The door to LoveBug opens then, breaking the tension. It’s Cara. She looks… dejected.
“Sorry I’m late,” she says as she slides into the chair next to me. I raise one eyebrow at her, questioning, and she gives me a look that says she’ll talk to me about it later.
The conversation continues, and we eventually decide not to approve an outside vendor that woulddirectlycompete with a Love Street business. So, no florists, dog groomers, or empanada shops. We assign some duties like who will put together the list of the rental equipment we’ll needand who will find performers willing to perform for free. Eventually, when everyone has a job to do, we wrap up the meeting. Everyone seems excited and committed to the project, but that argument about vendors has reminded me of what’s at stake here. This festival is going to be a ton of fun, but that’s not why we’re doing it. Love Street is struggling and needs this boost.
I hang back a bit after everyone leaves the café to talk to Cara. “What happened to dinner with your parents?” I ask her. “Did Hannah cancel?”
Cara gives me an annoyed expression. “Why do you assume it’s Hannah who canceled?”
I exhale. I made that assumption because Hannah doesn’t seem to enjoy Cara’s friends, so I assume it’s the same with Cara’s family.
“Well, was it?” I press. Cara doesn’t say anything, just crosses her arms and looks at the floor. Last time I dropped the subject, not wanting to push Cara, but I’m seeing a pattern now. “Cara… do you think, I don’t know. Do you think maybe Hannah is being a bit controlling with you?”
Cara looks at me then, annoyed. “Not this again. Seriously?”
“I mean, she likes you to dress a certain way, doesn’t like hanging out with your friends, and cancels when you have plans with your parents. If you need to talk—”
Cara rolls her eyes. “God, Sana, why do you have to insert yourself into everyone’s life? First matchmaking, and now you’re butting in where you’re not needed.”
I blink. Thatstung,and I’m not sure what to say. I’m notinsertingmyself into her life. I’m being her friend. “I’m only asking because I care about you.”
But Cara doesn’t seem to notice, or care, that I’m hurt. “You haven’t had a relationship longer than what… two months?” She scoffs. “You really are a naive child sometimes. Reading romance novels doesn’t make you a romance expert. How about you stop armchair analyzing everyone else’s relationships and maybe start focusing on yourself?”
I swallow. Cara istryingto hurt me. Does she actually believe I’m naive enough to think that books and movies have made me an expert on romance? “I’m not armchair analyzing. I’m just worried that you’re not seeing what’s clearly in front of you.”
Cara rolls her eyes. “Well, you don’t need to worry. I am quite capable ofseeingmy own relationship, considering it’smine.” And with that, she leaves the café.
I stand there for a few seconds, too shaken up to move. Cara hasneversaid anything like that to me before. Does she really think I unnecessarilybuttinto other people’s lives? Maybe I should have stayed out of her relationship. I know she’s head over heels for Hannah, but I don’t think Hannah is treating her well. Cara deserves to be treasured, not cast aside.
But now I’m the hurt one. Cara has been such a great friend since we started working together, and I’m afraid I’ve lost that friend because I stuck my nose where it wasn’t wanted. I take a breath and pick up my purse. I may as well go home.
When I walk out of LoveBug, Miles is right outside the door, waiting for me. He looks concerned.
“You okay, Sana? Cara just ran out of here and didn’t even acknowledge me.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, we… Never mind.” I reallydon’t want to tell him that Cara called me a naive child. I feel terrible. “What’s up?”
“My bike is locked on your balcony. I thought we could walk together.”
I really want to be alone right now, but since we’re going to the same place, I don’t have much of a choice.
“Are you free to go to City Hall with me next week?” he asks as he walks next to me. “Su Lin wants to have a meeting with just the two of us.”
“Why?”
“She says she wants to put faces to the names of the kids who made the proposal. I said I’d check with you and send her assistant some possible times, but I told her you’re in high school so it will have to be outside of business hours.”
“I don’t have a lot of free time,” I say. “I basically have two part-time jobs, remember?”
He frowns. “We could probably do it before your shift starts one day—it wouldn’t be a long meeting. Tuesday at five would work for me.”
“I think I’m at Cosmic that night, but I’ll ask Jenn,” I say. It’s hard to concentrate after having a huge fight with my friend.
“Are you okay, Sana?” Miles asks, looking at me with concern in his eyes. “Somethingdidhappen between you and Cara, right?”
I sigh. “Yeah, I guess. I kind of asked her if Hannah was being controlling, and Cara told me to butt out of her life. She was… mean.”
“Ugh. Thatsucks. Why do you think Hannah is controlling?”
