Page 167 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Alienate? When did I…”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me,” Camila accuses. “You know what I went through yesterday.”
“I do? Your dad bought you the dress. What’s the big deal?”
“My dad, Tabitha!” she yells. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe you’re so heartless. My dad left me.Left me. And you don’t even care. How could you do this to me?”
“Camila, this didn’t happen yesterday. For goodness’ sake, he’s remarried. He just got back from his honey…”
Camila gasps, and her hand winds behind her and I swear my heart stops beating. She’s going to slap me again.
I then notice there's no bandage. A brand new acrylic nail hides the ugliness of Friday's gym lesson.
Both Camila’s hands rush forward, and when I jerk backwards, they don’t connect with my flesh. Instead, they cover Camila’s face as she hunches over, shuddering and sniffling.
“Oh my gosh, Cammy,” I say, disturbed.
Yvie plants her hand on Camila’s back. “Cammy, are you okay?”
“I’m not okay!” Cammy yells, reefing her hands off her face. “I’m not okay with my dad replacing me.”
I rush toward her, clutching her shoulders. “I know, Cammy. I know it’s hard.”
She shakes her head. “You don’t even care.”
Her tears pull at my heartstrings. “I care that you’re upset.”
She gently peels my hand from her shoulder, sandwiching it between hers, in a move so vulnerable it renders me speechless. “Do you?”
“Of course. I always have.”
Yvie smiles at me. Her eyes sparkling with hope that our friend group is gluing itself back together.
“But you don’t want to hang out with me,” Camila sputters. “You’re choosing a boy over our friendship.”
The thought of Kai pulls my heart in another direction. What friendship is she talking about?
“Please, Tabby,” Camila whispers. “Whenever times have been tough, you’ve made it better. We talk about clothes and makeup, and somehow the world is less crappy. Can’t we do it again?”
I hiss in discomfort. “You really want me to come over to your house?”
“Can’t we make my dress perfect? It’ll be fun, right? You have a good eye for what jewelry to pair with my new purchases.”
I don’t like all these compliments. I’ve known her too long. The more frequently she says something good, the more certain it is she’ll completely tear me down.
“Please?” she continues, pouting. “I feel like we haven’t hung out in ages.”
Every fiber in my being screams at me to say no. “You really want me there?”
She tugs on my hand. “Yes, silly. I miss you.”
She misses me? Am I hearing this right? What exactly does she miss?
“Tabby,” her voice is soft. “Things have been so off lately. You were always by my side, but now it’s like I only have Yvie.”
“Hey,” Yvie squeaks, offended.
Cammy’s eyes round with her pout. “Will you come with us? I bought new makeup this week, and I feel like nothing is the right shade. I need your help, but you’re never around. Why do you keep ditching me?”
