Read Online So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Susane Colasanti
Ads: Link
happening on April’s side. I wish I could be in two places at once. Do I have to leave my old life behind completely just because I moved away?
“So how’d it go with Robby Miller?” I ask.
“It didn’t. I’m still deciding what to say.”
“But you want to go out with him, right?”
April sighs. I recognize that sigh. It’s the one she does when she feels overwhelmed.
“I don’t know,” she says.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just ... tired.”
Something’s not right. April and I can always talk, even when there’s not much to actually talk about. I was hoping for one of our fun gossip sessions to pull me out of my mood. But it doesn’t sound like April wants to talk about anything fun. Or even talk at all.
Candice has already moved on. Will April do the same?
“I should go,” April says. “I’m never going to finish this homework. Call me tomorrow?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Of course! We’re still us, it’s ... sorry I’m being antisocial. It’s just the exhaustion.”
“I hear you. Talk to you tomorrow.”
I’m not sure if I believe April about being tired. Whatever’s going on with her, one thing is clear. The days of sharing my life with the only good friends I’ve ever known are over.
It’s time to create a new life all on my own.
The girl who was out here sketching before is back. She’s on the same bench as last time, looking up. I try to find what she’s looking at. The moon is huge and bright.
Some people are running on the path between us. This is where Dad and I ran together the first Sunday I was here. He said how he needs to get back into running and I like to run, so we should run together every Sunday. That will be our thing. It’s cool that it’s only been two weeks and we already have a thing. We didn’t get to run last Sunday because of the rain, though.
“Hey, Brooke!” a girl yells, running along the path. I recognize her from school, but I can’t remember her name. I wave back.
The girl on the bench looks over. This jolt goes through me when we make eye contact. I’ve passed so many people on the street who zip by looking anywhere but at me. People racing by while walking their dogs or gripping their coffee cups or on their phones or speaking different languages with their friends. I don’t know what everyone’s in such a rush for. When someone does glance at me, they quickly look away if my eyes meet theirs. It’s almost like there’s this rule that you’re not allowed to make eye contact with anyone for longer than two seconds.
Seeing someone and actually having them see me back makes an impact. Unlike the other New Yorkers I’ve encountered, this girl doesn’t immediately look away. She smiles with friendly eyes. Then she goes back to sketching.
Maybe it’s because I’m lonely. Or maybe there’s something about her that I’m already connecting with on a subconscious level. Whatever the reason, I want to talk to her. I go over and sit on the bench next to hers.
“Hey,” she says. “Do you go to Eames?”
“No.”
“Oh. I thought I recognized you. I’m Rhiannon, but everyone calls me Ree.”
“I’m Brooke.”
“I heard. That’s my sister’s name.”
Now that I’m closer, I can see the charcoal moon in progress on her sketch pad. Ree’s moon has all these detailed craters that I can’t even see when I look at the real moon.
“You’re really good,” I say.
“Thanks. It helps me unwind.”
“Origami does the same for me.”
I never talk this much to someone I don’t know. I can feel some kind of magic happening. It’s like the city energy makes anything possible.
“Do you live around here?” Ree asks.
“Yeah, over on Perry Street.”
“Oh, sweet. I’m on West 11th.”
She lives on Scott’s street. That’s one for the Of Course file. Maybe she’s seen him around. She might even know where he lives. But how weird would that be, asking about some boy when we just met?
“I just moved
“So how’d it go with Robby Miller?” I ask.
“It didn’t. I’m still deciding what to say.”
“But you want to go out with him, right?”
April sighs. I recognize that sigh. It’s the one she does when she feels overwhelmed.
“I don’t know,” she says.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m just ... tired.”
Something’s not right. April and I can always talk, even when there’s not much to actually talk about. I was hoping for one of our fun gossip sessions to pull me out of my mood. But it doesn’t sound like April wants to talk about anything fun. Or even talk at all.
Candice has already moved on. Will April do the same?
“I should go,” April says. “I’m never going to finish this homework. Call me tomorrow?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Of course! We’re still us, it’s ... sorry I’m being antisocial. It’s just the exhaustion.”
“I hear you. Talk to you tomorrow.”
I’m not sure if I believe April about being tired. Whatever’s going on with her, one thing is clear. The days of sharing my life with the only good friends I’ve ever known are over.
It’s time to create a new life all on my own.
The girl who was out here sketching before is back. She’s on the same bench as last time, looking up. I try to find what she’s looking at. The moon is huge and bright.
Some people are running on the path between us. This is where Dad and I ran together the first Sunday I was here. He said how he needs to get back into running and I like to run, so we should run together every Sunday. That will be our thing. It’s cool that it’s only been two weeks and we already have a thing. We didn’t get to run last Sunday because of the rain, though.
“Hey, Brooke!” a girl yells, running along the path. I recognize her from school, but I can’t remember her name. I wave back.
The girl on the bench looks over. This jolt goes through me when we make eye contact. I’ve passed so many people on the street who zip by looking anywhere but at me. People racing by while walking their dogs or gripping their coffee cups or on their phones or speaking different languages with their friends. I don’t know what everyone’s in such a rush for. When someone does glance at me, they quickly look away if my eyes meet theirs. It’s almost like there’s this rule that you’re not allowed to make eye contact with anyone for longer than two seconds.
Seeing someone and actually having them see me back makes an impact. Unlike the other New Yorkers I’ve encountered, this girl doesn’t immediately look away. She smiles with friendly eyes. Then she goes back to sketching.
Maybe it’s because I’m lonely. Or maybe there’s something about her that I’m already connecting with on a subconscious level. Whatever the reason, I want to talk to her. I go over and sit on the bench next to hers.
“Hey,” she says. “Do you go to Eames?”
“No.”
“Oh. I thought I recognized you. I’m Rhiannon, but everyone calls me Ree.”
“I’m Brooke.”
“I heard. That’s my sister’s name.”
Now that I’m closer, I can see the charcoal moon in progress on her sketch pad. Ree’s moon has all these detailed craters that I can’t even see when I look at the real moon.
“You’re really good,” I say.
“Thanks. It helps me unwind.”
“Origami does the same for me.”
I never talk this much to someone I don’t know. I can feel some kind of magic happening. It’s like the city energy makes anything possible.
“Do you live around here?” Ree asks.
“Yeah, over on Perry Street.”
“Oh, sweet. I’m on West 11th.”
She lives on Scott’s street. That’s one for the Of Course file. Maybe she’s seen him around. She might even know where he lives. But how weird would that be, asking about some boy when we just met?
“I just moved
Similar Books
