wow . . . You’re the one who broke bro code, Jason. Bros before hoes, always! Unless it applies to you, right?!” Vince stormed away and disappeared into the crowd of high schoolers. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Why is Vince so dramatic? I swear he’s a girl in a guy’s body. “Bros before hoes” . . . whatever. She isn’t into Vince like she was into me. I don’t see why he needs to make a big deal about it. Oh well, life’s a bitch. He’ll get over it by tomorrow. * * * “Hey Jason!” I smiled as Courtney hopped into my truck. It was our seventh consecutive day hanging out; I could never get sick of seeing her pretty face. Her curly brown hair and bright, blue eyes always made me happy. “Hey Court,” I said back coolly, putting my arm behind her seat. A ping sounded from my window. I looked through the glass as Courtney was fixing her makeup in the mirror and noticed Vince standing in his driveway with a fist full of pebbles. He had an angry expressionon his face, and he was shaking his head slowly. It slipped my mind how Vince and Courtney were next-door neighbors. I also didn’t think it helped that my truck exhaust can be heard from miles away. I think I should get that
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