Songbird

Seven: Lennie

When I tell you I tried to think of any excuse I could to not go to this stupid street dance, I am not lying. Even almost a week later, the very last thing I wanted to do was see Colt, even onstage. I didn't want to see him, I didn't want to be near him, I didn't want anything to do with him. Alright, that was a bit of a lie, but I was working on it.

I had denied every invitation to Culprit's. I had avoided going into town as much as possible. Hell, I even made my own damn chimichangas on Mexican night. Or I tried. Look, cooking isn't my strong suit, and judging by the thirty-two years I'd been trying, it was probably never going to be. Whatever reason I could've had to go into town, I avoided at all costs. But come Saturday night, I couldn't really avoid it anymore. There was no way Cora or Aunt Maggie were about to let me sit this one out, which Maggie was currently proving as she rifled through my closet and ignored my many attempts to tell her I wasn't budging.

"What are you wearing?" Maggie asked as she sifted from one item to the next.

"Clothes?" I answered with a shrug. "Why? Got a shirt that says "Fuck you, I'm not a mistake'?"

"Lennie Anne, you know that boy didn't mean that."

"He said it."

Maggie sighed heavily as she sank into my bed. "Lenore, listen to me, please."

I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against my dresser. "I'm listening."

"I know Colt has done some dumb shit, back when you were kids and now. But that man has been through so much, and I know it's no excuse, but no one in this damn town has seen him even look at a woman since Rachel died, much less kiss them. That has to mean something, right?"

I swallowed the lump of emotion forming in my throat and shrugged.it didn't mean anything. I couldn't let it.  "Just because you ain't seen it, don't mean it wasn't happening."

"Oh, Lennie, you are as stubborn as an ox."

I smirked at her a bit snobbishly. "Learned from the best."

"Well, I never!" Maggie cried, feigning surprise as she clutched her heart. "I am as sweet as pie, Lennie May..."

"You just called me Lennie Anne. Pick one."

"Oh, girl. I should tan your hide..." Maggie rose from the bed, shaking her head. "Put something pretty on and go make that boy eat his tongue."

I couldn't stop the giggle that came out of me. "I sure will try Aunt Maggie."

"Good. That's my sweet Lennie... June..."

"Ugh. June's the worst one of all..."

"Well, that's the one we're keeping then." She looked like she was about to leave but stopped in the doorway and turned back to me. "You should really ask yourself why you're angrier about Colton possibly thinking a kiss was a bad idea than you were about your boyfriend of five years sleeping with your best friend. I think it's about time you start admitting some stuff to yourself." After a sharp pat on the doorframe, she walked away and left me in a stunned silence.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" I cried at Cora as we cruised into town in her pretty teal Jeep. I wanted a Jeep. I NEEDED a Jeep. I was buying a Jeep.

Cora laughed and shook her head. "What do you think it means?"

"What do YOU think it means?"

"I think it means you've got feelings for Colt. That's what I think it means," Cora answered as bluntly as Cora always did. "I think you've always had feelings for Colt and that they've never gone away. Why else would you be so upset that he may or may not have regretted kissing you? Which he didn't by the way. He was just being his usual moronic self."