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"Dinner sounds great," I say overto my room to check my phone There’s a part of e from Houston When I see it’s just a return from Lexi, I’m equally conflicted--disappointment…meet relief

OMG you are such a rescue Please Mall Now Parents htly as I read her words As ed Lexi’s parents are the kind of couple that should have divorced a decade ago, only they’re stubborn and don’t want to be labeled failures Instead, they hang on and fight and exist in an awful ht at our house a lot Whenever I went to her house, her parents would ressive things since they didn’t want to fight in front of co at one another orse, though

I write her back

Give o Excited to see you!

For aon ht, black sweater so I can wearthem to campus with me the first time I wasn’t sure how cold the weather would be, or what snoould be like there But now that I’ve lived there, I think I can wear these without much trouble

My mom’s s so quickly But I need a dose of a real friend--a friend froirlfriends can do thatAnd I’ll be home for dinner It was Lexi; she needs to escape," I say, pulling h toit She squeezes ain

"Okay, I understand But make sure you save some time for your dad andin to kiss her on the cheek Truth is, ht now

True to forht at ten minutes I skip down the driveway to her car She’s still driving the red Caot for her sixteenth birthday, and the top is down I pull the hair tie from my wrist and fasten

The ride to theBeach, and she’s also gotten involved with a few clubs on cas like student council and the social co she says is a surprise She has a boyfriend--souy named Curtis She met him at the first sorority uy too, but then I stop short, reabout, so instead, I lie

"I haven’t reallyBut for some reason, at that very moment, all I can think about is Houston

"Well, you will College is a the car sharply to the right, fitting into a spot I’reat," I respond, keeping n happiness inhappy faces

We spend the first hour trying out new makeup samples I sprayed my wrists withthe good scent with a bunch of crappy ones--I won’t even s to like I have a feeling ht me the new set for Christ else

The afternoon is easy--like old ti on boots at our favorite shoe store, I realize I’--from joy

"I wish I would have stayed in California," I let slip out My eyes fall down to ray leather boots

"You’re a good sister," Lexi says, touching her hand toto Oklaho up her drea Lexi stroke my arm because she feels bad for …that would have been enough That would have satisfied et tothe subject There’s a flash of so in her face; I can’t tell for sure, but I think…I think it has to do with me