One of the Guys Read Online Free Page A

responsibility as possible.
    So much for that.

    On the drive home (an hour commute, another perk of attending Winston), I crank up the radio in hopes that a dose of good country music will erase my headache. I sing along to a sad ballad, belting out the tune so loud my neck veins pop. It doesn’t help.
    The scent of raspberry hairspray still tickles my nose as the green hills surrounding the Winston campus shrink in the rearview mirror. I sink further into the seat of my Maxima, the one comfort from my old life that I took with me. It used to belong to my dad. Fast food wrappers sprinkle the floor and the backseat is full of various clothes and books and Mountain Dew cans. No one can force me to act like a lady in here.
    I glance at the stack of intimidating textbooks on the passenger’s seat and roll down the window to keep the panic attack settling into my chest at bay. At Burlington, I had accumulated enough credits to take afternoons off or graduate early, but there’s no such thing as an afternoon off at Winston.
    Instead, I’m taking classes like “The Community Ecology of the Forested Landscape,” where you basically walk around the campus woods studying Vermont plant-life for a semester. Which wouldn’t be bad, actually, if I had Loch by my side. He would find potential Bigfoot tracks or something cool like that. He’d make it fun.
    I resent my GPA, and Brian, for landing me on this strange planet.
    Alone.
    When I get home, I park in the driveway and jog over to Loch’s house next door. I shed my plaid skirt halfway across the lawn, stomping on it twice, finally able to breathe. I’m excited for the evening ahead. We’re going to the lake for the first time in more than a month.
    Over the last few weeks, I have felt a disconnect with the guys. We’ve been to a few movies, played some video games, but something doesn’t feel quite the same. Something changed after I announced my transfer to Winston.
    When we do manage to hang out, Loch shows up late but avoids telling us where he’s been. I just hope he isn’t seeing his ex-girlfriend again. And Ollie spends way too much time talking about the excitement of senior year, one I won’t be a part of anymore, not completely, no matter how hard I try. Even Cowboy seems quieter than usual. Sullen.
    I’m worried the guys are distancing themselves from me because I’m no longer one of them. I’m a Winston Girl. I don’t know. I hope it’s just all in my head.
    I wind around to the back of the Garrys’ household, excited to see my boys. After much texting last week, we agreed on the monster hunt tonight. I don’t want to miss out on the pre-hunting activities, including an epic battle of Mario Kart . If they started playing without me, Yoshi is likely taken, which means I’ll be stuck with Peach again.
    As I slide through the basement window, I breathe in the familiar scent of dry wall and stale chips. I land on the shaggy carpet with a giant thud and let out a belly-shattering belch that could put any beer-guzzler to shame.
    â€œAw, that’s better! I’ve been holding that in all day!” I exclaim, rubbing my stomach.
    I turn and find that I’m staring at the horrified face of Amy Garry, Loch’s little sister. She’s painting her nails on the coffee table, a group of freshmen girls scattered around her, all doing the same thing. The four girls stare in shock, their glittering nails reflecting the dim basement light. I once nicknamed Amy Garry “My Adorable Shadow” because she used to follow us around everywhere. But now she’s got this look on her face that suggests she’d very much like a sinkhole to swallow me up.
    â€œOh,” is all I can say at first. “Where’s Loch?”
    Amy’s cheeks burn red. “You mean Micah? He’s at work.”
    I shake my head, certain I’ve heard incorrectly. Loch doesn’t have a