spreads two menus in front of us. We are both itching to talk, but wait until our server has greeted us and asked for our order.
“She thinks you’re after Kit,” June finally tells me. And even as we sit a dozen miles away from Della, in a busy cafe, June looks cautiously around like she might appear at any moment. I tap my fingers on the table, annoyed.
“Why would I be after Kit?” I ask. “Why isn’t Kit after me?”
I don’t know why this bothers me more than my best friend talking behind my back. That she would blame this on me and not on him. I’ve sought him out … a couple times. But he’s the one always wanting to take walks. And everyone knows what happens when you take walks with a girl.
June rolls her eyes. “Because she’s a girl in love, and it’s never the man’s fault. Only the competition.”
“Oh, so now I’m the competition?”
I fold my arms across my chest and pout. June pushes her glasses up her nose. “Kit pays too much attention to you. That’s the problem.”
My head jerks in her direction. “No, he doesn’t.”
She laughs. “The reason Della sees you as competition is because you are. Kit has a thing for you. You’re blind if you can’t see that.”
My heart is being awful. I wish it would stop dancing. It’s wrong. But I also know it isn’t true. Kit is thoughtful and kind. People often misinterpret those qualities for something else.
“Della and I are nothing alike,” I say. “Kit has a thing for Della.”
“Maybe that’s his problem.” June leans back so the waiter can put her food down. “They aren’t much suited, are they?”
“Opposites attract.”
“You’re beautiful, Helena. You just don’t see it. Which truly makes you more beautiful.”
I put down my fork I’m so uncomfortable. “Ugh. Stop. Why are you saying these things?”
“Look, you’ve obviously known Della a lot longer than I have. But I became friends with her because of you. And vice versa. It’s not like someone like Della would ever choose to be friends with me normally.”
“What does that mean, June? That’s crazy.”
June waves her hands in the air and laughs. “I’m not offended. Trust me. I just know how things work. Let me speak your language so you can understand. Della is Choo, and I am Luna Lovegood.”
I hit the tabletop. “You are Luna! Oh my God!” Why hadn’t that clicked for me?
“Exactly,” she says.
“I love it when you speak Harry Potter to me. Who am I?”
“You’re a muggle who wants to be magical.”
I frown. “That’s so mean.”
June shrugs. “So go be magical. It’s a choice.”
Maybe she’s right. I started to, didn’t I? When I took those classes. I feel so pouty. I am just a muggle. A beige bitch muggle. It’s a sad day in Helena Land.
Before we part ways, I hug her big. “I’m going to talk to Della,” I tell her. “Try to make things right.”
She won’t look at me. And that’s when you know June has more to say.
“Sometimes you can’t. Just be okay with that, all right?”
“Sure, June. Sure.”
But Della and I had worked through puberty together. When she started cheerleading junior year and made new friends, we worked through that. And when I started dating Louis from the debate team, and didn’t see her as often, we worked through that. And when we had our first serious fight about the way she had changed, we worked through that. And when we had nothing in common anymore, we worked through that. We work through things. That’s us.
All the way home I’m thinking about what June said. How much of this is my fault. What could I have done differently? I am not good at flirting. I don’t try to flirt. Had I flirted with Kit in front of Della and not known I was doing it? If I’ve done something wrong, I want to own it. I’ve tried to be friendly to him, aloof. But, that dream … it made me different. And if I were to be really, really honest with myself, I’d say that the dream affected
“She thinks you’re after Kit,” June finally tells me. And even as we sit a dozen miles away from Della, in a busy cafe, June looks cautiously around like she might appear at any moment. I tap my fingers on the table, annoyed.
“Why would I be after Kit?” I ask. “Why isn’t Kit after me?”
I don’t know why this bothers me more than my best friend talking behind my back. That she would blame this on me and not on him. I’ve sought him out … a couple times. But he’s the one always wanting to take walks. And everyone knows what happens when you take walks with a girl.
June rolls her eyes. “Because she’s a girl in love, and it’s never the man’s fault. Only the competition.”
“Oh, so now I’m the competition?”
I fold my arms across my chest and pout. June pushes her glasses up her nose. “Kit pays too much attention to you. That’s the problem.”
My head jerks in her direction. “No, he doesn’t.”
She laughs. “The reason Della sees you as competition is because you are. Kit has a thing for you. You’re blind if you can’t see that.”
My heart is being awful. I wish it would stop dancing. It’s wrong. But I also know it isn’t true. Kit is thoughtful and kind. People often misinterpret those qualities for something else.
“Della and I are nothing alike,” I say. “Kit has a thing for Della.”
“Maybe that’s his problem.” June leans back so the waiter can put her food down. “They aren’t much suited, are they?”
“Opposites attract.”
“You’re beautiful, Helena. You just don’t see it. Which truly makes you more beautiful.”
I put down my fork I’m so uncomfortable. “Ugh. Stop. Why are you saying these things?”
“Look, you’ve obviously known Della a lot longer than I have. But I became friends with her because of you. And vice versa. It’s not like someone like Della would ever choose to be friends with me normally.”
“What does that mean, June? That’s crazy.”
June waves her hands in the air and laughs. “I’m not offended. Trust me. I just know how things work. Let me speak your language so you can understand. Della is Choo, and I am Luna Lovegood.”
I hit the tabletop. “You are Luna! Oh my God!” Why hadn’t that clicked for me?
“Exactly,” she says.
“I love it when you speak Harry Potter to me. Who am I?”
“You’re a muggle who wants to be magical.”
I frown. “That’s so mean.”
June shrugs. “So go be magical. It’s a choice.”
Maybe she’s right. I started to, didn’t I? When I took those classes. I feel so pouty. I am just a muggle. A beige bitch muggle. It’s a sad day in Helena Land.
Before we part ways, I hug her big. “I’m going to talk to Della,” I tell her. “Try to make things right.”
She won’t look at me. And that’s when you know June has more to say.
“Sometimes you can’t. Just be okay with that, all right?”
“Sure, June. Sure.”
But Della and I had worked through puberty together. When she started cheerleading junior year and made new friends, we worked through that. And when I started dating Louis from the debate team, and didn’t see her as often, we worked through that. And when we had our first serious fight about the way she had changed, we worked through that. And when we had nothing in common anymore, we worked through that. We work through things. That’s us.
All the way home I’m thinking about what June said. How much of this is my fault. What could I have done differently? I am not good at flirting. I don’t try to flirt. Had I flirted with Kit in front of Della and not known I was doing it? If I’ve done something wrong, I want to own it. I’ve tried to be friendly to him, aloof. But, that dream … it made me different. And if I were to be really, really honest with myself, I’d say that the dream affected
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