"Hello?"
"I dreamt about him again."
"You've got to stop doing that."
"I know."
"Do you? Because you say that every time we have this conversation..."
"I know."
She sighed. "Fine. What was the dream about?"
"Him."
"Oh my god." I could hear her patience was wearing thin.
"We were.. y'know... We had a date in last night's dream, and I guess we hooked up..."
"Oh. Wow. Was it any good?" She was teasing.
I sighed. "Yes. It was amazing. I woke up and had to change."
"Eww TMI!" She laughed. I loved her laugh.
I laughed with her, though my laugh threatened to smash hers. My laugh was booming, ungraceful, unkind to the ear. Hers tinkled like a Christmas tree, soft and delicate, and full of joy. I loved her laugh.
"Did you dream last night?"
She sighed. I asked her that every time we talked, and I always got the same answer.
"I don't want to talk about it."
I often wondered what she dreamt. Whether it was of some secret love, or of some struggle (though one could argue those are the same topics), or even just a generic floating in space dream, though I wouldn't know why she would want to hide that... Maybe she didn't dream at all, and was jealous of my very vivid dreams.
"Okay." Same answer as last time, same answer as next time.
"So does this guy go to our school?"
"Yeah..." I hated lying to her.
"Do I know him?" Very much so.
"A little." The lies were like pins in my heart.
"Will you stop being so vague and just tell me who it is?" I can't. I can't. She'd never talk to me again. I couldn't live with that.
"Maybe someday."
"GAH!"
"Sorry." So very sorry.
"No you're not."
"Yes I am." You don't know how much this is killing me.
"If you were sorry you would just tell me." I'll be even sorrier when I tell you.
"I'll tell you if you tell me."
"Are you kidding?"
"Nope."
"Ugh. Whatever." Thank you, whatever being is out there... "So what are you doing this weekend?"
I sighed. Nothing ever happened in my life. Unless she decided to hang out, I was stuck holed up in my room, avoiding Spongebob and doing homework.
"I don't know. Probably nothing."
"Wanna hang out?" GOD YES!
"Sure. What do you want to do?"
"Tajaa's having a party, want to go to that?" A party? Damn. Public place.
"Oh, I don't know... I'm not a great dancer... I dance like an idiot."
"She has a pool. You can swim, I've seen you." Damn. Damn damn damn!
"Okay, but we have to go shopping first. I haven't had a new suit in ages, and the one I have has a hole where that stick snagged at the river."
"Yay! Shopping and party! This is going to be great!" I could see the smile on her face. It made me smile.
"So when do you want to go?"
"I can be ready in ten minutes. Your car or mine?" Crap I had forgotten to clean mine. I couldn't let her see...
"Yours. Mine needs a bath." To get that stupid graffiti off... Stupid brothers and their friends. Crap, where am I going to hide it?
"Okay. But since when have you been afraid to go out with a dirty car?"
"I'm not, but I don't want him to see..." Lie.
"He's going to be at the mall?"
"Maybe." Lie.
"Will you point him out?"
"Only if you tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"What you dream about."
"Haha! No."
"Your choice." This was killing me. TELL HER my brain screamed. TELL HER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, BEFORE SHE--
"So I'll see you in 15?"
"Thought you said 10?" Didn't want to wait any longer than I had to.
"I can be ready in 10. It takes me a bit to drive."
"I'm just giving you shit. I'll see you in 15."
"Bye! Muah!" She blew a kiss at me? When did she start that?
"Bye!"
We hung up. An early riser, I was already dressed and ready. Now to occupy myself for 15 minutes...
I locked my door, laid back down, and reached into one of the drawers under my bed. I shimmied out of my shorts; I could put those back on in an instant if need be. The familiar hum took me away from my immediate problem.
The doorbell rang, and I was at the door in a second, beating my brother by a foot. I stuck my tongue out at him, grabbed my purse off the hook, yelled to mom where I was going, and shut the door behind me.
"Hi!"
"Hi!" We hugged, and raced to the car. This had been "our" game since we were kids. I won, my door being on the closest side.
I hopped in, and nearly missed the pink envelope. I grabbed at it before I sat on it, and ended up sitting on my hand. She giggled (god I loved that giggle), and I stuck out my tongue at her.
The envelope had my name on it. I loved her handwriting. I started to open it, and she stopped me.
"Wait."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... Just wait, okay?"
"Until...?"
"Until I'm ready. Promise me you won't open it until I'm ready."
"Okay, I promise. Will you tell me when you're ready?"
"Yes."
"Okay then."
We drove in silence to the mall. I turned the envelope over and over in my hands, nervous. It felt like a bomb, and I swear I heard a countdown beeping. I put it in my purse, trying to forget about it.
We pulled up to the mall, and got out of the car. It was like a sigh of relief.
Our favorite shop was on the south side of the mall, but we parked in the north parking lot. It was tradition. So we walked from one end of the mall to the other, looking at the booths, going into the shops and looking at some suits on the way. I didn't find any I liked, though there was a necklace that tempted me.
We walked into the SPCA shop. There were all kinds of rescued animals in there, from puppies to kittens to older dogs and cats, to birds and fish and frogs. I loved that shop. We headed to the puppies.
I was playing with a little yorkie through the grate when she walked up and put her hand in mine. "Open it."
"Open what?" She stared at me. "Oh..." I reached into my purse and grabbed the envelope. I tried to get my hand so I could rip off the edge, but she wouldn't give it to me. I giggled. "I can't open it with one hand."
"Use your teeth?"
I laughed. "Okay..."
I ripped it open with my teeth (I'm sure the Yorkie thought it was funny) and grabbed the little note inside, and opened it.
There was more of that handwriting I loved, but as I read it, the letters quickly became blurred as tears formed.
"Are you crying?" Yes..
"No."
"You look like you're crying."
"I'm not."
"Are you okay?"
I looked at her. Her green eyes looked back at me. They were worried. Worried! HA!
I looked towards the letter again. I couldn't believe this.
"I dream about you too."
Her eyes widened. "But you said he..."
"I lied. I lied a million times. I'm soo sorry. I was afraid if I told you..."
"That you would be grossed out and hate me. I know."
It was silent for a minute.
Then, I kissed her. Once. A peck.
I kissed a girl, and I liked it... The chorus to Katy Perry's song came over the speakers.
We laughed. A big, booming laugh, and a Christmas tree laugh. And we kissed again.
"I don't want to go to the party."
"I don't either."
"Want to go back to my place and watch stupid movies all night?"
"Yep."
"Yay!"
We laughed again.
Walking back to the car, she put her hand in mine. It fit perfectly, just like when we were kids.
