Just One Year(9)

And that was fine, right? I mean, I didn’t need the complication of having to befriend him on top of everything else I had going on: adjusting to my classes and starting my new internship at the New England Aquarium. As a marine biology major, I was excited to gain hands-on experience that would help me toward a career as a research biologist.

So, given this cordial groove Caleb and I had found, it shouldn’t have bothered me when a girl I recognized from my biology class showed up at the house one Saturday. And yet, an unwanted, visceral jealousy hit me like a ton of bricks.

I knew her name was Veronica. She was tall with long, brown hair and a gorgeous face. She hadn’t knocked yet, but I spotted her approaching from the kitchen window. I could only assume she was here for Caleb.

“Hi. What’s up?” I said as I opened the door.

She jumped back, surprised. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “He said he was coming down to meet me. I wasn’t going to bother you. I’m here to see Caleb.”

Big shocker there.

Before I could say anything, the sound of Caleb skipping down the steps registered.

“Hey, Veronica.” He turned to me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for you to have to answer the door, Teagan. Veronica texted me she was here.”

I shrugged. “Oh, no worries. I was right by the door anyway.”

“Have you met my pseudo-sister Teagan before?” he asked her.

Pseudo-sister?

“Not officially. Although…” She squinted. “I think you’re in biology with me, right?”

“Yup. Yeah, I recognize you now.”

My eyes landed on his hand as it touched the small of her back, sending another pang of jealousy through me.

I cleared my throat. “Where are you guys headed?”

“Actually, we’re gonna check out that theater around the corner—the shady one your stepmother mentioned over dinner. Syd’s, is it? I’ve been morbidly curious about it.”

It stung a little that they were going there. Not sure why.

“Oh.” I nodded. “Well, have fun.”

“Thanks.” Veronica smiled. “We will.”

Heading to the theater on a gloomy day sounded really good. But I could have done that on my own, if I wanted. I was officially irritating myself. Caleb was a good-looking guy, but there were a lot of good-looking guys. Did I believe I had some kind of territorial right to him because he lived here?

I watched as they walked away. Any pathetic doubt I might have had about whether they were a thing went out the window when I saw him pull her close on the sidewalk and plant a long kiss on her lips. My stomach churned as I watched them until they eventually disappeared from sight.

Shelley ran down the stairs, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Did you see Caleb has a girlfriend?”

“How do you know she’s his girlfriend?” I asked, still looking toward the outside.

“Well, I don’t, but I saw them kiss from the upstairs window.”

“You should mind your own business instead of spying on Caleb.”

I was just about to turn around and go downstairs when I stopped myself. It was typical of me to have these kinds of brief interactions with my sister and then immediately retreat to my room. Whether I wanted to admit it or not, Caleb noticing my behavior toward Shelley sort of hit me where it hurt. And I really did want to be better, even if my relationship with my family had always been challenging.

I forced the words out. “Would you want to maybe go to Coolidge Corner? Get a bite to eat?”

She wrinkled her forehead. “You just told me to mind my own business. Now you want to take me out?”

“I know. I’m sorry for saying that. It’s natural to be curious.” I smiled. “Anyway…I just figured maybe I should spend more time with you. Wanna go?”

“Heck yeah, I wanna go! Do I need money?”

“Nah. I got you.”

Sometimes you have to force yourself to do what’s right, even if it doesn’t feel natural. Maybe eventually, it would get easier. Fake it till you make it. I needed to work on things with my sister—and my family, for that matter. But one step at a time.

***

Shelley and I ended up having a pretty good time that afternoon. We went for Japanese food. Shelley opted for hibachi while I ordered a few different maki rolls. The restaurant was one of my favorites. They had the best miso soup and shumai. It also happened to be just down the street from the theater. I couldn’t help wondering which movie Caleb and Veronica had chosen. I also wondered if they were watching the movie at all.

As we ate the orange slices the waitress brought to our table along with our bill, my sister said something that completely floored me.

“Did you know Caleb’s sister died?”

I stopped chewing. “What?”

“Yeah. I asked him if he had any siblings, and he told me he had a sister who died when they were younger.”

The orange felt like it was coming back up as my heart sank. “Oh my God. That’s terrible. I had no idea. Did he say how it happened?”

“No.”

Right then it dawned on me why he might have felt so compelled to remind me not to take my sister for granted—he no longer had his.

The rest of that Saturday, my chest felt heavy. It was impossible to think about anything else.