Milo walks Jamie away, as everyone’s stares intensify at Yvette. That is, everyone but Lewis and Parker.
“Dude,” Tyles hisses, nudging Lewis. “Aren’t you gonna say something?”
“You’re unbelievable, Yvie,” Tabitha says, getting up and following in the direction of Jamie and Milo.
Kai stays put, staring down Lewis. “We’re waiting.”
“Stop acting like he has to say something,” Yvette defends. “I didn’t say anything wrong.”
I scoff and find myself standing. “How can you say that? What’s wrong with you?”
Yvette’s mouth falls open. “Kylie! I thought you were my friend.”
“No friend of mine would ever treat people this horribly and think it’s okay.”
Unable to stand another moment around her, I storm off in a different direction to the others.
“Kylie,” Parker’s voice follows me.
As I make my way away from the campsite, I turn to his nearing footsteps.
“Yvie could have used a friend standing up for her,” Parker says.
In outrage, I pull at my hair. “What are you saying? Are you seriously okay with her talking to your friend like that?”
“Of course not. But she can learn that talking like that isn’t okay.”
“She’s fifteen. She should already know that.”
“But her homelife doesn’t sound as easy as ours.”
“So that makes it okay for her to rag on other peoples’ families?” I throw my hands in the air as shock pours out of me. “What about you? How would you react if she found out about your bio mom and then told everyone?”
“Shoosh.” He hisses, looking over his shoulders.
“And she wouldn’t just tell people. No. She’d put her Yvie spin on it, and make it sound like the most scandalous situation on the planet.”
He folds his arms, averting his eyes. “She won’t find out.”
“Do you really want to be with her and live in fear of her finding out the truth about you?” I step to the side to gain his eye contact. “Parker, you deserve better than that.”
He huffs and turns away. “Kylie, don’t start.”
I grab his shoulder and turn him back. “No, I mean it. You deserve better than her.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true. You can do better.”
“Well, excuse me if I don’t trust your judgment,” he says in a sarcastic tone.
I flinch. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You went into this like your imaginary boyfriend was gonna come to life,” Parker replies. “The fake Lewis in your head might be your perfect guy, but he isn’t the real Lewis.”
I clutch my elbows and dig my shoes into the earth. This morning, Lewis told me he hates being patient and still, outside of his photography. My heart still won’t let me believe it.
“I went into this arrangement, not caring if you and Lewis would end up together. All that mattered was that you thought it could happen.”