by Piper Bee
He nods in acknowledgment. “Okay, so, let’s say you go impractical. What would you do?”
The wheel stops and we’re suspended above people, under the orange sky.
“A singer. But that’s not really—”
“That’s not any more impractical than a baseball player.”
My eyes widen. “How did you… did you know my brother plays?”
A sly smile appears. “Lena mentioned it.”
“Well…” I start, gearing up for an argument. But, I don’t exactly have one. “I guess you have a point. What about you?”
“Business Law, but I actually like it. I think I want to help small businesses. There’s a lot of opportunity for translators, so I’m focusing on super boring law language in Korean and English. I have an internship opportunity in Seoul, actually. It would jumpstart my career, but I still haven’t decided if I want to go yet.”
“Wow.” Actually, impressive. “Cale was right. You are a one-upper.”
He laughs at my snarky observation.
A thought occurs to me. “Does Lena know? About the internship, I mean.”
“No. I wasn’t going to tell anyone until I made up my mind. So, I guess we’re in each others’ confidences now.”
I smile and probably blush. “Guess so.”
Wind combs the escaped strands of my dark blonde hair and the sky is slowly saturated with a blue hue. The ride lights cast a more striking glow. I didn’t realize until now, but this feeling is what I’m chasing this summer. A collection of breezy, sunburned twilights.
“Thanks for all this, Joy,” Jin says. His palms hold up his face as he admires the picturesque sunset. “Today was pretty perfect.”
I can’t keep from smiling. Today was more than perfect.
TRACK 07- BETTER NOW
JUNE 28TH
Ok but what happened on the Ferris Wheel?
This is how I start my text chain with Cale right when I wake up. I would have asked him right after I got home last night, but I experienced a hard post-fair crash. I haven’t escaped the layers of my bed yet.
I did manage to talk to Lena before she got into her VW yesterday, though. When I apologized for the mixup, she smirked and said, “Well… Cale’s Jim Halpert impression is impeccable.” She kept giggling, even after she shut the door and waved goodbye to me before taking off.
So yeah, once I was conscious enough to text Cale, I did.
Thankfully he doesn’t make me wait very long.
CT: Who wakes up before 7 in the summer SHEESH
JB: DETAILS MR. THOMAS
CT: Okay okay
In the minutes that follow, my eager heart pounds watching his ellipses flash on and off. Did my effort amount to anything? I guess it was kinda mine and Jin’s effort. I’m glad he agreed to help.
Even if Jin is still probably the one who will end up with Lena.
Buzz.
CT: SO, we got on the ride and Lena was kinda pissed cuz I think she was jelly that you were riding with Jin. I figured I had two choices: 1) get my empathy card out and be a shoulder to cry on or 2) pull out the Caletastic charms. I went with 2, obviously. COMEDY is my specialty bb
CT: Anyway, I asked her what was wrong because PLOT TWIST I was gonna try 1
CT: She ignored me, but then there was a bee
CT: And I kinda freaked out and flailed around and rocked the gondola thing
CT: Then Lena flicked it away like it was NOTHING
CT: She also LAUGHED AT ME. THE NERVE.
I laugh at him too, right now. The texts come in one after the other. He must be fast at typing, but the progression cracks me up. I can totally picture it.
CT: We talked about fair food and The Office after that but… yeah
CT: I think Imma play the long game. Callin it a win :D
So, not as successful as I’d hoped. But it’s not nothing. Like Cale said, probably a win.
JB: I’ll keep thinking up schemes
CT: Your services are appreciated
CT: Thnx for inviting me
As if Cale has to thank me for that. I thank him for bringing himself. He’s a force of hilarious nature. Even if I’m exhausted from all the walking and sun and human interaction, the aching is practically a trophy knowing he had a good time and inched a little closer to Lena.
I whip my white comforter off and relish the coolness of conditioned house air on my legs.
Today, I have zero plans. Carson’s off at physical therapy and then odd jobs at Victoria Lake Resort. Willow Haven’s claim to fame is “the town you pass through to get to Victoria Lake.” We’re not that big. But at least I feel like I’m included in “we” now.
I get to eat sugary cereal while browsing Hulu by my lonesome. It’s amazing.
This is another feeling I’m chasing, I think. Lazy meals, binging shows I never got to watch during the school year, and soaking up the slightly wider edges of my solitude.
I break up my Nothing Day with more AirBnB browsing, paying particular attention to the long Independence Day weekend. One has a hot tub with an ocean view and a hipster cafe walking distance. Just have to make sure the beater can make it.
My phone buzzes.
LG: So how far have you and Cale gone?
JB: Omg Lena
I shouldn’t be surprised, but I’m still beet red. I envision her sitting out by her glittering pool, wearing the pink bikini, or maybe the teal one-piece, having a second to herself before suddenly thinking, “I need to ask Joy about her sex life.”
LG: What? You guys were good friends before it’s not like you can’t go a little faster
JB: I haven’t even kissed him yet
So far I’m glad the topic hasn’t come up between me and Cale. The hand-holding mishap was essentially the height of my mutual romantic affection experience. Actually, I hate to call it a mishap when it wasn’t all that bad. It just wasn’t real.
And I’m unsure how to address the rules of this game.
I wonder how many girls Cale has been with. He had a girlfriend at the beginning of the school year, but they broke it off early. He sang a few ballads at the time, but otherwise kept his usual class-clown composure. Apparently she thought they’d be better as friends, which isn’t really surprising. Cale has a thousand friends.
And that’s exactly why I shouldn’t be wondering if he’s going to try to kiss me during this deal. He’s a great friend. He’ll understand if I’m too nervous to hand over my first kiss for a fake relationship.
I just have to actually talk to him about it.
LG: OMG YOU CANT BE SERIOUS
LG: I thought I taught you better than that
JB: I like taking it slow
JB: Not everyone is like you
JB: Lol
I add the last text so she doesn’t think I’m being judgy. What’s wrong with taking things slow? It’s not like I’m dysfunctional. I’m not even really dating him!
LG: Oh hey, you want another double dog-sitting job?
JB: YES!! Do you even have to ask??
LG: Awesome! The fams are taking an impromptu trip to Cabo :D
LG: You doing anything for the Fourth?
The Fourth? Meaning, the only week this amazing AirBnB is available? I flip over to my booking app to double-check. It’s completely booked except a few days around the Fourth.
I was so close.
But I basically already accepted the dog-sitting job. I groan because I’d rather have money.
JB: Just eating hot dogs and reading magazines in bed like every year
LG: Mom said they’ll pay you extra since its last minute, and the dogs might get freaked out. But I told her you could handle that :D
Oh yeah. I’ve neglected to mention Cale’s whole part in the dog care last time. It seemed better unsaid after he’d seen her bedroom and noticed her collection of raunchy teen vampire novels (no, I’m not joking).
LG: And this time, IT IS ON
LG: I’m determined to get Jin to myself
<
br /> JB: Good luck <3
It feels odd to wish her luck with Jin and then actively plot for her to be with Cale. Like he’s psychic, I get a message from him.
CT: Sooooo, you got plans for the Fourth of July?
JB: Actually, I just took another dog-sitting job
CT: OOH! I am SO THERE
Ellipses pulse. Did he just invite himself over to Lena’s house? He knows she won’t be there, right?
CT: We def gotta hit up Americanafest!
I recall seeing the poster for that around town. Red, White, and Blues, it said. Very original. It looks promising enough. Lots of bands playing and food carts serving.
And Cale has a way of upping the ante in the fun department.
JB: Sounds great!
JB: But I feel like I should clarify that Lena will be out of town, so…
Ellipses.
CT: Girl like I don’t love spending time with my FGF!
CT: We’ll make her WISH she was in town
CT: I’m the party selfie MASTER, Becker
FGF = fake girlfriend. I laugh just reading his personality. I feel a little better about losing my beach house prospects.
Now back to more urgent business: America’s Next Top Model, Season 8 Finale.
♫
Okay, so my Nothing Day is not turning out as fun as I’d hoped. ANTM got repetitive, I snacked myself into a stomach ache, and a shower sounds like the worst way to distract myself on a hot day like this. Maybe the intense boredom is the reason I decided to text Carson.
CB: It’s been hot out. No AC. Good though, shoulder’s healing
CB: Lots of sexy girls to distract me
JB: Ew! Don’t tell me that!
CB: Ur the one who asked
JB: I meant, like, how are you feeling? Is it fun? Does your name have the most gold stars yet?
CB: LOL u know it
CB: But I still miss you
Yeah right. Carson’s not fooling me. He only misses me when I’m not serving his athlete’s image. He’s probably confusing me with pitching. Since I’m at all his games, he thinks my absence is the reason he feels off.
He’s probably lonely. Probably because he drops people like bats and dashes for someone new.
Ugh. I’m too dried out and salty. Like a hot potato chip.
If I don’t text back, he’ll just get mad.
JB: Miss you too
CB: Once ur at FredU we’ll see each other all the time, don’t worry
Perfect. Once I’m in the vicinity you can make demands of me and my schedule face-to-face instead of by rare text. I can even hand you your finished homework if you like! So much easier!
Gosh, I really am a salty potato chip.
But part of me knows he still needs me. That’s really why I texted him. I can’t forget that I needed him once. Even though he caused a hell of a lot of problems for our family, he protected me. And things are better now.
Out of nowhere, Lena calls me, which is highly suspect.
“Hello?”
“Oh my god, Joy! It’s horrible!” Okay, she’s panicking.
“What? Are you okay?” It’s the dogs. No, the flights. I don’t know. It’s hard to tell on her tone alone.
“I’m fine, but…” She whimpers. It doesn’t sound serious. Or, at least, not to anyone else but her.
“Jin broke his wrist! He said he’s not coming to Cabo!” I hear a frustrated sigh.
“Oh,” I manage to respond. So I was right. It’s not actually an emergency.
“I can’t convince my parents to let me stay behind,” she tells me. “They don’t want to waste the ticket. And they want to bond. That the whole point of this trip was to spend time bonding. Ugh!”
Poor Lena. Being forced to spend the holiday weekend in Cabo. I stifle a laugh.
“Sorry.” Single-word answers are all I have at the moment.
I let her vent about the not-really-a-crisis until she’s ready to hang up.
Once she’s gone, it suddenly occurs to me that Jin will be home alone this weekend.
And, in the next house over, so will I.
TRACK 08 - JUST A FRIEND TO YOU
July 1st
Oh gosh, the backroads to Lena’s house make me so queasy. Why do I take them so fast?
The beater sputters into the curving shared driveway of the wealthiest families I know. Jin Park’s petite mom, Jan-di, stands near the fountain in her cream blouse and bright fuchsia capris. She waves her hand wildly at me. There’s an envelope in it.
Wow, she has a lot of energy for such a small person.
The hum of my car’s engine turns off, leaving me in that calming split-second of quiet. Immediately, Jan-di is shouting my name.
“Joie!” My name almost sounds like “Joey” when she says it. It’s kind of adorable. I step out of my car and slam my door. The air isn’t cool this morning. Not hot, either. It’s the perfect in-between, where you can’t feel it at all.
Jan-di’s straight, white teeth shine at me, so I smile back. She smells like orchids and orange peels.
“Thank you so much for help, Joie!” she says. Her accent is thick with mixed up consonants and improper emphasis. Jin has no accent. Or, I guess, he has a perfect American accent. Jan-di’s voice is high, soft, and smothered in Korean-influenced intonation.
I can’t see her eyes through her sunglasses, but I know they are just like Jin’s. Winged, flat, and colored like melted chocolate. I saw them in one of Lena’s pictures. Kid’s got good genes.
She hands me the envelope, but I push it away. “Oh, um, I thought since Jin was home, you wouldn’t need my help.”
She purses her lips and shakes her head tightly.
“No, no, no. Jin cannot take care Zany,” she tells me. “His arm so bad. He can no walk her.” The way she says his name is like a shiny metal sound. Cheen! It suits him.
Jan-di shoves the envelope at me again. I grab it to keep it from falling on the ground, but that apparently secures my acceptance.
“Thank you, Joie!”
I nod. “No problem.”
“And make sure he eat! He forget so much!” Her dry, raven hair swirls in a short breeze. She looks too young and tiny to have sourced such a tall, 20-year-old son.
Said 20-year-old man steps out of the Park house, down the paved stone path. His cast is a blinding neon green and glows on his white t-shirt. Honestly, he could only own one shirt and I wouldn’t know it.
I cast a shadow over my eyes with my hand and call out. “Hey there!”
“Hey, Joy. Do you need help with your stuff?” he asks. I’m certain it’s a habit. I point to his cast as if he’s unaware that his wrist is broken.
“I’ve got one good arm!” He waves the good one around a little.
“He’s so good boy,” says his mother. She pats his shoulder on the uninjured side, then skitters back down the path to her house. It’s peculiar that she insisted Jin’s arm was too broken for walking the dog but not for helping me with my stuff.
He walks up to my car as I rifle through my things. I feel like I should hand him the pillow and blanket since they’re not heavy, but I’m still mortified that I own them. But, I guess he has seen them before. Damage is already done.
“Here.” I push them toward him. His long, pale arm wraps around them, and I try not to notice that he examines them for a second. Lisa Frank and Barbie, like before.
I dive back into my car to hide my blushing.
“Apparently you’re so crippled, you still need me to take care of the dog,” I say as I pull my bags out of the beater.
He scoffs. “I don’t know why. My legs work perfectly fine, and I can scoop with one hand.”
“Oh no, please! I could use the money,” I admit, hoping I don’t sound nearly as desperate as I am.
“Oh, really? What for?”
I emerge, close my car door, and head to the Garcias’ front door. “Well, I need some savings for stuff my scholarship doesn’t cover. But, if you must know, I
’m planning to buy myself a weekend alone.”
“You like being alone?”
I feel my heart rate speed up. “No! …I mean, yes. But not all the time. It’s just…”
It’s hard to explain. I have an itch, sort of, but it’s in that spot on my back that I can’t reach. And a couple of days at a beach house is the backscratcher I need.
“Just… what?” he solicits. We stand on the Garcia porch, pausing in front of the double doors.
“It sounds refreshing. That’s all.”
Jin lifts his broken arm up, his exposed fingers rubbing his chin. I see one of his brows lift.
“Are you making fun of me?” I ask him. He immediately shakes his head.
