like always, silently waiting for her to come out. I do the same thing every morning. It’s the only way I feel close to her. Myrah hops out of her house with a joyous pep in her step, her cute blonde bob swaying back and forth around her heart shaped face. I don’t know where she goes every morning or why she’s so happy, but I wish I had some clue.
Her feet falter when she shifts her gaze over her shoulder and sees me staring through the window. Her smile falls, and I can see the tremble of her lips from here. She lifts her hand in my direction, giving me a small wave. I don’t return the gesture. I don’t even blink. Instead, I sit like an unmoving stone, staring blankly ahead. Her hand falls beside her in defeat, and she whirls around, getting into her car without a look back at me. As she pulls out of her driveway and down the street, I try to remember the girl she used to know. The girl I used to be.
PAST
NINE YEARS AGO—SUMMER OF 2009
“What about this color, Bea? I promise it will look so good on you,” Myrah says with hope in her voice. I eye the polish in her hand speculatively and scrunch my face up.
“But that’s green, Myrah.”
“Oh c’mon, it’s more like a mint green. It’ll look great I promise.”
I relent with a sigh, and my best friend hops up and down, unable to contain her excitement. She paints my nails and toenails, and I do the same for her once mine are dried—she, of course, chooses fire engine red. After painting each other’s nails, we throw on our favorite movie, Mean Girls, and sit huddled up together on her bed eating a bowl of popcorn smothered in butter.
“I can’t believe my mom’s actually going through with it.” I sigh out halfway into the movie. We’ve just gotten to the part where Cady asks Aaron Samuels for help on an equation in Ms. Norbury’s math class, even though she already knows the correct answer.
Myrah’s face saddens.
“Maybe it won’t be as bad as you think.” She offers with a shrug.
I nibble on my bottom lip in contemplation. She’s probably right. It’s just been me and my mother for as long as I can remember. How can I possibly tell her I don’t want her to move in her new husband?
“You’re right. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up enjoying having an older brother?”
“Exactly, Bea. He might turn out to be a really awesome older brother. Sometimes I wish Evan was still here. Ever since he left for college, I feel like we never even talk. I’m just glad my cousin will be here to keep us company.”
My brows pull together in a frown, and I turn to face her. “What cousin?”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you!” she says excitedly, nudging me in my thigh. “My cousin Liam is staying with us for a while. He kept getting into a lot of trouble back home, so his mom and dad are sending him here with us, hoping he’ll clean up his act. He’s a few years older than us, but Liam’s really cool. I think you’ll like him.”
I smile at the excited look on her face and find myself excited too. I can’t wait to meet her cousin. Myrah’s older brother, Evan, was way older than us, eight years to be exact, but we always had a lot of fun with him when he was living at home. If it’s any indication, Myrah’s excitement over her cousin most likely means we’ll have a good time. Maybe having someone else around will help me forget that my mom’s new husband, and my stepbrother are moving in by the end of the week. I shiver at the thought.
“Bea!” My mom yells down the hallway, her loud voice trailing into my room. “Myrah’s on the phone for you!”
I hop off my bed and sprint to the kitchen for the phone. I’ve been waiting for her call all day, or at least that’s what it feels like. My mom hands the phone to me with a disapproving shake of her head.
“Why do you two insist on calling each other when we live right next door? I swear you girls are joined at the hip.” My mother mumbles as she walks away. I giggle, placing the receiver against my ear.
“Myrah?”
“He’s here! C’mon Bea, I can’t wait for you guys to meet,” she rambles excitedly into