Like Gravity(93)

For the first day or so, I tried not to think about him at all. Then I realized how insanely useless and counterproductive that was, so I gave up and started acting like a girl – or, in other words, I began obsessing over everything he’d ever said or done in the months since we’d met.

I began to realize that, in many ways, Finn actually had tried to tell me – maybe not with words, but certainly with actions…

The night he took me out to look at the fireflies by his lookout point.

His strange song dedication when he sang at The Blue Note.

How he’d always, from the very start, called me ‘Bee.’

How protective he’d always been.

Even the way he’d phrased certain things…

There’s never been anyone real for me except you.

It’s always been you.

You’re so different from what I expected.

I love you, Brooklyn. I always have.

The list went on and on, until my eyes were swimming and I forced myself to stop searching my memories.

I think it was day seven post-Finn when the door to my bedroom was abruptly thrown open, slamming against the opposite wall so hard the photos hanging there rattled and threatened to come crashing down. Lexi stormed in, her blue eyes flashing with determination, and walked up to the bed where I was huddled under a mountain of blankets. With one jerk of her arm, she ripped the comforter from the bed and tossed it to the floor.

“Brooklyn Grace Turner. This is pathetic. Look at yourself!” She demanded, pointing at my ratty sweatshirt and ripped pajama shorts. “More importantly, though, smell yourself. Seriously, can you even remember the last time you showered?”

My lips twitched traitorously in the beginnings of a smile.

“Get up!” Lexi yelled. “Right freaking now!”

“Go away, Lexi,” I countered wearily, rolling over to face the wall. I was definitely not in the mood to play nice.

Suddenly, my bed shifted as the weight of a body landed solidly on my mattress. Startled, I rolled over to see Lexi standing over me on the bed, hands planted on her hips. I opened my mouth to ask what the hell she thought she was doing, but it snapped closed, clacking my teeth together painfully, when she began to jump up and down like a crazy person.

The whole mattress was bouncing, and me with it – each time her feet made contact with the bed, I was launched several feet in the air, clutching frantically at the frame so I wouldn’t be bounced right onto the floor.

“I SAID GET UP!” Lexi yelled, jumping even harder. When her feet came dangerously close to landing on my internal organs, I had no choice other than to abandon ship.

I dove to the ground, scurried several feet away from the bed, and spun around to face the madwoman that was my best friend. She’d stopped jumping as soon as I’d cleared the bed, but remained standing up there, fuming at me.

Without saying anything, she hopped off the bed, strode across the room, and backed me into a corner until I was pressed tight against the wall. Leaning in, she trapped my face between her palms and looked me in the eye.

“It’s been seven days, Brooklyn. I gave you a full week to wallow. And, trust me, its been hard to watch.” She made a disgusted face. “I know you’re going through a hard time right now. I get that it’s the hardest thing in the world to even fathom getting out of bed in the morning and pretending that everything is normal. I’ve been there.”

I started to interrupt, but she cut me off before I could get a word in.

“But this isn’t you, Brooklyn. I don’t care what he did – no boy is worth subjecting yourself to this.”

Was this Lexi talking?

“I know what you’re thinking. Who am I, queen of the ever-revolving door of boyfriends, to tell you anything about relationships, right?”

Wow, that had been almost my exact thought.

“And you’d be right; I have had more than my fair share of boyfriends and unhealthy relationships. But because of that, I’ve also had my share of heartbreaks.” A sad, small smile graced her lips. “If there’s one thing I’m really good at, it’s getting over *s and moving on with my life. Maybe I don’t move on to the right people, but that’s not the point… Thing is, Brooklyn, that’s really all you can do – you just go on. In spite of the pain, in spite of everything, you keep breathing. And one day, I promise, it will get better.”

I supposed she had a point.

“Do I really smell that bad?” I asked in a quiet voice.

“Literally, I could smell you from the kitchen,” Lexi giggled. “I think you’re starting to mold.”

“Ew!” I said, crinkling my nose. “I am so not that bad.”

“Whatever you say.” She rolled her eyes. “Just shower, would ya? We’ve got places to go, people to see.”

“Where?” I asked.

“Just trust me.”

***

“Okay,” Lexi grinned over at me. “You can thank me now.”

“Off the record?” I hedged.

“Uh-huh, whatever you say.”

“Fine, I admit it. You were right.”

“That’s all I get? After the shitstorm you kicked up over this?! Not even a ‘Thank you Lexi, for being the most wonderful, thoughtful, stunningly beautiful, amazingly insightful – and did I mention good looking? – best friend on the planet, and for forcing me, against my will, to get such an incredibly sexy new haircut?’”