Somebody Like You

34. The Maddie special

ENYA

My phone starts having a seizure at exactly two p.m because the SUMMER GROUP CHAT decided now's a good time to ruin my fucking Tuesday.

Skylar: REUNIONNNN!!
Skylar: we need to debrief summer
Skylar:also i miss your faces!!
Skylar: And i bought a new cheese board!!

Morgan: Yay 🥰!!!

Skylar: My parents are abandoning me this weekend so my house is freeeeeee.

Jake: I'm in. Booze?

Skylar: Always booze!!!

Noah:I will be there solely for the cheese board!!!!!!!

I'm at the kitchen table, engaged in the critical work of staring into the pain in the ass void that is my college essay. The prompt is "Describe a setback and how you grew."

My setback was developing feelings for a human tornado. My growth was learning to run from said tornado.

But I'm pretty sure that's not the inspiring take they want.

The chat keeps going with exaggerated exclamation marks and excitement. They're ready to reminisce about the "good old days," which, correct me if I'm wrong, involved a lot of bug spray, bad coffee, and repressed sexual tension.

A nostalgic vomit-fest where we'd all pretend we didn't spend half the summer wanting to shove each other into the lake.

My most vivid summer memory is watching Maddie try to kill me with a glare.

My phone buzzes, this time with a direct text from Sky.

Skylar: You're coming right?
Skylar: please say you're coming
Skylar: we haven't seen you in forever

Dude, it's only been like two weeks? Was it three? I can't remember.

Still, I miss her too, so much but the idea stuffs me with dread.

I'd have to stand in Skylar's insanely huge living room, clutching a soda, while everyone pretends the last time we were all together wasn't a complete emotional bloodbath.

I'd have to make small talk with Jake, Morgan, Noah about... whatever while breathing the same oxygen as Maddie.... and not spontaneously combust.

I stare at the messages for a while too long. The truth is, I'd rather have a colonoscopy than spend an evening with Maddie.

Dad's illness is the only convenient, saintly shield.

Me: Can't. Dad's still recovering. I need to be here.

Me:Tell everyone I said hi. Especially Noah.

There. Responsible, yet petty. A perfect, non-attendance ribbon for me.

It's the perfect alibi.

It's not entirely a lie. Dad is still recovering. He's doing so much better but he still has breathing exercises twice a day and medications I need to remind him to take and follow-up appointments I need to drive him to.

But that's not the real reason I'm saying no.

The real reason is Maddie. She will be there. And I'm not ready to see her or be anywhere near her, pretending everything's fine.

Took me a while to realize but she's really a fucking toxic bitch!

Okay, too harsh.

Skylar: Enya come on