Alphabet Girl

Chapter 3

Carrie Geode moved five weeks after Paisley met Benjamin. Neither girls met the man who bought the Geodes' house during dinner because he had to settle his own move, but Paisley didn't care. She helped Carrie pack, took more pictures and videos, and stayed by Carrie's side until the day finally came for her to leave.

Paisley cried. Carrie cried. They hugged. They laughed. Paisley swore she would keep in touch, and Carrie said she would as well.

Paisley watched as the moving trucks drove down the street.

Paisley watched the Geodes' car drive down the street, Carrie sticking half her body out the window to wave goodbye until she was out of sight.

Five days later, Paisley found herself alone in her room staring at the ceiling with her phone in her hand. Cicadas buzzed outside her window. Birds sang their song and fluttered their wings. A bug flew across Paisley's face. Said bug landed on her salty cheek.

It was hot out, around the eighties, but Paisley didn't have the strength to turn on the fan.

She had just gotten off the phone with Carrie no more than half an hour ago. Their call lasted for two hours until Carrie's mom called her down to help unload the furniture and decorate the main rooms. It took them ten minutes to hang up, but at last, they did.

Now Paisley was here. Laid out on her bed wearing a pair of heart boxers and a tank with a bug on her sweaty, salty cheeks. Her room felt so empty without Carrie. Lifeless. Dead. Quiet. Even her own breathing couldn't fulfill the silence.

There was a knock on her door, and it clicked open. "Hey, Lee."

Paisley swatted at the bug on her cheek and rolled over to face the door. "Hey, Mom."

The woman slowly walked over with a tray of sliced apples and homemade caramel dip. Paisley and Carrie's favorite.

She set the tray on her dark blue nightstand before sitting on the bed. The cushion sunk just an inch under her. "How are you?"

"Okay, I guess." She hugged her pillow.

"Oh, honey." Mom shifted a strand of Paisley's black hair. "I know it's tough being apart from Carrie, but you'll eventually make new friends at Rhododendron and not miss Carrie as much."

"Do you even know me?" Paisley sat up and looked at Mom properly. "Without Carrie, I can't talk to other girls. They always look like they're judging me, talking about me behind my back. I don't like it. I always clam up when I'm alone, but with Carrie I'm a whole new person. I talk. I laugh. Now she's gone, and I'm not going to be able to be that other girl anymore." She fell back and covered her face with the pillow.

"That's not true. I remember you brought over that girl once. The one with blue hair?"

The pillow was removed for her to speak. "She was drunk, remember? Her parents would have freaked out if they found out."

"Oh. Right. I forgot. What about the blonde?"

"She was Carrie's friend, also a senior. Who knows where she is now."

Mom gave up and scooped some caramel on a slice. "I don't know what to tell you, sweetie, other than try your best. Before you know it, you'll get accustomed to not having Carrie around."

That was one of the things Paisley liked about Mom: she had Paisley deal with her own problems and never said anything cheesy.

"I guess," she murmured.

Mom touched her shoulder and stood. "Eat your apples." And she left.

Paisley stayed lain for a few more minutes. Sweat grew on her forehead and slid down to her neck. What was the point of moving if her best friend wasn't in the room with her to make her laugh?