Landry in Like by Krysten Lindsay Hager Page A

girls, the idea of it also scared me. After all, Kendall told me herself some of her friends could be kind of intimidating. Could I handle it? I wanted to be able to say, “Oh yeah, went on a date with my freshman boyfriend and hung out with my high school friends,” but let’s be real. I would probably destroy an entire forest with the amount of toilet paper I’d use after my nervous stomach went nuts.
    As much as I wanted to be the cool, popular girl with the high school boyfriend, I was terrified of hanging out with that crowd. But I didn’t want to hurt Vladi’s feelings and make him think I didn’t want to spend time with him. I knew Kendall didn’t want to spend the night away from her friends and that’s why she was including me instead of just going with Steve, Vladi, and me, but her whole crew thing made the idea of date night that much scarier. I knew I needed to make some new friends now that I saw I couldn’t rely on being included with Ashanti’s friends, so I went to talk to Mom about it.
    â€œKendall wants me to go to the movies with her and her friends and she said Vladi and Steve would be there, too,” I said. “It’s a group of girls, so not like a date, but I’d actually be less panicky about it if it were just me and Vladi going together.”
    Mom stared at me. “Why is that?”
    â€œWell, he’s such a nice guy, but those girls are older and… well, Kendall’s super sweet, but she’s told me some stuff about her friends and they are… a little scary.”
    â€œScary? What do you mean? Like intimidating or aggressive?” she asked.
    â€œIntimidating. I know you wouldn’t let me go with just him and I’m not sure his parents would either, but this whole group thing is…”
    â€œToo much? Maybe you feel in over your head?”
    I paused. I hated to admit that — especially to my mother — so I just shrugged.
    â€œI want to hang out with him and people are always hanging out at games and stuff, but his parents are weird about the mall’s new rules and there aren’t any games right now to go to,” I said. “He did mention going to the library, but that might be super lame—”
    â€œHow about you let me be the bad guy on this one?” she said.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œWell, I’m glad you shared with me how you feel about this, and I don’t want you spending time with some group that makes you feel uncomfortable. To be honest, I don’t know which makes me more nervous — you on a date alone with a boy or hanging out with older high school mean girls. Let’s just say high school girls often act older than they actually are, and I’d prefer you not get in with a group like that.”
    â€œSo I can’t go then? Is that how you’re the bad guy?”
    â€œNo, you tell them I said I’m not sure about the movie night, but you could tell him I was okay with you two meeting to study at the library.”
    â€œSo I can meet up with him?” I asked.
    â€œWith rules. First rule is that you cannot leave the library under any circumstance—”
    â€œWhat if the library catches fire?”
    She sighed. “Fine, other than a fire or bomb threat. Second, I want you to stay in the teen area because that area is supervised, and I know nothing inappropriate will go on under the librarian’s watchful eyes.”
    My mother was so embarrassing sometimes, but I just nodded.
    â€œThird, you will behave yourself in a suitable manner.”
    â€œHuh?” I asked.
    â€œNo kissing.”
    â€œMoth-er, seriously. I’m not going to kiss anyone in the library. Gross.”
    â€œI do not feel good about this,” she said. “However, you were upfront with me about the situation so I feel that I should extend some trust to you, but don’t push it, kid.”
    I texted Vladi about the library thing, and he