“Now look down at who you’re dancing with and tell me who you see.”
My throat swells a little when the imaginary me opens my eyes. It’s not Dylan that I’m dancing with. My eyes flash open and she knows that I didn’t see her. I reach for her, pulling her into my arms.
“It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Yes it does,” she mumbles against my shirt. I feel her body shake and know tears are coming. “I don’t see you either, Ry.”
She looks up at me. I wipe her tears and kiss her, holding her to me. Deep down I know this is going to be the last time I get to.
“So what do we do?” Sometimes I wish she wasn’t so matter-of-fact
about everything. Why do we have to do anything? Can’t we just stay together and take it one day at a time? I shake my head. I’m not ready to let her go. “Do you love me?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course I do.”
Dylan shakes her head. “You love me because we’re best friends and we’ve been dating, but do you love me like you love Hadley?”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t love Hadley.”
“You do and I’m okay with it. I know you don’t love me the same and I don’t really love you like that. Last night, I wasn’t afraid that my parents would find us having sex, but that they wouldn’t approve because they treat you like a son and I didn’t like having those thoughts.”
I step back, putting some space between us. When she says things like that it makes me think. I shudder at the thought. I know exactly what she’s talking about and agree, except for the Hadley part. I couldn’t care less if I never see her again. As far as I’m concerned, she never existed.
The rest of my day is a haze. I still walk her to class, but the routine quickly changes. I’m not kissing her goodbye or holding her hand. I’m not really sure how I feel about that, but looking at her as my sister makes it much easier to keep those feelings away.
It doesn’t take long for word to spread that we broke up. By the end of the day, she has a date to prom and I, once again, am alone. We drive home in silence, mostly because I don’t have anything to say. This morning when I woke up, I had a girlfriend. Now, I have nothing. I’m back to where I was in December.
When we walk in, Mrs. Ross is baking cookies and she’s singing. This means she has good news. Dylan and I sit down at the table and pull out our homework. Mrs. Ross sets a plate of cookies in between us and stands there with her hands folded in front of her.
Dylan and I both look at her. Our heads move in slow motion. Mrs. Ross looks funny, like she has a plastic smile. She looks at Dylan, then to me.
“Ryan, would you like to invite your girlfriend over tonight for dinner?”
Dylan chokes on her cookie, which makes Mrs. Ross pat her back. Nothing like being put on the spot.
“No thank you, Mrs. Ross, she’s not really my girlfriend.” Dylan kicks me lightly under the table. I look at her, raising my eyebrows. What was I supposed to say?
“Okay. Dylan, would you like to tell me why you applied to NYU?”
Now I’m the one looking at Dylan, my eyes wide. She’s never mentioned going to New York for college. In fact, she’s never mentioned college at all.
“I… um… I sent in an application with the essay that won first place last year. I didn’t think I’d have a chance.”
“Well, it seems not only did you get in, but they gave you a full scholarship.” Mrs. Ross pulls an envelope out of her pocket and sets it down in front of Dylan. She looks from the envelope to me and to her mom before jumping into her mom’s arms.
I’m happy for her. I am, but wish it were me.
When they’re done celebrating, I give her a hug.
“Will you go with me?” she asks when I release her.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I can’t go to New York without you.”
I close my eyes and nod. I pick her up and spin her around. She laughs, holding my neck tightly. When I set her down, Mrs. Ross hugs the both of us.
“I’m okay with Dylan going as long as you’re there with her, Ryan.”