“Thanks, Charlie,” I say as I step away from my car. Bianca and Charlie are still lost in their conversation, but when I get halfway to the door, Charlie yells, “Hold up! Switch back with me!” He’s running toward me, my phone in his outstretched hand. “She’s texting again!”
“Oh yeah, yours is in my cupholder. My car is unlocked.” I take the phone back and yep, there’s a notification from Mom.
MOM:Take some pics! Have fun!
I give her a thumbs-up emoji and head inside, smiling at the fact that Bianca is still lingering next to my car, talking to Charlie.
I’ve spent countless hours at Bailey’s house, but I almost don’t recognize it when I step inside. Bailey’s mom has blow-up mattresses scattered throughout her den, each piled high with pillows and blankets as if we’ve had a humongous sleepover. Nonna could get some ideas from this for the nights she expects us all to sleep at her house even though my house (and my bed!) is only two blocks away.
“Olivia!” Bailey’s mom squeals when she sees me, then wraps me in a tight hug. She turns me toward the kitchen and says, “There are pancakes and fruit and muffins on the island. The coffee and juice bar are on the kitchen table. Help yourself!”
I make a plate and join Bailey and Mia on one of the mattresses.
“The dress code for every party should be pajamas,” I say when I snuggle into my temporary bed.
“For real,” Mia says. “And pancakes should be served at every meal.”
“How’d the thing go at your grandmother’s yesterday? I still haven’t finished my questionnaire,” Bailey says. “I’m about to putUndecidedon everything and turn it in.”
I let out a groan. “Yeah, same. I didn’t finish mine either.”
They both look at me, confused. “How’d you get away with that?” They know Nonna pretty well.
Here’s my moment to tell them what’s going on. I stumble around in my mind on what to say. How to explain it without feeling embarrassed. Even though the room is full of people, we’re essentially in our own little bubble and I don’t think Bailey and Mia are so friendly with the Evil Joes that they would spill this. I open my mouth to say the words, but Bailey speaks first.
“You know they’ll probably show your entire questionnaire on the screen while you’re giving your speech instead of just one or two answers from ours while we cross the stage to get our diploma. You’re going to have to answer yours like you mean it!”
“It’s so cool you get to give the opening speech!” Mia says, clapping her hands together. “I called it on the first day of freshman year. I knew you’d finish first or second. I wouldn’t have gotten through half my classes without you.”
Bianca finally shows up and drops down on the edge of the mattress. “Where have you been?” Mia asks.
“What? I was getting coffee,” she answers.
And the explanation about off-campus PE and Coach Cantu dies in my throat. Why bring it up when it will be fixed tomorrow? There’s really no reason why anyone else needs to know. This is a blip! Nothing to see here!
Mia’s dad comes by with a trash bag a bit later to take our empty plates and cups while Bailey’s mom gets everyone’s attention from the front of the room. “Okay, girls! I thought it would be fun to take something off to college with you to remind you of these last four years!” She calls our names and then hands us each a white pillowcase monogrammed with our first name along the edge. “There’s a jar of fabric pens next to each mattress. Pass your pillowcase around the room and write each other a quick note!”
The four of us pass ours between one another and I write a short note on each one with a purple marker. Bailey is headed to LSU, same as me, but Mia and Bianca are going out of state. I make sure they know how much I’ll miss them. We then hand ours over to the mattress next to us in exchange for theirs. Pillowcases circle the room, and I’m only stumped when I get the Evil Joes’. I eyeball them from three mattresses away and wonder if they’ve gotten mine yet.
“Would it be too obvious if I draw skulls and crossbones on theirs?” I ask.
Mia laughs and Bailey says, “I thought y’all would be better by now.”
“They’re nice to you because you pass them the ball during games,” I counter.
“Probably so,” she admits.
I lean forward. “They put all my bras and underwear in a garbage bag and stuffed it in the back of Aunt Patrice’s Suburban just before Aunt Patrice and Uncle Ronnie left Nonna’s on the way to Florida for a week freshman year.”
“Oh my God!” Bianca barks out.
“And while I’m pondering where my undies went, Aunt Patrice has laid them all out on the kitchen table of her Florida rental and sent a picture of them in the group text to ask whose they are.”
“Okay, skulls and crossbones are appropriate,” Bailey says.
I end up writingI hope your dreams are as sweet as you!on both and sign it with the letterO.
My phone dings and I see a text from Sophie.
