“What I mean is, I think we should just … full stop. No more tweeting at them at all.”
The tomato crunching stops for a moment. “You can’t just let him win.”
My ears snag on the word, my heart lurching.
“What do you mean ‘him’?”
There’s a beat, and then my mom waves her hand dismissively. “The owner’s probably a he.”
“It’s called Girl Cheesing.”
Not to mention, assuming an owner of a business is a guy is just not my mom’s MO. Long before she dreamed up the idea for Big League Burger and helped build it up to the veritable empire it is today, she was almost too progressive a feminist for a place like Nashville, where she jokingly but not-quite-jokingly would clamp her hands over our ears anytime a line in a country song said something about girls with painted-on jeans or sitting on tailgates, saying it would make us “the complicit kind of cowgirl.”
“You know what I mean.”
But now she’s the one having trouble looking at me.
I could tell her, I suppose. About Jack. But I already know what it’ll look like — that I have a crush on him or something, and I’m backing out of something that matters to her over a dumb boy.
“I’m going to lie down,” says my mom, getting up from the table so suddenly she leaves her briefcase and her sunglasses behind. “There should be leftovers in the fridge if you’re hungry.”
I can’t stand the idea of her being upset with me. I feel it all over again like some phantom force — that tug between her and Paige, except this time, of all people, it’s between her and Jack.
“I’ll queue up some ideas,” I tell her retreating back.
Which isn’t a lie. I will. They just won’t necessarily have anything to do with our Twitter feud. This has to be where it ends. It was embarrassing enough when it was a tiger against an ant; it’s another thing entirely when it’s a tiger attacking a family. And as determined as Jack was not to hear me out, the truth is, I understand that — the pride. The loyalty. The ridiculous lengths you’ll go to when it comes to protecting your own.
We used to have that, once upon a time. Now, I guess, the front lines are just me and 280 characters on a phone screen.
Jack
Wolf
This. Has been. The longest day. Of my entire existence
Bluebird
Oh hey look who’s alive!
Wolf
Barely, though
Wolf
Sorry I’ve been MIA
Wolf
And to answer your question: be Spider-Man. That is what I want to do with my life
Wolf
But since that is a biological impossibility I have turned my attention to slightly more realistic pursuits
Bluebird
Disappointing, but go on
Wolf
Honestly? What’s probably going to happen is I end up in the family business
Bluebird
Maybe don’t go on. This is starting to sound like the opening to a Godfather movie
Wolf
Believe me, I have made PLENTY of offers people have no problem refusing
Wolf
But family business aside, I guess I like working with apps
Bluebird
Like making them?
Wolf
I guess, yeah. I mean I’m obviously not a pro at it but it’s fun to tinker with
Bluebird
Well? Have you made any?
Wolf
REALLY dumb things
Bluebird
Show me
Wolf
You might not like me anymore
Bluebird
Who says I like you now?
Wolf
Um OUCH
Bluebird
How about this? If you don’t show me I won’t like you anymore
Wolf
That logic is cruel but sound. You asked for this
Wolf
macncheeseme.com
Bluebird
Is this … is this an app for finding emergency mac and cheese
Wolf
Like Spider-Man, I am only looking out for the citizens of New York
Bluebird
Oh my god it says there are 203 places within a three-mile radius of me where I could get mac and cheese RIGHT NOW
Wolf
Really though is there any other reason for people to live in this city
Bluebird
I AM SO OVERWHELMED
Wolf
Mac and cheese fan?
Bluebird
You should do another one of these but with cupcakes
Wolf
Your feedback is noted and appreciated
Bluebird
Really though, this is super cool
Wolf
Thanks. You’re like one of two people on the planet who has the access link, so be honored I guess
Bluebird
WHAT? You should be sharing this shit with the world. It’s your moral responsibility
Wolf
With great power …
Bluebird
Comes delicious responsibility
Bluebird
I think I’m gonna get mac and cheese, I’m not kidding
Wolf
This is my legacy now, huh?
Bluebird
And hey your dreams technically didn’t NOT come true
Bluebird
Since you’re posting your app on the world wide … web
Bluebird
Get it?
Wolf
I’m blocking you.
Bluebird
WEBS. Like SPIDER-MAN’S!!!!
Wolf
Blocked
Bluebird doesn’t answer me for a few moments, then. I assume she’s just hustling her way out the door like I am, until I reach the 6 train platform and see another notification come in that makes my stomach drop.
Bluebird
Do you think it’s weird that the app hasn’t outed us yet?
Bluebird
Like maybe we are lab rats in this app’s experiment or something
Wolf
IDK. It is weird though
Bluebird
Are we going to do something dumb like not tell each other who we are until graduation
Wolf
Do you want to know?
Bluebird
Sometimes
Bluebird
You?
Wolf
Sometimes
Wolf
I feel like
Wolf
Ah sorry that sent too soon
Wolf
I don’t know. What if you think I’m someone I’m not and you’re disappointed?
Bluebird
I feel the same way
Bluebird
Just kidding. I’m embarrassingly hot. I’m actually Blake Lively
Wolf
Well this is awkward because I’m sitting with her right now, so
Bluebird
SHIT. Not again
Wolf
XOXO gossip wolf
I spend the rest of the ride to the Upper East Side typing and deleting messages back, wondering if I should just leave it at that or say what I want to say. The trouble is, I don’t know what I want to say. If I want us to stay in the dark, or if I want all our cards out on the table.