“Ready for your lesson?” she asks as she pulls out of the driveway.
“Not really. I didn’t think they’d get back to me this soon. They said I had to fill out some paperback before my first lesson. And Brock was supposed to sign something.” I pause. “I didn’t even give him the form yet. I’m not supposed to do this until all the paperwork is in.”
“Maybe they thought they already had it. I wouldn’t worry about it.” She’s still smiling.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you smiling so much?”
“I always smile.”
“Not like that. Are you dating someone?”
“Actually, I am. A guy at school. He’s on the basketball team. We’re going out this weekend.”
“And you’re already smiling like that?”
She laughs. “How about you? Still seeing Jackson?”
“I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
I sigh. “We kind of had a fight.”
“So that’s why you look so sad.”
“I don’t look sad.”
“You look like someone just took your puppy.”
“I’ve never had a puppy.”
“I haven’t either, but I’m sure people who do look as sad as you if someone takes it. So what happened?”
“We were talking last night and got into an argument. I got mad and hung up on him.”
“Did he call back?”
“No. I haven’t heard from him. I’m getting worried. I don’t want to lose him over this, but I also don’t want him keeping secrets from me.”
“What secrets?”
“I don’t want to get into it.” I look out the side window. “I really miss him, Shayla, more than I ever missed Axl. Even when I moved here, I didn’t miss Axl as much as I miss Jackson, and it hasn’t even been a whole day yet.”
“Do you love him?” she asks.
“I don’t want to answer that. Admitting it to myself will just make me feel worse.”
“Why?”
“Because that fight we had is probably the end, which is sad because we’re really good together. I know it doesn’t seem like we would be, but we are. We understand each other. We have fun together. I feel better when I’m around him. I was so depressed when I got here, and I still am when I’m alone in that house, but Jackson makes it all better. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”
“Maybe you won’t have to find out.”
“He’s not going to call me. He hasn’t even texted me all day. That’s enough to tell me it’s over.”
“It’s been less than a day. Give him some more time. He’s got a lot going on.” She slows down and turns.
“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask.
