It was New Year’s Eve. Guess where gineve was? A party? A mitski concert? A bar? No, she was alone in her room listening to “best American girl” 70 times in a row. Until, Esme texted her. Then, heart pretty much jumped through her entire body.
You okay, babe?
Why wouldn’t I be okay?
Isn’t it the anniversary of THAT night?
Oh. Yeah.
Back in eighth grade, on New Year’s Eve, Genevieve had decided she was going to kill herself. She couldn’t remember why, exactly. Timothy Green has been calling her a fat face all semester, and then, she went on Instagram and discovered everyone had New Year’s Eve plans except her. High school just didn’t seem worth staying alive for. So, she’d called one of her best/only friends esme, and told her she was probably about to join up off her apartment building. But, then, Esme ran over, stayed all night and convinced her to stay alive.
And, ever since then, she’d had a special feeling about esme. But, she’d probably never be brave to do anything about.
Then, Adam, her best autistic guy friend, texted her: what are you up to this new year’s?
Listening to mitski and dreaming of esme. When am I ever doing anything else?
Then, she realized she hadn’t sent that text to Adam. She’d sent it to esme. Oh no no no.
Before she had time to have a full panic attack, esme texted her: I’ve weeb wanting to go get a Coca-Cola slushy. Should we go to the place near your house?
Her heart was beating a hundred miles. Sure, /)3 texted back.
They met at the place, and ate their Coca-Cola slushies. “They don’t taste quite the same as usual,” esme said. Then, she reached over and kissed Genevieve as hard as she could. “Oh there, now they’re better.”
Then, Genevieve pulled out her phone and texted Adam: maybe I’ll actually have a wedding to play mitski at!