Page 1 (1/2)

1

NATALIE HAS BEEN TWIRLING that sa to drive me nuts I shake ically placing my lips on the straw Natalie sits across from me with her elbows propped on the little round table, chin in one hand

“He’s gorgeous,” she says staring off toward the guy who just got in line “Seriously, Cam, would you look at him?”

I rollmy drink back on the table, “you have a boyfriend—do I need to constantly remind you?”

Natalie sneers playfully at me “What are you, , not while that walking wall of sexy is standing at the register ordering coffee and scones “Besides, Da over for hiood with it”

I let out a spat of air, blushing

“See! Uh huh,” she says, sh out of you” She reaches over and thrusts her hand into her little purple purse “I have to make note of that,” and she pulls out her phone and opens her digital notebook “Saturday June 15th” She er across the screen “1:54 phed at one of my sexual jokes” Then she shoves the phone back inside her purse and looks at htful sort of look she always has when she’s about to go into therapy- aside

Just to appease her, I turn liister and toward the end of the counter where he slides his drink off the edge Tall Perfectly sculpted cheekbones Mesreen eyes and spiked up brown hair

“Yes,” I ad back at Natalie, “he’s hot, but so what?”

Natalie has to watch hilide past the s before she can look back at me to respond

“Oh My God,” she says eyes wide and full of disbelief

“He’s just a guy, Nat” I place n that says ‘obsessed’ on your forehead You’re everything obsessed short of drooling”

“Are you kidding me?” Her expression has twisted into pure shock “Caht?” She presses her back against her chair “You need to up your medication Seriously”

“I stopped taking it in April”

“What? Why?”

“Because it’s ridiculous,” I say matter-of-factly “I’ it”

She shakes her head at me and crosses her arms over her chest “You think they prescribe that stuff just for suicidal people? No They don’t” She points a finger at me briefly and hides it back in the fold of her ar, or some shit like that”

I smirk at her “Oh, really? Since when did you become so educated in mental health issues and the noses?” My brow rises a little, just enough to let her see howabout

When she wrinkles her nose at , I say, “I’ll heal on my own time and I don’t need a pill to fix it for me” My explanation had started out kind, but unexpectedly turned bitter before I could get the last sentence out That happens a lot

Natalie sighs and the smile completely drops from her face

“I’ at her “Look, I know you’re right I can’t deny that I have some messed up emotional issues and that I can be a bitch sometimes—”

“Soain and has already forgiven me

That happens a lot, too

I half-smile back at her “I just want to find answers on my own, y’know?”

“Find what answers?” She’s annoyed withher head to one side to appear thoughtful “I hate to say it, but shit really does happen You just have to get over it Beat the hell out of it by doing things that make you happy”

OK, soafter all

“I know, you’re right,” I say, “but…”

Natalie raises a broaiting “What? Come on, out with it!”

I gaze toward the wall briefly, thinking about it So often I sit around and think about life and wonder about every possible aspect of it I wonder what the hell I’irl I’ve known practically all et up at exactly the sa like I did the day before Why? What cos we do when deep down a part of us just wants to break free from it all?

I look away froht at my best friend who I knoon’t understand what I’et it out, I say it anyway