Girls Save the World in This One - Ash Parsons Page 0,42

at us and then follows Blair back up the aisle to the front of the hall. She’s keeping a little space between them, keeping her arms crossed so her arms don’t accidentally brush Blair.

“That was really nice of you,” Imani tells me. “You didn’t have to give her your blessing like that.”

“Yes, I did,” I say. “Siggy wouldn’t have minded, but I would have.”

Imani gives me a quick hug.

“That’s why I love you,” she says.

“D’aw,” I say, but I can’t help smiling anyway.

Siggy and Blair have reached the seats, and Siggy turns and gives two big thumbs-up from the second row.

We’re approximately thirty rows and a standing-room-only aisle behind her.

“Besides,” I add. “We can’t give Blair the cold shoulder forever.”

Imani leans into me. “You have such a big heart, June. It’s only been like a week.”

My shrug shifts the scoop neck of my shirt farther off one shoulder. “Feels like longer, I guess.”

Siggy points at the empty chair onstage directly in front of her. She claps and makes a heart shape with her hands.

I send two big thumbs-up back.

“I guess it was nice of Blair, too,” I say begrudgingly. “To offer it.” Because Blair didn’t have to walk back here. She didn’t have to offer a spare seat.

“If she really wanted to be nice, or try to atone, she could have offered us both seats,” Imani says. “She has an agenda.”

The lights in the auditorium dim as the stage gets brighter.

Imani touches my arm, making sure I meet her eyes. “It’s Blair, so it’s not gonna be straightforward. But it means she misses us. She misses you, June.”

Is that the same thing as feeling sorry?

Imani sighs, and her shoulders give a small, defeated shrug.

“It’s a start, at least,” she says.

What would it take for me to get over the injury?

I can’t even picture it.

Because Blair will never be able to cross that distance. She’ll never be able to say the right words. Not because there are no right words, but simply because she won’t be able to bring herself to say them. Can’t bring herself to that vulnerable place.

The flip side of her strength, and her drive, and the intensity I loved about her. That I still love about her.

Which means I’ll eventually have to accept the wound, and move on, accepting the meanings under gestures, somehow have that be enough.

And try not to feel cheated that I never got an actual apology.

Imani’s head tilts onto my shoulder as one of her arms squeezes around me. “You don’t have to deal with it today, June.”

But I will have to. Just not yet.

I squeeze Imani back, grateful for my friend. How can I be more like her? I love her so much it’s a physical squeeze in my heart.

Imani looks over, and sends me a sky-wide smile.

She knows exactly how I feel.

12

A cheer ripples through the crowd. The post-show host, Michaela, is back. She stalks across the front of the stage in her high-heel boots and tight blue dress, dreadlocks gathered into a low ponytail, trailing down her back. She’s in her element, pointing at fans and waving.

“Okay! Senoybia! Wow!” She claps at us, long nails and dark brown skin luminous under the stage lights.

She’s so glamorous. But she’s been a zombie on the show a few times, and I could never spot her until she showed us the behind-the-scenes video!

“Okay! All right!” she yells into the mic, and we start to quiet down. “That’s better. Children. We’ve got a lot to cover, but before I start the panel, we’ve got to go over the rules, again. I’m talking about photo ops.”

We cheer reflexively. Photo ops! So exciting!

Michaela nods at us and waits until the cheers quiet down.

“Yes, we’re all excited! I want your photo op to be amazing! So just a reminder, okay, because this will get you ejected