Filed to story: The One That Got Away
“I’ve already filled out an application,” I lie.
“Have you really?”
“Or I was just about to.”
“I shouldn’t have to push you to want things. You should want them for yourself. You need to take the initiative. I’m not always going to be beside you to push you.”
“I know that.”
“I mean, do you realize how important this year is, Bella? It’s kind of everything. You don’t get a do-over: this is junior year.”
I can feel tears and panic building up inside me. If she asks me another question, it will be too much, and I’ll cry.
“Hello?”
“I’m still here.” My voice comes out tiny, and I know Alice knows how close I am to crying.
She pauses. “Look, you still have time, OK? I just don’t want you to wait too long and have all the good placements go to other people. I’m just worried about you is all. But everything’s fine; you’re still OK.”
“OK.” Even just that one little word is an effort.
“How’s everything else?”
I started out this conversation wishing I could tell her about Louis and everything that’s been going on with me, but now I’m just feeling relieved that there are all these miles between us and she can’t see what I’m up to. “Everything’s good,” I say.
“How’s Josh? Have you talked to him lately?”
“Not really,” I say. Which I haven’t. I’ve been so busy with Louis I haven’t really had a chance.
Kitty and I are on the front steps. She’s drinking her Korean yogurt drink and I’m working on that scarf for Alice while I wait for Louis. Kitty’s waiting for Daddy to come out. He’s dropping her off at school today.
Ms Rothschild hasn’t come outside yet. Maybe she’s sick today or maybe she’s running even later than usual.
We’ve got our eyes locked on her front door when a minivan drives down our street and slows in front of our house. I squint my eyes. It’s Louis Kavinsky. Driving a tan minivan. He ducks his head out the window. “Are you coming or not?”
“Why are you driving that?” Kitty calls out.
“Never mind that, Katherine,” Louis calls back. “Just get in.”
Kitty and I look at each other. “Me too?” Kitty asks me.
I shrug. Then I lean back and open the front door and yell out, “Kitty’s getting a ride with me, Daddy!”
“OK!” he yells back.
We stand up, but just then Ms Rothschild comes dashing out of the house in her navy blue suit, briefcase in one hand, coffee in the other. Kitty and I look at each other gleefully. “Five, four, three-“
“Damn it!”
Giggling, we hurl ourselves towards Louis’s minivan. I hop into the passenger seat and Kitty climbs into the back. “What were you guys laughing about?” he asks.
I’m about to tell him when Josh walks out of his house. He stops and stares at us for a second before he waves. I wave back and Kitty hangs her head out the window and yells, “Hi, Josh!”
“What up,” Louis calls out, leaning over me.
“Hey,” Josh says back. Then he gets in his car.
Louis pokes me in the side and grins and puts the car in reverse. “Tell me why you guys were laughing.”
Clicking into my seat belt, I say, “At least once a week, Ms Rothschild runs out to her car and spills hot coffee all over herself.”
Kitty pipes up, “It’s the funniest thing in the world.”
Louis snorts. “You guys are sadistic.”
“What’s sadistic?” Kitty wants to know. She puts her head between us.
I push her back and say, “Put your seat belt on.”
Louis puts the car in reverse. “It means seeing other people in pain makes you happy.”
“Oh.” She repeats it to herself softly. “Sadistic.”
“Don’t teach her weird stuff,” I say.
“I like weird stuff,” Kitty protests.
Louis says, “See? The kid likes weird stuff.” Without turning around, he lifts his hand up for a high five and Kitty leans forward and slaps it heartily. “Hey, gimme a sip of whatever it is you’re drinking back there.”
“It’s almost gone, so you can have the rest,” she says.
Kitty hands it over, and Louis tips back the plastic container in his mouth. “This is good,” he says.