I just don’t know.
And it’s because I never took the time to get to know her.
Suddenly, I feel like the world’s biggest asshole, and I realize that I really have treated her the way Gavin treats me.
Okay, it might be on a smaller level. I haven’t purposely gone out of my way to taunt her or make her life hell, but I’m realizing suddenly that despite the fact that my teasing has, to me, always been good natured, maybe it really hasn’t.
Maybe I really have taken these things just a little too far.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her.
“I didn’t come here for an apology.”
“I’ve been a royal bitch to you.”
She doesn’t say anything, but she doesn’t have to.
“Let’s just get you dressed, okay? You can’t live in that towel all night.”
She thrusts the bag at me and starts fiddling with the makeup and lotions while I slip into the world’s softest pajamas.
“Where did you get these?” I ask. I don’t even want to know how much they cost. I already know I can never repay her.
“Don’t worry about it,” she says simply. “It’s a gift, Emilia. Just take the gift.”
“Adalee?” I whisper, looking down at the soft fabric.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“Sit down, Emilia.”
I sit on the edge of my bed and remain perfectly still as Adalee starts to blow-dry my hair. She works through my curls, carefully taking the time to make sure each lock looks perfect. In my opinion, Adalee is hands-down the most lovely girl at our school, but some people might beg to differ. I don’t see how they could, though. She’s always totally put-together. Her makeup always looks nice.
She’s got a great smile.
And she’s caring.
“You know, I was like you once.”
“You sound like an old woman.”
“Shut up and listen, okay?”
“Fine,” I grumble, but I really am curious.
“I used to think that everyone was out to get me,” she says. “And I lashed out, like, a lot.”
“That doesn’t seem like you.”
“Yeah, well,” she shrugs. “People change.”
“So what made you change?”
“I’m not going to tell you that,” she says. “But I will tell you that the things we go through shape us in ways deeper than we could possibly imagine.”
“That makes sense.”