I stood up. “Thanks for tel ing me the truth at last.”
I didn’t even wait for a response. I walked out the door and knew there was only one person I wanted to see. I realized I should’ve been mad at Macal an for keeping this secret from me, but I was more worried that I was going to lose her.
What started as a steady walk quickly developed into a jog. I’d never had to worry about losing a friend over ending a relationship with a girl. But this was different. Macal an had known Emily for practical y her entire life. I wasn’t going to ask her to take my side, but part of me thought that she was going to be put in that position. I’d be total y cool with her and Emily being friends. But I didn’t think Emily was going to be that generous.
While Macal an should’ve told me what was going on, I didn’t
real y blame her. She was being a good friend to Emily. Because Macal an was a good friend. She was loyal. But that loyalty also made me worried that she would pick Emily.
I could see Macal an in the kitchen when I approached the house.
She looked up and saw me. She gave me a weak smile, probably
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knowing that I final y knew the truth. Or was she dreading having to dump me? She opened the door, and neither of us moved.
“You talked?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She nodded. “I’m real y sorry I didn’t tell you the truth the day you got back. I should’ve. There’s no excuse.”
There was this awkwardness between us that we hadn’t had
since we first met. Neither of us was sure what to do around the other. In that instant, I wished I’d never dated Emily at al . Especial y if it had cost me my most important friendship.
“It’s not your fault,” I said, and noticed her composure relaxed slightly. “We can still be friends, right?” I almost hated how desperate I was for her response, but another part of me didn’t care. I’d be lost without Macal an. We both knew that. I’m pretty sure everybody knew that.
She looked confused. “Of course.”
“You’re not going to have to choose?” I felt so juvenile, standing on her front step, begging her to pick me.
“I already did.” She stepped aside to let me in.
At first, I felt a little guilty about being responsible for ending Macal an’s friendship with Emily. Macal an didn’t say much about what happened. It was more like a fact to her: She and Emily were no longer friends.
I wanted to do something to show her how much I appreciated
everything she’d done for me. But since I didn’t have the means to build her a chef’s dream kitchen, I was at a loss. Thankful y, Mom suggested having a joint graduation party with Macal an’s family.
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And Macal an wasn’t al owed to cook. She was going to be pam—
pered that day, all day.
The morning of the ceremony, Mom took her to get a manicure
and pedicure. I was invited, but refused — I needed to keep some of my guy points intact. The ceremony was boring. We all got to go up and get a diploma, but we were only graduating eighth grade. We’d see each other that fal , in a different school. With more people.
Thankfully.
We headed back to my house afterward. Macal an, her dad and
uncle, and me with both my parents and my mom’s family from
Chicago. Mom had been fretting all week what to make since
Macallan had quickly eclipsed Mom’s cooking skills.
We all gathered in the living room and snacked on the appetizers (Macal an made sure to compliment Mom’s cooking a lot). It wasn’t long before Macal an and I broke from the adults and went out to the backyard.
“So does this mean we’re official y young adults now?” I asked her.
“I don’t know. I’ve already been reading those kinds of books for a few years.”
“Uh-oh, does this mean I’m still a baby? I real y love Everyone Poops.”
“Do you need me to answer that?” She nudged me playful y.
“Probably not.”
Silence fell between us. This was a common occurrence whenever we’re alone. When you’re comfortable with someone, you
don’t need to always fill the void with noise. I liked it when we would just be.
“Do you think next year will be different?” Macal an asked.
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“I don’t know. I’m excited about it, though, you know?”
She shrugged. “I guess.”
I could tell she was uneasy about the move. It made sense. What was strange was that I wasn’t that nervous. I was excited. I felt the new school would give me another start. More opportunities.
“Everything could change,” she said in a quiet voice before she shot me a look. “Or not. Blimey if I have a clue.”
“Hey, that’s my line,” I teased before I put my arm around her.