"Dreams that are actually memories...? Sorry, Vange, but I don't think I can help you with that one. Maybe my mom can?" Kira scrunches her nose, her lips dipped into a sympathetic frown.
"I'm not looking for a diagnosis. I just want someone to tell me I'm not crazy," I reply, slapping her arm playfully. "These dreams feel so real, and they're starting to feature people I know in real life."
"You had the nightmare right after leaving Carla's, yeah? Maybe this is just your brain's way of processing."
"I don't know, Kira. I just want the dreams to stop."
We get in Kourtney and drive to Kira's house. Since Rem and I started dating, he's been my chauffeur to and from school, but my best friend and I need a girls' night. We're doing manis, pedis, and facials, as well as watching horror movies that we're both too scared to sit through. Afterward, we'll be sleeping with the light on.
"So how are things with the boy toy?" Kira asks as we pull into her driveway.
"Things are good." Just thinking about my dark-eyed musician makes me smile. "Really good, actually."
"Have you two, you know, done it yet?" She wiggles her eyebrows, making me blush scarlet.
"No!" I exclaim. "It's only been two weeks. I'm not ready for that yet."
"Just figured I'd ask," she mutters.
Once inside, we grab snacks and bottles of water, say hello to Mrs. Dixon, and then race upstairs to Kira's bedroom.
"Since we're on the topic of sex," she goes on, unscrewing the cap of her Poland Springs bottle, "did you hear about Nash and Fiona?"
"Nope," I reply, "and unless you're about to tell me they got arrested for public indecency, I have no desire to."
"Not quite. I guess they had a pregnancy scare. She was caught at CVS buying Plan B," Kira tells me. "Crazy, right?"
A nervous chuckle escapes my lips. "Yeah, so crazy."
Thankfully, we change topics after that. As perturbed as I am with Fiona, I don't feel right gossiping about her. I've been in her shoes, and I know how uncomfortable they are to walk in. I wouldn't wish that upon anyone.
Kira and I jump into our evening of self-care. We apply clay face masks that smell like grapefruit before painting each other's nails and toes. Kira, being the bright, vivacious girl that she is, selects a hot pink polish. Contrarily, I choose light green.
As our hands and feet dry, we put on a movie. Not wishing to be scared shitless this early in the night, we opt for Step Up and allow Channing Tatum's stellar dance moves and washboard abs to distract us.
"The things I would do to that man," Kira purrs beside me.
"He's definitely easy on the eyes," I agree.
"I'm gonna tell Rem you said that."
"Go right ahead. He's not the jealous type."
"Then what type is he?" Kira pauses the movie and turns to face me. "Like, he's your boyfriend, and I know literally nothing about him."
I sense a shred of bitterness behind her words and frown. I didn't realize how excluded she felt.
"I'm happy for you. I really am. I just want to know what kind of guy you're giving your heart to," she adds. "After what happened with Nash, I don't want to see it get broken again."
Beaming, I say, "I love you for that, but Rem's a good guy. He cares about my feelings, he listens when I talk, and he's always a perfect gentleman."
YOU ARE READING
What Lurks Beneath the Surface ✔️
Jugendliteratur"Maybe I should bring you home," he suggests. "Maybe you should find us a more secluded spot," I toss back, snaking my arms around his neck. "You're pretty drunk, Vange." "I am." "And we barely know each other." I feel myself deflate like a balloon...
