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1984 would have to wait until I finished this one.

Maybe I’m Not a Good Friend Then
CHAPTER 9
    BRADY
    Ivy was saying something. I think I heard the words Friday night and maybe something about a party. My attention wasn’t on her. Instead it was completely directed at Gunner’s fancy-ass truck and the girl climbing out of the passenger’s side.
    After the way Willa ignored us both yesterday I didn’t expect to see her riding to school with Gunner. I wondered if Ms. Ames had set this up. Gunner stopped at the front of the truck and said something to Willa that made her laugh. My chest tightened with what felt like jealousy at the sight, and I felt my hands fist at my sides.
    Gunner was making her laugh. She was riding withGunner, and now she was talking to him while she smiled. Last night something must have happened to bring the two of them together. They seemed like old friends instead of strangers. They were old friends, but so was I. Why wasn’t I involved in this little moment of fucking friendship?
    â€œAre you good with that?” Ivy asked, tugging on my arm.
    Was I good with what? Gunner and Willa hanging out. No, I wasn’t. Why? Well I didn’t want to think about that too deeply. However, I didn’t think that was what Ivy was referring to. So I replied to her question with “Huh?” and saw her face scrunch up in a frown and quickly added, “Oh, sure.” Which made her smile and hopefully shut up with the chattering.
    Kimmie and Serena both bombarded Gunner and blocked out Willa in one swift move as if they were operating as a whole and not two parts. I didn’t watch to see how Gunner handled it because I was too busy watching Willa roll her eyes, then move on toward the front doors. That made me smile. She wasn’t trying to lay any claim, nor did she want to. That was obvious, and I was so relieved I didn’t worry about the fact I’d agreed to something with Ivy that I hadn’t fully heard.
    â€œAre you coming?” Ivy asked.
    I didn’t much care for the possessive, bossy way she’dasked me. So I did the mature thing and started toward Willa. “Nah, I’ll see you later,” I called back to Ivy without a glance, then hurried to catch up with Willa before she got out of my sight.
    Ivy called my name, but I pretended not to hear her and broke into a jog. I was being a jerk. I knew it and I felt bad about it, but my getting to Willa had suddenly become more important than being nice. Which I wasn’t going to evaluate too much. Because right now I needed to make my way to Willa and Gunner. Ivy needed some patience.
    If Willa was talking to Gunner, then she must still be the Willa from our past. I wanted her to talk to me.
    â€œWilla.” I called out her name just before she walked into the school. She paused and looked back over her shoulder at me. A confused almost startled expression touched her brow. “Hey,” I said, unsure what to do now I had her attention.
    â€œHey,” she replied just above a whisper. Was she nervous?
    â€œI saw you rode with Gunner.”
    She nodded but said nothing more.
    â€œWe were all friends once. I do something wrong? You don’t seem to like me much.”
    Her eyes widened; then she shook her head. “No . . . but you’ve not spoken to me.”
    She hadn’t talked to me. I was letting her make the move to say something. Willa had always been the outgoing one between us. She hadn’t let us get away with much, and she was the one to pull me into talking when I didn’t want to. Had she changed that much?
    â€œSince when did I have to come after you to talk? The girl I remember used to hunt me down.”
    A hint of a smile almost lit her lips. Almost. “That was a long time ago.”
    Yeah, it was, but I was still as attracted to her now as I had been then. She was quieter now and not sure of herself. Almost timid. I didn’t