My Almost Best Friend

Chapter 29

Chapter 29:

I lay in my bed early Saturday morning.

I feel warm inside, and it's not because of my purple and yellow striped onesie.

Man, I love this thing.

I'd probably where it all day, every day, and for the rest if my life if I could.

All I can think about is last night.

With Trevor.

Eventually I wonder down to my kitchen.

I am expecting my normal routine, me seated on a clanky metal barstool, bowl of frosted flakes in front of me, and a spoon in hand.

But instead my Aunt Marin is at the stove dishing out pancakes, bacon, and eggs. The aroma fills the room and it's such a good surprise for a morning.

"Aunt Marin?" I say. "I didn't know you were coming today!"

"Bree!" Emma shrieks, rounding the corner to give me a hug. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too!" I say looking around. "Where's the rest of the party of 11?"

"12 now," she says smiling. "Baby Greyson was born 2 weeks ago. He's sleeping in the other room."

"Aw," I say. Babies are cute and everything, but I'm not one too swoon over them, oohing and awing after everything they do.

I don't care how chubby their cheeks are. Their first burp isn't cute.

"Anyways," she says, "They all stayed home, even Caden."

Loser. He thinks he's too cool for his favorite cousin now, huh? I'll show him.

"So it's just me and my mom!" She says perkily. "Oh, and Greyson."

"So did you guys just come for a fun day trip?" I ask.

I mean I'm cool with them being here and everything, but it's weird to randomly find them in my kitchen on a Saturday morning.

Emma looks at Aunt Marin, concerned and I see her mouth, "She doesn't know."

Aunt Marin wipes her hands on the red plaid apron she's wearing .

"Listen Bree," she says slowly. "I guess I'd better be the one to tell you since your mom's still pretty broken up about it."

Now I'm kind of worried.

"Last night, at maybe 2 or so in the morning, your mom gave me a call."

"She was in hysterics and needed me to come be with her."

She pauses now, swallowing.

"Ethan ran away last night. No note or anything."

What?

This comes as a big shock to me.

I knew he was mad and thought his life kind of sucked and everything, but I didn't know he'd take it this far.

"She heard the door shut and he was gone. Along with a suitcase, all his stuff, and her debit card. She had to call the bank and cancel it this morning."

Emma puts her arm around me, and I stay there for a while. Just thinking.

========================

Me and Emma pull into the mall now and it's a quarter to 12.

Because there's no way I'm sitting around in my depressing house right now.

Besides what better thing to take your mind off something than hitting up Five Guys for some classic hamburgers?

We sit in a little red booth in the corner, and I take a drink of my Sierra Mist.

"So what's new with you?" she finally asks.

"Well, I'm going to a wild party tonight!" I laugh. "Just kidding I'll probably skip it."

"Don't! You have to go! I mean come on, when's the last time you actually went to a big party with a lot if people?"

I sigh, remembering how antisocial I really am. "Thanks, Emma."

She laughs. "Hey, it will be fun."

"Whatever you say," I laugh. "So what's new in the crazy life of Emma Mecham?"

"Well, I got a job!"

I raise my eyebrows, "Wow!"

"Well, sort of... It's more of an internship. But it still gives me a break from home!"

"Where's it at?" I laugh.

"The St. Johns Hospital."

I burst out laughing. "Emma! You hate blood!"

"Used to," she corrects me. "Ever since I got my type 1 diabetes, that stuff doesn't scare me! I'm actually a really good nurse!"

I laugh. "Whatever you say Emma. All I know is if I ever have to go in their for something, I'm requesting a different nurse!"

She shakes her head at me, eyes narrowed, and then eats a few fries.

"So how's Claire?" She asks, eyes rolling. She hasn't ever been a big Claire fan. Which makes her different from pretty much my whole junior class at Clarkson.

"Are you two still best friends?" She continues, with a bored tone.

"Yes." I say and then quickly have a sip of my drink.

"Seriously?"

"Hey, we still have fun hanging out and everything!" I protest.

Except for when she cancels on me.

"And she gives me great boy advice!"

That is, if I ever want to know how to be a boyfriend stealer.

Emma crosses her arms. "Really? No problems?"

I shake my head slowly.

Well I guess if you count the lying, self obsession and completely turning into Summer, then it's nothing?

She's not buying it. "Bree, I can tell when you aren't happy. So spill your guts."

"Well, we met this girl named Amarys. I guess she's okay to be around. But she's already super pretty and popular so Claire had the brilliant idea of 'helping' her out by becoming fake friends, and now she's using her to popular, and she's even using her to throw the party tonight and she secretly stole her boyfriend and..."

Emma cuts me off. "So same old Claire? And I'm right?"

"I guess so,"I say, sinking low in my shoulders.

We don't talk for a little while, and then Emma reads her text out loud to me, "My mom says we need to go home because your mom is up and moving around, and could really use some extra card players."

Oh joy. Afternoon card games with my mom.