"You want the truth?" I ask.
"Of course."
"I do. I really like him," I say.
For a moment, I swear Kennedy's expression softens a bit. The next thing she says shocks me even more. "It's clear Curtis likes you, too. A lot."
I take a step back in surprise but recompose myself. "Why — why do you think that?"
Kennedy shrugs with one shoulder. "It's in the way he looks at you."
"In English today?" Curtis looked grim until the end when he smiled. I open my mouth to protest, but Kennedy knows what I'm about to say before I say it.
"When you're not looking. He looks at you all the time."
I'm shocked, and Kennedy takes it as an opportunity to step back and glance at her bus. When she speaks, her voice changes to polite indifference. "I have to go. Bye, Liam."
"Bye —" I begin, but she's already walking away.
27
Curtis: Straight
Bonnie: We should catch up during the winter holidays! Watch out @Kennedy, I'm inviting myself to your house.
It's a Saturday night when my phone buzzes with a notification for Bonnie's text to the Lonsdale Bay group chat. It's been two weeks since the holidays. I read the message without unlocking my phone, so the others won't see that I've read the message. The phone screen blinds me in the darkness of my bedroom. At the top of my screen, my phone tells me it's 11:30.
My phone buzzes again.
Kennedy: Fine.
Bonnie: I'm going to interpret that as an enthusiastic "fine".
Another buzz and I turn on my side to read my phone better. The notification tells me that Liam has sent a laughing emoji.
Bonnie: What do you think, Liam, isn't this a good idea?
Liam: Hahahaha yeah.
Without thinking, I unlock my phone but don't press on the beach group chat. Instead, I choose Liam's name.
Curtis: So, Bonnie messaged the group chat.
Once I've sent the message to him, I drop my phone on the mattress beside me. Why did I send him a message? We haven't talked since English class. And why did I phrase my message like that? Okay, maybe I can figure out a way to delete it —
Liam: Yeah, she doesn't know what happened. Erin doesn't either.
Curtis: I guessed that.
Liam: I accidentally opened the group chat, so I had to respond. Goddamn read receipts.
Curtis: That's the worst! I just read my notifications.
Liam: It's just kind of weird, pretending to have a normal group conversation when in actuality, I don't talk to Kennedy.
Liam: Or you.
Liam: So talking in the group chat makes me feel like an imposter.
