Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles

later. Life happens that way.”
    Is he talking about homework or is he being more philosophical? Maybe he’s saying I won’t get into college, so I’ll have crappy jobs the rest of my life. Or does he mean that life is always filled with busy work, so get used to it?
    I shoot the number four ball into the left, back pocket. Or, maybe, just maybe, I'm thinking too much.
    “I bet your parents were pissed, huh?” he asks.
    “Yup. Grounded.”
    “Is that why your mom crashed Watson’s party? You snuck out?”
    I blush. I didn’t know Matt had been there.
    “Exactly.”
    Matt takes a shot, sinking two balls. “Then what happened?”
    “Oh.” Other than the nurse, no one has asked me that before.
    “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
    “No, it’s just. No one’s really wanted to know.” I hate that this is true.
    Matt looks at the door that leads to our cars, where Zach and Marissa are. “Really?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Well then,” he rests his chin on top of his pool stick. “What happened?”
    “They made me get a job.” And so I start my story. Matt nods and “uhuh’s” with me through my whole story. When I get through the hospital part, he simply says “that sucks,” and he means it.
    It feels so good to tell someone who listens. Before I know it, I'm telling him about Justin and how he is driving me crazy mad.
    “Oh, don’t sweat it. Justin’s awesome.”
    I scrunch up my face. I was worried he’d say that. My respect for Matt falls a few notches. Why can’t regular people see how Justin is only crazy in love with himself?
    Matt opens his mouth to explain but I never hear it. Marissa and Zach walk in together. Marissa announces, “Ten o’clock, Lucy. Curfew. Gotta get you home or your mom will kill me.”
    I want to crawl under the pool table and die.
     Matt scrunches up his nose, studying Marissa and me. He walks with me to the door, pulling me aside as Zach and Marissa leave. “Why her?”
    “It’s a long story. She’s not that bad. I mean, she is, but she isn’t. She saved me.”
    “Saved you?”
    “Again, long story.” Marissa honks her horn. “I’ll see you later?”
    “Yes. At my birthday party, okay? Don’t miss it. I’ll text you.”
    Honk.
    “Absolutely.”
    Zach waits for me outside Marissa’s car. He opens his arms and I wrap myself in them.
    “Thanks for the dinner,” I say, trying to sound intriguing.
    “Yup. No sweat.” He pulls out of the hug and looks down at me with a relaxed grin. “I had a fun night.”
    “Me too.” I lie.
    “I’ll call you tomorrow night, okay?” He opens the passenger door for me and I slide in.
    “Oh, okay.” The goodbye is too quick. Marissa starts pulling away and I haven’t even had a chance to kiss him. Oh, okay is the best thing I can come up with. Mental note: plan boyfriend goodbyes in advance.
     “I so need a boyfriend.” Marissa hits the steering wheel.
    “You will snag the right guy, soon.” She looks at me like I'm crazy. “The Justin plan.” I smile, thinking about how annoyed Justin will become with her reckless pursuit. He deserves it.
    “Of course. But that’s not now. With my calculations, it’ll be a month before I can seal that deal. That’s like half the summer.”
    “But it’s worth it, right? I mean, Marissa, we’re talking about Justin here.” I suppress my gag. Marissa looks mad and lonely. If I can eliminate at least one of her emotions, the drive will be much more tolerable.
    “You know what? You’re actually right. Justin is worth the wait. I need to focus, set my eyes on the prize, you know?”
    “Exactly. Pursue him with all you’ve got.”
    “Hell, yes.” Marissa giggles and puts her foot on the accelerator. Crisis averted.
    How does Marissa live with her emotions constantly oscillating? Flirtatiousness. Jealousy. Loneliness. Excitement. Keeping ahead of her exhausts me. I can’t let her dwell; it’d be too easy to slip onto her bad side. I don’t