I felt the tiny shift of the car as she joined me in leaning against it. Instead of crying harder or feeling upset that she was witnessing my epic breakdown, all I could think about was how long her legs looked in her black velvet skirt and Doc Martens. The thought was so unexpected that I laughed, a horrible, snot-nosed, bubbly laugh that made Penny flinch.

Half waiting for her to make some kind of remark, I was surprised when she just put her arm around me. Naturally. Not like she had to think about it first. Just as easily, I found myself leaning into her.

“Saw the two of you coming out here,” she said. “Figured you might need a friend.”

“Is that what we are?”

“I was actually going to say that you needed me and the solace only I can provide, but that seemed egotistical,” she said, deadpan.

“It’s all about you,” I said through a watery laugh, not really meaning it. She’d made me smile, and that was what she’d intended all along, I realized.

A shadow fell in front of us. “Room for one more?” Chad’s unsure voice asked.

I couldn’t hold back my gape. “W-what are you doing here? You didn’t say you were coming tonight.”

Silence.

Chad joined us, flanking my other side. He breathed noisily. “I came with my parents,” he said. “I saw him stalk out. Then you chasing him.”

“I guess everybody did,” I said, a little sourly.

“If you mean Elodie, I doubt it,” said Penny. “She’s parading around on John’s arm.”

Somehow that didn’t surprise me. Elodie was always good at rallying. “Oh,” I whispered. “Were you watching me?”

“Not the whole time.” Penny let her head rest against mine. “Just when you stopped in front of her work. I kept an eye, you know, just in case you needed backup.” A beat passed. Then: “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know I was being a colossal bitch. I just … I just couldn’t stop. I hated myself.”

Next to me, Chad stiffened. I knew he was listening.

“I know the kiss didn’t mean anything,” Penny continued. “It was just the thing that set me off. It’s so much easier to be angry than it is to face up to things.”

The three of us stood there in silence until I regained control of myself. My soft, shuddering breaths gave way to the chirps of crickets. It wasn’t just my strength that pulled me through; it was knowing that my friends were with me, too.

“Should I get you something?” asked Chad. “Anything. Just name it. Tea?”

“Beer,” said Penny. “God, Chad. She doesn’t drink tea. What is she, ninety?”

“I drink tea,” he said.

“Since when?!”

“And it’s good for shock.”

“Says who?!”