8
Amy came to find me one last time, the night
before the SATS.
She was standing outside my house,
shrouded in the dim light of the sensor.
I was walking back from night study hall, and
saw her standing alone.
I felt a surge of irritation. If I didn’t live here, I
wouldn’t go near her.
I walked up, and Amy waved. “You going
home too, Tom?”
I grunted.
She gave me an awkward smile. “I’ve been
く
thinking a lot about things lately. I’ve been
really awful…”
She was watching my face.
I shook my head. “Just go to bed. The SATs
are tomorrow.”
Amy bit her lip, looking troubled. “Can’t you
forgive me? Can we still be friends?”
“No,” I said bluntly.
Amy froze, staring at me, surprised.
She probably thought that as long as she
apologized, I’d forgive her.
That’s why she hadn’t tried to talk to me in
the past few weeks, except for that one note.
L
All her attention was on Jake.
But tonight, she was going home, so she thought she might as well apologize.
Then I’d forgive her, and we’d go back to
being childhood best friends.
And I’d still treat her like gold, doing anything
for her.
But it was over.
“Seriously? I came all the way over here to
apologize, and you’re still going to be a jerk?”
Amy asked, frowning.
She always looked at me like that.
<
Whenever I made her angry, she’d pout and
glare, waiting for me to make it up to her.
And I always did.
This time, I lifted my chin. “Yeah, I am.”
Amy gritted her teeth, really angry now.
“Jake was right. You bookworms are so
closed–minded!”
She pointed a finger at me. “After eighteen
years, you still act like a baby. You’re so
angry, just get over it!”
She was working herself up, annoyed that I
wasn’t giving in.
“Look at Jake. He never stays mad. He’s so
<
cool and relaxed. But you? You’re so
emotional. It’s annoying!”
That’s what she really thought.
All along.
I chuckled, a little bitterly.
Someone like me, too boring for Amy.
She was selfish, spoiled, and wild. Someone
like Jake was perfect for her.
“I hope you and Jake have a lot of kids.” I
said calmly, not reacting.
Amy was speechless. She turned and walked
away, then stopped. “Oh, we will. Tonight, I’m
going to spend the night with Jake. I don’t
<
care about the SATS.”
She was getting some kind of sick revenge.
She wanted me to be scared, to beg her to stay, to beg her to take the SATS seriously.
She always knew how to push my buttons.
I suddenly remembered that we’d once promised each other that we’d go to college
together.
But she’d forgotten all about it.
And I didn’t want to remember it either.
My heart was made of stone. “Whatever.”
