Impavid

I love you, too.

     The next morning was filled with packing, unpacking, and repacking. Melanie and I were arguing, as usual, all morning about what shirt belonged to who. I obviously couldn't take her shirt to camp with me, even though she'd never actually worn it, and it'd been in my closet since two days after its original purchase. Sisters.

     "Would you two knock it off?" My mom kept questioning as she rushed around the house, collecting the bags I packed and moving them to different spots in the house. When I realized I forgot to pack a specific picture I really wanted to bring with of my whole family at the lake last summer, I moved to the corner of my room my bags had been. Nothing. I headed downstairs, passing the front door where they had sat earlier. Nothing there. 

    I figured she may have packed the car, so I moved down the front walkway. When I reached the car, I realized my bags weren't there either. I was just about to call out to her, hoping she could hear me through the door I had left wide open, but I heard Luke's voice. I glanced up to find him coming out of his front door. Just as I lifted my hand to wave, he turned his back, glancing back inside. 

    Aly appeared. I ducked down behind the car quickly. What was she doing there? I knew I could have stood up and picked a fight, but I was leaving for weeks in only a few hours. No matter what Luke and I had, I knew that whether it was over for good or just paused, it was not my place to start unnecessary drama about whoever he was seeing. In his defense, I wasn't even sure why she was there. I didn't see them holding hands or kissing. It could have been for a number of reasons, actually. 

     I stayed ducked down as they talked in his driveway. I couldn't make out words; only mumbled voices filled the air. They just kept talking, though, and I knew the longer I stayed hidden, the worse it would be to be found. I could only hope they would leave soon, and I could run back inside without anyone noticing. 

    Of course, just as this thought crossed my mind, I heard my mom's voice behind me. 

    "Carson? What are you doing down there?" 

   I glanced up at her, shooting her a look. I saw her glance over to Luke before she opened the car door and tossed the bag she was carrying inside. She headed back inside without saying another word. 

    After a second, I didn't hear Luke's voice anymore. I leaned forward slightly, moving to my hands and knees and crawling forward to peak my head around the side of the car. Two legs appeared in front of me. I kept my eyes focused on the shoes in front of me, silent, still on all fours. I heard a car's engine start. Aly was leaving. 

   "Carson." I looked up slowly, before sitting back on my heels. "What are you doing?"

   "I dropped my picture!" I held the picture in my hand up goofily. Luke laughed, looking over his shoulder. "But hey, I'm going to be late. I'll text you when I get settled in!" I scrambled to my feet. 

    "Carse, don't worry." 

    "Worry?"

    "I'll be right here when you get back."

    I nodded before turning my back, heading back inside. I closed the front door behind me, noise echoing through the foyer. I leaned my back against the door, my eyes closing. I was so embarrassed. 

     "Are you okay?" Melanie questioned, coming down the stairs, her mouth full of something. Her chewing mumbled the words. 

    "Yeah," I whispered, sighing. "It's just Luke."

   "Boys are stupid." 

  "Agreed." I smiled, stepping forward to wrap my arms around her.

    We hadn't really ever discussed Dave or the "Dave Situation" since it happened. I felt like I had been so busy trying to figure out my own life and dealing with my nerves that it hadn't even occurred to me that she was probably still struggling, too. 

    "I love you."

    "I love you, too."