More Than Good Enough(49)

“I filmed it like I see it.”

We started talking about music videos, our epic plans for the summer. Pippa was going to shoot it on Super-8 and I would edit the whole thing. I really wanted to film my new songs so we could post them online.

“That’s how you build an audience,” I said.

“Obviously you have it all figured out.”

“With our skills combined, we could be a superforce.”

“Unless we stop talking again.”

I put my hand on her knee. “We’re never going to stop talking.”

She laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“Listen. I refuse to let that happen. You understand? I mean, I can’t look into the future or whatever. But when I imagine it, I see both of us. That’s the way it has to be.”

Pippa was staring at me so hard, I looked away. There was a poster of the Color Wheel behind her head, along with a map of Venice, a city I’d never visited in real life. I wanted to see it before it sank underwater. And at that moment, anything seemed possible.

“Let’s hear what the spirits have to say.” Pippa reached into her bag and took out her phone. “I downloaded this app called Ghost Radar. It’s supposed to pick up supernatural voices.”

“Does it ever talk to you?”

“Sometimes.”

I glanced around the art room. “Hey, Mr. Ghost. What’s shaking?”

We waited.

“Guess he doesn’t like me.”

“He’s just shy,” Pippa said. “Hold on a second.” She put her phone on the table. Out of nowhere, a voice droned as the screen lit up:

JAM

“That’s because you’re sweet,” I said.

“No, I’m not. And that’s been on there a while.”

TRICKY

“See? It’s definitely talking about you.”

“Because why?”

“Because you’re a tricky and complicated girl.”

“Oh god, Trent. Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“The spirits don’t lie.”

Pippa scrolled down the list. “Most of these words don’t make sense.”

“You have to make your own sense. That’s the secret to the universe. In other words, the answer to everything.”

I was getting kind of deep tonight, even though we were sitting in the art room, drawing our names on a stupid balloon. Guess that’s what happens when school ends. You’re forced to deal with reality.

The balloon reminded me of the For Sale sign at my mom’s place. Maybe she and Mr. Nameless had already moved away. I’d spent so much time wishing I could be somewhere else, it was pretty weird to think I wasn’t ever going back to my old house. Next year, me and Pippa would be seniors. We were almost free. At least, one step closer to freedom.

When the class met outside on the football field, everybody drifted over to their parents. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Mom standing near the bleachers. She’d actually shown up. And she was talking to Pippa’s mom like they were old friends. Of course, that was the actual truth.

My mom started walking across the field, sort of pecking her way in these strappy sandals. As a kid, I used to think she was glamorous. Now I wasn’t so sure.

“Congrats. You guys were fab.” Mom swooped me into a hug. She smelled exactly the same, like the herbs at the health food store, all those dead plants to cure your problems. “I’m really impressed with your hard work. Especially the music in Pippa’s film. Was that you, love?”

I nodded.

Mom smoothed my hair with her long fingers. “It sounded a lot like your dad.”

“He doesn’t play anymore,” I said flatly.

“Well, that’s a shame.”

She pulled me close and I sort of collapsed against her, like I was finally letting go.

Cookie was talking to Pippa. “Hope to see you on the reservation. You’re always welcome there.” She tied a bracelet on Pippa’s wrist. It was strung with tiny plastic beads. “If it don’t fit, I can make another.”

I knew that Pippa couldn’t deal with bracelets clacking up and down her arms. But the beads fit snug against her skin and stayed quiet and still.

“It’s perfect,” she said.

“See? You’re not totally allergic to jewelry. I knew it all along,” I said, making her laugh.

We watched the balloon get passed around. Everybody wanted to hold it for some reason. And when it finally came to me, there was nobody else left.

“Let it go,” Pippa whispered.

“Isn’t that, like, bad for the environment?”

“Probably. But I can think of worse things. Come on. You’re the last one.”

“How did I get into this?”

I shoved the balloon away from us. It sort of hovered in midair, then wobbled upwards, gaining speed the higher it got. The crowd cheered, as if I’d done a good job. Everybody raced toward it, like they could actually lift off the field and catch it. Or maybe it was more about running, just for the feel of it.

I tugged Pippa into the parking lot. “Got a surprise for you.”

“I’m not sure I can handle your surprises.”

“Oh, you’ll like this one. It’s mine now,” I said.