Pretending Forever

Chapter 3

It was your classic freshmen-don't-know-what-they're-doing, meeting-old-friends, kind of first day. I met some nice kids in my classes, was given what felt like 50 pounds of textbooks, and wandered around like a 14-year old, clutching my schedule. When I got home, I flopped on my bed, deciding to take a break before starting the plethora of get-to-know-you! sheets.

Lilly, as always, came home with a new best friend. This year, her name was Mattie. She had well trimmed brown hair, the most beautiful hazel eyes, and a cute, lopsided, shy kind of smile. They spent the next two weeks arm in arm, inseparable. Lilly finally convinced my parents to let them have a sleepover.

It was a Friday night, and I was getting a head start on some huge projects the teachers had introduced. I had decided I didn't want them looming over me once I was swamped with other work (and lacrosse practice, if we could find a team).

I was just sitting down at my desk when I heard a gentle knock on my open bedroom door. I looked up. Mattie was standing there. I heard the garage door rumble beneath our feet. Probably Mom and Lilly going to get pizza. Lilly always loved riding in the car. So why wasn't Mattie with them? 

"Come in." Mattie shyly walked to my bed and sat down. Confused, I sat down beside her. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Why aren't you with Lilly?" She smiled shyly up at me. 

"I wanted to talk to you." She fidgeted with her hands while she talked, pulling them into the sleeves of the oversized hoodie she was wearing. She seemed a little nervous around Lilly, but they had had this special bond from the first day that confused me, almost like they already knew each other.

Mattie pulled a handful of coins out of the pocket of her hoodie and started spinning them on my nightstand, obviously a nervous habit. She was really good. The coins spun in perfect arcs, never falling off the table. I was mesmerized  by the little discs of spinning medal. I noticed tiny dents in Mattie's fingernails, like she had been practicing every day for a while. 

When she finally spoke, she said "Plus, I can get carsick, so I like to avoid them when I can. But mostly, I wanted to talk to you." 

Carsick. A memory flashed in my mind, but it disappeared before I could grab hold of it. Something was there. Something from that summer.