37
I wait for Abi to say something, anything, but all she does is look around like a stunned child.
“Abigail!” I shout, trying to get a response, channelling my inner Rita, using her full name in an attempt to scold her.
“I heard you,” she says, tears filling her eyes. We stand in silence, staring at each other for what feels like minutes. We have been best friends since we were playing with Barbies, and this is what it’s come to.
“If you knew anything about me and Sam, you’d have a little more insight into our relationship,” I start, trying to find the words to defend myself but also make her listen.
“And if you stopped obsessing over Brooks for one minute to spend some time with us, you’d see how Gaia and I are together and, more importantly, how I am with Sam when she’s around.
Unlike Brooks, I don’t have anything to hide. ”
“That’s not true. You hide who you are from everyone.
How can you be so certain that Gaia and Sam actually like you when all you do is try to be someone else?
You think I’m stupid and that I don’t see.
But I know you, Luna. I can tell when you’re putting on a mask and when you’re revealing your true self.
Like right now. This bitchiness, this is the real you,” she snaps, crossing her arms.
I suck in a deep breath and try to ignore Abi’s clear attempt at derailing what we’re actually fighting about. “At least I don’t lock Gaia away from everyone and see Sam behind her back.”
“Brooks doesn’t lock me away. And whoever told you that he’s seeing someone behind my back is lying.” I bring my hand to my forehead, a sudden headache coming on.
“Ok then, tell me the last time both of you spent time together when someone else was there,” I dare, trying to keep the know-it-all smirk off my face. I know what the answer is.
“Yesterday.” She looks down at the ground.
“And I don’t mean Helen at the fucking diner.”
“Shut up! You don’t know anything about me and Brooks,” she shouts defensively, pushing me weakly with her fragile little arms.
“I would if you talked to me. If you would both spend time with me. We’re supposed to be best friends.
You’re the closest thing to family I’ve got,” I yell, bringing my hands to her shoulders and shoving her back.
She stumbles backwards, caught off guard by the force I put behind it.
“And while we’re on the topic of family.
When was the last time you spoke to your parents?
” I know the answer to this one, too, because I talk to them once a week on Thursday nights, right after they finish watching Grey’s Anatomy.
“It’s been a while, I guess, but I’ve been busy with school and work. They’re coming down next week, though.” She attempts to defend herself, but I can see from the look in her eyes that she knows she hasn’t called them in a long time.
“And, what does Brooks think about their visit?”
“I haven’t told him yet,” she whispers sheepishly, crossing her arms over her chest. I fucking knew it, my brain screams “HA” but I don’t dare let it escape my lips.
“Don’t you think you should tell him?” I say, taking a step closer to her.
She flinches, expecting me to shove her.
She shrugs, looking down at her feet again.
She used to do that when she was getting in trouble with teachers or her parents.
I hate that I’m the adult in this relationship right now.
“You know I’m here, no matter what is going on between us.
You’ve always got me. It doesn’t have to be all Brooks all the time.
” I pull her in for a hug, but her arms remain crossed, not hugging me back.
“I love him, Luna,” she whispers into my ear.
“Are you sure that you love him, or can you just not stand being alone?” Her body stiffens against mine, and she pulls away.
Behind her, the blinds snap shut in the window of the house we’ve been standing in front of.
Whoever lives here just got a front-row seat to the first big fight we’ve ever had.