Breaking the Bro Code Read online

  I couldn’t tell if he simply wanted the help or if he wanted to get to know me better.

  “Sure, tonight will be great.”

  “Perfect!” He said. “My house is totally crazy. How about your place?”

  Obviously, he hadn’t met my brother or my grandparents, but I agreed anyway. We exchanged cell numbers and went to class.

  Chapter three

  As soon as I closed the car door, I turned to Kennedy. “Carver Nelson. How well do you know Carver Nelson?”

  “What are you talking about?” Kennedy asked.

  “Okay, I’m not exactly sure what happened, but one minute I’m wishing Carver good luck on his math problem and next the thing I know we have a study date tonight.”

  “Carver Nelson,” she began. “Good body, great face, but believe me you don’t want to go out with him. I took him to a dance last year. If you’re looking for that first kiss, he’s not the guy. I held his hand, leaned on his shoulder, asked him to check my eye for a stray eyelash. I tried everything and got nothing, not even on the doorstep. He gave me a courtesy hug and walked away—total waste of an evening. Do you know how much I paid for my shoes alone for that dance?”

  “Yes, but was he fun? Did he make you laugh? What’s he like?”

  “Yeah, yeah, he is all of those things, if that’s what you like. By the way, where do you want to go for lunch?”

  We ended up at a drive through. The more she told me, the more interested I was in Carver. After all, I wasn’t so much looking for my first kiss. I was just looking for that moment. The moment before the moment. Everything that leads up to the first kiss.

  The rest of the day all I could think about was Carver. After school I was grabbing my things from my locker when Logan showed up.

  “So, up for another movie this weekend?” He leaned against the locker next to me. “Ryan, is working on Friday and can sneak us in and get us free popcorn.”

  “That really sounds incredible, but I think I have plans with my family Friday night.”

  Logan looked up at the ceiling, “Hmm. Ryan won’t be working on Saturday so we can’t go then. There’s no way I could enjoy a movie, knowing that it could have been free the day before. I guess we could just hang out and watch a movie on Saturday at my house.”

  “That would be great, too. But I think I’m busy all weekend. I’m babysitting my brother on Saturday.”

  Just then Kennedy and Morgan walked up. “Hi Logan. Sorry, we need Maddie.” They pulled me away and dragged me down the hall. Morgan and Kennedy are identical. Both selfish, both boy crazy, and both determined to always get their way. Their hair color was the only thing that was different. Kennedy’s was blonde and Morgan’s hair was a deep brown, almost black.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Myrna. That’s what’s going on. She just called an emergency meeting in the cheer room.”

  Myrna is our cheer coach, although she also teaches health. She was a cheerleader in college about thirty years ago. Now she’s just a mean, middle-aged woman who never thinks we work hard enough. Plus, she’s always hitting on Coach Watkins, the basketball coach. First quarter report cards just came out and apparently several of the cheerleaders received below acceptable grades. We have to maintain a 2.7 grade point average to stay on the team. I was on the honor roll, so I didn’t worry. But some of the others must not have done so well.

  “Kennedy, Morgan, and Tatum. You are suspended until midterm grades,” Myrna shouted. “If you cannot get your act together by then, you are off the squad completely.”

  “That’s not fair,” Kennedy said. “It’s not my fault Mr. Walsh gave me a D.”

  Myrna stepped up directly in front of Kennedy. “Then whose fault is it?”

  “Mr. Walsh’s, of course. He gave me the D.”

  Myrna’s face was flaming red with anger. “I don’t care if he’s the worst teacher in the world. Just get those grades up or you’re finished. Understand? We have competition coming up this spring and we need everybody there. We won’t stand a chance if we have to rely on only those of you with good grades.” She stared at me as if to imply that I am nowhere near the cheerleader the suspended girls were.

  “That is so unfair,” Kennedy said under her breath.

  Myrna intimidated me. I didn’t know why. Myrna’s a fifty-year-old woman who tries to dress like she’s seventeen. Her hair is bleached so blonde that it looks like a fluorescent wig. And those fake eyelashes, the fake tan, and the over-the-top makeup are so obnoxious. But she’s demanding, angry, and feared by all. I always keep my mouth shut, hoping to stay on her good side, if there was one. But so far, even with good grades and being one of the best tumblers on the team, she didn’t like me. I’m not sure why. She will compliment everyone else once in a while, even Kennedy, but never once has she thrown a “nice job” my way. Today was the closest she had ever come to recognizing something positive about me.

  “Kennedy, try studying with this one,” she said, pointing to me. “She’s smart.”

  This one? She couldn’t even include my name with the compliment. Although, knowing Myrna, I’m not sure she considered smart a compliment.

  “The rest of you, starting Wednesday, we will be having extra practices after school to adjust the dance and the stunts to the smaller squad.” I’m sure down deep, Myrna was happy that some of the girls were on probation. She loved to hold extra practices. She would practice four hours a day if the administration would let her.

  On the way home, I wanted to learn more about Carver.

  “So, anyway, you were saying that Carver is fun, right?”

  “What? Oh, yeah, I guess. I mean it depends on your definition of fun. But yeah.” Kennedy said. Then she slammed her hand against the steering wheel. “Can you believe I’m suspended? Myrna is such a jerk.”

  We pulled up to my house and I got out. “Thanks for the ride, as always.”

  Kennedy nodded. “Hey, by the way, what time are you guys studying math tonight? Do you care if Morgan and I come? There is no way I can get my grade up in math by midterm without a miracle. And Morgan is hating it worse than I am.”

  Was she serious? Had she not heard me call tonight a “study date”?

  “I don’t know. I think it was more like Carver wanting to get together, but I guess if—”

  “Great! We’ll see you tonight. I’ll tell Morgan.” In Kennedy’s mind everything was always about her. We had done a lot together since I moved in last year, but in all of that time Kennedy had always chosen the movies we saw, the parties we went to, and the food we ate. She was kind of like a girl version of Logan.

  I opened my front door to find Cam and Zane throwing paper airplanes across the room trying to hit Grandpa who was sitting on the couch. There was paper everywhere.

  “Okay, I need this place cleaned up!” I shouted. “I’ve got friends coming over tonight.” Then I grabbed Cam by the arm. “And don’t throw those at Grandpa!”

  “He’s fine,” Grandpa grumbled. “These two couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.”

  “Yeah, Grandpa bet us that we couldn’t hit him,” Cam said, sending another airplane Gramps’ way, missing him by a mile.

  “See! These boys don’t know nothin’ about airplanes,” Grandpa said, sliding his fingers along the crease of a piece of paper, putting the finishing touches on his own plane. He held it up in front of his face, closed one eye and aimed. “Watch and learn.” Then he threw the plane in a straight line hitting Zane squarely in the forehead.

  “Ouch!” Zane cried. “That hurt! And it almost hit my eye!”

  Cam thought it was hilarious until Grandpa hit him in the neck with his next plane.

  “Hey! That’s sharp!” He and Zane ran away into the other room while Grandpa laughed from the couch calling them “babies.” Then Grandpa got up and shouted, “I’m coming after you two with more planes.” I could hear Cam and Zane screaming as they scrambled downstairs. Grandpa chuckled to himself. He didn’t ha
ve any more airplanes. He just liked to tease Cam.

  I began picking up the papers when Mom came in. “Hello, Maddie. How was your day?” She didn’t even ask what all of the paper airplanes were all about, but she helped pick them up.

  “I can’t wait to tell you!” I started. “I hope it’s okay with you, but I’m having some people over to study tonight.” I told her all about math—every last detail, including his smile and his cinnamon breath.

  “Well, you’re welcome to study at the kitchen table. We’ll stay out of your way.” Mom was the best hostess when I had people over. I think she realized how crazy our house was with my grandparents and Cam and Zane always running around. She did her best to help me out.

  Chapter four

  At 6:45 Carver called me for my address. Not a text, but an actual call! That was pretty rare for boys at my school.

  “I know you already told me at school, but I forgot your address,” he said.

  “Wow, I’m either really easy to forget or you are terrible with numbers,” I joked.

  “Well, I am awful with numbers. After all, you saw my performance in Math today.”

  I gave him my address one more time. “If you get lost, call me.”

  “Thanks,” he said. “And by the way, you are anything but forgettable. See you soon.”

  That same chill I felt at school ran down my spine again. I don’t know why I was so excited, I barely knew him at all. And who knows, maybe he really did just want to study.

  “No, there was something there,” I said softly to myself. “I felt it. So did he.”

  A few minutes later the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Grandma called from the family room.

  “No, Grandma, I’ve got it,” I insisted. I took a deep breath and walked to the front door. My hands were sweating as I grabbed the doorknob.

  “Oh, it’s just you guys.”

  “You sound disappointed,” Morgan said. She and Kennedy walked in like it was their own house.

  “So where are we studying? The kitchen?” Kennedy headed for the kitchen without waiting for my answer.

  Just as I closed the front door the bell rang again.

  “Wow, our first date and you’re already slamming the door in my face,” joked Carver from outside.

  “Sorry,” I laughed, opening the door again. “I didn’t see you out there.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I get that all the time.”

  There was something so comfortable about this guy. He was funny and talked to me like we had known each other for years.

  I invited him in and led him to the kitchen.

  “Hi, Carver,” Kennedy said. “I hope we’re not crashing your study date?”

  “What, I have to share my tutor with you two?” He turned to me and shook his head. “I hope you’re not charging me full price for this.”

  Morgan, who obviously didn’t get the word from Kennedy that I was interested in Carver, began to flirt with him. She slid her book across the table.

  “Maybe I should sit over there,” she said, pointing to the empty seat next to Carver. Kennedy jabbed her in the ribs. Morgan wasn’t very bright.

  “Ouch! What was that for?”

  “I think Maddie is sitting there,” Kennedy said.

  “What are you talking about? Maddie hasn’t even sat down yet.”

  Another Jab to the ribs and Morgan finally understood. She looked at me, then back at Carver and sighed. “Oh, right.”

  We began working on the review packet together. I was explaining my answer to the first question when Grandpa came in looking for a snack.

  “Who are they?” Grandpa said. He pointed around the room at my friends.

  “Hi, Grandpa,” I said. “These are my friends. This is Kennedy, Morgan and Carver.”

  “Carver? What kind of name is that?” Mom says Grandpa has lost all of his social filters over the past few years. He just says whatever comes to his mind. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks or says. My dad says that’s the benefit to growing old, you can say or do anything and get away with it. Dad can’t wait to be old just for that reason.

  “Grandpa!” I said. “Carver is his name. It’s a great name. Sorry, Carver.”

  “I know, sir,” Carver said. “It is an odd name, especially coming from my parents whose names are Robert and Nancy. You would think they would have chosen something a little more traditional.”

  Grandpa was now poking his head in the refrigerator searching for food.

  “Excuse me,” I told everyone. “I’ll be right back.” I hurried out of the kitchen and found my mom. She was helping Cam make a poster for school.

  “Mom, can you get Grandpa out of the kitchen? He’s totally making fun of my date’s name.”

  “I’m sorry. I thought he was watching television with your father. You know how those two love that home video show.”

  “I know, but will you please go get him?”

  By the time we got back, Carver and my grandpa were laughing out loud together. Carver was even making a sandwich for Grandpa. Kennedy and Morgan were gone.

  “Now that’s a sandwich!” Grandpa exclaimed, slapping Carver on the back.

  Mom and I looked at each other and then back at the two new, odd friends.

  “Remember, Earl, it’s all about the ration of mustard to mayo,” Carver said. “You can’t scrimp on the mustard.” Grandpa took his plate and headed to the family room.

  “I’m so sorry, Carver,” I said.

  “For what?”

  “You know. Leaving you here with my grandpa.”

  “Don’t be sorry. Earl is awesome!”

  Mom couldn’t help but smile. “Well, it looks like Maddie’s grandpa feels the same way. By the way, hello, I’m Maddie’s mother.”

  “Where are Morgan and Kennedy?” I asked.

  “They left.”

  Apparently, Morgan received a text from Braden, inviting her to a movie and both she and Kennedy left. It was really no wonder that those two were suspended for grades.

  Carver and I spent the next two hours studying, flirting, and laughing. It was the best night ever. Just after nine o’clock his mom called asking him to pick up his younger sister from a friend’s house.

  “Well, thanks for being a mathematical genius and helping me tonight. I had a really great time,” he said. And from the way he looked at me and smiled, I’m pretty sure he meant it.

  I smiled back. “I had a great time, too. We should definitely study together again. Plus, I think you’re my grandpa’s new best friend.”

  Carver left and I ran to the family room where my parents were watching television. “I just had the best night ever!”

  “Well, tell us all about it!” Mom replied, turning the television off with the remote.

  “Hey, I was watching that!” Dad complained. Dad was definitely not the emotional parent in our house.

  “That Home Video show? Come on, Chad. Let’s talk to your daughter,” Mom said. “Plus, you’ve been watching this for over two hours.”

  “It’s a marathon,” Dad said. “And I don’t care how many times you see a guy fall off the roof or get smacked by his kid with a bat, it’s hilarious.”

  Mom ignored him and turned to me. “So tell me all about it.”

  I squeezed in between them on the couch and proceeded to share every last detail of the day up until the moment I ran into the family room shouting that I had the best night ever.

  “What did he put on that sandwich anyway?” Dad asked. “I’ve never seen your grandfather so happy in my entire life. Can you have him make one for me next time he’s here?”

  “Well, that’s just wonderful, Madds,” Mom said.

  Just then my phone vibrated with a text. “It’s him!” I opened it and read it out loud.

  “The least I can do to thank you for helping me with math is to take you to dinner. What do you think?”

  My heart skipped a beat. Mom looked just as excited as I was. “What do I say?
It has to be something good. You know, something clever.”

  “How about asking about what was in that sandwich?” Dad suggested.

  The only think I could come up with was, “Sounds great. But if you get an ‘A’ on the test, I think I deserve two dinners.”

  “Deal.”

  Chapter five

  “I’m coming already!” I shouted. Kennedy honked three more times before I could make it out my front door.

  “So what’s the hurry?” I asked.

  “We’ve got to get to school fast. I glanced over the review last night and didn’t understand most of it. You’ve got to help me before the bell rings.”

  “Okay, but we’ll only have like five minutes.”

  Kennedy ran a stop sign and screeched around a corner.

  “Or maybe eight,” I corrected.

  “So, do you want to hear about my date last night?” I asked.

  She didn’t. She didn’t want to hear anything. “There are only two tests in math before mid-terms. If I don’t ace one of them, I’m off the squad for sure. Math was my lowest grade last term. If I can raise it to a C+ and maintain my same grades in my other classes, I’ll be fine.”

  We skidded into a parking stall and Kennedy ripped her study guide from her backpack. “Okay, I just need help on number three and seven.”

  I looked at the guide. “Oh, those are simple.”

  “Wait,” Kennedy interrupted. “Also, number five. Oh, and this one, number thirteen. And the last three, too.”

  “Are you kidding? Why didn’t you just stay at my house last night? We went over all of—”

  “Shh! You’re wasting time. Start explaining.”

  I did the best I could in six and a half minutes, but I could tell she wasn’t grasping most of what I was saying. From her car we heard the first bell ring.

  “Thanks, Maddie. I think that really helped.” We walked quickly into school. “By the way, I know I should have stayed last night, but Braden and Zach called and, well, you know. What would you do? I mean, had it been Kyle and Tyler or some other losers, it would have been easy to stay. But we’re talking Braden and Zach. It’s not like I had a choice.”