Page 87 of Saints & Sailors

“We’re just friends,” Cameron insisted.

Vanity rolled her eyes. “And I’m just bored.” She turned to me, eyeing me suspiciously. “And Dreux asked you out?”

Now it was my turn to downplay things. “We’re just friends.”

Vanity pretended to scowl at me. “I had his attention first.”

“Yeah, well, you snooze you lose,” I shot back playfully.

Vanity’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. In another minute, we were both laughing and it felt like I’d just admitted something.

Knocking sounded at the door. Cameron’s mother, Tish, came in with a plate of cookies, the smell of chocolate chips filling the room and making me hungry.

“So, Saylor, are you staying in Meadow Grove?” Vanity asked between bites of a cookie.

“Yeah, I kinda like it here,” I admitted.

“Good,” Cameron said. “You’re not allowed to leave.”

“It’s settled,” Vanity teased, raising her mug of milk.

The topic of boys slipped away as we ate the cookies and Vanity and I painted our nails.

When folklore was over, Vanity put on SOS and I joined Cameron on her bed as I admired my pale pink nails.

I laid back and looked at the ceiling, soaking in SZA’s lyrics and melodies. She was singing about not wanting to snooze or miss a moment with the guy she was into and I felt myself smile. Oddly, knowing exactly how she felt.

I agonized over what to wear to the carnival. It was only the end of the second week of November and the weather remained in the high seventies. We hadn’t yet experienced a dip that required heavier clothing—thank God.

Still, I felt silly thinking about what to wear. I was just going to a school carnival with friends—but Dreux was taking me. Which didn’t really mean anything because he was a friend, but yet…

I never put thought into what I wore around the guys back home. Yet, here I was, rethinking every article of clothing I owned. First, I considered a hoodie and ripped jeans, but then I questioned why I was so covered and if I’d come off closed off. Shorts came to mind next, which required me to shave my legs.

And then I felt fucking ridiculous for shaving my legs and caring how I looked.

I groaned and cursed my jumbled mind as I settled on a Rolling Stones T-shirt and a pair of cutoffs. After slipping my feet into my black Converse, I decided my outfit would do.

My eyes drifted to my pink-painted nails and a fuzziness I couldn’t shake radiated through me.

I was going to the school carnival with Dreux. The thought warmed me.

Down on the first floor, I found Scott watching TV in the living room. With a beer on his knee, he was completely engrossed in what looked like some cop drama. Suddenly, I felt shy about approaching him.

Scott noticed me standing awkwardly at the edge of the room. “What’s up, Say?”

“I’m going out to the school carnival,” I told him as I thumbed a finger over my shoulder.

Immediately Scott lifted a suspicious brow. “School carnival?”

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s this weekend. Seemed…like fun.”

Scott sank back in his chair, studying me. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. This was new territory for me too. “Uh-huh.”

My cheeks were heating up at having to come out and say it. “Dreux invited me.”

Just like that Scott’s demeanor changed. He lightened up, his expression going from guarded to relaxed. “Oh. Sounds good. It’s nice to know you two are becoming good friends.”

I looked away, hoping my blush wouldn’t betray me.