Sacrifice

Chapter Eight

That afternoon, Crybaby was in her living room playing with her telephone cord using one hand and holding the phone up to her ear with the other. The phone rang two and a half times, and then she received an answer.

"Hello? Crybaby?" Celeste asked when she picked up.

"Yeah, hey," Crybaby responded, already trying to figure out how she would explain everything.

"So, what's going on?"

"Uh... So, Angelita has been acting weird. She's been looking at me different, saying sweet things, waiting for me after class and getting all flustered when I speak softly or when I touch her. But every time I bring up Ben, she gets... cold, to say the least. She got really upset when I didn't sit with her at lunch yesterday. I really don't know what's going on, but how are we all going to be okay if two of our friends don't like each other?" Crybaby explained.

Celeste didn't say anything for a moment, but Crybaby heard her breathing through the phone. "Celeste-?" she started.

"Damn," Celeste said suddenly, "There's not much I can assume. The only thing I'm getting is... kind of crazy."

"Me too. Well, what do you think?" Crybaby asked, her heart beating a bit faster because of how nervous she was to find out.

"Well, we know you like Ben, and it seems like she's not too happy with that. And we know she's into girls. So, with her behavior around you..." Celeste went on as she did the math. "...Honestly, what do you think it is, Crybaby?"

"Oh, God, what if she likes Ben? And that's why she acts so cold towards him?"

"If that was it, why would she be acting so weird with you? When you two are alone?" Celeste asked.

"I don't know," Crybaby sighed with stress. Her eyes stung as she felt tears threatening to form.

"Crybaby," Celeste spoke firmly, "Can we just be honest?"

Crybaby had nothing left to say.

"Come on. Let's be real..." Celeste urged.

"Do you think she... Has feelings for me?" Crybaby asked carefully.

"Do you?"