An Artistic Duo

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Thursday, August 8

I stepped out of the cabin with renowned vigor, but of course it was knocked right out of me with the rain.

It was raining so damn hard.

I hugged myself and started walking back to my cabin. I didn't feel like running, and I was already wet. What's the point?

When I got to the cabin, I immediately made my way into the bathroom to take a shower. No one was in the cabin to stop me. When I stepped out I put a pair of basketball shorts on and a t shirt then flopped onto my bed. Before I could drown in my thoughts, my phone rang. The caller ID said Reese and I immediately picked up. I hadn't spoke to my sister in forever.

"Hello!"

"Hey Lacey! How's it been?" Reese asked, excitement in her voice.

"Great!" I said. I didn't even really know if I was telling the truth or not.

"How's my biggest fan?"

"I just said I'm great," I deadpanned.

Suddenly, she burst into laughter. "Lace I was talking about Eli, but glad to know I have a supporting sister!"

I laughed too, but of course the first thing she asked had to be about Eli. She just had the perfect timing.

"Okay, so how is he?" She asked again.

"Well um, he's um," I cringed. What was I even trying to say? "It's complicated."

I could practically hear her smiling through the phone. "Tell me," she said.

I sighed. "It's sort of a long story," I warned.

"No ones home, I've got time," she said.

I sighed. She wasn't going to take no for an answer. I then proceeded to tell her everything that had happened this summer from the last time I spoke to her. And by everything, I really meant everything. I left no detail out, though it took me awhile to admit that I had in fact been "the other girl." When I was done, there was a silence on the other end.

"Hello?" I asked, scared that she had went away. I pulled my head away from the phone and checked to make sure she was still on the line. She was.

"Hello?" I said again. Had I shocked her into becoming mute? That would literally be the worst thing for her career.

"Lace what would you do if I told all of this on one of my videos?"

"Reese!"

"I'm kidding!" She reassured with a laugh, and I laughed along with her. I almost had a heart attack. "I was just trying to make you laugh."

"You almost killed me that's what you did," I mumbled. My heart was racing fast in my chest.

"Whatever. Anyways, that's a pretty big mess you got yourself into, but it sorta seems like this Kelsey girl gave you what you want on a silver platter," she said. "I don't think this is complicated at all."

"I'm not going to prance around with Eli right in her face," I said. Everyone was forgetting this fact.

"Yeah yeah but love is love," Reese said.

I blinked, then coughed. "I never said-"

"Not out loud at least."

I was silent after that. I don't care how flighty my sister seemed, she was intelligent. But I refused to believe I loved Eli. I obviously didn't know the meaning of the word since I thought I loved Michael for the longest time.