Jeremy:
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with Shelly.
Jolene:
I just want to forget about it.
Jeremy:
Okay. But I’m here if you change your mind. Bizarrely it sounds like Shelly is, too.
Jolene:
I don’t know right now.
Jeremy:
Okay.
Jolene:
And you need to delete these texts from Jeremy’s phone.
Jeremy:
I will.
Jeremy:
I just want you to know I’m here.
Jeremy:
I’ll do anything for you.
Jolene:
I know.
Jolene:
Thanks.
Jolene
Iset my phone down, then curled my legs up, and rested my cheek on my knee. For once, I was glad that my bedroom at my mom’s felt like it belonged to someone else. As my gaze traveled around the room, there were few memories associated with the soulless space. Apart from Mrs. Cho coming in to clean, I was the only one who spent time there. I’d never wanted to have friends over, not even Cherry.
At the thought of her, I lowered one leg, then the other, and after a moment’s hesitation, I walked over to open my closet. Smashed in the corner of a shelf was the holographic gift bag I’d thrown up there over two months ago.
I gnawed on my lip and plucked it down. Crumpled white tissue paper floated to the floor as I revealed a hinged box at the bottom that was no bigger than my palm.
It creaked slightly when I opened it and inside was a necklace with a tiny film camera charm on the end. I lifted the charm in my fingers as a tear slid down my cheek.
Gabe and Cherry’s mom opened the door when I knocked twenty minutes later. “Hi, sweetie. We haven’t seen enough of you lately.” She reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze as I mumbled a vague excuse about homework. “You just missed Gabe. You want to text him and see if he can swing back for you? He and Grady and Dexter were going to grab something to eat.”
I shook my head. “Can you just give this to him for me?” I held out a flash drive. “It’s the finished music video for Venomous Squid.”
She smiled wide. “You’re such a good friend for helping them with this. Gabe says you’re a genius.”
