Page 32 of Rules for Rule Breaking
Emmy let out a relieved sigh. “I miss you too. Sorry I’ve been MIA. There are a million things to do before I leave.”
“Yeah, I saw your headshots. You look amazing.”
“You sound down. Are you sure you’re okay?” Emmy asked. “Is it Bobby? What did that little shit do now?”
Despite the secret she revealed last time they spoke, Emmy was one of the rare few who was not #TeamBobby. Being Chinese, she understood why Winter didn’t go out of her way to be his friend. People always assumed they were dating, and they couldn’t be the only two Asian kids in school and be dating. That would be, like... a thing. And Winter didn’t want it to be a thing. She wanted to go through high school thing-less and Bobby Bae–less. Winter couldn’t help but feel betrayed that Emmy had been harboring a secret crush on him. Regardless, she still told Emmy everything: that she’d started the road trip, about the waffles and George Washington, and how bent out of shape Bobby was over Jacqueline. She talked quickly, not wanting to waste whatever time she had on the phone with Emmy on Bobby Bae.
“Are you guys sharing a room?” Emmy asked.
“Don’t be weird. He’s literally in his own room crying. He needs to get up and shower so we can go eat.”
Emmy snorted. “He seems like the type to take really long showers. He probably gives himself intense scalp massages and thinks about life. Poor guy. What was his girlfriend even like? Does she suck?”
“I don’t know anymore. She’s a little bossy, but she’s gorgeous and probably third in our class after Bobby.”
Emmy laughed. “Figures. Bobby is so superficial. Rememberhe wouldn’t eat the fish your dad made because it had a head? He wanted it to be, like, perfectly filleted and cleaned. Like, bitch, you’re Asian. Get over it.”
“Do you remember you also wouldn’t eat it?”
“Its eyes were following me like theMona Lisa. Sue me.”
Winter snorted. She could always count on Emmy for a good laugh. And not just aha-ha, but a “tears streaming down the face, praying to God because it hurts so good” kind of laugh. It was part of the reason she enjoyed talking to Emmy. It was nice to share a joke with her again.
“Have you been by to see Halmeoni, by the way?” Winter asked.
“Not recently. How has she been doing?”
“She’s okay, I guess. But did you know all the flowers in her flower box are stolen?”
“Yeah, Nai Nai is the one who put her on.”
Winter clasped her hands over her heart. “Aw, Nai Nai. I don’t feel so bad anymore. That woman was a saint.”
“You’re only saying that because she never smacked the motherland out of you with a wooden spoon.”
“True. But still.”
There was a pause. Winter could hear Emmy taking in breaths to speak but then changing her mind, surrendering to the dead air instead.
Winter heard Bobby’s door open. She looked back, and he was standing in the frame, his eyes red-lined and his face puffy.
“Is that Bae?” Emmy asked, sounding grateful for the distraction.
“Please don’t call him that,” Winter replied through gritted teeth. “But I should probably go now. Bobby turns into a pumpkin if we don’t eat dinner by six.” Also, she had run out of things to say.
“I have to go too,” Emmy said. “Send my regards to Bobby.”
“I will. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Emmy was gone with a click, and Winter let out a long breath.
Bobby came toward Winter and slid open the balcony door to join her on the terrace. He gripped the railing and looked out over the city. “Was that Emmy?” he asked.
“Uh... yeah. Do you even remember her?”
“Of course. Remember when our parents went to that concert in New York and they left us both with Halmeoni? Halmeoni was so tired of our shit, she sent us over to Nai Nai’s while Emmy was there for the summer, and we made, like, a billion dumplings.”
