Page 14 of Sure, Pal

Sienna smiled and stared down at her hands. “I don’t know. No one really knows. I found this guitar in my grandma’s basement last year. She said I could keep it, so I started watching Youtube videos and teaching myself how to play.” Sienna glanced over at me with a shy smile and nudged me back. “Don’t tell anyone, k? This is super embarrassing.”

I grinned at her. I seriously couldn’t stop smiling. I always felt this way around Sienna. “What? Why? It’s so fucking cool, Sienna! You’re incredible!”

She shook her head, but her smile got a little bigger. “No, I’m not! I suck!”

“Not true. Your voice is awesome. You going to sing in the talent show next month?” I asked.

Sienna laughed. “Hell no.”

I grinned and teased, “I’m pretty sure Ava thinks you’re going to do a slutty little dance routine with her.”

This time, Sienna threw her head back and laughed. “Double hell no!”

Her shoulder brushed against mine. I wanted to wrap my arm around her. It seemed so natural that I almost did it. A light breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, and I wanted to run my fingers through it. We sat in silence for a moment, watching the sun set against the bright green soccer field.

Finally, I asked, “Did you write that song?”

Sienna’s gold-green eyes flashed over to meet mine. They were full of fear and uncertainty. “Uh, yeah. It’s dumb, though.”

“It didn’t look like you thought it was dumb. It looked like it meant something to you.” I met her gaze and felt my heart rate pick up.

Sienna tore her eyes away from mine and shrugged.

“Who was it about?” My voice was quiet.

Sienna shrugged again and looked out at the empty soccer field. When she turned back to look at me, I could have sworn her eyes said, “You.”

I had feelings for Sienna, and these feelings were unlike any I’d ever had for a girl. I’d figured that out almost a month ago, but I kept dating her best friend anyway. I hated myself for that.

Sienna stood up suddenly and said, “I better get home. It’s getting late.”

I nodded. “Sure, pal. I’ll give you a ride.” Sienna didn’t have a car. She usually walked everywhere or rode around with Ava.

“Thanks.” Sienna smiled at me and picked up her guitar.

I grabbed my soccer bag and glanced over at Sienna as we walked. Was I falling in love with my girlfriend’s best friend? Or had I always been in love with Sienna?

I already knew I’d asked out the wrong girl two years ago. Ava was hot, fun, and safe. But Sienna was like this deep, beautiful, unknowable mystery. She scared the shit out of me when I was fifteen, and she scared the shit out of me now.

We drove in silence with the windows down. I was too rattled to speak, now that I’d admitted to myself that I was actually in love with Sienna. When I pulled up to her house, we could hear her parents fighting from the driveway.

Sienna bit her lip and let out a shaky breath. “Thanks for the ride, dude.” She gave me a fake, bright smile and pulled open the door.

I didn’t want her to have to go inside and listen to the fighting. I didn’t want anyone or anything to hurt her. “You hungry?” I asked. “I didn’t eat yet, and I’m starving.”

She paused with her hand on the door. “Uh, yeah, actually.” Sienna slid back into my passenger seat and closed the door.

I grinned at her. “Good. And Ava’s not here, so we can go get big juicy burgers.”

Sienna laughed and leaned back. “Oh, Ava. She’s going to save the cows, just you watch.”

I laughed, too, and backed out of Sienna’s driveway. After we went through the Jack in the Box drive-through, we pulled into an empty parking lot to eat. We sat on the hood of my car and looked up at the dark night sky.

“When are you going to start driving the Camaro, dude?” Sienna asked between bites of her burger.

I shrugged. “My dad thinks it’ll be ready in a few weeks.” I reached over and stole some of Sienna’s fries.

“The hell?” She shoved me. “You have your own!”

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