Chapter Twenty-One #3
I can’t even believe what I’m hearing. Never in my life would I have imagined Shannon Marie Salter to have an insecure bone in her entire perfect body. “You really thought I would ditch you for a guy? After everything?”
“Chase wasn’t just a guy, Lar. He’s the guy.”
“Okay, but you’re the Shannon,” I counter, raking a hand through my short blond curls. “I barely leave the house without you. I will always need you, and not for your clothing or makeup.”
She picks up the cutlery, opens the cabinet I’d been reaching for, and pulls out the plates. “That used to be true, but things have changed. You seemed like you didn’t need me anymore, and then I met Jasmine in AP French, and she seemed like she might, so.”
“Shan, you will always be of the utmost importance. You are the person who got me over being embarrassed to buy tampons in public. You’ve been getting my ass to school on time since the day you got your license.
When I got that horrifying zit right before picture day sophomore year, you spent like an hour making sure I didn’t look like a human pizza.
But there’s more to being friends than being needed.
You don’t need to, like, provide a service, okay?
Well, other than eyeliner application. I’m really reliant on that. ”
“Deal,” she says, her lips curving at the corners.
I grab a bottle of Diet Coke from the fridge and bump it closed with my hip. “You were really straight-up trying to replace me, huh?”
“It sounds so bitchy when you put it that way.”
“Yeah, because it was bitchy, Shan. That’s why you’re apologizing, remember?”
She sighs heavily. “Fine. Yes. It was bitchy. I was bitchy. But for what it’s worth, Jasmine’s cool. I think you’d really like her.”
It’s just … too much. I have to put down the soda. I have to put down everything because I have started cracking up and I feel like I will never stop. It’s so loud that Gia and Kiki come rushing in to see what they’re missing.
“What the hell?” Kiki looks back and forth between me, who’s laughing her ass off, and Shannon, who’s looking at me like I am deranged.
When I finally manage to gather myself, I look Kiki right in the eyes and say, “Shannon thinks I would like Jasmine if only I got to know her.”
“Oh.” Kiki bites her lip so hard to keep from laughing that I think she’s going to draw blood, and I lose it all over again.
“What the hell is going on here?” Gia asks Shannon, who just shakes her head.
Having sort of come out twice today so far, I know that when an opportunity arises, you have to take it. The laughter stops, and I do glance at Kiki this time. She gives me an encouraging look.
Deep breaths.
“I do like Jasmine. A little too much. It’s, uh, kind of why I broke up with Chase.”
For the second time in a minute, there’s the familiar sound of plasticware clattering as Shannon drops it and the plates to the floor.
And then it’s silent.
I turn to Kiki. “Uh, is this how it went when you told them you were going to homecoming with Jasmine?”
“No, but apparently they’d both already assumed I was gay.”
“Aren’t you?” Gia asks, her face screwed up in confusion.
Kiki laughs. Which absolutely does not mean she isn’t. Or that she is.
“Okay, wait, back to Bogdan,” Shannon demands. “So, the Chase obsession is over.”
“Yes.”
“But … Jasmine? When? I’ve never even seen you spend time together.”
I fix my gaze on one of the takeout cartons, opening and closing the little tabs. “It’s, uh, complicated?”
“It’s not that complicated,” Kiki says with a snort. “Jasmine’s dad is Anya’s boss. Jasmine’s the girl Lara lived with all summer. God, do you guys ever listen to my podcast? You would be so much better at detective work if you did.”
“Nicely done, Kiki,” my mom calls from the living room, where she’s apparently been listening to this entire conversation.
“Why, thank you,” Kiki calls back.
Facepalm.
“So, you guys have been a couple this whole time?” Shannon asks.
“Of course not. No. I was very much with Chase until a few hours ago. And I’m not with Jasmine,” I add quickly, partly because I’m not and partly because I don’t know if going to homecoming on Kiki’s arm counts as outing herself, but I’m certainly not doing it for her.
“I just … have feelings. Of the confusing and complicated and definitely shouldn’t be dating someone else while I have them variety. ”
Gia nods. “Got it. I think.”
I turn to Shannon. “And you? Still mad? Less mad? More mad?”
She blinks and it seems to take forever, long enough that I’m afraid she’s going to walk right out of my house and leave us with an extra portion of dumplings. Especially when her mouth twists into a frown.
And then she opens her mouth.
“Okay, I feel like I’m falling behind on coolness by not being into girls now.
This may have been a very missed opportunity in Paris.
I still have time to catch up in college, right?
” She looks from me to Kiki, like we’re somehow gurus in the Art of the Gay.
“I mean, art girls are all free and into expression and whatever, right? Wasn’t Frida Kahlo bi? ”
I gawk at her.
“What?” she asks innocently, gathering the plates and cutlery back up.
“How did this become about you?”
“Isn’t everything?”
“Not this,” I snap. “Jesus, Shannon. Sexuality isn’t something you buy in a Parisian boutique and wear for a season. This is kind of a big deal for me.”
She blinks. Nods. “I’m being an asshole again.”
“Yes,” Kiki, I, and even Gia say at once.
“Points for self-awareness and saying ‘I’m sorry’ way faster this time?” she asks meekly.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and kiss the top of her head. “I’m glad to have you back, Shan,” I murmur.
“God, you are so sappy.” But before we pile into the living room, laden with takeout cartons and soda, she gives me a quick squeeze.