9781250209153

17
I never anticipated how mundane the healing process would be. My next
few weeks are filled with helping Mom in the garden, learning knitting with
Daphne, and bussing tables for Thora at The Chimney. I wash dishes,
practice free throws, and rank my favorite films on a list that my sisters
argue over later. I help Danielle return Christmas presents and talk about
my feelings without her prompting me. There is nothing glamorous about
any of it, but I tell myself to keep going.
School becomes an absolute hellhole. Word has gotten around about
Charlotte’s accusation in the gym, and while no one has seen the picture she
showed Irene, everyone has put the pieces together about us “breaking up”
because I hung out with Tally. People are either giving me a wide berth or
tossing me dirty looks in the hallways. My own teammates refuse to pass
me the ball in practice. Only the Cleveland triplets are willing to hover
nearby, but that’s because they want quotes for the paper. It’s a very sober,
clarifying experience, to see how quickly people can go from adoring you
to abhorring you.
Irene herself is cordial but distant, and I take my cues from her. We
smile politely to each other in the hallways but otherwise keep to ourselves.
Charlotte, of course, is happy to fuel the rumors about what went wrong
between us. She plants more seeds about Irene’s “fake” sexuality, but Irene
stays above it all. I don’t know whether that’s because she doesn’t care, or
because she’s extra focused on SAOY now that we’re getting closer to
nominations. I pray I haven’t ruined her chances.
Danielle and the boys are unfailingly loyal. We sit in my car one
afternoon and I tell them everything. Danielle already knows, of course, but