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That night.
Yeah, that night’s surreal. I try to push it from my mind like it didn’t happen.
“Are you okay?” Cherise looks at me, seeing through me. She’s braiding her hair into one long rope that goes down the length of her back.
“I will be.” I shrug. “At least this is my last semester.”
“And then you get to jump into whatever phase is next for you.”
That isn’t uplifting. I had already started to picture Josh in that scenario. I haven’t even started thinking about where I want to apply for a job. What a loser. Good thing my mother’s not around here to agree with me.
“You never did contact that guy Greg.” Cherise feels the need to be helpful. She’s sweet like that, though she doesn’t realize this isn’t really helping. “There’s that.”
“Yeah, there’s that.”
“Hey.” Riley plants her hands on either side of her hips and pushes herself off the couch. Two puffs of what is probably ancient dust rise from the spot her hands just punched. “It’s Kara’s birthday. And her mom...”
Cherise rolls her eyes.
Riley continues, “...hasn’t bothered to send her anything. Not even an email. Let’s go surprise her after work and take her out for dinner and drinks.”
I cut my eyes sideways. She better not suggest going to the place Josh works.
“I wasn’t going to say that,” Riley says, defensively, evidently reading my mind.
“You better not.”
Cherise is looking from me to Riley like she’s watching a tennis game.
“You’re some kind of tore up about this thing,” Riley states the obvious.
Didn’t really need her to do that.
* * *
Kara worksin the mall at one of the clothing stores that I can’t exactly afford on my budget right now, even when she offers to use her discount. It’s not like she can even use her own discount anyway.
It’s ten minutes before closing time. We wanted to catch her before she left the store. Cherise, Riley, and I walk in and spot her immediately. Tall, lithe, and elegant, even when she’s not in expensive clothing, she stands out in a room. She’s in the back, folding and hanging clothing that people tried on and didn’t buy.
We sneak up on her and start to sing happy birthday to her when a throat clearing behind us brings us to a halt. Sheepish grins appear on our faces, and embarrassment on Kara’s.
“Excuse me,” a female voice says, then walks up to Kara. When the figure turns slightly, I catch the profile.
Shit.
It’s Billie.
I don’t want to be seen. I don’t want to talk to her. Not sure what I’d say anyway. She probably doesn’t remember me. I’m a nonentity to her, no doubt. I turn around and face the nearest group of clothes that are hanging and feign interest, pulling and pushing jeans aside while I pretend to be just another shopper.
“Cassie, have you seen these tops?” Cherise’s voice is loud. Way loud, and I’m torn between immersing myself deeper into the jeans and ignoring her or answering her because if I ignore her, she’ll just call for me again, and maybe louder.
To my left, out of my peripheral vision, I catch Billie looking in Cherise’s direction. Then she follows Cherise’s gaze and looks right at me. I can feel her eyes on me. I turn even further, so now I can’t see if she’s still looking or if she’s approaching or leaving.
I bite my lip in anticipation, hoping—please, dear God, don’t let her come this way.
“Cassie?” That’s her voice. “Cassie from Boar Creek?”
I look up at her because—jeez—what else can I do? “Yes?”
