“Maybe we need therapy or something.” She laughs. “Because having a sister is harder than I thought.”
“Tell me about it.”
“But I think that’s probably how it is, like there’s always going to be something, but we can’t tear each other apart. It’s never going to be perfect,” she says.
“And honestly, I wouldn’t believe it if it was. I like us how we are—weird,” I say.
“So, can we promise to just be real? Like really real, and honest?” I nod, and she makes a face. “You have to say you promise, Jasmine, or it’s not official.”
“I absolutely promise,” I say. “Are you still happy I’m here?”
Kayla shrugs and then notices I took her too seriously. “I’m kidding. Of course I am,” she says. “Really.”
“Phew.”
“And one day, I hope you’ll tell me the rest of the story about your time in that place. I want to know everything.”
“Really?”
She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Yeah. If I knew you were meeting Amari’s hating ass, maybe I could have stopped it. I don’t know. But there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’re still sisters forever.”
I try not to burst into tears. I needed to hear this so badly.
“Unless you do that shit again,” she adds firmly.
I laugh. “I won’t.”
The door to the sunroom opens. “Language!” Travis says, walking over to the table.
“Sorry, but you’re not even supposed to be in here,” Kayla says. “We’re bonding.”
He grabs a slice of pizza. “All right, all right.” He smiles at us both. “Happy to hear it.”
Kayla and I smile at each other too, and it feels like something new. Something solid. Something more real.
I think about her request to hear my story and realize that answers my question about who will care enough to listen.
The next day, I still haven’t spoken to any of the girls except Kayla.
I was surprised at how easily we slipped back into our routine. She lay across my bed after dinner and helped me figure out how to approach the girls at school. She suggested I focus on Deanna and wait until lunch to pull her aside. I agreed. And truly, besides Kayla, Deanna is the only other person I owe something to.
“Oh, brother,” Kayla moans as she pulls into a parking spot.
I follow her gaze to the path and see Kenny, Mel, and Alice standing there, waiting.
I almost swallow my gum and start coughing.
“Don’t die! We can just walk right past them,” Kayla jokes.
I laugh.
Most of the students are heading toward the school entrance, but Kenny and Mel make a beeline straight for us. Alice lags behind.
“Please don’t hate us, Jasmine,” Kenny says, coming to a stop in front of me. “Even though you can if you want.”
“Jasmine!” Mel shrieks. “We’re so sorry for being assholes.”
“Me three.” Alice surprises me by chiming in. “We don’t care what you’ve done or where you’ve been. You don’t even have to explain.”
