“Because,” Cherry said, not looking up from her reflection, “you remember that guy I was telling you about? Lucas? Well, he’s staying with Killian this weekend.”
“And what does that have to do with me?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Well, Killian, you know Killian, right? Sat behind you in history, played basketball? He said he’d only go if you’re going,” she said with a casual shrug and a not-so-casual smile.
“He doesn’t even know me,” I said flatly. “We’ve spoken like… twice. So you’re using me so you can hook up with Lucas?”
“You don’t have to go,” Cherry’s voice dropped, soft and guilty, but not in a manipulative way. I could tell she really did care if she offended me. “I knew it’d be too much. I shouldn’t have asked. What was I thinking—”
“Cherry. Calm down. It’s fine,” I said, cutting her off. “Maybe it’ll be good to finally get out of the house. And if it helps you get to Lucas, it’s a night well spent in my opinion.”
“Yeah?” she stood up, her smile blooming as she walked toward me. “This is why I love you.” She threw her arms around me.
She pulled me into a hug that felt automatic, practiced. Her arms fit around me the way they always had, snug and certain, like she’d done it a thousand times before. Her chin bumped my shoulder, her hair tickling my cheek, and I felt myself relax without thinking about it. I rested my forehead against her temple, breathing her in, letting the moment settle the way only she ever could.
“Why? Because I bend so easily to your will?” I teased.
“No. Because you’re the most thoughtful, selfless person I know,” she said, completely serious.
“Yeah, well compared to you, everyone seems selfless and thoughtful,” I said, rolling my eyes, but the warmth in her words stayed with me.
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead and poke holes in your best friend’s heart,” she muttered, pulling away. She turned to the closet. “Now put some clothes on so we can leave. Wait, can I pick your outfit? Please, please, please?”
“Oh my god, you are so demanding,” I laughed. “Go for it.”
She dove in immediately, pushing hangers aside, her brows furrowed in concentration, lips pursed like she was solving a fashion emergency. Then her face lit up like Christmas morning. She pulled out a hanger and held it in the air like a trophy. “This.”
“You want me to wearthis?” I asked, incredulous. “To a party?”
It was a bright yellow sundress, soft and light, with thin straps and a square neckline that gathered gently at the chest. The fabric fit close through the waist before falling into a loose, airy skirt that looked like it would move when I did instead of clinging to me, and it had two small pockets on the sides. It was short without feeling exposed, delicate without feeling fragile—sunlight stitched into fabric
“Yes,” she said, beaming. She threw it at me. “It’s you. Completely. Bright. Beautiful. Happier than you should be.”
As usual, I gave in. I liked to complain about her demands, but truthfully, I loved her for them. Her chaos made the world feel less sharp. And after I’d changed, we both slid into my car, heading toward whatever kind of night this would turn out to be.
“I should make you come to parties more often,” Cherry told me, her legs crossed as she fiddled with the buttons on the stereo. “If you drive, it means I can drink.”
“Just go easy,” I reminded her, remembering the last time I witnessed her drunk. She danced on the pool table, her skirthiked around her waist, her shirt nowhere in sight. No matter how much I pleaded with her to get down, she simply shooed me away.
“Yeah, sure,Mom,” Cherry winked at me. “It’s that way,” she pointed to the left as we stopped at a stop sign. She watched me drive for only five more minutes before she screeched loud enough that I jumped, my hands jerking the steering wheel out of shock. “It’s that one,” she squealed excitedly, pointing to a house on the right.
Once I regained control of the wheel, I pulled into an empty spot on the side of the street. “Are you serious, Cherry? We could have walked,” I sighed, looking at my best friend like she had actually lost her mind. The jury’s still out. She really might have.
“In these shoes?” She snorted, lifting her foot to display the four-inch heels she was wearing. “Not a chance.”
“I really wonder sometimes,” I muttered, pulling my door open as Cherry did the same.
“What?” she asked once we were both on the sidewalk. “Why am I so amazing?”
“No, why you’re allowed to go outside without a doctor’s note,” I smiled sweetly as I spoke, then turned and walked toward the suburban house she had pointed out.
“Hey!” Cherry belted from behind me, and I heard the click-clack of her heels against the cement as she ran to catch up. “That was mean… I think.”
“It’s all from my deep love for you,” I reminded her as we reached the door. Cherry moved to open it, but I grabbed her wrist before she could. “Just make sure you tell me when youand Lucas are about to leave so you can suck each other’s faces off, so I can leave first, okay?”
“Oh, don’t worry, my dear Blair. I’ll be sure to give you a running update oneverythingthat me and Lucas are about to do,” Cherry teased, her voice dropping into something low and comedic.
“You’re sick,” I shook my head, finally allowing her to push the door open.
