Page 31 of We Thought We Were Invincible
It was the only way to keep our lives from swallowing us whole.
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My birthdaydawned bright and beautiful. Blue skies. Puffy white clouds. I sat on the front steps of the house, sipping a coffee and cringing with every drop that hit my taste buds. I figured I'd try. I was eighteen now. Legally an adult. Colby had been drinking the stuff for years and Kat was practically addicted. I didn't get it.
Mug in hand, I got to my feet and went inside to the kitchen. Sugar. That made everything better. I dumped one spoonful in, considering the dark liquid.
“No way in hell that's enough to cover up the taste,” I mumbled to myself, proceeding with three more large spoonfuls of sugary goodness.
I had a sweet tooth. That was no secret. Jay constantly made fun of me for it. The thought of him made me get the distinct impression I'd forgotten something as I lazed around all morning. Kat wasn't making us work and Colby was at Morgan's.
“Shit, Kat.” Looking up at the clock, I realized I was supposed to meet her and Jay for breakfast half an hour ago. Coffee sloshed over the side when I slammed my mug on the counter and ran to my room. No time for a shower, I kicked aside clothes that were scattered across the floor on my way to my closet.
I tugged on a pair of jeans and threw a random blue shirt over my head.Californiawas now scrawled across my boobs. Ironic to some, funny to others. It was Jay's idea of a joke when he'd gone to L.A. last year and bought it in some touristy shop. Right now, I only cared that it was clean.
Tugging on my shoes while running was a skill I'd perfected over years of being late and it didn't let me down now. I snatched my keys from the kitchen counter and jumped into my car just as my phone rang.
“Hey, Jay,” I said, trying to turn the car on. “I'm on my way.” I didn't hear his response, because the only thing my mind could focus on was the too-feint sputtering, followed by an eerie silence from the engine.
“Come on, baby.” I turned the key again. “Jay, I'll call you back. I might be a few minutes.”
Throwing the phone on the seat beside me, I tried one more time, banging on the dashboard with my free hand as if all it needed was a little love tap. That wasn't all it needed.
“Not today.” I sighed, getting out of the truck and staring at it in betrayal. We'd been through a lot, her and me. She was like an old friend - a very old one.
I turned when the sound of another car nearby reached my ears. A much more expensive car. Probably one that never breaks down.
Jamie looked at me through the windshield for a moment before cutting the engine and stepping out. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't help it, I looked at him and saw a different guy than before. I knew now that he had that expensive car because he was given money and very little else.
I knew the strain around his eyes was caused by more than their recent soccer loss. That he got mean when he got close to someone because he couldn't really trust them. Except for my brother. I realized in that moment that Colby must have known. After Mom died, he spent more time at Jamie's house than our own.
I looked away, unable to bear the thought of how my words must have hurt him. He knew we were more alike than different.
“What's up with your pile of junk?” he asked, eying old red with a skepticism that offended me.
“I'll have you know, she's running just fine.” I gritted my teeth.
“Liar,” he challenged. It seemed we were always at odds.
“Gah, fine.” I gave in, wanting to strangle him and hug him at the same time. “It won't start and I'm already late for breakfast.”
“Always,” he muttered under his breath.
“I'm not always late.” I scratched the side of my face and looked at him. “Fine. Whatever. I suck at life. Can you please just give me a ride?”
“Where's Colby?” He glanced around.
“Where else? At Morgan's.”
“Fine,” he said, gesturing to his car. “But you're buying me breakfast.” That was a running joke between all of us and it relieved some of the tension as I got in the car. Jamie and Jay always got free food at Ally's so no one needed to buy them anything.
The ride was too short for much conversation, which I was glad for. I didn't know what to do. Did I tell him that I knew? That I was sorry? That I understood?
Jay was already seated at the counter and I slid in beside him with Jamie next to me.
Kat smiled at me from behind the counter. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”
“It might be time to put Old Red to rest,” I announced. “Third time she's quit on me this week.”
