Too Much Drama (12 page)

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

—Ferris Bueller

Friday, February 13, 6:55 p.m.
Home from the park

I'd been worried about meeting Leo in the park since we'd talked the other day. I had an idea of what I wanted to say to him. I'd even rehearsed it in my head on the way to the park. I just wasn't confident it would come out the way I wanted it to. Plus, it was Friday the 13th, which I took as a bad sign. Good things never happen on Friday the 13th.

But as I walked toward the slide on the playground where we'd agreed to meet, Leo smiled and waved me over, and my anxiety melted into excitement.

“April Elizabeth Sinclair, in person!” he said and gave me a hug.

I smiled. Leo's hair was longer, and he looked cuter than I'd remembered. Plus I couldn't believe he remembered my middle name. I was pretty sure I'd only told it to him once.

He tapped the side of his head, like he'd read my mind. “It's a little embarrassing to admit this, but I've got a knack for remembering all the little things you tell me.” He motioned to a nearby bench and we sat down.

“Hmm,” I said flirtatiously. “Is that a sign of liking someone?”

Leo raised a brow at me like the answer to my question was obvious. But it wasn't. At least not to me.

“Leo,” I said tentatively.

“Henry,” he said. “If you're wondering, my middle name is Henry. I've always thought it's a handsome name, in a British sort of way.” He cleared his throat. “Leo Henry,” he said with a British accent.

I laughed. It was so silly and so him.

He kept talking. “As I'm sure you know, Elizabeth is also a British name. I like that we both have British middle names. It's just one of the things we have in common.” Leo looked at me like he was gauging my reaction.

There might be some things we have in common, but we also have some pretty big differences, like the fact that I'm still in high school, and now, he's a college student. And possibly, a college student with a girlfriend.

“Leo, we need to talk.” I launched into the speech I'd rehearsed on the way to the park. “Since you went to college . . . you say you're going to call, then you don't. I try to tell you things, and you don't really respond.” I paused. “I'm sure college is a lot of work, but I think there's more to it.”

“You're right,” said Leo. “There is.”

I waited for him to say what I was pretty sure was coming next.

But he surprised me. “I didn't like going to high school because I didn't fit in,” Leo said. “I thought college would be better.” His face crinkled like he was having a hard time saying what came next. “But I'm still two years younger than everyone else there. To be honest, I'm not really making many friends.”

“That's it?” I asked.

Leo looked confused. “That's it,” he said sarcastically.

I couldn't help it, but I started laughing.

Leo looked mad. “How's that funny?” he asked.

“I'm sorry,” I said between giggles. “I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing because I'm relieved. I thought you were going to tell me you have a girlfriend.”

“A girlfriend?” Leo looked shocked.

“Yeah, I thought the reason you didn't have time to talk to me was because you were spending your time talking to someone else.”

Leo shook his head like I couldn't have been any further off.

Even though part of me was relieved, I felt bad for Leo that he was having a hard time making friends. I did my best to put on a serious face. “Maybe it just takes time to make new friends,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Leo. But he didn't sound convinced.

I hadn't realized what a big adjustment college would be. I felt kind of silly about the rest of what I'd planned to say to Leo.

He looked at me. “What? I know you're thinking something but not saying it.” He poked me lightly in the ribs.

“Well,” I said taking a deep breath. “I was going to say that so much has changed since you left. You're in college, with this whole other life.” I shrugged. “I don't know. I feel like we should break up.”

The corners of Leo's eyes turned up, like he was trying to hold back a smile. “April, how are we supposed to break up if we're not even going out?”

I could feel my face turning red.

Leo apologized. “I wasn't making fun of you, just a point. I guess that's the scientist in me.” He paused. “I know what you mean,” he said. “We're in different places. We should focus on what we're each doing. . . . But it doesn't mean we can't be friends.”

I exhaled. I want to stay friends with Leo, and it was such a relief to know he does too, even if there are challenges.

Leo kept talking. “I think what you're saying is that we need an un-breakup.”

I raised a brow at him. “What's your definition of an un-breakup?” I couldn't wait to hear.

Leo straightened his glasses. “Since we're technically not going out, we can't technically break up. However, I would say what we've been doing is un-going out, which I define as feeling like you're going out with someone without actually doing it.”

I laughed. “That's exactly how I feel,” I said to Leo.

“Right,” said Leo, continuing on like it was validating to know we were on the same page. “As much as I've enjoyed un-going out with you, I agree it's in both our best interests to un-break up.”

I tucked a stray hair behind my ear. This had been too easy and almost pleasant. “So it's official? We're un-broken up?” I asked, smiling.

Leo looked at me like he was choosing his words carefully. “Not so fast,” he said. “We're officially un-broken up. But I really like talking to you, April. I hope that when either of us has something to say, we pick up the phone and make a call.” Leo paused. “I guess what I'm saying is that I'd like to be friends who talk.”

“I'd like that a lot,” I said to Leo.

He smiled. “Well in honor of being officially un-broken up and friends who talk, I have a present for you.”

I laughed. Leo is clearly a genius, but sometimes he can be so nonsensical. “Why would you give me a present when we're un-breaking up?” I asked.

Leo was laughing too. “Because I bought it before I knew that's what we would be doing. And I think you'll like it just the same if we're un-going out or un-broken up.”

Then he reached behind the bench for a bag. “I actually have a few presents for you,” he said. Leo took a University of Alabama baseball cap out of the bag and put it on my head. “Crimson is your color,” he said. Then he pulled out the biggest box of Valentine's candy I'd ever seen. “For you,” he said.

“Wow! It's huge!”

“It was on sale in the book store,” said Leo. “So if the candy tastes like it was from last year, you'll know why.”

I laughed. Then I got serious. “Leo, I feel bad. I didn't get you a present.”

Leo shrugged. “I'm just glad to see you again.” His face reddened when he said it. He sounded so sweet and sincere.

I thought about what Mom has said about us figuring it out. I couldn't imagine not being friends with Leo. I reached up and hugged him hard, and then I looked across the park. “Want to swing?” I asked.

Leo nodded that he did. So we swung, and we slid, and then we climbed to the top of the monkey bars. We probably looked like little kids on a play date, but I didn't care. It was the most fun I'd had on a playground in a long time.

Then Leo walked me home. I'll admit I felt a little sad. It wasn't the end of something, like what happened with Brynn. But still, I knew things would be different from now on.

Leo and I said good-bye, and as I walked inside with my hat on my head and my candy tucked under my arm, I couldn't help but think that the day had been bittersweet.

8:59 p.m.
It's official

Sophie just called to tell me that Billy beat her to the punch. “We're going out!” she screamed into the phone.

“That's amazing!” I screamed back. All the times I've called her with good news, she's always been so excited for me. I wanted her to feel my enthusiasm.

“He said he wanted to do it the day before Valentine's Day, because he thought it would be unexpected, offbeat, and cool, like me.” I could tell how much she loved his reasoning.

“I'm really happy for you,” I told her. And I was.

But as Sophie chatted on about how Billy asked her out, I was thinking about what it will be like now that they're going out. They're my two best friends, and I hope that doesn't change.

“You still there?” asked Sophie.

I hadn't realized that I'd spaced out. “Sorry,” I said.

“What's up?” asked Sophie.

I didn't want to lie. “I'm just worried we'll never do stuff together now,” I said honestly.

“I'd never be that kind of friend,” said Sophie.

She sounded so definite, I had to believe her. But everything got so complicated when Brynn and Billy started going out. It's just kind of hard for me not to be worried now that Sophie and Billy are dating.

I guess only time will tell what their relationship will be like, and for that matter, how other people will react. Like Brynn. I know this will be hard for her. She really liked Billy. Part of me wishes I could be there for her. I know she'll need a friend. But I can't be her friend unless she's willing to be a friend too. A real friend, the kind that meets in the middle, and listens, and doesn't spread gossip and rumors about you. Maybe one day she'll be like that again.

But I'm not holding my breath.

9:24 p.m.
Talked to Mom

Mom was at the kitchen table working on some sketches. I hadn't planned to talk to her, but when I saw her alone, I sat down and asked her if she had a few minutes.

“Of course,” she said.

“Sophie and Billy are going out,” I said as soon as she looked up from her sketchbook. As the words sat between us, I wasn't even sure why I'd told Mom. I don't usually share stuff like that with her. Maybe it was because she's been so involved lately in everything that's gone on with Brynn.

Mom was quiet for a minute. I knew she was thinking through all the implications of the two of them going out. “Does Brynn know?” she asked.

“Not yet,” I said.

“How do you think she'll take it?” Mom asked.

I shrugged. “Probably not well. She hasn't taken much well lately.”

“I'm sorry,” said Mom.

“Thanks, Mom.” I know she's my mom, but I appreciated her loyalty. “Lately everything has been so tense. Not only with Brynn, but with Leo being away at college, and in a way, with Sophie and Billy pulling me into how they were getting together.”

I looked down at a hole in the leg of my pajamas. “I guess I feel pretty good that I've moved on from all the drama with Brynn. I cleared the air with Leo. And I was honest with Sophie about the idea of Billy and her dating.”

Mom reached over and squeezed my hand. “I'm proud of you, April. Figuring out how to be a true friend and true to yourself at the same time is a sign of growing up.”

I rolled my eyes. It was such a mom thing to say. But I got what she meant. Maybe I'm growing up, or maybe talking to Mom just made me feel better.

But for now, my life feels drama-free, and I want to keep it that way.

10:32 p.m.
May and June just left my room

As I was getting into bed, May and June came into my room and climbed into bed with me. They didn't even ask if they could—they just did. Normally, I would have been annoyed, but I went with it.

June told us about the Valentine's Day party they had in her classroom today, since the actual holiday falls on a Saturday. Her enthusiasm was infectious as she told us about the Valentines she got and the heart-shaped cookies her teacher brought in.

“Do you get to have Valentine parties when you go to middle school and high school?” June asked May and me.

“Kind of,” said May. “We got doughnuts in Science class, and we did a word find in English. Mr. Stanford gave out Valentine candy to everyone, no matter how many words they found.”

May and June looked at me, waiting to hear what I did at school to celebrate. Instead, I reached under my bed and pulled out the box of candy Leo gave me. “Who wants chocolate?” I asked.

May and June both squealed with happiness. “Where did you get that?” asked May.

“A friend gave it to me,” I said.

I pulled the wrapper off the box, and the three of us sat curled up in my bed eating candy. We'd pick out a chocolate and guess what was inside it, and then I'd turn it over and push my finger into the back to see if we were right. If it had a filling that one of us liked, we'd eat it. If not, I put back it back in the box, which meant that the ones with caramel, toffee, or nuts all got eaten, and the ones with coconut and fruit filling got left behind. We picked, guessed, poked, and ate until we were full.

It was a fun end to the day. Just me with my sisters, eating chocolates that were possibly old but still delicious in my bed. Nothing big. Nothing bad. Nothing dramatic.

I guess I was wrong. Good things do happen on Friday the 13th.