Another Day (Every Day 2)

“We’re there,” Justin says. Then, after he hangs up, he tells me where we’re going.

Annapolis, I can’t help thinking. But we’re going nowhere near Annapolis.

Say any city enough times, it starts to sound like a made-up place.

—

Rebecca is at the party. She searches me out.

“I think our boyfriends are getting pretty baked,” she tells me.

“Lucky us,” I say.

She looks at me in surprise and laughs. “Did you really just say that? Good for you!”

Don’t tell Justin, I want to say. But I know she won’t. She might tell Ben, but he won’t tell Justin, either.

Am I the only one who actually likes Justin?

“What’s been going on?” Rebecca asks me.

“I’m just tired,” I say.

“Yeah, but tired of what?”

She’s genuinely interested. She genuinely cares. She is my friend.

I don’t tell her a thing.

—

I duck out of the party before it’s too late to call Kelsea’s house.

This time someone answers.

“Hello?” His voice is rough. Tired.

“Hi, is Kelsea there?” I ask. I just want to hear her voice. I just want to know she’s okay.

“Who is this?”

I try to think of a name that isn’t mine. “It’s Mia. I’m a friend of hers?”

“Well, Kelsea isn’t here right now. And she won’t be using her phone for a few days. If you leave a message there, though, I’m sure she’ll get back to you. Just give it some time.”

I risk it and ask, “Is she okay? I’m just a little…concerned.”

“She’s somewhere getting help,” he says. “It’s going to be okay.” He pauses; this is new ground for him. “I know it’ll mean a lot to hear from her friends. It’s good of you to call.”

He’s not going to tell me more, and that’s fine. This is enough to know.

“Thank you,” I say. I want to tell him he did the right thing. But I don’t want to make too much of an impression.

I’m already the friend who isn’t really there.

—

I’m home late. I have to walk Justin to his door because he’s so out of it. I wonder if his mom is awake.