relationship with the people at that party, including you. I cannot look at your face or be in your presence and not feel sick. Get it? You. Make. Me. Ill.”
Cara had ignored me completely for half a year and I cared more about getting out of the cold than listening to a word more out of her slutty mouth. Her appearance piqued my interest, but it wasn’t enough, and I doubted her reason for returning ever would be.
She sighed. “I was a rat best friend.”
I quirked my eyebrow, pausing. “Agreed.”
“I didn’t mean to, but it doesn’t make it any better.”
I could only agree, but didn’t want to repeat myself, so I waited for her to continue.
“In fact, I could answer twenty questions to you to demonstrate every fuck-up I managed to do in one moment.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Cara. High school is over. I’m too busy and I have other stuff in my life to take care of. I don’t have time for catch up.”
“I don’t want to play games. I need you back in my life. Please.”
My teeth chattered. “I need to go.”
There was coughing in the background, and suddenly, Mum’s footsteps. I swore under my breath, knowing nothing could be done to avoid the run-in. She opened the door in a robe and stuck her head out. Her hair was bundled up, and she sported a red nose and an otherwise pale face.
“That you, Cara?”
She beamed. “Nicky, hi! I hope you’re doing okay.”
Fuck, did she have to say that? How careless could she be to not realise that would dredge up bad memories?
“I’ve got a bloody cold.”
I looked at Mum. “You went to the doctors?”
“Yup. I’ve been struck down. I can take a couple of days off work. Have some medication and otherwise, just have to wait it out.”
Cara wrinkled her nose. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Colds suck you dry.”
The whole thing was unfolding as if I wasn’t there. Mum giggled and faced Cara. “Are you saying …”
“No, Mrs Wyland. You, of course, look fabulously non-sick.”
“Good save.”
I exhaled ragged breaths through clenched teeth during their back and forths. Cara was not doing this. She was not going to weasel her way into this house, or my life.
It was over.
“Would you like to come in?” Mum swung the door fully open. “We’re so sorry. Both of us have been working day and night and pretty much operating as hermits.”
“No, Mum,” I said, stepping in. I blocked Cara’s path. “She was just leaving.”
“I came to see you, actually.”
“I’ve been down all day,” Mum said before I could answer. She retreated farther inside, making her voice echo. “But I can make you girls a cuppa if you want.”
“Great,” Cara said at the same time, I said, “No.”
Mum’s ears must’ve been blocked up, too because she went through her business, not stopping or calling back.
“One chance. I miss you, Vee.”
I wasn’t sure what it was that made up my mind to let her in.
Part of it was being easier than telling Mum what happened six months ago. I didn’t think of Justin those first few days while Mum, Robert, and I bunkered down together trying to make sense of what had happened to our lives. After that, I didn’t give an ounce of spotlight to what Justin did, and that meant leaving out Cara’s despicable actions, too. I claimed I lost contact with everyone.
Part of it was also the recent exchange with Mum and I, and I felt I needed to protect Rick from Cara. I didn’t want her knowing I was speaking to him again in case she was in close contact with Justin. I doubted Rick wanted to let Justin know about our reunion, either. Agreeing with Cara would give us privacy away from Mum who could’ve innocently said something.
We sat at the stools under the kitchen bench with our cups of tea, drinking them both silently and in large gulps. Soon after, we went to my room. For a split second, Cara hesitated about sitting on the bed. Cara, Justin, and I spent nights hanging out in my bedroom, on this very bed. Did
Cara had ignored me completely for half a year and I cared more about getting out of the cold than listening to a word more out of her slutty mouth. Her appearance piqued my interest, but it wasn’t enough, and I doubted her reason for returning ever would be.
She sighed. “I was a rat best friend.”
I quirked my eyebrow, pausing. “Agreed.”
“I didn’t mean to, but it doesn’t make it any better.”
I could only agree, but didn’t want to repeat myself, so I waited for her to continue.
“In fact, I could answer twenty questions to you to demonstrate every fuck-up I managed to do in one moment.”
“Thanks, but no thanks, Cara. High school is over. I’m too busy and I have other stuff in my life to take care of. I don’t have time for catch up.”
“I don’t want to play games. I need you back in my life. Please.”
My teeth chattered. “I need to go.”
There was coughing in the background, and suddenly, Mum’s footsteps. I swore under my breath, knowing nothing could be done to avoid the run-in. She opened the door in a robe and stuck her head out. Her hair was bundled up, and she sported a red nose and an otherwise pale face.
“That you, Cara?”
She beamed. “Nicky, hi! I hope you’re doing okay.”
Fuck, did she have to say that? How careless could she be to not realise that would dredge up bad memories?
“I’ve got a bloody cold.”
I looked at Mum. “You went to the doctors?”
“Yup. I’ve been struck down. I can take a couple of days off work. Have some medication and otherwise, just have to wait it out.”
Cara wrinkled her nose. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Colds suck you dry.”
The whole thing was unfolding as if I wasn’t there. Mum giggled and faced Cara. “Are you saying …”
“No, Mrs Wyland. You, of course, look fabulously non-sick.”
“Good save.”
I exhaled ragged breaths through clenched teeth during their back and forths. Cara was not doing this. She was not going to weasel her way into this house, or my life.
It was over.
“Would you like to come in?” Mum swung the door fully open. “We’re so sorry. Both of us have been working day and night and pretty much operating as hermits.”
“No, Mum,” I said, stepping in. I blocked Cara’s path. “She was just leaving.”
“I came to see you, actually.”
“I’ve been down all day,” Mum said before I could answer. She retreated farther inside, making her voice echo. “But I can make you girls a cuppa if you want.”
“Great,” Cara said at the same time, I said, “No.”
Mum’s ears must’ve been blocked up, too because she went through her business, not stopping or calling back.
“One chance. I miss you, Vee.”
I wasn’t sure what it was that made up my mind to let her in.
Part of it was being easier than telling Mum what happened six months ago. I didn’t think of Justin those first few days while Mum, Robert, and I bunkered down together trying to make sense of what had happened to our lives. After that, I didn’t give an ounce of spotlight to what Justin did, and that meant leaving out Cara’s despicable actions, too. I claimed I lost contact with everyone.
Part of it was also the recent exchange with Mum and I, and I felt I needed to protect Rick from Cara. I didn’t want her knowing I was speaking to him again in case she was in close contact with Justin. I doubted Rick wanted to let Justin know about our reunion, either. Agreeing with Cara would give us privacy away from Mum who could’ve innocently said something.
We sat at the stools under the kitchen bench with our cups of tea, drinking them both silently and in large gulps. Soon after, we went to my room. For a split second, Cara hesitated about sitting on the bed. Cara, Justin, and I spent nights hanging out in my bedroom, on this very bed. Did
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