didn’t make much sense—something about going to meet him after work, going for a drive, then blurting out a breakup. It was obvious she’d left part of the story out, but I didn’t ask what. If there was something she didn’t want to tell me, asking wasn’t going to change that.
“Do you think it’s really over?” I asked.
“Yeah. All through the bus ride home, I ran over what I told him in my head, trying to figure out if there was some way I could take it back. Except…I don’t know if I want to take it back. I like him, but…there’s too much I’m confused about right now.”
“Wow. You two were together for so long.”
“Yeah. I wish…” She blinked rapidly. It was too dark to tell if she was crying. “I don’t know. There’s so much I don’t know.”
She brushed a stray hair out of her eyes. The light caught a long, curly strand, making it shimmer.
“I know what you mean.” I tried not to stare. “I keep making huge mistakes because of all the stuff I don’t understand.”
“Like what?”
I sighed. “Remember in our letters, when we said we were going to be totally honest with each other?”
Sharon smiled. I love it when she smiles. “Of course.”
“Well, I mean, obviously I wasn’t really ready at first. It’s so ironic now—I should’ve trusted you from the beginning. I trusted Carolyn instead, and look how that turned out.”
Sharon’s smile faded at the sound of Carolyn’s name. “Why do you think she said what happened was your fault?”
“Because she’s a psychopath?” I sighed again. “No, I think she was just scared. There were a dozen different lies we could’ve used to convince them we were innocent, but she didn’t even want to try. She just wanted to keep them thinking she was a perfect Christian princess.”
I’d cared so much about Carolyn once. I’d thought I did, at least. But it wasn’t as if she’d ever lied to me. I’d known who she was from the beginning. I guess it was my fault all along for not seeing what was right in front of us.
“She’s horrible.” Sharon’s voice was so thick with anger that I jerked my head up, startled. “Going after you, just to save herself. Besides, you were innocent. You know they never would’ve acted that way if you’d been kissing a boy in the stairwell.”
My shock had faded enough for me to manage a half smile. “Good point. Honestly, getting caught has its upsides, too. I don’t love that I’m fending for myself now, obviously, but at least I don’t have to hide.”
“Wow. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Me, either. Not at first. But now I’m glad they know about me. I want everyone to know.”
“Hey, do you think we could go back to our pledge?” She met my gaze.
I nodded, my eyes on hers. “Yes. From now on, no more hiding.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Good. Okay. Then I guess I should go ahead and admit…I kind of miss writing to you.”
I laughed, flushing with happiness. I hoped it was too dark for her to notice. “Me, too, but I miss getting your letters back more.”
“Yeah. Maybe that’s what I really meant. I always imagined you in a certain way from your letters. In some ways the real you is exactly what I pictured, but you’re totally different at the same time. Being around you—the real you—well, it makes me dizzy sometimes.”
My smile widened. “Should I say I’m sorry, or…?”
“No, no. But I think, now that you’re here, we should do something fun.”
I laughed. “In sinful San Francisco? You want to prove my aunt right?”
She laughed, too. “Want to come see a punk show with me?”
“You’re kidding, right?” I laughed harder. “Of course I do. I’ve been hoping you’d bring it up.”
“Cool. We can do it the next time you have a night off and there’s an all-ages show. There are always posters up near the bookstore.”
“Could we go see