“I could say the same about you. Where were you headed at 2am?”

“How did you…” Her eyes shuttered and she squared her shoulders. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The green and white Huffy. You were on it in this coat.” I ran my fingers over the lapel of the navy pea coat.

Her gaze narrowed before smoothing out and she stepped back. “It must’ve been someone else.”

I wrapped my fingers around the strap of my backpack on my right shoulder. “Maybe it was, but she looked a hell of a lot like you. Maybe you have a long-lost twin.”

“Maybe you should mind your own damn business.” Her snap was whip-quick.

My lips twitched. “I mean, if there is a twin of yours out there. I’ll need to get to the bottom of it. That could be big news. You wouldn’t want to meet her?”

A low, simmering growl rumbled in her throat. “Whatever your deal is,” she waved her hands in front of her up and down my body, “I don’t want any part of it. Leave me and my twin sister alone.” She spun on her heel and walked off.

“Does she have a name?”

“Yeah.” She raised her hand above her retreating shoulder and lifted her middle finger.

I laughed and called after her. “Real nice, Bay.”

“Bye, Dare.” Her levels of not giving a fuck were refreshing.

She disappeared through the exit doors at the end of the hallway.

“See you later, Bay.” I could catch up to her. It would take her at least a few minutes to unlock her bike. Instead, I headed back to the gym.

Sweaty and smiling for what felt like the first time, I got back to my house. The quiet inside unwound the tension that crept in whenever I stuck my key in the front door. I jogged up the steps and unlocked my bedroom door.

I went straight to the bottom drawer of my desk, flicking the lock and pulling out my newest pad. With aching fingers, I finished my work preserving Bay’s back with a raised finger over her shoulder. The flip of her ponytail. The 80s t-shirt. The jeans molded to her legs.

Things were looking up for the senior year I’d thought would be the start of another story of a washed up has-been clinging to the good old days back in high school. Now I had a chance at a scholarship and maybe something else with Bay. What it was or what I wanted it to be I didn’t even know, but I knew it felt good. It felt right, and I needed more of that in my life.

8

Bay

“There are three lighting cues in this scene.” Mrs. Trip handed her script to Jon to copy down the spots where he’d need to change up the lights.

“The mics for Res and Ariel need to be on before they enter the stage, Bay.”

She pointed them out and I scribbled down my notes. “It’s always so exciting to share the theater with everyone who didn’t get to see these shows on Broadway like I did.” Holding the script against her chest, she sighed, staring wistfully at the stage.