City Love(71)

THIRTY-THREE

ROSANNA


SADIE’S DOOR IS CLOSED WHEN I come home from Dean & DeLuca. She’s probably in her room with Austin. I don’t want to disturb them, so I go to my room and close the door.

Hanging out at Dean & DeLuca should have been fun. I found a cute spot on one of the couches to read. I was doing that thing where you want to look like you’re totally into your book, not caring if anyone comes over and talks to you, but you’re actually half-reading/half-hoping someone will. The Dean & DeLuca excursion was the first of many to come. I’m trying to get out more in this city I loved way before I moved here. Putting myself out there is the best way to meet new people. Darcy keeps saying how all I have to do is start chilling at places I’m attracted to and I’ll find people I will like. But my mind really isn’t on meeting new people.

I’ve been struggling all day with what happened at D’s last night. I thought he would have called by now, but he hasn’t. I haven’t called him because I don’t know how to explain my crazy behavior. Who runs out of her boyfriend’s apartment when he tries to kiss her? Not that he’s even my boyfriend. He probably never wants to see me again. He’d rather find a girl who can handle being intimate. The hard truth is, I’m embarrassed and depressed and I don’t know how I’m going to survive the weekend if he doesn’t call. Not exactly living up to my girl-power standards.

That’s why I went to Dean & DeLuca. As soon as I got home from camp, I realized I’d be waiting for the phone to ring all night unless I tore myself away. So I forced myself to go out and focus on other things, which didn’t work at all. All I can think about is D.

This is insane. I am not going to be that girl. The one waiting for some boy to call to make her feel better. I decide to call Mica about Momo. We didn’t get a chance to talk at camp. I shouted Mica’s name after her when I saw her leaving, but she didn’t hear me. I also want her advice about D. She can help me put things in perspective.

Ten seconds into our conversation, it’s obvious something is wrong. Mica is being weird.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“What makes you think something’s wrong?” Mica challenges.

“You don’t sound like yourself. Are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay. Would you be okay if someone you thought was a friend said disgusting things about you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“How could you say those things? I thought we were friends.”

“What things? I didn’t say anything.”

“So you didn’t call me a selfish bitch who hates kids?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why did I hear that you did?”

“I didn’t! Who told you that?”

“Addison.”

“Who’s Addison? I don’t even know who that is.”

“Yes, you do. She knows all about you.”

“I swear I don’t know Addison.”

“You’re such a liar. I saw you talking to her at the party.”

“The camp party?”

“She said you yelled at her for spilling her drink.”

“Wait, you mean Nasty Girl?”

“That’s what you call one of your closest friends from high school?”

“She’s not my friend. How do you know her?”

“She works at the Upper East camp. I met her at the party. Her UNY housing is in my building and she recognized me last night in the hall. She asked if I knew you. When I said we were friends, she told me everything you said about me. She told me what you did to her. Do you treat all your friends like shit?”

“She was never my friend! She didn’t even go to my school!”

“Why are you lying to me?”

“I’m not!”

“Addison told me all about how you used to be good friends until you made out with her boyfriend at the junior prom. Who does that?”

“That never happened!”

“You turned on her like your friendship didn’t even mean anything. She warned me you’d do the same thing to me.”

“I would never do that to anyone! She’s lying!”

“You’re the one who’s lying. You swore you didn’t know her. Next you’re going to deny that you told her I’m a lazy charity case who has no problem living in poverty for the rest of my life because I can get by on government handouts. How dare you talk about me like that.”

“Please, I would never say those things! That’s horrible!”

“You know the saddest part? I thought you understood me. You were supposed to be someone who would never talk that kind of smack about me.”

Fear numbs my body. My heart races. I try to speak, but the words catch in my throat.

“You totally violated my trust,” Mica says. “I’ll never forgive you for that.”

“Addison is the one you can’t trust. I’ve never even talked to her.”

“Oh my god. I saw you talking to her at the party!”

“No, that was—I’d never even seen her before! She’s had an issue with me since the party. That was the first time I’d ever seen her. I don’t know what her problem is. But it was clear at the party that she hates me.”