'Seriously Pen, she's on some sort of medication. There's something off upstairs.'
'I know — I see her talking to everybody,' I tried to not laugh.
'You don't understand — you don't have any classes with her. I've got two — before lunch. And all she did yesterday was come over and talk to me in that cheerleadery way she has.'
'Yeah, welt I'm not that worried about it. She'll cancel on me. End of story.'
I guess in a way Diane prepared me for being dumped by guys.
With her it was the same thing as any guy — the calls not being returned, avoiding me in the hallways, talking behind my back.
Tracy's cell phone rang. She threw her headset on, answered, listened for about three seconds, then screamed, 'WHAT?'
I instinctively grabbed the wheel to steady her driving.
'Are you even serious? When?' Tracy grabbed my arm. 'Oh my God!'
I wanted to hit her, but didn't want to die on my way to school.
Tracy just kept on screaming and asking questions.
When she finally got off the phone, a look of smugness settled on her face, 'You're not going to believe it,' she said. 'Ryan broke up with Diane.'
'WHAT?' I screamed so loud, Tracy winced. 'You can't be serious. I've seen Diane at Ryan's locker — ' Tracy shook her head. 'Jen went in early this morning with the volleyball team to practice, and the news broke. From what she knows, he broke up with her at the start of summer before she went away on vacation, but nobody really knew about it since Ryan didn't want to, I don't know, spread gossip or whatevs while she was away. They wanted to wait a few more days to tell people, but Todd ended up spilling it to Hilary Jacobs, and you can imagine where it went from there.'
'That's impossible,' I replied. Diane Monroe and Ryan Bauer had been together for four years. They were supposed to get married, have 2.4 kids, and have a 50 percent chance of living happily ever after.
'It all makes perfect sense! This is why she's being so nice to everybody, that fake little bee-yotch.' Tracy glared at me. 'And now we know exactly what she wants.'
I looked at Tracy in confusion. What did Diane want?
'She thinks that now she's single, she can come running back to her good old friend Penny.'
I tried to wrap my head around it. Diane dumped me for Ryan, Ryan dumped Diane, and now she expected us to be friends again.
I don't think so.
'Wait a second!' Mike interrupted. 'You're friends with Diane Monroe?'
'No, we used to be friends,' 'Wow.' Mike looked impressed, 'She's hot. Do you think you can introduce her to me?'
'Get out of the car!' Tracy screamed. Mike rolled his eyes, and he jumped out as soon as Tracy pulled into the parking lot.
'How stupid does she think I am?' I asked. 'After not talking to me for four years, she wants me to mop up after Ryan. I've got my own guy problems, thank you very much. I'm so canceling on her.'
'What?' Tracy's eyes opened wide, 'No way — you have to go!
I couldn't believe she was even being serious. Tracy hated Diane and she wanted me to hang out with her?
'You have to get the scoop. Find out why he dumped her skinny ass and then get up and leave. You don't owe her anything. See how she feels being used for once.'
'But I…'
'Come on, Pen. I wish I could go and hear her poor sad sob story.
Oh, I'm so happy Ryan finally came to his senses. Hmmm, I wonder if I should put him on the list.' Tracy looked thoughtful for a moment. 'Nah, I've always thought he'd be better for you. Not that you're dating or anything.'
I felt a migraine coming on.
My headache wasn't going to go away once got to my locker and saw Ryan. I was so preoccupied with Diane that I had forgotten that I'd have to deal with him, too. there was no way to avoid him.
Not only didn't I know what to say to him, but I didn't know how I was supposed to feel. Should I be mad at him? Should I be grateful to him for confirming once more that guys only use girls) Granted, I didn't know what had happened, but I felt it had to have been his fault.
'Hey there, Bloom,' he said as I opened up my locker.
'Hey, what's new — I mean, not what's new, um…' I closed my eyes, hoping he'd just turn and walk away.
'Well, I see it only took twenty-four hours for the news to make its way around the school,' he replied.
I looked over at him and didn't know what to say.
'Anyways,' he went on, 'I hear you and Diane are going out tonight.'
I stared at him blankly. How did he know that'?
'Hey, it's okay. I'm glad you guys are hanging out. to tell you the truth, I'm a little worried about Diane. You know how catty some people can be.'
I tried to not think of Tracy… or myself.
'What up, Bauer?' Todd came from around the corner. I'd never been so happy to see him in my life… at least until he walked over and put his arm around me. 'I don't give a crap that you're single now — you best stay away from my girl.'
For the first time, Ryan seemed thrown off Todd, however, didn't pick up on this. He went on, 'Now why don't you run along and start breaking some hearts while me partner en espanol and I head to class?' As he grabbed my arm and guided me toward class, he started shaking his head. 'I'm telling you,' he said with an overdone sigh, 'having Bauer be single is going to be trouble.'
Ryan was right about news traveling fast through the school — it was all anybody could talk about. I tried to not get caught up in it, but as the lone member of the Lonely Hearts Club, I couldn't help but notice how unfair everybody was being. Nobody seemed to worry about Ryan. Of course, he would have a new girlfriend soon enough, but if he didn't, it wasn't a big deal. It was his choice.
Guys rule.
But Diane was treated like damaged goods. the victim, A heartbroken, devastated shell of a person.
When people talked about Ryan, they were high-fiving, talking about his freedom.
With Diane, people were speaking to low voices, like she should've been ashamed to be single again.
So. Unfair.
I knew this. But it was still extremely awkward to be with Diane after school. I kept hearing a voice in my head that said, the only reason she didn't cancel on you is because she doesn't have a boyfriend.
On our way over to the diner, we talked about our families, and how Rita was doing at college, and how her mother was remodeling their kitchen. again. When we got there, we talked about classes. then what we were going to order. then, when it seemed like the only thing left besides the breakups (ours, hers..
pick one) was to discuss the weather, we simply stared at each other.
'So,' Diane finally said as she picked at her salad. 'How's Nate?
Does he still spend the summer with you guys?'
My stomach tightened. 'I don't want to talk about it.'
'Oh.' Diane looked down, realizing her question had backfired.
She seemed so sad as she pushed her fork around her plate.
Finally, she looked up again. 'Can I tell you something?'
I shrugged.
'I've always been a little bit jealous of you.'
'Excuse me?' How could Miss Perfect, blond-hair, blue-eyes model Diane Monroe be jealous of me?
'Seriously, Penny — I mean, seriously! Look at you! Do you have any idea how hard I have to work to look like this? I mean, look at what I'm eating, for the love of carbs!' Diane motioned toward her garden salad with fat- free dressing and then looked over at my turkey sandwich with cheddar cheese and mayonnaise and potato chips.
