Page 94 of My Scorned Best Friend

I look over her shoulder and sit up straighter. The pictures are of us when we were younger. The first day of kindergarten where we’re positioned in front of the school together. And every grade after that. Each one is marked with an X and a C with the year written on the back.

She continues to flip the pages and discover more and more pictures of us.

“Look at us.” Clara’s finger goes down the page of pictures stuck on sticky boards with clear plastic over the top.

I hold up the VHS. “How are we going to watch this?”

“Do we know anyone who has a VHS player?”

“No.”

“We need to get one.”

I look them up on my phone and find one to buy that will be delivered in two days. “They’re more expensive than when they were first out.”

She leans back on me with the photo album. “I can’t believe they kept all these.”

We go through all the pictures and the accompanying memories. It’s fun to find out that we each remember some things differently than the other.

I kiss her temple, still unable to believe that we’re here. After all this time, we’re more than we ever thought we’d be.

Two days later…

“X!” Clara screams down at me. “It’s here!”

I turn off the treadmill and rush up the stairs. She’s already got the box ripped open and is trying to figure out the cables and things on the back of the television.

“That looks like a nightmare.” I wipe my face with my towel.

I help her, and all in all, it takes a half hour to get the VCR hooked up the right way. Once it is, we sit on the floor, pressing Play. It starts with static, then Clara comes on screen wearing a white lacy dress. She’s maybe seven or eight, I’d guess.

“Come on, Xavier, it’s cute.”

Clara looks at me because it’s my mom’s voice. My breath stutters halfway up my throat. It’s been so long since I’ve heard it, but it’s like a balm to my soul.

“X?” Little Clara calls to me.

“The boys are gonna make fun of me.” I come out of a room dressed in a suit that must’ve been Cade’s because I hadn’t grown into it yet.

“No, they’re not,” my mom says.

Little Clara tells me to stand by the giant gorilla, then she walks down the aisle toward me.

“They’re so sweet,” Clara’s mom says, and the video pans to her for a second where we see tears streaming down her face.

“We have to save this for when they’re older. Imagine if they really do get married?” my mom says in the background.

“We’d be related. Have to say, I wouldn’t mind spending all the holidays with you.” Clara’s mom laughs.

“You have to say I do,” Little Clara says to Little Xavier.

“I do,” I say reluctantly.

We say our vows and hug instead of kiss. Then we run down the aisle and Clara throws her bouquet into the stuffed animal crowd.

“Mommy,” Little Clara says. “I married Xavier.”

“I saw. But we need to go home for dinner.” She rubs Clara’s back.

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