Page 77 of Don’t Be A Stranger

I look away from Savannah’s hands to her face, but she’s watching the water drip from my hair and onto the carpet. I don’t rush her. It’s not my place. Instead, I wait.

Savannah nods, as if she’s officially talked herself into saying her admission out loud.

“I could never be mad at you—” she begins. “For having feelings for River because…you were just doing what I’ve done my whole life.”

“What?” My eyes narrow in her direction.

Savannah chews on her bottom lip, now looking directly at me. “You can’t tell anyone, okay?”

“I promise.”

Savannah puffs her cheeks out, slowly releasing her breath and nodding. “I think I’m in love with Analisa.”

“Analisa as in…”

“Yes.” She winces. “As in Leander’s sister.”

I try to think back to all the times we hung out, and maybe when I must’ve missed the way Savannah looked at Analisa, but I think I was so wrapped up in trying to ignore my feelings for River that I never paid much attention.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I ask, even though I’m probably the last person who should be.

Savannah chuckles. “I can ask you the same thing.”

It’s silent between us for a moment, until we both sigh pathetically and then laugh.

“So…what are we going to do?” I ask, wiping the burning sensation from my eyes.

Savannah shrugs. “Well, Analisa is straight so I can’t really do anything, but you on the other hand—”

I shake my head. “I tried but he…he said that we’d never work.”

It should feel weird to have this conversation with Savannah, but it doesn’t. If anything, it feels like we’ve never stopped being friends. A quiet understanding settles between us. It doesn’t fix everything but it makes me feel less alone.

“I’m sorry, Summer.” Savannah chews on her bottom lip.

I lean my head back against the wall. “Sav? Did Analisa tell you she wasn’t gay?”

“She and I have known each other since diapers, Summer. I’m sure she would’ve told me by now.”

“I don’t know.” I put my hands up in defense. “She’s always given me dirty looks. Even before you and I were together. Maybe you should look into that.”

Savannah smiles, a flash of excitement in her eyes. “I guess sometimes there’s easy solutions to the hardest questions.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” I nod. “Maybe we should start following our own advice.”

Savannah throws her head back in laughter and I’ve missed that sound. I’d like to try and be friends again, if that’s something she would want because I’ve missed her too.

Twenty-Five

Summer

I haven’t moved in about three days and it’s becoming a real problem. I don’t think I’ve ever not moved this much in my life. My parents have always laughed that I’m the type of person who always needs to be on the go. I get antsy otherwise, but it’s like years of constantly moving around have caught up to me and now my body is crashing. Everything feels heavy and all I want to do is stare up at the ceiling. I don’t even want to be entertained by my phone or the television.

Bethany seems to be in the same boat.

We’re both sitting on the couch in our pajamas, and although it’s cliché, we have our own tubs of ice cream. I’d like some credit because it’s a tub of Halo Top. I don’t care what River says, it tastes just as good as regular ice cream. Not exactly the same but close enough.

Bethany and I have decided against watching a romcom after we went all teary-eyed from the first one. Now we’re watching a really bad western. I’ve never watched a western in my life and neither has Bethany, but I don’t think either of us are really paying attention. It’s almost ridiculous how just one ping from one of our phones riles us up enough to quickly reach for the devices. I almost want to fight Bethany when it’s her phone that goes off and not mine, but then she sighs.