RubyMars:We workeditout.
RubyMars:For whatever it matters, I’m glad you ended up writing me back in the end. These last few months would’ve sucked without you too. Thanks for being there for me witheverything.
RubyMars:You really did become my favoritefriend.
RubyMars:I’ll alwaysrememberyou.
AHall80:Don’t think twiceaboutit.
RubyMars:Iwon’t.
AHall80:I will write you when I get back to base in Kentucky. I’m not going to fall off the face of theplanet.
AHall80:Promise
RubyMars:If you say so, but don’t feel obligated if you don’t want to. You don’t owe meanything.
AHall80:I owe you a lot more than youthink.
AHall80:Not just going to forget you,comeon.
AHall80:Hey, what happened with that guy you went on a date with? Your brother’s friend? Not the one Idon’tlike.
RubyMars:Nothing. We went to the movies. Then he invited me over to his house another day for a barbecue. He’s been out of town for about two weeks now. He’s supposed to get back in a few days, but we’ve onlytexted.
AHall80:Isee
RubyMars::) I like him, but it isn’t love at first sight oranything.
RubyMars:I know you need to go but have a good flight and enjoy yourplumbing.
RubyMars:One lastthing
AHall80:Okay
RubyMars:Make sure to eat plenty of fiber so you canfinallypoop
Ahall80:BYERUBY
RubyMars:Xoxo
* * *
May
“Youdidwhat?”
I hung my head in shame and—for one more freaking time—let the humiliation roll over my face, neck, chest, andmyentiresoul.
Stupid, stupid, stupid,stupid,stupid.
I was sostupid.
“Squirt,” my sister cackled, her shoulders shaking as she sank deep into the cushioned seat of the booth the hostess of the diner had led us to fifteen minutes ago. The clinging and clacking of plates and silverware swallowed most of her laughs, but I’d heard her crack up enough over the course of my life to know exactly what it sounded like from memory. Except usually she laughed at Jonathan or Sebastian,notme.
The problem was, there was laughing your butt off so much you made a spectacle of yourself, and then there was laughing so hard no sound came out of yourmouth.
And Anatalia, or Ana or Tali as we all called her, was exactly right smack in the middle of both. It was like her body couldn’t decide what it wanted to do. Laugh or notlaugh.
