Archive of Our Own ^beta

Stacey fell into step beside Kristy, letting the others walk ahead. Glancing around, she lowered her voice and said, “Can I talk to you about something?”

“Sure, Stace.” Kristy threw her baseball into the mitt on her right hand, blowing a small bubble with her gum. “What’s up?”

“My mom’s seeing this guy,” Stacey said, “And I don’t…like him.”

Kristy laughed. “Right, and because I’m the expert in hating soon-to-be stepfathers, you thought I could give you some pointers?”

“Something like that.” Stacey blushed. “He’s awful, Kristy. He’s rude and boorish and I just don’t get what she sees in him, you know?”

Kristy stopped. Stacey stopped too, watching the rest of the club head towards Claudia’s front door.

“You want my honest opinion?”

“Please.”

She shrugged, snapping her gum again. “Talk to your mom. Tell her the truth – that you find him rude and awful and you want her to stop seeing him. Trust me, Stacey, you have her wrapped around your little finger. If you say you hate the guy, she’ll never see him again.”

“I know, but…” Stacey bit her lip. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

Kristy clasped her shoulder. “Trust me. It’s better you tell her.”

Stacey took a sip of her cappuccino, only half-listening as Mary Anne gushed about Logan’s latest romantic gesture. She twirled the same blonde strand around her finger and people-watched through the café window. It was only when Mary Anne said, “Stacey, are you listening?” that she came out of her reverie.

“What? Oh, yeah. Sorry. That tulip bouquet sounds divine.”

Mary Anne regarded her with some suspicion. “It was. He’s really thoughtful.”

There was silence for a few moments. Mary Anne stirred her milkshake with her straw, watching Stacey with a discerning eye, and it took all of Stacey’s strength not to fidget under the weight of her gaze – which was not something she was known for.

“Okay, spill.”

“How do you know if you like someone?” Stacey blurted out.

One of Mary Anne’s dark brows arched upwards. “Excuse me? Who are you and what have you done with boy crazy Stacey?”

“Just,” Stacey swallowed hard. She couldn’t tell Mary Anne about that part anyway. “I’ve had crushes, you know, but this person…I really like them. I think. More than friends.”

“So tell him,” Mary Anne shrugged. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

She might hate me, Stacey thought.

Dawn was sprawled out on the grass in her swimsuit, Stacey on a towel beside her. They were reading magazines – Vogue for Stacey and Smithsonian for Dawn – and occasionally murmuring comments to each other. Behind them, the rest of the club were splashing around in the pool, their laughter and shrieking a pleasant (but loud) ambient noise to their reading.

“Hey, Dawn?”

“Mm?” Dawn didn’t look up, flipping to the next page.

“You’re like, super into health food, right? Low sugar, no sugar, whatever?”

“Yeah,” Dawn’s blue eyes flickered upwards. “Why?”

Stacey shrugged uncomfortably. “I’m kind of sick of the same old snack ideas I’m always going to. Like, wow, an apple. How original.”

Dawn snorted. “It must be tricky with the diabetes, huh?”

“You have no idea.” Stacey rolled onto her stomach and set her magazine down. “It sounds dumb, but sometimes I get jealous of the stuff you guys can eat. You’re the only one who comes close to getting it, and even then, that’s a choice for you. I’m stuck like this.”

“Hey.” Dawn nudged her gently. “I have a whole folder full of cool, healthy snack recipes. Come over tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Stacey smiled. “That sounds great.”

“MOM!” Stacey yelled downstairs. “What’s the Pike’s number?”

“Anastasia,” her mother admonished her, walking up the stairs. “Don’t shout. It’s on a Post-it by the phone in my office.”

“Thanks.” Stacey kissed her mother’s cheek and headed for the phone. She dialled quickly, holding it to her ear and praying Mallory would be the one to answer.

“Pike residence,” Mallory sounded bored and exhausted, and Stacey felt a brief bout of guilt. This mono flare-up wasn’t treating Mallory well.

“Hi, Mal. Got a minute to talk to an old friend?”

“Stacey!” Mallory’s voice picked up. “Wait, is this about English homework?”

Stacey winced. “If I say yes now, will you forgive me faster?”

“Already forgiven.” She could hear the sound of Mallory’s footsteps, then a door sliding shut. “Sorry, I had to move into the study. You know what the triplets are like.”

Stacey smiled, fond. “I do.”

“You know,” Mallory sounded almost smug, “Considering I never even made it to Stoneybrook High, and I’m two grades below you, I take it as something of a compliment you want my help.”

“It’s a creative writing assignment, and you’re the best writer I know.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mallory laughed. “What’s the prompt?”

Somehow, Stacey ended up on the floor between Jessi and Dawn, and she didn’t mind one bit. While the others were all arguing about what movie they were watching tonight, she instead turned to Jessi and smiled.

“Can I ask for some advice?”

Jessi’s dark eyes lit up. “Sure!”

“I’m sitting for the Braddocks next week, and it’s the first time in a while.” Stacey laughed somewhat awkwardly. “Mrs Braddock said Matt is insistent he doesn’t need a sitter, but she’s worried, so…”

“Worried about him being upset?” Jessi offered her a kind smile.

“Kind of, but also…” Stacey felt heat creep into her cheeks. “My ASL is so rusty. Can you give me some pointers?”

“Of course!” Jessi’s hands flowed so beautifully, and Stacey tried to pay close attention to each movement and sign, but when she realised Claudia was watching her, she found herself distracted. Her eyes kept moving from Jessi’s gestures back to Claudia’s face, and for the first time in a long time she found herself somewhat self-conscious.

“Can you repeat that last one?”

Jessi’s hands moved again. “Like this. Got it?”

Stacey nodded, but she knew she’d be revising in the library before next week.

Stacey pressed her back against the wall, grateful for the comforting pressure of Claudia’s bed beneath her. Her head was just…not with it today. She wiped the sweat from her brow and tried to focus on what Kristy was saying.

“Hey,” Claudia said softly. “You okay?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but her tongue felt heavy, no words came out. She tried to focus on Claudia’s face and found it hazy and unconvincing.

“Stace?”

Was she low?

“Stacey, can you hear me?”

She’d done her afternoon insulin and had a snack…

“Is your kit in your bag?”

She managed to nod.

She was aware, vaguely, of a little commotion, but all she felt was a prick against her fingertip as Claudia guided the test strip to it.

“Shit. Mary Anne, pass me Stacey’s bag.”

Later, when she asked Claudia, she found out it had been in the low sixties. But now, she just felt Claudia press a tube against her lips, the too-sweet dextrose against her tongue. She managed to swallow and slowly bring a shaking hand up to grab the tube.

“Claudia,” she murmured. “I love you.”

Claudia squeezed her shoulder. “I’ve got you, Stace. I promise.”