Sincerely, Leah

10

I haven't been to school ever since the homecoming incident. I've been getting texts from Simon, Nick and Lucy, but I haven't been replying. Weirdly, the emails from April have been coming in less frequently. I think she knows who I am.

But what's the problem with that? Am I unattractive? Well, to most, and sometimes myself, yes. But what happened to, "You're obviously beautiful"?

Maybe she doesn't like that it's me. Maybe she envisioned me as someone else. Maybe she thought she was in love with someone entirely different.

I don't know. I might be paranoid.

There's a knock on my door.

"Lee? Can I come in?"

Its Mom.

"Sure."

She enters the room and sits on the edge of the bed. I sit up on the headboard. She has a plastic bag in her hand.

"So,", she begins, "the outing thing. I know it's been hard. The girl who did it was rotten. And I know it might be too hard to face school right now, but you will have to go back eventually. Within at least a week or two. Promise?"

She sticks out her pinkie finger and smiles, and I smile too and I intertwine our pinkies.

"I promise.", I say.

I look down at the bag.

"What's that?"

She looks down at it and sighs.

"It was left at the door when I came home from work. A friend must've dropped it off after school. I have no clue what it is. Its wrapped. I'll just leave it with you."

She drops it on the floor, squeezes my hand and walks out the door.

I check my phone to see the date.

30th of November.

The day of the release of the new The 1975 album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships.

I should be hanging out at Lucy's right now, freaking out about the new songs. But instead, here I am, feeding into depression. Something I promised myself I'd never do.

I pick up the plastic bag and look inside. There's a perfectly wrapped package inside with a note attached. I remove the note and look at it.

Leah,
Its the big day! A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships is here! At last! I'm sorry for disappearing. Does this gift make up for it?
I miss you at school. Its a lot shittier. I'm happy it's you.
I'm going to drop a clue about myself, and I hope it'll help. Just one. I'm one of your girl friends. I didn't have the shit to do this before, but the state that you're in has my heart broken. Its only fair that I do this one thing for you. To be honest, ever since you first emailed me, I hoped it was you because I've always liked you. God, I'm so happy it's you. I'm delighted that you were my anonymous girlfriend.
I hope you like the gift. If you wear it and you see a girl smiling and blushing like an idiot, its me. :)
Love,
April