Page 28 of Every Thought Taken

“Gimme,” I say, stealing the camera from her hand.

“Hey.” She reaches for it and I hold it higher.

“My arms are longer. We’ll get a better shot.”

Her free hand slaps her leg. “You have a point.”

I lengthen my arm and aim the lens at our face. “Goofy face in three, two, one.” Our faces contort and I press the button. Picture two spits out of the top and, as she yanks it out, I snap another.

“What the—”

“That one’s for me,” I say, grabbing the picture and tucking it in my pocket.

“You could’ve said something. I would’ve taken another.”

“Yeah, I know. But what’s the fun in that?” I pat my pocket. “This one’s more in the moment. Spontaneous. No posing involved.”

She rolls her eyes and takes the camera from my hand. “I swear, if I look stupid in that picture…”

I wait for her to finish, but she doesn’t. “No way you look stupid,” I say. “Not possible.”

She drops her chin as she waves the second picture, a hint of pink on her cheeks. Once the photo develops, she holds it up. For a moment, I stare at the two of us. Me with pouty lips and crossed eyes. She with puckered lips, eyes heavenward, and a slight tip of her head in my direction. We look happy and carefree and… more than friends.

“It’s perfect,” she proclaims. Then, without warning, she kisses just beneath the angle of my jaw. “Thank you.”

Before my brain or lips form a response, she wanders back down the hall and disappears into Ales’s room.

She kissed me.

CHAPTER14

HELENA

“This is it,” Mom says with a stern expression as she hands me cash. “Don’t spend it all on junk.”

I playfully roll my eyes. “What’s the fun in that?”

She lays her hands on my shoulders and shakes her head. “Get at least one thing that isn’t complete garbage. Like trail mix without candy.” She pulls me in for a hug. “Don’t need you sick from malnutrition.”

“I’ll be fine. And I promise to pick one good thing.”

“Thank you.”

Mom walks off and joins the other parents. This is the first summer the kids and parents are shopping separately for camping food supplies. Each of us got a wad of cash and I bet if we combine it we’ll make out like bandits.

“How much did you get?” Lessa asks.

I sift through the bills in my hand and count. “Thirty bucks.”

“Really?” she asks in disbelief.

“Uh… yeah.” I hold the bills up and show everyone. “What about you?”

Lessa puckers her lips then shifts them sideways. “Dad added ours together”—she motions between her and Anderson with a finger —“and gave us thirty total.”

“Cool.” I look to Mags. “Whatcha got?”

Mags waves two tens and a five. “Twenty-five.”

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