“I know, Ryne. I know,” she interrupts. In a dull, monotone voice she parrots back to me the threat that’s been in place for nearly two years now. “I will never again see the light of day.”
“Because…” I prompt her. When she doesn’t respond I give her my big brother glare.
She rolls her eyes but finishes. “Because you’ll shove my head so far up my ass I’ll be able to watch my turds forming.”
I click my tongue and nod. “All right, let’s go.”
9
Dacen
Evie pulls into the parking spot next to me, waving wildly, and shuts off her car while I step out of mine and lift my bag over my shoulder and across my body.
“Oh, sugar foot!” Evie exclaims in her sweet southern drawl as she slams the door and walks over to me. “I was hoping to get here before you so I could properly welcome you to your first day at Knoxton Falls High School.”
“The massive wave as you pulled in was sufficient,” I laugh.
She pouts her lower lip and then shrugs. “Okay, let’s go.”
Evie links her arm through mine and we weave through the parking lot and up to the front entrance of the high school. A tidal wave of nerves rolls through my stomach as I grab the door and gesture for Evie to enter first.
“So southern of you,” she teases on her way past. I gnaw on my lip and take a slow, deep breath. After about four steps it hits her that I’m not beside her anymore. She pivots on her heel and comes back over. “Everything okay?” she questions softly.
We’d discussed many, many things in great length over the summer, each of us opening up and sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Exposing the not-so-great parts of ourselves as well as our really ugly truths was kind of terrifying but felt good at the same time. There aren’t many people I’ve been able to truly open up to about my anxiety. A lot of times I get the whole, ‘You’re a happy, chatty guy. What could you possibly have to worry about?’ nonsense, but not from Evie. She was patient while I explained as best as I could, and she asked a few very thoughtful questions. She’s familiar with some of my triggers now, too. I’m excited and happy and nervous to be starting at a new school, all normal emotions. But underneath is a buzzing layer of anxiety, zapping me with thoughts such as, what if everyone thinks I’m weird or just another annoying northern transplant? What if I don’t make more friends? What if Evie suddenly stops wanting to be my friend and I’m all alone?
What if? What if? What if?
Evie wraps her two small hands around one of mine and squeezes, and then draws me out of the middle of the doorway to a less occupied corner of the front stoop. I close my eyes and inhale deeply.
“You’re okay. You got this, D.”
“I’m okay,” I repeat after her and nod. “I’ve totally got this.” I blow a rough breath out, then realize I’m crushing her hands in a death grip. I relax my grip and drop them.
“Sorry about the hand squishing,” I murmur.
“Hey, Dacen, look at me.”
I peer down at her and she smiles gently. “This is going to be a great year. We're going to have a ton of fun. Let’s go kick butt.”
I pull myself up taller and straighten my bag again as we enter the lobby. The students talking, laughing, catching up after a long summer, it’s all white noise to me. Calming in a weird way.
“And just so you know.” Evie tugs on my wrist and I look down again. “You’re worth every hand squish that has happened and may happen in the future. Okay?”
How did I get so lucky as to have this girl as my best friend? She’s amazing, warm, caring, understanding, super funny, and wicked smart. And that’s just scratching the surface of everything that is Evelyn Tanner.
“Thanks, Evie.” I reach over and give her a one-arm hug. “Love ya.”
She hugs me back. “Love ya more. Now let's go get this party started.” She rubs her hands together and wiggles her eyebrows up and down so ridiculously I burst out laughing.
“You are such a dork.”
“Totally a dork,” a male voice agrees and Noah slides up beside Evie as we walk down the hallway toward the lockers. “Heyyyyy guys.”
“Noah, hi!” Evie greets him aloud and I give him a wave.
“First day of the last year at this hell hole! Rock on!”
Noah sticks his tongue out and makes a rock ’n roll symbol with one hand. He dances goofily as we walk, garnering some stares he completely ignores. He’s being silly right now, but he’s actually a wicked-good dancer and good at tumbling too. He’s on the cheer team with his BFF Trisley. One afternoon last week a group of us hung out at Noah’s, and Evie and I stuck around afterward for a bit while Trisley and Noah worked on some cheer stuff in the backyard. I was in awe the whole time, watching them flip their way from one side of the yard to the other.
