“Seeing, not eating, Wyn.”
“Oh yeah, ‘cause that makes more sense.”
I knew it didn’t, but I still couldn’t help but laugh at myself.
“Darn it! We are going to be late!” Wyn jumped to her feet as the bell rang, throwing books and pencils into her bag. “Hey, do you want to come over tonight? I got a new movie in the mail, and my brother’s going to be out. We can pretend to do homework, too.” She looked at me so eagerly, I couldn’t say no. Besides, spending time with someone other than Ryland might help my mom say yes to our new plans for Saturday.
“Sure.”
“Great.” The tension dropped from her shoulders as if she were worried I would say no.
My phone buzzed one more time as we ran out of the cafeteria, Ryland’s message lighting up the screen.
Anything for you, sweetheart. I‘ll even splurge and get Superman ice cream :)
Sweetheart? When did things get so complicated?
Six
I don’t remember when I’ve laughed so much. That’s not to say that I have never laughed with Ryland, I have. Somehow, though, playing and joking with a girl—a girl my own age—was different. We could joke about things I would never bring up with my mother and never even dreamed about sharing with Ry. For the first time in my life, I regretted not seeking out a girlfriend; I had always felt complete with Ryland. Now, with Wyn, facing Ryland’s departure in a few months seemed bearable.
We lay back on her bed, legs draping off the side, as we caught our breath from laughing, small chuckles still escaping. Just being here had made me forget all about the stress of the day, and we hadn’t even gotten to the movie, yet. Night of the Living Vampire was sure to suck as Wyn had said so poignantly.
“So, I know he’s not your boyfriend,” Wyn began, a smile on her face, “but how the heck did you become friends with the heir to Imdalind Forging?”
“What did you do, Google him?”
“Yeah.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, her voice sounded like a cornered child.
“My mom has been their in-house chef since I was five; I practically grew up in their kitchen.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Ry and I have been friends since day one. It drives his dad and Timothy crazy; I am a little below their status.” Saying it out loud made the whole “falling for a prince” situation more real.
“Timothy?” Wyn asked with something akin to recognition.
“Yeah, he’s kind of the head of the company and Ryland’s wrangler. He hates me.” As I did him.
“And they still let you two be friends?”
I was just as shocked as she was. “Not by choice. Ryland kind of makes them.”
“And they don’t just fire your mom?”
I almost laughed outright. “Oh, they threaten to, but I don’t think they want to lose such a great cook. Besides, Ryland’s leaving for school in a few months, so I guess they don’t think it’s worth the fight anymore. It’s not like I can follow him to Oxford.”
I hated talking about this stuff; my heart felt so heavy and broken, like part of me was leaving with him.
“You love him,” she said.
“More than I should,” I whispered. I knew I sounded ridiculous.
“It’s okay to love.”
“Not when they don’t love you back.” I sighed again; it felt like I was trying to get rid of all my stress through my lungs.
“Especially then. I think it makes you a better person. At least then you know what it feels like to love instead of living without ever knowing. I love a lot of people that I know will never love me back, but I am happier because of it.” I could tell she believed what she said; her voice was so deep and heavy.
“You sound like my mom.”
“I’ve never heard that one before!” she laughed.
“And who do you love?”
“Talon,” she sighed.
The sound of desperate love made me giggle; I wondered if that’s how I sounded when I talked about Ry.
“I’ll introduce you to him when he comes to visit.”
“So he loves you back then?”
“Yeah…” Her voice was so airy I couldn’t help but smile.
The song on the oldies station we were listening to changed. Wyn jumped up, squealing in delight. She leaped onto a pile of boxes that sat at the foot of her bed, pulling me up with her. She continued to jump and squeal as she danced around, the corners of the boxes heaving as she danced and moved.
“I’m so tired of losin’, I’ve got nothing to do and all day to dooo iiiiiiit! So, I go out cruisin’, but I’ve no place to go and all night to geeeeeet theeeeeere!” Her hair swished around her face, heavy plastic bangles jangling and clanking. Her joy at the Styx song was infectious and I found myself singing and dancing along, even though I didn’t know the words.