you can if you tell your dumb brother.
Idk. We’ll see. I have to survive death first.
u so drama.
wait, what about the camping trip next weekend?
That’s right. Every year, usually before Homecoming depending on when the football team’s bye week is, juniors and seniors of Harper High go up to Look Out Mountain for a camping trip. There’s a giant campground where tons of students and their families head up for the weekend and spend time just hanging out in the woods before the weather turns too cold. We haven’t really talked about it much, but the assumption is that Bray, Zach, Ryen and I would drive together, like we did last year. But now, things might be a little different.
Well, this situation between Zach and I would definitely make it more interesting.
Cadie Leigh. did you just give you and Zachypoo a title?
What did I tell you about calling him that? And wdym by a title?
you have yourself a little situationship, babes.
I send her several eyeroll emojis before giving her message a thumbs-down. She laughs back and I close my eyes.
Thoughts of being up in the mountains for a weekend with Zach start to manifest. It’s not something I haven’t done before. But this time, there’s definitely more of a risk. Risk of getting caught. Risk of getting too close. Risk of-
My phone chimes.
Hey, I just got out of practice.
Why would I bring you chocolate?
I don’t know. I guess it’s something guys do.
Well, I know you don’t like chocolate so that wasn’t even a thought.
Wait, you do?
Of course. You always go for the vanilla cupcakes at parties and you'd always pick out the chocolate candies from your Halloween basket and throw them into Bray’s.
My chest swells.
You notice all that?
Yeah, I do.
I don’t even think my own brother knows this about me.
Well that’s because your brother doesn't have a reason to be noticing those little things about you, sunshine.
That nickname again. I don’t know how to act. I start typing something, but then delete it. And then I try again, but realize I don’t really know what to say. I stare at his messages for far too long, reading how he claims to have been observing me way longer than I would have ever imagined. He knows I don’t like chocolate and now I’m curious as to what else he’s picked up on over the years.
Does he know that I literally despise his favorite food? Sushi. There’s just something about fish of any kind that makes me squirm.
What’s my favorite food?
I type out and hit send and he responds immediately.
Chicken strips with buffalo sauce. But a close second would be a burrito bowl from Chipotle.
My eyes go wide as I take in a deep breath. He knows.
Favorite movie?
