It's Pucking Complicated

Nasty Attitude

ISADORA

The conversation I had with Jane replays in my mind as we all silently eat our cookies, and honestly, I don't know what to make of it.

This whole experience has been beyond weird.

After she asked me how I met Knox, I knew I had to give a family-friendly explanation that wouldn't give too much away. I wasn't sure if Knox had told his parents about me, but I assumed he hadn't, because otherwise, he wouldn't have asked his mother not to go to the car.

So, I told her, "We met a few days ago, actually. After his game."

"Oh, how exciting!" she remarked. "Where did you meet?"

"Uh...in a bar. Outside the bar, actually. I congratulated him on his win and we just started talking after that. We've been hanging out since."

The corners of her eyes crinkled. "I bet all your other friends think the two of you are dating, huh? I'm not saying that opposite-s*x friendships aren't common, but it's a natural assumption."

"I don't have any friends, actually."

Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but the truth is that I tend to forget how sad it sounds because it's my reality and has been for a long time. Jane's smile faltered and she tilted her head to the side, saying, "Knox has a hard time making friends, too."

"Really?" I asked, voice laced with doubt. "He seems pretty popular."

"Oh, if there's one thing my son hates, it's superficiality," she claimed. "Knox has an intense dislike for fake people and interactions. He's too real for the world—that's how I've always seen it. He's an honest young man. As you can imagine, sometimes, being as famous as he is comes with all the wrong kinds of attention."

I couldn't help but think about Rodonia just then and it made sense to me. "Yeah, that sounds awful."

"But you're not friends with him because of that, are you?"

For a moment there, the friendliness had fled her voice and she sounded serious. I shook my head before saying a word, then, "No. Of course, not. I think he's a really good guy."

Jane nodded slowly, her smile returning. "That's good. I'm glad. I hope you don't mind the question. I'm just trying to look out for him. He has a hard time connecting with people, so if he chose you as a friend, that can only mean that he saw something special in you."

I blushed really hard. That wasn't the case with us. After all, he only approached me because he needed me to make Justin mad.

Jane sighed, taking my attention away from my thoughts. "I worry about him so much. All the time. But he's doing great, isn't he? He's a respectable and responsible young man."

"Yeah," I agreed, because it was true. Knox is respectable. It might be too soon to say, but so far, we haven't had any problems where respect is concerned.

"By the way, wouldn't you love to stop by afterward to wash up and eat something? I'll make you a warm, hearty meal! I know what it's like during camping. You'll just eat hot dogs and other kinds of canned food that give you gas. What do you think?"

What was I supposed to say? No?

Right now, the silence that has settled over us is the awkward kind and I really wish we could just leave. I can just sense Knox's anger. He's bursting at the seams with it ever since his Mom mentioned stopping here.

Julius cleared his throat and I noticed how he and his wife exchanged a look. Knox shoved the last cookie in his mouth and stood up. "We've gotta run, okay? I'll talk to you later."

"We'll be looking forward to your visit," Jane proclaimed, smiling. "Wait, let me wrap some cookies for your trip!"

"It's not necessary, Mom."

"They're not for you," Jane replies in a sing-song voice. "They're for Isadora."

I clear my throat and say, "Thank you. They're delicious."

Knox makes a sound at the back of his throat which makes me look over at him. We make eye contact briefly. He looks even more upset than he was earlier and that's saying something. "I'll be in the car."

He walks away, leaving me alone with his parents. Jane wraps the cookies in a plate with cling wrap, then hands the plate over to me. She leans in to kiss my cheeks lightly, saying, "Come back anytime, alright?"

"Sure. Thank you for having me."

I smile at his father, who offers me a tight smile in response, and then I heard outside. I quicken my steps and get in the car. The engine's already on, and Knox doesn't look at me as he puts the car in reverse before I can even put on my seatbelt.

I glare at him, a complaint hanging from the tip of my tongue. I don't say anything, though.

His parents wave at us from the door and I wave back. He raises his hand just as we drive past the gates. He's speeding down the lone road now, and I have to hold on to the plate so it doesn't go flying.

That's it.

"Could you slow down?"

"Just hold on," he snaps. "We're late. All the good spots will be taken and we'll have to put up the tent closer to the lake. Know what that means? It gets cold. And humid."

"We'll never get there if we crash the car and die!" I yell. "Just slow down! Gosh, what's up with you?" When he doesn't answer me, I add, "You know, if you don't want us to show up after the trip, you could've said so or made an excuse. Did you really expect me to say no to your mother? I'm not a rude person."

"Really?" he asks in a low voice as a cold smile curls his lips. "That's a surprise."

"Screw you!"

"Thanks."

I huff and turn my face away from him. He is pissing me right off. If we say another word to each other, we're gonna argue, and then we won't be able to fake it in front of people. Gosh, when he acts this way, I can't help but wonder if maybe I'm not wasting my time here. Apart from getting under Justin's skin, I have nothing to gain from this.

Do I really have to deal with this grump for three more months?

I hear Knox exhaling sharply, and then he veers off the road with no warning at all. My eyes widen and I grab onto the plate of cookies. He slows to a stop and the seatbelt cuts into my shoulder painfully.

"Ugh," I remark, "what's the matter with you!?"

Knox hangs his head and doesn't look up for the longest time. I shake my head slowly.

He's gone mad.

There's no other explanation for his behavior.

"Knox," I say again. "Oh, for heaven's sake, answer me! What's going on?"

"I'm sorry," he says, turning his head to the side to meet my gaze. "I had a shitty day and..."

He trails off and looks away.

I wait, rather impatiently, for him to say something else.