To Kiss You Again by Brandie Buckwine Page A

she snaps. I smooth her hair – the heat of her fury nearly burns my hand. “He’s just like all the rest. They say one thing, but it’s always lies.”
    “What did he do?” I know what he’s said.
    The front of my robe is sopped, and Carla gives a disgusting snort, her nose plugged with mucus. “He’s fucking some tourist bimbo. He said he wanted to go to bed early tonight, but I went to his house and caught him.”
    Matt stands by, and I know he’s uncomfortable. He glances between us and the door. “Do you want me to beat him up?” He grins and I shake my head. Carla stares at him blankly.
    “I’m sorry sweetie. Maybe I should have warned you.”
    “Warn me ?” She pushes away. “Warn yourself. He’s just as bad.” She looks at Matt, and his eyebrows rise.
    “How so?” I ask.
    “Tell her!” Carla says.
    He looks confused, but flushes.
    “Tell me what?”
    When he doesn’t speak, Carla says, “Sure, he’s here, all lovey-dovey, but this morning he told Ginny you were a freak.”
    Waves of shock streak through me and I am speechless. A freak?
    “I did not call her a freak.” He looks at me. “I did not call you a freak.”
    “What did you call me?” I ask, just as Carla says, “That’s what Ginny said!”
    His feet shuffle and he runs his hand through his hair in exasperation. “I probably said it freaked me out the way you used to follow me, and that you didn’t recognize me on the boat, but that’s all on me. It was stupid.”
    A hollow feeling consumes me, and I struggle to maintain my focus on the here and now. Was it true? Was I his little stalker?
    “You said she’s is screwed up in the head. That it freaks you out, the way she used to follow you. Ginny told me.”
    His expression tightens and he implores Carla with his eyes. The room begins to spin.
    “I did say that, but not because it’s what I really think.”
    I sputter – “Wha, wha –”
    “It was fear talking. It was an excuse to run away from my feelings.” He exhales sharply. “I love that you followed me, and why would you recognize me on the boat? I didn’t recognize you, not consciously at least. I think part of me recognized the connection. It was so familiar, and it drew me to you.”
    “Don’t listen to him, Jenny. He’s just like all the rest. Turn your back and he’ll fuck you over, too.”
    His eyes are filled with panic when he looks at me, but I am lost.
    “I used to follow you?”
     

Part X
     
    Carla and I stared at her.
    “All the time.” I looked at her doubtfully. “Surely you remember stalking me.” The allegation made me wince, but Jenny shook her head.
    “I don’t remember.”
    “Oh, come on. Even I remember, and I was only six,” Carla said.
    “How do you not remember?” I asked, cautiously approaching her.
    “There are a lot of things I don’t remember from back then.” Her gaze dropped to the ground. “But I remember you,” she announced, looking like the recollection was a major victory.
    A feeling of sadness washed through me. Maybe I built up this past bond into something greater than it actually was. If she could so easily forget her feelings for me, even what I looked like, how much of her past obsession was real, and how much had I fabricated? I was crushed.
    Taking a deep breath, Carla wrapped her arm around Jenny. “She was in a motorcycle accident when she was,” she paused and looked at Jenny, “fifteen?”
    Jenny nodded.
    “She was in a coma for a few days, and her memory of the time before the accident was spotty. We thought it all came back, but apparently, there are still things missing.”
    “I thought so too,” Jenny said despondently.
    A different girl slipped into Carla’s body. She wrapped Jenny in her arms and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry, Jenny. I should have known.”
    “It’s okay, sweetie. Not your fault.” Jenny rubbed her hands up and down Carla’s back, and tears filled her eyes.
    My feet froze to the ground. I wanted to go