Chapter 25
It was the last day of the year and I was back at the library, sitting at the big table with Grayson, Jessica, and Mrs. Kauffman.
“I think I’d want to run a month-long kids’ class,” Jess said, wrapping the strap of her fancy new camera around her thumb.
The camera had been a gift from her parents, and I’d already posed for at least a hundred shots while she experimented with the settings.
“Every Wednesday, maybe,” she went on. “We could talk about looking for inspiration, how to set up shots, editing, and really just have fun with it.”
“That’s lovely,” Mrs. Kauffman said. “Why don’t you write out a lesson plan so I can share it with parents, and we’ll start getting children signed up.”
Jess beamed. “Thank you! I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see what kind of pictures kids take!”
“A lot of dogs and cats, I imagine.” Mrs. Kauffman turned to Grayson. “And you want to do story time?”
His face was red. “Yeah. I’ve been reading to Virginia and she says I’m all right…
.” He glanced at me with one of those amazing smiles.
His hair was perfectly tousled today, and his new blue sweater really showed off the warmth in his eyes.
God, he was so cute. And was he using a different soap, too? He smelled good.
“Ahem, Earth to Virginia.”
I started at Mrs. Kauffman’s voice.
“What? Oh—sorry.” I’d been gazing at Grayson again. But considering he was my boyfriend now, I was entitled to do a little gazing. “Yeah, he’s a great reader. He does voices.”
“I don’t …” Grayson buried his face in his hands, grinning. “Yes, I do voices.”
“Well, okay. I’ll get you signed up as a story time volunteer. We can schedule a practice session if you need it! I’m sure Virginia and Jess will make very attentive listeners.”
A few minutes later, Grayson, Jess, and I were all bundled up in our winter gear (it was really cold now that the sun was down!) and heading for Seasonal Sweets. I slipped my mittened hand into Grayson’s.
“Are you making any resolutions?” I asked as we passed by a post wrapped with twinkling lights.
“Mmm.” Jess raised her new camera and snapped the glittering town ahead of us.
“I think my class at the library will cover it. The way Kat and Mary Heather acted about you trying photography really bothered me. I mean, it was awful to you, but it also made me realize that I want to be more encouraging. I want to help people learn to capture the magic they see in the regular world.”
“That’s really kind,” Grayson said. “You’re going to be a good teacher.”
“Thanks.” Jess beamed. “What about you?”
“Already started mine,” he said proudly.
“I’m going to be better at sharing with people.
Not just my sketches or whatever, but if I’m having a problem, I probably shouldn’t try to tough it out alone.
I want to be better at asking for help. And telling people I want to be friends.
” He shrugged, like what he was about to say was no big deal, even though it obviously was.
“I texted Brian and Peter and asked if they wanted to hang out, and Brian asked if I’d help him get ready for football tryouts for high school.
So that’s what we’re going to do. I don’t want to be on the team, but I’m excited to help him. Peter says he’ll be there, too.”
I squeezed Grayson’s hand. “I bet you’ll find out that you have a bunch of things in common.”
Jess looked up at Grayson, her eyes wide and a little too innocent. “Do, uh, you need someone who doesn’t know anything about football? For Brian’s sake, I mean. I’d be willing to document his progress.”
My mouth dropped open. “Jess!”
She laughed. “You know what? I like Grayson’s resolution. I’m going to try that one, too. Give Brian my number.”
“Okay. After we order our drinks.” Grayson shook his head as we paused in front of Seasonal Sweets. “What about you, Cardinal? Do you have a resolution?”
I adjusted my scarf. “Yeah, mine’s already in progress, too, and I think it’s going to be easier now that I’m not always trying to please toxic people.
I want to be more careful about what I say.
Like, everybody’s still getting teased—normal-teased.
I will cut up. Neither of you are safe from that. ”
“Wouldn’t want to be,” Grayson confirmed, squeezing my hand.
“But I don’t want to make anyone feel bad about themselves. I want to be bigger than that. So. That’s it. I want to be a better friend.”
“I love that.” Jess gave me a quick hug. “Now let’s get some hot chocolate. And maybe cupcakes?”
“Definitely cupcakes.” Grayson pulled the door open, and a cloud of warm, sweet air billowed out as the three of us walked in.
For a moment, everything was perfect. I was with my best friend and my boyfriend, and for the first time in a long time, I felt peaceful and safe, like these two people knew me—the good and the bad—and they accepted me just the same. They cared about me and I cared about them.
It was an amazing feeling.
This was my new life, I realized. This was the world I’d made after the old one fell apart.
And it was a beautiful one.