Page 37 of Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel
“Not to be patriotic,” Michael says. “But this might be the greatest song ever made.”
“To think she did all that with just a dream and her cardigan,” I muse.
“Almost beats out her Hannah Montana collection,” Zara agrees.
Noelle leans up from her chair at this. “How’s that for a theme?” she says. She slides her hand in the air, picturing the concept. “Different eras of Miley?”
Michael and Zara audibly and simultaneously groan. I sip my Shirley Temple to hide a smile. All night, Noelle has been stressing about her and Zara’s upcoming “housewarming” party. It’s been over a month since their sublease started, but they haven’t hosted yet, and Noelle is feeling the pressure of putting on a perfect night.
“Absolutely not,” Zara says.
“Way too niche,” Michael concurs.
Noelle deflates. “I really thought I had something,” she says.
“It’s workable if you broaden it,” I say. “Disney Channel alums, maybe? Or 2000s pop girls at-large?”
Her eyes brighten. “I like that,” she says. She considers for a second longer and beams. “Oh, I really like that. I would make an amazing Britney.”
“Great,” Michael says. “Now we can table the party discussion, perhaps.”
Noelle glares. “It’s the most important night of the summer, Michael, so maybe you can show some more understanding.”
“Noelle’s ex-girlfriend is back in town,” Zara explains to me, her mouth twitching.
“Ah,” I say. Everything is much clearer all of a sudden. “And she’s invited?” I ask.
Michael snorts. “Noelle’s basically throwing the party for Alexa,” he says.
“Very Gatsby,” I say. “I can appreciate that.”
“I’m being super subtle about it, though,” Noelle says. “She’llget a last-minute invite but feel compelled to drop by because all her friends are going. By the time she arrives, everyone will be having such a blast, and I’ll look so amazing, that she’ll feel terrible about how she treated me.”
“She’s not going to feel terrible,” Zara says with a huff. “Terrible people never feel terrible for doing terrible things.”
Michael leans toward me to provide the intel. “Alexa asked Noelle to open their relationship before leaving for study abroad this summer.”
I gasp. “No!”
“We’d been dating for a year,” Noelle adds mournfully.
“God,” I say. “Thatisterrible.”
“It was devastating,” Noelle says. “But Meera’s doing the extended version of that same study-abroad program, and she told me Alexa had no luck in Lisbon.” A smile turns at her lips.
“That’s karma,” I say.
“You and Meera,” Zara says with a sigh. “Really going through it together.”
My ears catch on the allusion. I sip my drink to hide my interest. I’ve wanted more insight on the matter since I first learned but haven’t felt like it was appropriate to ask.
“Misery loves company,” Noelle says. “I miss that girl. August is way too long,” she adds, and Zara and Michael murmur their agreement. “But to be clear,” Noelle says, looking at each of us in turn. “I don’t want Alexa back, I want revenge. That’s all this is about.”
It’s a speech that sounds all too familiar from my recent conversations with Simran, and from Zara and Michael’s faces, they’re just as exhausted with Alexa as I am with Steve. But Noelle seems sincere in her declaration, so I give her the affirmation.
“A revenge party is very respectable,” I say, and she smiles, satisfied.
“While we’re on the subject,” Michael says with a glance at me. “Just as a heads-up, Frank might be at the party.”
