“Mm-hmm, sure, right,” she drawls sarcastically. “So is it what I think it is? Because I’d recognize that anywhere.”
I inhale a patient breath. “I gotta go. You need anything else?”
Pen’s face softens. “I’m proud of you.”
My heart accelerates. “For what?”
“Josie told me about the swimming lessons. I’ve been meaning to text you, but I felt like that wasn’t a text message conversation.” Her voice is poignant, despite the small smile on her face. “Mom and Dad are going to be proud too.”
I feel too much and then nothing at all. “I highly doubt that. Well, Mom maybe, but Dad?—”
“Don’t say that. He?—”
“You didn’t tell them, did you?”
“No, but you should. I know it’ll?—”
“There’s a big chance this isn’t going to work. I tried to talk Jos out of it, but…I’m doing it because we agreed on something. Don’t tell them because I don’t need them getting their hopes up over something that isn’t going to help.” By the end of that, I feel annoyed and more tired than I already was. If it wasn’t because I know I’ll be seeing Josie, I’d skip class.
“You called her Jos.” She stifles a laugh and flattens her lips when I give her an unimpressed look. She’s my sister so she’s unaffected by my slight lash out, but still, I feel bad.
“We’re friends.” I shrug.
There’s a beat of silence, only a second long, before she’s beaming. “What did you guys agree on?”
“You’re so nosy. I’m leaving.” I wave goodbye and hear her say she’ll text me later and that I better answer or she’ll kill me.
I just hope I don’t do it before she does.
By the time I arrive at the new trail, I’m surprised to spot Josie already there.
She’s leaning against the driver’s door, camera in her hand, and eyes trained on the small screen. When I pull in next to her, she lets it hang from her neck, and it’s not until I’m out that she’s standing next to me.
I’m scrambling to get my thoughts together, hoping my heart won’t explode from how fast it’s beating, and attempt to look and sound as nonchalant as she does.
Everything I was feeling earlier leaves, like it always does when I’m around her. I don’t know what it is about Josefine that makes my thoughts run mad but also makes everything in me feel calm.
I wanted to explain that to her yesterday in her pool, but my nerves coupled with the fact that I was so close to her made it hard to explain.
“Hey, Josie.” I smile down at her.
She looks up, lips lifting slightly. “Hey, Garcia.”
Fireworks, a million of them, go off in my chest.
Like usual, we gather around Professor Carleson, and he explains the do’s and don’ts of hiking and then we’re walking.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do for your final exam?” she asks and surprises me because usually I’m the one talking first and asking all the questions.
It’ll be a while before the semester is over and we need to submit our final exams, but Carleson has already assigned it because of everything it entails.
Along with a ten-page paper and twenty pictures we take while on our hikes, we have to pick one color and create something with it. We can use any art medium form with that one color, but the catch is mixing it with nature.
“I have an idea but I’m still thinking about it. You?”
From my periphery, I see her shrug. “I’m still thinking about it too. Have you picked a color?”
“Brown.”
