by Sarah Lyu
Maybe what I was really scared of was how it might change things between us. Elise was always the one who made decisions for us, where to go, what to do—who to hang out with. And bringing Jack into my life, our lives, hadn’t been sanctioned.
It hit me then how paranoid I was being. Elise was my best friend! She’d be happy for me.
Wouldn’t she?
“Who is it?” she asked.
“Jack. I don’t know his last name yet, actually,” I said with a small laugh, trying to sound extra cheerful. “I can’t wait for you to meet him, though. I think you’ll like him.” I watched carefully for her reaction.
Her expression was unreadable and I grew uncomfortable at the silence stretching between us. Oh no, I thought. She was angry.
But then she smiled. “Can’t wait to meet him,” she said.
“Really?”
She nodded, still smiling. “Anything for you.”
33.
Back at home I took a shower and washed Jack’s Superman tee. The whole house was quiet—Mom in her study, Christian gone, and Dad at the office or on a golf course. Exhausted from the night before, I fell asleep and only woke when my phone buzzed on my chest.
Jack: Lola’s helping me pick out a shirt for tonight
I sat up and rubbed my eyes, confused.
Me: Lola?
Then Jack sent a photo of him and his golden retriever, both of them adorable with wide grins, looking carefree under sunlight. Sitting up, I stared down at it, smiling as I saved it as his contact picture.
Jack: Just to let you know, I am not above using my cute dog to flirt with you.
I couldn’t stop grinning, so busy rereading his words over and over again that I almost forgot to respond.
Me: Of course not.
Jack: Is it working?
Me: Send me more Lola pics
He sent three more: Lola and him at the lake, both of them soaked; Lola alone chasing a toy; a selfie of Jack kissing her head.
How was he so cute? It wasn’t humanly possible. I flopped back onto my bed and wanted to die from happiness.
Me: Careful
Jack: ?
Me: I think I’m falling for your dog
Jack: I should’ve known this would happen
Me: It’s okay, I think I like her human too
Jack: Whew
A few minutes later, I was still thinking of what to say when he sent another message.
Jack: Tell me something true?
I stretched my hands overhead before turning to my side to cradle my phone.
Me: I’ve always wanted a dog
Jack: Are you allergic or something? :(
Me: No, my parents have a strict no pets policy
Jack: That sucks, wow
He sent me two more pictures of Lola, one at bath time and another after as she snoozed away on his bed, wrapped in a towel.
Me: She’s so adorable it should be illegal
Jack: She tries
Me: But where is the lie?
Jack: You’re right, let me call the cops
Me: Officer, my dog is too cute, send help
Jack: Lol
After a few moments, I shot his question back at him.
Me: Tell me something true?
Jack: I can’t wait to see you tonight
He answered every message almost immediately, and after seeing his words, I clutched my phone to my chest, breathless. Then I reread our entire exchange, smiling the whole time.
• • •
I was trying on dresses when Elise called.
“Is Christian home?” she asked.
I glanced out the window to see if his car was in the driveway. “No, why?”
“Okay, I’ll be there in fifteen,” she said.
“Wait, what?” I put down a purple cocktail dress, deciding it was too formal.
“All of us are going to meet up tonight. You and I can get dinner before.” I could hear the jingle of her keys in the background, the sound of the front door swinging closed.
“I can’t,” I said, feeling a little guilty but too excited to see Jack to let it change my mind. And even though I didn’t want to admit it, I needed a break from being with Elise after the revelations of the night before.
“You can’t? Why?” she asked.
“I’m having dinner with that guy I was telling you about—Jack?”
“Oh,” she said, followed by a long silence.
“Go out and have fun, I’ll see you tomorrow at school,” I said, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Elise had done the same thing, hadn’t she? Friday night, when I wanted to hang out, just the two of us, she pressed her keys into my hands and left me behind.
“Can you cancel?” she asked.
“Why?” I said, surprised.
“We’re planning to figure out how we’re going to help people,” she said. “I want you to be there. It’s important.”
“You’re actually doing that?” I asked, sitting down to pay better attention to what she was saying. “I thought that was—I thought you weren’t serious about it.” She’d talked about it earlier but I was hoping she’d let it go.
“Why wouldn’t I be serious about it?” she said. “I meant every word I said. There’s so much injustice in the world and we could be doing something about it. Don’t you want that, Rem? Don’t you want to make a difference?” She sounded like she actually believed we had superpowers, like we had a responsibility to fight evil.
“Just go without me,” I said. The truth was I wouldn’t have wanted to go even if Jack and I didn’t have plans. Part of me was still afraid she’d change her mind on pranking Christian, get the others worked up and make it hard for me to say no.
“We need you,” she said. “I mean, how can we have a Justice League without Wonder Woman?”
I smiled, shaking my head at her ridiculousness. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out. You can tell me all about it after.”
Another pause.
“When are you leaving?” she asked.
I looked at the time. “I don’t know, half an hour?”
“I’ll drive you,” she said. “I’m on my way over anyway.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I said, but she’d already hung up. I tried to text her but she didn’t respond.
Elise showed up twenty minutes later, parking right in the driveway, taking Christian’s spot.
“What happened to avoiding Christian?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Fuck him. Why should I be the one who has to suffer because he’s the asshole?” And just like that, she was over him, or at least she seemed like it.
“I guess.” I glanced out onto the street, hoping Christian would stay wherever he was, not wanting to deal with a potentially explosive fight.
She changed the subject. “Is that what you’re wearing?” I’d decided to go with jeans and a black top, red heels and matching wristlet.
I nodded. “Why?”
“Nothing. You look nice,” she said with a soft smile.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling back, my excitement growing.
“Where are you guys going?” she asked, flopping down on my bed on top the clothes I’d rejected.
“The Good Place.” It was a diner with an old-fashioned jukebox, red leather booths, and a vintage Coke refrigerator with a clicking handle.
“So, fancy Waffle House,” she said with a laugh.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” I said, grinning.
“Come on,” she said. “Let’s go before you’re late.”
“You really don’t have to,” I said, still confused about why she wanted to drive me and worried what Jack would think. Would it look like I already wanted him to meet my friends? Or worse, that Elise was there to give her approval?
“I have nothing else to do, and besides, you’ll be able to leave with Jack after without dealing with your car.” She looped my arm with hers. “And I’ll get to meet him.”
“I guess.�
�� She was so insistent that I gave in. I decided to tell Jack I’d needed a ride and that was why Elise drove me.
We arrived a little early and were sitting on top of the Pink Caddy’s trunk when Jack showed up.
“Cute,” Elise whispered to me when he pulled off his helmet, and I bumped her with my shoulder.
Jack walked up to us, smiling, but I could see he was confused. “Hey,” he said, keeping some distance between us, a little shy.
“Hey,” I said, giving him a hug. “This is my friend Elise. She drove me.”
“I’m Jack,” he said with a wave. “Cool car.” He’d seen it two nights ago at the party, but not up close.
“Thanks,” Elise said. Then she gave me a quick hug. “See you later.”
We went inside and slid into a booth across from each other. “So,” he said, taking one of the oversize menus.
“So,” I said, nervous. Our eyes met and we laughed at our own awkwardness, at the newness of whatever was happening between us.
Then something outside caught Jack’s attention and he turned slightly, leaning toward the windows. “Isn’t that your friend?”
“What?” Startled, I looked up to see Elise still sitting cross-legged on the back of her car. “Yeah, it is,” I said in complete surprise. I pulled out my phone.
Me: You’re still here?
Elise: Sorry, I got hungry and breakfast for dinner sounded really good
Elise: I just ordered takeout and I’ll be out of here soon
Through the glass, she held up a hand in a small wave.
“What’s up?” Jack asked.
“Oh, um, she’s hungry so she ordered takeout,” I said. I shook my head in disbelief.
Me: You couldn’t have gotten takeout anywhere else??
Elise: Omg, I didn’t think about that
Elise: I can leave right now, I’m sorry!
“Oh, why don’t you just tell her to join us?” Jack said with a warm smile.
“Well, she has a thing later, and—”
“It’s fine.” He reached for my hand and held it, the light brush of his touch making me blush. “I want to meet your friends anyway.” He was being really kind, but I was annoyed that all I got was five minutes with him alone. I couldn’t believe Elise was crashing our date.
I took a deep breath. “Okay.”
Me: Do you just want to eat with us?
Elise: No, I don’t want to interrupt your thing
Me: It’s fine
Me: I mean, you’re already here, you might as well
Elise: Only if you’re really okay with it
Me: I’m okay, just come inside and stop being a weirdo stalker staring at us
Elise: Lol, okay, coming
She hopped off the trunk and grabbed her shoulder bag from the back seat before walking toward us. “Sorry,” she said when she came to our table, sitting with me, opposite Jack. “I didn’t mean to crash your date.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said with an easy smile.
“Rem?” she asked me, like she was double-checking.
“It’s fine.” But it wasn’t. I kept glancing at her, trying to figure out what she was doing, if this was all part of some plan she’d hatched. Then I felt guilty, thinking of what she’d told me the night before, remembering the bruise on her shoulder. She didn’t want to be at the Pink Mansion. She didn’t want to be alone, that was all. Or maybe she really was just craving eggs and pancakes.
“Have you already ordered?” Jack asked, handing her a menu.
Elise shook her head. “I was just about to call it in,” she said, flagging down a waiter. After she ordered, she turned back to us. “Are you also a sophomore?” she asked Jack.
He shook his head. “I’m a senior but I took the year off.”
“Oh,” she said, and I was grateful when she didn’t pry. We talked a little about the party Elise threw on the football field on Friday night, about how tedious some of the teachers were at school, about any summer plans we might have.
“I want to get back into swimming,” Jack said. “I’m so out of shape.”
“You look fine,” Elise said.
He smiled. “Thanks, but I’m probably slow as hell in the water right now. What about you guys, any plans?”
I shook my head. “My parents are probably going to make me study for the SATs. I’m already behind, according to my mom. Christian, my brother, started studying for it as a fetus, so.”
Jack laughed. “Wait, is your brother Christian Tsai?”
“Yep.” They were in the same grade, I realized. Even if Jack had taken the year off school, they would have been juniors together, and sophomores before that.
“I didn’t know he had a sister,” he said.
“No one does,” I said. “I would’ve been surprised if you said you had known.”
“Are you guys friends?” Elise was trying not to sound strained, but I could hear it in her voice. I looked at Jack, silently praying he didn’t know Christian.
“Not really?” he said like a question. “I think we were on the swim team together freshman year, but we don’t exactly know the same people.” He was clearly being polite, and I was relieved that they weren’t friends.
“It’s okay,” Elise said, grinning. “You can tell us what you really think of him. I mean, both of us think he’s kind of an asshole.” I elbowed her. “What? It’s the truth.”
“I don’t know him well enough,” Jack said, remaining neutral. “He seems kind of intense, I guess.” I liked that he didn’t just follow Elise’s lead, that he wasn’t tempted to shit-talk Christian just because she was.
As soon as Elise finished eating, she checked the time on her phone. “We have to go soon, Rem,” she said without looking up.
“What?” I asked. Jack looked surprised too.
“That thing tonight?” she asked, eyes meeting mine. “Remember?” It had all been part of her plan, I thought. Unbelievable.
“You said you were going to go without me, remember?” I shot her a look.
“Can we talk?” She took me by the wrist, pulling me out of the booth toward the bathroom before I could answer. I looked over my shoulder, trying to tell Jack sorry.
As soon as the door shut behind us, Elise checked the stalls quickly to make sure we were alone. “I really need you there tonight.”
“Why?” I demanded. I knew she didn’t. Maybe I’d been right to be worried when I didn’t want to tell her about Jack, but even then I couldn’t have imagined she’d do this. “Please don’t tell me it’s because you want me there to talk about the Justice League or whatever it is you’re calling it, because I honestly don’t even care about it, okay?” I regretted my words immediately.
That left her quiet, the silence heavy between us.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Yes, you did.” She turned away from me, looked at herself in the mirror. “I’m sorry I’m such a burden.” Her voice was flat, her spark gone.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “I’m sorry.”
“I just—” She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly. “I just don’t want to be alone right now. And I know I won’t be alone, but the others there, they don’t know me, not like you do.” Our eyes met in the mirror. “No one does. The things I told you last night—I’ve never told anyone. Ever.” She seemed to shrink into herself, arms crossed, shoulders hunched. “I need you, Remy,” she said. “Please.”
“Of course,” I said, hugging her tight.
“I’m sorry.”
It scared me, seeing someone so strong on the edge of tears, on the verge of breaking down.
“I need you, I need you,” she said, but the words that had once made me feel loved now filled me with apprehension.
34.
“I’m sorry I have to go,” I told Jack. “And I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend any time alone together.” We were out in the parking lot, standing by his motorcycle, his fingers gently trailing along
my arms, Elise a few spots away, already starting the Pink Caddy. I turned my back to her to steal a moment for myself.
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ll see you later, and I think your friend just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said. Even that sounded like he was making an excuse for her, and I liked him even more—he was so generous and understanding.
“I’m sorry,” I said again. “And I forgot your shirt.” After washing it, I’d left it in the dryer.
“Oh, the Superman one?” he said. “Keep it. I like the way you look in it.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, but I was secretly pleased.
He leaned in and left the lightest kiss on my lips, sending me soaring. I pulled him in tighter, arms wrapped around him, hands slipping into his hair.
“Okay.” I lingered, not wanting to leave.
The ride to the football field was mostly quiet. The sky had darkened while we ate, leaving only faint brushes of pink and purple. We were the first ones there, sitting together on the bleachers, smoking while we waited.
“Are we going to do anything tonight?” I asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You know, a prank,” I said.
“Oh, like if we already have a target or something? No,” she said. “We’re just here to figure it out.”
“Why do you want to do this again?” I asked, turning to lie down on the bench.
“Because.” She dropped her cigarette, stamped it out. “I know what it’s like to feel helpless. You do too. It’s awful. No one should ever, ever feel like that. And we can’t do anything about our parents, but—”
“Okay, okay,” I cut her off. I knew her entire speech already.
“I knew you’d understand,” she said. “Look, I think Julie and Madi are here. Jae too.”
I took one last look at the stars, remembering me and Jack lying under the same night sky, before I swung my legs around, got up, and stretched as Elise waved them over. Jae brought drinks left over from the party Friday night. Once we were in the middle of the field, I scanned the place, looking for signs of the party—errant plastic cups, trash—but found nothing.
“We cleaned up,” Elise said, as if reading my mind. “Can’t get caught if we want to do it again.”