Every Girl's Guide to Boys by Marla Miniano Read Free Book Online Page B

her, Rickie has always been bossy and a bit
of a know-it-all. I should be used to her acting like this, except it’s no
picnic when the target is me.
    “That’s ridiculous,” I
say. “Of course I know there’s a problem.”
    “Oh yeah?” She raises
an eyebrow at me. “Have you talked to Nico about his new career path?”
    “No,” I reply. “Not
yet. Besides, where he wants to work and what he wants to do with his life is
his choice, not mine. And I don’t think it has anything to do with me anyway.”
    “Really, Chrissy?”
Rickie says in a voice that should be used when speaking to a bunch of
three-year-olds with learning disabilities. “You think it’s just one big
coincidence? You think he’ll show up for his first day of work and be like,
‘Oh, hey there, girlfriend! How’s it hanging? Silly me, I totally forgot you
studied here. Isn’t this the coolest? I can make you bantay every day!’ Come on,
Chris. Even you can’t be that naive.” I know I should be royally pissed at her
because a) she is making fun of Nico, b) she just called me naive, and c) by
“naive,” I know she meant “stupid.” But I find her mockery amusing rather than
insulting, and I have to stifle a laugh because a) she just made Nico sound
like a cross between a kikay colegiala and a stoner surfer dude, or a Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtle, b) Nico would never say “make you bantay, ” and c) Nico would
never use the word “girlfriend” in that context. Actually, now that I think
about it, he might never use the word “girlfriend” in reference to me, because
“let’s take things slow” could mean “I don’t ever want commitment,” and this realization is not funny at all .
    “You really think it
has nothing to do with you?” Anna asks. “Or with Nathan?”
    “I would like to
think,” I say, in a controlled, even voice, “that I know Nico better than you
do.” There. I have pulled out the Us Against the Universe card, and nobody can
argue with that.
      “This is not a competition,” Anna tells
me. “Of course you know Nico better .
But do you know him enough ?”
    “We grew up together,”
I remind her.
    “Yes,” Rickie says.
“And then he moved away.”
    I look down at my soggy
waffle, take a few bites, and chew slowly, letting the three of us simmer in
our own silence for a few minutes. I am trying to come up with a valid response
to Rickie’s last statement, and the best I can manage is, “But he’s back now.”
I sound whiny and self-absorbed, like someone who is used to having everyone
cater to her demands the minute she makes them, used to everyone working around
her versions of the truth. I almost expect them to reply, He didn’t come
back for you . But we all know he could have, maybe just not for the right
reasons.
    Anna waves the white
flag first. “Okay. We’ll leave you and Nico alone. But we hope you know what
you’re doing.”
    “I do,” I say firmly.
    Rickie
looks like she wants to push the subject, but instead, she says, “So are we
done fighting now?”
    I smile. “The question
is, are you done grilling me to a crisp now?”
    Anna
smiles, too. “You felt like we were grilling you?”
    “Of course we weren’t
grilling you!” Rickie exclaims.
    I
jump up from my chair, rubbing my butt and cringing. “Really? ‘Cause that sure
felt like the hot seat!”
    They groan at my lame
joke, but I start giggling, and pretty soon, all of us are doubled over in
laughter. Then, like a corny scene from a teen movie, we get up and squeeze
ourselves into a cheesy group hug, and it feels like my best friends are back
to being on my side again.
     
    Most people’s problems revolve around their inability, or
unwillingness, to listen.
    Exhibit A is this girl
named Megan, who always asks me for advice but never seems to take it to heart
(actually, she never seems to take it, period—all she does is argue with
me). I don’t know why she keeps writing to me, but I do know she’s one of